Demon Engine (pre-order)

The world NEEDED a post-post-post apocalyptic nautical trans body horror fantasy, and Marten Norr has given us one! tRaum Books is so proud to announce Norr's incredible debut DEMON ENGINE, coming on May 25th, 2025. This is a pre-order page for an electronic copy, to be delivered to the email address tied to the purchase, on the release date. Due to length, a special print copy will sadly not be available, but you can check HERE if you are interested in pre-ordering a paperback through Bookshop dot org, (and keep scrolling, if you still want that ebook pre-order.)

Moby-Dick by way of Tamsyn Muir, Demon Engine is the grimy, gritty, gay sea adventure you didn’t know you needed. Rife with horror both body and cosmic, Demon Engine transports you to a flooded future packed with storm saints, abyssal demons, and lovably unsavoury characters. Marten Norr’s darkly funny, imaginative, and trans as hell debut will have you singing his praises and cursing his name by the end.
--Rachel A. Rosen, author of Blight

Sally Delavega, the best demon-binder the world has ever seen, would do anything to banish the two hundred ghosts trapped in his head-even if it means swimming up from the bottom of his tankard. When the Navy that destroyed his life comes sailing back to offer enough coin to get the job done, Sally agrees. All he has to do is help the crew of the Steadfast track down the ancient abyssal that lies sleeping at the heart of their drowned world. Why the Navy wants the demon isn't Sally's problem. But as they sail on, Sally begins to dredge up disturbing truths about how the world flooded and their ancient eldritch quarry that might just want to be found...

Imaginative and poignant, funny and bizarre, Demon Engine brings us a bold, queer high-seas adventure that asks how deep we might venture for what we aren't willing to lose.

[CW for graphic death, alcoholism, body horror, abusive relationships.]