work on book 2, also redo of the book title, and code name for Phelan

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2026-03-16 13:23:32 -05:00
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22 changed files with 61 additions and 63 deletions

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# CLAUDE.md — The Shade Series
# CLAUDE.md — A Phelan Varrant Novel
## Phelan Varrant | World of Corvel | Guild of Necessary Services
---
## 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
**Series Title (working):** The Shade Series
**Series Title (working):** A Phelan Varrant Novel
**Author:** Phillip Tarrant
**Publishing Target:** Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) — eBook + Print on Demand
**Enrollment:** Kindle Unlimited (KU) eligible — exclusive to Amazon
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ In addition to Flaw Sight, Phelan has conventional combat magic he learned as a
### Vital Statistics
- **Full Name:** Phelan Varrant
- **Known As:** "The Shade" (clients, underworld contacts), "Phelan" (close associates), "Varrant" (guild formality)
- **Known As:** "The Locksmith" (clients, underworld contacts), "Phelan" (close associates), "Varrant" (guild formality)
- **Age:** Early-to-mid 30s (exact age flexible, keep consistent once established)
- **Appearance:** Lean and unremarkable by design — average height, nondescript coloring, the kind of face that doesn't stick in memory. He considers this an asset. His eyes are slightly unsettling to those who notice them — always moving, cataloguing.
- **Home:** A rented shack on the dockside of Drenwick — dreams of buying land and building a real house
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Each book has its own `CLAUDE.md` in its chapter directory with premise, case details, themes, and milestone beats.
- **Book 1:** `/chapters/book1/CLAUDE.md` — "The Unbreakable Curse" — **FINALIZED. Do not edit Book 1 chapters or content. Treat as locked canon.**
- **Book 1:** `/chapters/book1/CLAUDE.md` — "The Floundry Affair" — **FINALIZED. Do not edit Book 1 chapters or content. Treat as locked canon.**
- **Book 2:** (in progress) — current active work
> **Current status:** Book 1 is complete and finalized. All work is now on Book 2. Book 1 text, outlines, and chapter files are reference-only — read them for continuity but never modify them.
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ All chapter drafts must comply with these rules from the first draft. Do not use
## 10. PROJECT FILE STRUCTURE
```
/the-shade-series/
/flawsight/
CLAUDE.md ← This file. Master instructions.
/world/
@@ -366,13 +366,13 @@ Use `[CONTINUITY FLAG: note here]` inline in drafts when something may conflict
Each book is **episodic and self-contained** — a new case with a beginning, middle, and end. The series arc is the slow accumulation of:
- Phelan's reputation (The Shade becomes known for impossible jobs)
- Phelan's reputation (The Locksmith becomes known for impossible jobs)
- His personal life (the house gets closer, relationships deepen incrementally)
- World consequences (his exploits have effects; people notice; the Arcane Compact gets curious)
- His understanding of his own ability (what Flaw Sight actually is may be larger than he thinks)
**Book 1:** Establish voice, world, character, the impossible case
**Book 2:** Raise the stakes — a case where the antagonist knows who The Shade is
**Book 2:** Raise the stakes — a case where the antagonist knows who The Locksmith is
**Book 3:** The Arcane Compact becomes a direct pressure; Phelan's ability can no longer stay quiet
*Expand in `/outline/series-arc.md`*