Crown Me Dead

The author opens with a content warning, identifying the book as a dark fantasy romance and noting that it contains situations that may be “uncomfortable” for some readers. Those seeking more detailed information are directed to a specific website or can contact the author via email.

Elara and her younger brother, Daron, assist their mother with the family business of preparing corpses for burial in the decaying city of Marrowbrae. A mysterious “rot” afflicts the city, and Daron is sick with it, having already lost the tip of a finger to the progressive illness. While the family works on the corpse of an old man, Elara is distracted by a strange noise but dismisses it.

The family proceeds to their next job on Gutter Lane, where a woman has died and left her young son an orphan. As Elara packs the woman’s mouth with herbs, the corpse convulses, spilling maggots onto Elara’s hand. Elara remains unfazed, stitching the mouth shut while her brother retches. When prompted, the boy offers meager payment (two buttons and some rice), but Elara returns this handful to the boy, telling him to use it to gain entrance to a nearby orphanage.