by Louis Sachar
First published 2025
Princess Tullia faces an impossible choice in the crumbling kingdom of Esquaveta. Her father has arranged her marriage to a repulsive prince to save their struggling realm, but one month before the ceremony, she falls for a humble apprentice scribe. The king turns to Anatole, his ridiculed court magician, for a solution. Once hailed as a prodigy eighteen years ago, Anatole has become a laughingstock after countless failures, including his recent attempt to turn sand into gold. Only Tullia still has faith in his abilities. Now the king commands Anatole to create a love potion that will make Tullia accept the arranged marriage. Anatole must choose between betraying the one person who believes in him or watching his final chance at redemption slip away. The fate of the princess, the kingdom, and his own ruined reputation hangs in the balance.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, fantasy, magic
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Esquaveta
Period: 18th-century
306 pages · Hardcover · Ace