Followers of Essential Function’s second marketing campaign are in for a spicy deal with. Penguin Random Home introduced it would publish the tabletop media empire’s latest novel, Tusk Love. The fictional smutty romance that began off as an inside joke on the favored precise play has taken on a brand new, very actual, life due to their partnership with the normal publishing home.
Written by New York Occasions bestselling creator Thea Guazon, Tusk Love builds on the current resurgence of the Romantasy style, alongside A Court docket of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing. Whereas not set on the earth of Exandria, Tusk Love has held a particular place within the coronary heart of many Essential Function followers, popping up all through the adventures of the Mighty Nein and making a particular look within the Legends of Vox Machina animated collection. Romantic followers of the particular play pined as Laura Bailey’s tiefling character Jester Lavorre made allusions to the guide whereas she pursued her romantic curiosity Fjord (performed by Bailey’s actual world husband Travis Willingham).
In response to the outline on the Essential Function books web page, the plot of the novel follows the beats one would anticipate from Jester’s favourite romance. Jester’s self-insert Guinevere is the daughter of an bold service provider (very like the character herself), decided by delivery to marry right into a noble home and “stay quietly as a lordling’s obedient life.” However she needs extra. When her caravan is attacked by bandits, Guinevere is saved by the stoic Oskar (Jester’s head canon Fjord fantasy), who thinks she’s little greater than a “spoiled waif”. The 2 should put apart their variations to outlive the damaging Amber Highway, doing all the pieces of their energy to disregard their rising ardour as they need to select between the lives which have been chosen for them, or the one they make for themselves.
Tusk Love will probably be Essential Function’s seventh guide printed in partnership with big-five writer Penguin Random Home. Their earlier publications embrace prequel novels resembling Kith and Kin by Marieke Nijkamp, The 9 Eyes of Lucien by Madelein Roux, and What Doesn’t Break by Cassandra Khaw; alongside aspect the official Beautiful Exandria Cook dinner Guide, The World of Essential Function manufacturing information, and Essential Function Mad Libs. Tusk Love is ready to debut in July 2025, accessible for $30 wherever books are bought.