by Renée Ahdieh
First published 2019
Celine Rousseau arrives in New Orleans in 1872 after fleeing her dressmaker life in Paris. The Ursuline convent takes her in alongside six other girls. The vibrant city captivates her with its music, food, and soirées. She discovers the glitzy underworld of La Cour des Lions and catches the attention of its enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain. When someone kills one of the convent girls and leaves her body in the group's lair, Celine fights her growing attraction to Sébastien while suspecting his involvement. More gruesome murders follow. Celine believes the serial killer has targeted her and fears the young man who stole her heart may be the murderer. She investigates the crimes herself and uncovers an ancient feud involving dark underworld creatures. This discovery reveals a truth about herself that she always sensed lay beneath the surface. Celine must confront both her shameful secret and the deadly forces closing in around her.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, mystery, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, gothic-romance, mystery
Setting: New Orleans, Paris, La Cour des Lions
Period: 1872
448 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: murder, violence