Wrack & Rune

A teenager born into a secret magical society begins to see his entire world differently after falling for a boy from the Outside.

Nineteen year old Rory Denborough was born into magic by way of the insular society known as The Translators. For his entire life, Rory has been given control over a world of awe-inspiring wonders -- telekinesis, shape-shifting, teleportation, advanced healing, even time travel. Everything is possible thanks to his family's enchanted bloodline and an ancient language passed down through generations. Rory's life is full of miracles. But he's not happy.

Because Rory's world is also a world of secrets. Translators hide in the shadows, keeping their power from the world around them. Rory stuggles in this secrecy, sneaking out of his family's hidden highrise apartment to blend into the wonderfully normal streets and peoples of New York City.
After sneaking out one night, Rory meets Tyson, an Outsider, who knows nothing about the Translators or their gifts. Soon, the two young men are falling in love...but this idyllic romance starts to fall apart once Rory reveals his magical origins. Tyson raises a question--one that Rory has never considered and now must contend with--why keep magic secret, when so many people could be helped by it? The truth--and terrible danger--soon follows.

Author: Chris Kappel
Publisher: Maverick
Published: 12/02/2025
Pages: 184
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.80w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781545821008
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 12/01/2025 pg. 75

About the Author
Chris Kappel is a television writer who's written for CBS and Freeform. Before that, he worked with some pretty cool filmmakers including Matt Reeves and Will Gluck. Like a lot of queer kids, he had to inject queerness into the stories he loved when he was young, to imagine queer love wherever there was space to accommodate it. Now he writes the kinds of stories he didn't have back then. He lives in Los Angeles.

Alex Arizmendi is a comic book artist from Mexico City. He has worked on comics for Marvel Comics, Gungnir Books and Scholastic. His most recent graphic novel is the upcoming Wrack & Rune for Maverick/Mad Cave Studios.

Warnia Sahadewa is comic books colorist based in Bandung, Indonesia, She has a lot of fun listening to true crime podcast while working. She is also a big fan of cats and cooking.

Dave Lanphear is an award-winning cartoonist, comic book letterer, art director and story producer. He was one of the creative team on Archaia's Return of the Dapper Men which was awarded two Eisner Awards. Notable books Lanphear is known for lettering include Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman '78, Mighty Avengers, Wonder Woman, Thunderbolts, Danger Girl, X-Men/WildCATS, Fraggle Rock, will.i.am's Zombie Nation, and FutureQuest. He's online at @Artmonkeys_Studios on Instagram, and @artmonkeys everywhere else.

Rob Jones is a letterer and sometimes writer of comics. He has lettered comics for companies such as Image, Dark Horse, Mad Cave Studios, Heavy Metal, Humanoids, Penguin, Harper Collins, Scholastic and for many other small press and indie titles. You can find him spouting nonsense into the void on social media @RobJonesWrites or dipping his toes in the local duck pond.