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 withsix eccentric nobles in search of a mythical spring of untold power. The king wants to harnessthe fabled water source from which magic flows to secure his reign, and Lorelei is determined toprove herself and to make her dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely tofaraway lands.The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader-Lorelei’s beloved mentor-ismurdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are her five remaining expeditionmates. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her longtime academic rival, theinsufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of theexpedition, Lorelei must find the spring before the murderer strikes again-and a coup begins inearnest.But other dangers lurk in the dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers withslumbering dragons hiding beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood. As Loreleiand Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth-and resist their growing feelings foreach other-they discover that their leader had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Loreleiquestion whether justice is worth pursuing, and if this kingdom is worth saving at all.

Read a sample here