After a string of tragedies, orphaned sixteen-year-old Maya learned to survive by disappearing into stories—until a lightning strike seemed to set off strange, inexplicable occurrences around her. Then came a knock at her door.

She received an invitation to Mellgrah, a hidden world where witches and magic took sanctuary long ago, along with a place at a prestigious academy for young mages. It was the perfect chance to rebuild her life. Her suffering had granted her magical power, but the only way to claim it was to leave everything behind.

The fantasy world she eagerly stepped into seeking salvation may not be a promised utopia, but a pretty coffin strung from a web of lies. The magic she was rewarded with may be meaningless, or it may be her only worth in Mellgrah. The only certainty was that she could not return.

While grappling with newfound powers and a volatile roommate in this broken world, Maya uncovers a conspiracy she was never meant to find. Inspired by so many tales of destined heroes, Maya must either become one in a world that buries its saviours—or drown in the darkness of its secrets.