The Witch Hunt

by Sasha Peyton Smith

First published 2022

Frances has found peace at Haxahaven Academy after the brutal war with the Sons of St. Druon. She teaches young witches and tends gardens within the academy walls. But her magic behaves strangely now, and she worries about what this means. When Paris calls, Frances seizes the chance for adventure and answers. She travels to France with her classmates Maxine and Lena, eager to explore the vibrant city. There she discovers the terrible price of her past actions. The spell she cast to speak with her dead brother ripped open the barrier between worlds. A secret group of magicians now exploits this tear for their own purposes, and people are dying. Frances must repair the damage she caused and save both lives and her own failing powers. Her search takes her through hidden Parisian societies, the grand halls of the Louvre, and deep into the bone-filled catacombs beneath the city. To succeed, she must work with someone who betrayed her before. She risks everything on this partnership, knowing it could destroy her.

Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy, young-adult

Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful

Tropes: found-family, redemption

Setting: Haxahaven Academy, France, Paris, Louvre, Catacombs

Period: 19th-century

352 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Content warnings: death, violence

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