SOLVED. Adult fiction, dystopian/post-apocalyptic (setting seems to be earth, but it's foggy/misty everywhere) [s]

[Sean]

I read this book within the last couple of years (either 2014 or 2015), so it's very new. I have quite a few details about this book that I can remember, so here goes.

The book starts off with a man on an island -- he's been exiled. It's foggy everywhere, and everything is damp. To keep a fire going, he goes out every day to cut chunks of moss from some part of the island. As the story moves forward, we learn that the main character was the leader of some sort of society. After whatever cataclysmic event happened (it's almost certainly a war), he leads the rebuilding of one of the two major powers that was involved in the conflict. I think that's all we learn at this point.

Eventually, the man finds a body washed up on shore (still alive). The person who got washed up turns out to be the former leader of the /other/ major society -- a rival general or some such. This man never talks. (If I'm not mistaken, he doesn't say a word for the entire novel.) The main character takes this as a reason to build a raft and return to his people that exiled him. I think he's been gone something like 10-20 years. When he goes back to society, nobody will acknowledge him. They pretend not to recognize him. Eventually the town's current leader talks to him a little.

What happens from here on gets a little fuzzy -- I remember details that may or may not be true. Some of these possible plot points include:
- I think the main character's lover (from before he was exiled) gets executed when he comes back
- He discovers a body somewhere, as well as a noose
- He finds out that his portrait (and basically every trace of his existence) has been purged from the town (this definitely happens)
- I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure he kills the current mayor. At the very least, people come after the main character and try to kill him.
- Finally (and again not sure), I think he gets back on his raft and heads to his island at the end.
- Oh, and on one of his raft journeys, he looks down at the water and sees buildings below.

I would appreciate any suggestions anyone can offer as to the title/author of this book. I've Googled basically every plot point, but to no avail. It's not a particularly well-known novel, I don't think.

Edit: In case it isn't apparent, I can't recall any character names.

[Ayshe]

Wall Of Days?

[Kris]

Sean, are you still looking for this book? Is it Ayshe's suggestion of Wall Of Days?

[Sean]

Kris wrote: "Sean, are you still looking for this book? Is it Ayshe's suggestion of Wall Of Days?"

Hi Kris,

As a matter of fact, yes, it was. I stumbled across the answer maybe a month after posting and forgot all about this thread. Do I delete this? Or does it end up archived or something?

[Ayshe]

You can add "Solved" to the topic header and move it to a Solved folder by clicking "Edit" on the desktop (not mobile) website -- or a Moderator will assist.

[Bargle]

Sean wrote: "Kris wrote: "As a matter of fact, yes, it was. I stumbled across the answer maybe a month after posting and forgot all about this thread. Do I delete this? Or does it end up archived or something? "
Please don't delete your original post. It doesn't remove the entire thread. It just leaves a confusing headless thread.