Sophia DeWinter has spent her life shackled to her uncle, the Collector, by a cruel blood bond. The only escape lies in Killmarth College, an elite academy for magic wielders that promises freedom. But entry comes at a cost: survival in the Ordeals, brutal trials designed to weed out the weak and leave only the strongest standing.
Sophia’s illusionist skills falter under pressure, and she survives the first challenge only by allying with Alden Locke, a botanist as powerful as he is infuriating. Together they must navigate trials riddled with sabotage, treachery, and murder.
Every failed spell, every misplaced trust, brings Sophia closer to death. To claim her freedom, she must outlast the Ordeals—if the killer among the competitors doesn’t claim her first.
