Blessed is the Rot by Sheri Singerling
Blurb:
Fenrir is a mask. Before his fall from grace, he was Ashtin, a lauded surveyor responsible for containing distortions, corrupted pockets of space-time that twist all they touch into horrid creatures. Five years prior, Ashtin defied the teachings of the Church he once served, costing him privilege, purpose, and his old name. Now, he is Fenrir, a shadow of his former self, reduced to ringing a bell for his livelihood.
When a distortion claims Fenrir’s bell tower, the Church sends Surveyor Sophie to assess and contain the threat. She is a painful reminder of all that Fenrir has lost, but as the weeks slip by, Fenrir falls for her. And her him, even after learning his true identity.
But Sophie harbors an even darker secret. Her only hope of salvation? Commit an unforgivable sin by descending into ancient ruins festering with distortions and their horrifying victims. Fenrir accompanies Sophie on the journey, but the truths they uncover are heinous in their own right. He must make a choice—abandon Sophie to fate or throw the world into chaos.
Book Title: Blessed is the Rot
Author: Sheri Singerling
Cover Artist: Jack Hillside
Cover Design: Geoffrey Bunting
Word Count: 338
Publisher: HypIn Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Available Formats: eBook, Paperback, Hardcover
Trigger Warnings: Profanity, violence, death, sex
Author Bio:
SHERI SINGERLING is a US native living in Germany. She has three degrees in geology and works as a laboratory manager, lecturer, and research scientist. Everything she writes falls into the Alfom Shared Universe and includes the novels Nytho and Neuen and the short stories “The Badge”, “Rogue”, “The Seed” (Clarkesworld Magazine issue 223), and “Wireworks” (Clarkesworld Magazine issue 228). Outside of her work and writing, Sheri enjoys coaxing plants to grow, walking up and down steep inclines in nature, and listening to repetitive electronic beats.
