First published 2026
Grayson Stone has trained in all four magic types under his uncle the High Chancellor's watch. He secretly works against his uncle's corrupt rule while pretending to be the perfect heir. His carefully laid plans require him to be marked Gifted during his University entrance exam to gain his uncle's trust. But the exam goes wrong, and he blames one person: Eloise Belrose. Eloise comes from a Laborer family and seems the most unlikely candidate to become a Mage. Through hard work and endless practice, she finally earns admission to the prestigious Mage University, securing safety for her whole family. Then disaster strikes. She becomes magically linked to Grayson Stone, the school's arrogant golden boy, putting her acceptance and her family's lives in danger. The magical bond gives them less than two weeks to solve an impossible mystery involving an ancient magical key. If they fail, the High Chancellor will gain even more power and control. They must room together, take the same classes, and pretend to date while secretly pursuing their quest. As sparks fly and their feelings become real, living their necessary lies grows harder. Time runs out as they face a choice between trusting their bond or letting their deceptions destroy them.
Genres: romance, fantasy, young-adult, dark-academia
Vibes: dark-and-mysterious, emotionally-charged, fast-paced, romantic-tension, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, forced-proximity, found-family, magical-bond
Setting: Mage University
368 pages · Hardcover · Feiwel & Friends
Content warnings: death, violence