When gentle, anxious Naeryn meets headstrong, radical Gianetta at finishing school, budding feelings flourish. But this isn’t the socially acceptable romance she’s been raised to seek, so Naeryn suppresses the very love she’s always craved and throws herself headlong into the arms of a dashing young knight . . . only to find herself used and abandoned.
Packed off to a magical convent where her shame can be covered up, Naeryn must determine her own path, even if it means defying everything her mother and society have taught her. Learning incantations from the priestesses, Naeryn strives to gain work at one of the new light factories to claim her independence.
At the arrival of the mysterious Teowyn, Naeryn shies from a third chance at love. What if she makes the same mistakes again? She’ll need to embrace her sexuality and defy the law to save her beloved from scandal and ruin. Sometimes, illegal magic is the only way to reveal deeper truths.
A sweet and poignant queer coming-of-age romantic fantasy.
Release Date: TBA 2027
Reviews:
"Considering I managed to read it in a day, I’d say that the pacing and length was great. I like that the plot picks up pace consistently as the novel goes on, so that by the time you reach the end, you look back and can see just how far Naeryn (and yourself as the reader) have come. Naeryn is immediately likeable, and I was rooting for her from the start. Each mistake or stumble was completely relatable, so even when she would do something that I, as the reader, would deem foolish, I also acknowledged that there was a time when I was also foolish, and so though I cringe, I am also entirely sympathetic. And then, when she begins to grow and evolve and take back control of her life, I’m there cheering her on, imagining being her hype-man, completely satisfied with how her story ends." -- Jess F.
"Nailed the 18th century style for the modern audience. The touch of magic was subtle rather than over the top ... giving the tale a sense of authenticity. Astra handled the themes with a maturity and wisdom beyond her years. The philosophical aspects, controversies, challenges, frustrations, perceived societal ‘norms’ & eventual outcome were clear and revealed through all aspects of character discussion and behaviour." -- Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde, author
"The world was so engaging! I loved exploring Ul-Zaorith through Naeryn’s eyes. I loved the ideas of casting a la an electricity plant, I loved the blatant history constantly woven into every little thing. I loved the holidays and religious ceremonies. I felt very immersed in the world. There were so many emotions going around, and Naeryn is a very likeable character. It was very engrossing to see her getting involved with and struggling against so many obstacles - I really felt she deserved a happily ever after, after everything she’d been through." -- Kaitie R.
