The exciting debut of a sparkling, Regency-era set fantasy series.
In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Merlin College, the most
talented — and highest born — sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the
intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as
Gray Marshall is about to discover...
Gray’s deep talent for
magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies
four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in
disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace — and without a trace of
his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his
domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of
Callender’s country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it
is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the
professor’s daughter.
Even though she has no talent of her own,
Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father
has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of
impropriety. But against her father’s wishes, Sophie has studied his
ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly
charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.
Sophie and Gray’s meeting
touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the king’s closest advisor pays the professor a
closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost...
