In Harju-Autti’s debut fantasy novel, a crew’s mid-18th-century trading voyage leads them to a strange island whose residents harbor curious views on love and death.

Veteran seaman Capt. Julius Hawthorne had settled in Glasgow to raise his son, Peter, after the boy’s mother died. But the British government sends him back out on the seas—a five-month journey to the Andaman Islands to trade for goods. Bringing along 14-year-old Peter for the first time, Julius guides a crew to the main island of Andaman, where locals warmly welcome their arrival. An oracle there has already foretold that an arriving ship will have a “significant role in [the] people’s future.” This premonition may relate to the tattoo on each islanders’ forehead, which shows the date of their death; Drakor, a dragon, cursed them long ago when their reverence gradually turned into a lack of respect. Local leader Aarav designates Julius as the “official curse investigator.” As Julius learns, the islanders’ resigned view is unlike many other cultures’, and he understands it better after he falls for a local woman. Harju-Autti’s concise novel ably blends a tale of adapting to an unknown culture with introspection on death. For example, islanders dictate how others are treated based on their end dates; Peter may not even be able to attend the local school, simply because he doesn’t know when he’ll die. At the same time, islanders don’t fear their demises and undergo “special training” (essentially preparation) as their time draws near. The focus is solidly on Julius and Peter, with insights courtesy of the logbooks they each maintain, while islanders and barely named crewmembers make up the supporting cast. Despite this relatively narrow focus, the latter half delivers with an enthralling touch of romance and a closer look at Drakor. Crisp, detailed, and uncredited black-and-white illustrations, meant to be Julius’ signed-and-dated oil paintings, showcase such moments as the islanders’ ceremonies and Julius at the marketplace.

An often-engaging fictional exploration of the topic of mortality.