Description

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A Southern Independent Booksellers Association Book Award nominee!

A romantic, suspenseful, genre-bending debut set in Edwardian London.

Amid the sumptuous backdrop of the London season in 1905, headstrong Katherine Sinclair must join the ranks of debutantes vying for suitors. Unfortunately for Katherine, she cannot imagine anything more loathsome—or dangerous. To help ease her entrance into society, Katherine’s family has elicited the assistance of the Earl of Thornewood, a friend and London’s most eligible bachelor, to be her constant companion at the endless fetes and balls. But upon her arrival in London, Katherine realizes there will be more to this season than just white gowns and husband hunting.

Through her late mother’s enchanted diary, Katherine receives warning to keep hidden her otherworldly ability to perform arcana, a magic fueled by the power of the sun. Any misstep could mean ruin—and not just for her family name. The Order of the Eternal Sun is everywhere—hunting for those like her, able to feed on arcana with only a touch of the hand.

But society intrigue can be just as perilous as the Order. The machinations of the fashionable elite are a constant threat, and those who covet Katherine’s arcana, seeking the power of her birthright, could be hiding behind the façade of every suitor—even the darkly handsome Earl of Thornewood.

With so much danger and suspicion, can she give her heart to the one who captivates her, or is he just another after her power?

Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

About the Author

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Jessica Leake is a debut writer who blogs about family, friends, and writing at jessicaleake.com. She used to be a psychotherapist, but has shifted her priorities to her family in recent years. She resides in Greenville, South Carolina, with her husband and three young children.

Praise For…

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"Leake weaves together a beautifully rendered historical setting, magic and romance in this stunning debut." —Elizabeth May, author of The Falconer

"Delightful! Leake's debut is a charming, romantic tale that sparkles with otherworldly magic." —Karina Sumner-Smith, author of Radiant

"The social mores of Edwardian England are deftly layered with magic, fantasy and a hearty dose of romance in this lively and enchanting debut." —Sarah Painter, author of The Language of Spells

"Leake weaves together a beautifully rendered historical setting, magic and romance in this stunning debut." —Elizabeth May, author of The Falconer

"Delightful! Leake's debut is a charming, romantic tale that sparkles with otherworldly magic." —Karina Sumner-Smith, author of Radiant

"The social mores of Edwardian England are deftly layered with magic, fantasy and a hearty dose of romance in this lively and enchanting debut." —Sarah Painter, author of The Language of Spells