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The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow
Not yet published
Expected 19 Nov 26Perfect for readers of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden, The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow is a sweeping enemies-to-lovers debut epic for romantasy-curious fantasy readers, fantasy-curious romantasy readers, and all lovers of slowburn romance.
Scholar. Healer. Harlot.
In her house, the villainy is her.
Magdalena Overmorrow has been called a scholar, a healer, a harlot. She carves out some measure of freedom for the women of Astoleyn, risking capture and death by caring for them and performing forbidden abortions. When she’s betrayed by a close confidante, she faces banishment to the realm’s desolate northernmost city as an accused witch. There, she must await her trial and possible doom under the watchful aegis of the Lord Proctor of Cair Gramora, a man so pious and humorless it is rumored that he has never once laughed in his life.
When she arrives, though, Magda is surprised to find that the Lord Proctor isn’t the grizzled old priest she expected but a man barely older than she is. As cold and mysterious and beautiful as the mountains at the cair’s northern border, he holds her life in his hands. One word from him could send her to the stake or worse, but she can’t help her fascination with a man and fellow scholar who is more than he appears to be, and the dangerous secrets he is clearly keeping. As her trial draws closer and the intrigue of the isolated cair threatens them both, she and the Lord Proctor must form an uneasy alliance that could either save her life or lead her to martyrdom and ruin.
Scholar. Healer. Harlot.
In her house, the villainy is her.
Magdalena Overmorrow has been called a scholar, a healer, a harlot. She carves out some measure of freedom for the women of Astoleyn, risking capture and death by caring for them and performing forbidden abortions. When she’s betrayed by a close confidante, she faces banishment to the realm’s desolate northernmost city as an accused witch. There, she must await her trial and possible doom under the watchful aegis of the Lord Proctor of Cair Gramora, a man so pious and humorless it is rumored that he has never once laughed in his life.
When she arrives, though, Magda is surprised to find that the Lord Proctor isn’t the grizzled old priest she expected but a man barely older than she is. As cold and mysterious and beautiful as the mountains at the cair’s northern border, he holds her life in his hands. One word from him could send her to the stake or worse, but she can’t help her fascination with a man and fellow scholar who is more than he appears to be, and the dangerous secrets he is clearly keeping. As her trial draws closer and the intrigue of the isolated cair threatens them both, she and the Lord Proctor must form an uneasy alliance that could either save her life or lead her to martyrdom and ruin.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 30, 2026
Oh holy heck, this was extraordinary and unexpected. It’s fresh, from the fantasy perspective - a world and magic and pantheon that aren’t quite like any of the ones I’ve seen before - and it’s topical af, but it doesn’t feel like a polemic, or like it’s driven by (as the printz criteria put it) MESSAGE. It’s heartbreaking and sometimes humorous, people’s by really magnificent characters who also seem real. If I had a 10 star option I would give it.
Also the romantasy tag is like, 100% not the point. Marketing copy almost led me to skip over this one and I am so so glad I let the Novik comp in the copy sway me instead.
Also the romantasy tag is like, 100% not the point. Marketing copy almost led me to skip over this one and I am so so glad I let the Novik comp in the copy sway me instead.
June 29, 2026
I loved this one! I picked it up on a whim, and I'm so glad I did.
Magda was a fantastically flawed main character with so much depth, and I was completely invested in her journey.
The story was engaging from start to finish.
I went into this thinking it was a standalone, so I was definitely surprised by the ending. I can't wait for book two!!
Magda was a fantastically flawed main character with so much depth, and I was completely invested in her journey.
The story was engaging from start to finish.
I went into this thinking it was a standalone, so I was definitely surprised by the ending. I can't wait for book two!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews