The Water Stricken

In this gripping prequel to Third Moon Passing unfolds a tale of murders and missionaries, religion and race, love and war, and an unlikely friendship that transcends the realms of life and death.



Joseon Korea, 1866: the new prince-regent and his ruthless government have recently launched a crackdown on the spread of Catholicism, triggering panic across the peninsula amid rumors of French retaliation. As executions double in number, a young concubine, Hwangbo Pyori, is discovered dead in a ravine, having been killed on her wedding night. When Pyori's restless ghost returns to Haedong Village to find her murderer, she joins forces with the only person who can see her: Narae, a damo who doubles as an undercover Catholic obsessed with ending tensions between Korea and France. As they grapple with each new clue that raises more questions than answers, and struggle to navigate the increasingly murky intersections between faiths amidst bloody battles, the girls face a deadly question: your country, or your religion?



With its evocative prose and intricate plot, The Water Stricken is a mesmerizing tale that delves into the complexities of faith, identity, and sacrifice in a time of turmoil.