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Out Now!Two sisters, a pregnant aristocrat and a scholar-magician, owe a favor to a river goddess and find themselves at the center of a conflict between the immortal being Decay and the Emperor himself, as the goddess calls upon them to seek out this elusive god before the world crumbles around them all.
Orphaned as young women, Celestia and Izara De Malena find themselves land rich but destitute, with only a failing rainforest acreage, Celestia’s perfect manners, and Izara’s nascent magic to their aristocratic names. With the last of their money running out, they enact a dangerous plan—using a spell she doesn’t fully understand, Izara summons the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor: a husband for Celestia, one rich enough to enable the De Malena sisters to keep their land and restore their family name. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost . . . Now, five years later, as rumors of war and disease spread across the land, Celestia’s husband is called away on a secret mission for the Emperor and the Lady of the Seraphine returns to collect her due. Izara will be forced to leave the academy where she has been studying to become a mage; Celestia will be pulled from her now-flourishing farm while newly pregnant with her first child. Together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with Celestia’s husband, the Emperor, and a god even more powerful than the Lady of the Seraphine. Published by Erewhon Books |
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Praise
“Lush and compelling, Clarke has created a world that captivates . . . A gorgeous story with a deep heart.” (Fran Wilde)
“A wonderful, creepy quest through a magical, ever-changing wilderness, with the world at stake and love in the balance. More please!” (Max Gladstone)
“A dark and gripping fantasy with the atmosphere of a haunted southern evening on the bayou. I loved it!” (Stina Leicht)
“An atmospheric tale of two sisters, each as formidable in her own way as the gods they must battle, The Beholden is a story to lose yourself in. Clarke’s intricately-designed world of rogue magics and unique powers is a character all its own.” (Louisa Morgan)
“The Beholden is a rich enchantment of a novel, dizzying, dangerous, and delightful. I loved it.” (Trent Jamieson)
One of io9’s Anticipated Books of January 2022
One of Tor.com’s 30 Most Anticipated Books of 2022
One of Lit Hub’s SFF Books to Look out for in 2022
One of Tor.com’s 30 Most Anticipated Books of 2022
One of Lit Hub’s SFF Books to Look out for in 2022