The Story
An Instant Sunday Times Bestseller!
A sharp-tongued folklorist and her academic rival must solve their mentor's murder in this lush sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.
Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness to secure his reign of the embattled country, and Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and to make her dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to faraway lands.
The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader-Lorelei's beloved mentor-is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are her five remaining expedition mates, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her long-time academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before a coup begins and the murderer strikes again - and a coup begins in earnest.
But there are other dangers lurking in the dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons waiting beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood. As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth-and resist their growing feelings for one another-they discover that their professor had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, or if this kingdom is worth saving at all.
Our Illumicrate Exclusive edition is a Royal hardback and features:
- A redesigned cover (by @niallcgrant; design by @chattynora)
- Full colour printing and foil on the hardback utilising the US cover art (by @audreybenjaminsenart; design by @chattynora)
- Digitally printed edges (by @niallcgrant)
- Illustrated endpapers (by @hopechristofferson; design by @chattynora), different front and back
- Bound-in author letter
- Bonus material
- Signed by the author
- Adult fantasy standalone
- F/F romance; lesbian main character, lesbian love interest, queer side characters; Jewish main character; German folklore
Items included in the full box option:
- The Dark Academia bookcase puzzle, artwork by Olivia Gibbs; designed by Chatty Nora
- Scales And Wings task journal, designed by Gretchen Cobaugh
- Wheels of Fate Reading prompt cards, designed by Franziska Stern
- Foreshadowing glasses case, designed by Jay Kay
Photo: @lonely_reader
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Description
An Instant Sunday Times Bestseller!
A sharp-tongued folklorist and her academic rival must solve their mentor's murder in this lush sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.
Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness to secure his reign of the embattled country, and Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and to make her dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to faraway lands.
The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader-Lorelei's beloved mentor-is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are her five remaining expedition mates, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her long-time academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before a coup begins and the murderer strikes again - and a coup begins in earnest.
But there are other dangers lurking in the dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons waiting beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood. As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth-and resist their growing feelings for one another-they discover that their professor had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, or if this kingdom is worth saving at all.
Our Illumicrate Exclusive edition is a Royal hardback and features:
- A redesigned cover (by @niallcgrant; design by @chattynora)
- Full colour printing and foil on the hardback utilising the US cover art (by @audreybenjaminsenart; design by @chattynora)
- Digitally printed edges (by @niallcgrant)
- Illustrated endpapers (by @hopechristofferson; design by @chattynora), different front and back
- Bound-in author letter
- Bonus material
- Signed by the author
- Adult fantasy standalone
- F/F romance; lesbian main character, lesbian love interest, queer side characters; Jewish main character; German folklore
Items included in the full box option:
- The Dark Academia bookcase puzzle, artwork by Olivia Gibbs; designed by Chatty Nora
- Scales And Wings task journal, designed by Gretchen Cobaugh
- Wheels of Fate Reading prompt cards, designed by Franziska Stern
- Foreshadowing glasses case, designed by Jay Kay
Photo: @lonely_reader