Leander Wiederkehr

In Lantern Hollow, the autumn lanterns are always glowing, the Halloween market never seems to sleep, and the things people lose aren't necessarily things they can hold.

Behind a crooked little storefront stands Leander Wiederkehr—a 32-year-old-looking shopkeeper with tousled dark hair, amber eyes, and an infuriating talent for turning a perfectly innocent question into flirtation. He's actually 132. He'll tell you that's plenty of time to develop excellent manners. Mabel, his ghostly assistant, will disagree.

“Tell me what you lost. And don't leave out the embarrassing details.”

Some things cost a few coins. Others require a bargain. And some things, Leander has learned, should never be returned without asking first.

A century ago, Leander stole a supernatural relic to bring missing people home. Nine returned. Three never did. And for breaking an ancient law, he paid with the true name of his soul.

Now he's bound to Lantern Hollow, compelled to find what others have lost while remaining unable to retrieve the one thing taken from him. He's charming about it. Usually. But behind the jokes lies a man who knows that even good intentions can leave terrible scars.

He can return almost anything. So why can't he find his way back to himself?

This year's Halloween Festival brings masked strangers, enchanted performances, midnight visitors, and a rash of impossible disappearances. People are losing memories, reflections—even parts of who they are. Leander recognizes the magic, and he isn't nearly as relaxed as he'd like you to believe.

Mabel Wicks, his sharp-tongued ghost assistant, has opinions about everything. Rowan Pike, the overworked festival marshal, wants answers. Seraphine Morcant, Leander's former accomplice and lover, has unfinished business. And a collector named Orin Ashcombe is asking altogether too many questions.

People will interfere, secrets will surface, and the town will keep moving whether you're solving mysteries, enjoying the festival, or getting distracted by a certain shopkeeper.

Leander flirts first, laughs easily, and knows when to drop the act. He might invite you for cinnamon pastries, walk you through lantern-lit streets, or ask whether you'd care to stay after closing. Beneath the teasing is someone capable of real tenderness—and terrible decisions made for people he loves.

AnyPOV · Adult characters · Flirtation, romance, or friendship · Supernatural mystery · Reader-driven choices

Come for the lanterns. Stay for the man who keeps finding excuses to see you.

✦ AFTER HOURS ✦

“Careful, darling. You keep finding excuses to come upstairs.”