In the war, the mythborn killed her friends, but now humanborn Kaja needs to work with them to uncover a conspiracy or Dublin's streets will run red with blood once more.Less than a decade ago, the Magiclysm, a tear between Earth and another place, brought magic to Ireland—and worse, it brought back the mythborn. The war that followed left Dublin scarred, and cursed Kaja Modrzewska with chaotic magic that will eventually claim her life.Struggling with wartime nightmares, Kaja seeks normalcy amongst the volatile peace working as an information broker when a series of explosions across Dublin threatens to reignite the war. Both sides are eager to blame the other, so Kaja reluctantly agrees to investigate.But finding the terrorists responsible means working alongside the mythborn’s elite killers, and uncomfortable wartime secrets coming to light. Kaja, who had saved a mythborn’s life during the war, finds out she has a life debt of her own, and as she juggles her allegiances and obligations, she’ll have to decide where her loyalties lie, with her old human allies or the mythborn.

Literary Titan Medal WinnerReaders' Favorite Medal WinnerNext Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist"Epic Fantasy and Woman's Fiction combine to create… the best new book of 2023." - Reedsy DiscoveryAssassinations spark chaos. Revolutions smolder. War looms. 1901 Vespa Academy of Sciences stands at the crossroads of myth, magic, and modernity. This international school seeks to end every war, but deadly rivalries, buried secrets, and ancient powers threaten to start a global war that could end it all. A single school year could change everything.Amid it all, five unlikely women find their lives intertwined. A brilliant Dwarven prodigy grappling with family secrets. A reckless Selkie chasing a scandal. A tormented Elf hiding apocalyptic truths. A cursed Fae princess uncovering a conspiracy. A skeptical Succubus heir confronting deep deceit.Only one can bind them together: Esmeralda, a young Duchessa desperate to save her collapsing country. As unexpected alliances form and shadowy enemies close in, they must confront the growing threats together. Soon, Esmeralda will rule nations. Who will be by her side when she saves the world?Experience a fantastical alternative history, where humans and their rivals co-exist in a tense peace that reaches the edge of war. This journey will end in the history books.