Publication: 6th May 2025 – Simon & Schuster Children’s UK
Fall head over broomstick in love with this swoon-worthy, witchy romantic fantasy, perfect for fans of Twin Crowns, Divine Rivals and Stephanie Garber.
For the Kingdom. For the magic. And for love . . .
Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley is entering her debutante season as a witch. Aurelia should be excited about finding the perfect match to tether her magic to. But her magic is cursed – dark, dangerous, and not the kind that her peers want to match with – and, without a tether, she faces losing her magic completely.
But when Aurelia learns that enigmatic, aloof Jules, a member of arch enemy family the Nightlys, is searching for a way that a witch can keep their magic without tethering, she realises he may be her only hope. A forbidden alliance is formed . . . but as they navigate the Magical Season with its glamoured balls and perilous trials, they uncover dark forces that threaten their families and the magical world they live in.
Expect family secrets, generational curses, forbidden romance, gorgeous ballgowns, bribery, extortion, trespass, magic and kissing . . . lots of kissing.
This was such a delightful read! I read it during the weekend and, every time I put it down, I couldn’t wait to go back and immerse myself again in this fantastic alternate Regency London, where young people entering society must find a magical partner with whom to tether to retain their magic.
The protagonist, Aurelia Wycherley, is a young witch who, because of a centuries old curse, won’t be able to tether with anyone, so she will lose her magic. For this reason, most of the witches have excluded her and keep away from her, except for her family and her best friend Constance. I really liked the character of Aurelia. She is strong and smart and even when everyone shuns her out, she doesn’t give up, especially when she finds out that there could be a way to retain her magic without tethering. Enter Jules Nightly. The Wycherleys and the Nightlys are archenemies, but Aurelia would do anything to keep her magic even if it means first blackmailing and then team up with Jules. I loved their chemistry and their witty exchanges and I can’t wait to explore more of their relationship in the sequel.
The story is fast-paced and compelling. Aside from the romance, I liked the magic bonds between partners, and also the close friendship that Aurelia has with Constance and the relationship with her brother Vaughan. And while the main plot focuses on Aurelia and Jules trying to find an alternative to tethering and their relationship, there is also an intriguing mystery as they get involved in the strange murders of some witches around London.
Overall, The Wycherleys is well-written, action-packed, and immersive and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.
Annaliese has always loved stories. As a child, she would regularly rollerskate to her local library to stock up on new books to read. She was nearly always in trouble with the librarians for having not returned her books on time. Annaliese would go on to become a librarian herself one day and use her position as library manager to be more understanding to the young readers at her library who returned books late.
Annaliese has always felt the power of good stories but equally enjoys being lost in the wonder of books with facts/non-fiction. As a child, Annaliese read her way through all 20 volumes of THE NEW CAXTON ENCYCLOPEDIA. She also collected a magazine series called Quest, and its exploration of science helped trigger a love of physics and astronomy.
In 2013 Annaliese founded an astronomical society, DASH Astro.
One of her ambitions in life is to have her own observing dome.
Book After Book 