The Healer of Fóthraka

by Tara J. Stone

There's power in her voice, magic in her song. The world is about to hear her Sing.

Flick, a gifted but disfigured Avranay healer, lives in secrecy under an imperial regime bent on enslaving and eradicating her kind. When an act of mercy draws dangerous attention, she flees and joins forces with the Eel, a notorious vigilante known for liberating Avranay slaves from brutal noble masters.

Together with loyal friends and unlikely allies, they seek the legendary Túr and the Lost Canticles—songs of power that could turn the tide against their oppressors. But a deadly Auralist and political enemies who covet Flick’s unique magic are in hot pursuit, and shifting alliances, unforeseen perils, and the personal cost of wielding her gift force Flick to risk everything to ensure a future for her people.

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2026

About the author

Tara started writing fiction when she was in first grade, but she did not discover the thrill of screenwriting until she studied Communications Media at John Paul the Great Catholic University. Screenplays are her favorite way to tell stories, but novels are quickly gaining. She hopes her writing will contribute to a revival of Catholic fiction.

After successfully self-publishing two screenplays as paperbacks and ebooks, she partnered with two of her former film professors to create Story Masters Film Academy, which offers online courses in screenwriting and directing.

Tara resides in Colorado, and in 2016, she became a Consecrated Virgin Living in the World in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. In addition to making things up and writing them down, Tara enjoys praying, hiking (definitely not running), going to the symphony (especially movies at the symphony), discovering new craft brews, and spending time with family and friends.

Reviews

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading The Healer of Fothraka I didn't realize it was a series! About a quarter of the way through the book, I stopped to see if it was a series because I was hoping I wouldn't be saying good-bye to Flick and her companions when I turned the last page! I was so happy to find out that this is just the first part of her story! As someone who does not gravitate towards fantasy I was immediately pulled into the world of The Lost Canticles. We got to join Flick as she navigated learning about her own story and gifts as she flees from her Uncle's home! I can't wait for book two to come out so I can continue on the journey!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good!

World building with a unique magic system and grammatical details from an invented language is the way to my heart! Throw in a bit of prophecy and a main character unexpectedly being thrown out of her comfort zone and into a quest to learn more about her powers, with a rich host of characters and an evil empire to deal with, it has all the trappings of all of my favorite fantasy series and I'm very much looking forward to continuing.

[Lori Mosier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal Story

The journey of Flick, Atty, Garen and the others involves magic, intrigue, mystery, betrayal, tyranny, fear, hatred and love. This unique take on the battle between good and evil will keep you spellbound, on the edge of your seat and wanting more when you reach the last page. The complex, diverse and intelligent characters will make you not want to put it down. I hope book 2 is coming soon!

[Faith Ijelekhai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book!

It was such a perfect blend of magic and godliness, and is totally perfect for readers who do not want books with very steamy scenes. I'll admit that the main character, Flick, was a tad annoying, because she was too headstrong (in my opinion), but it's just so relatable that she's that way.

Very curious for what'll happen in Book 2!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving this 5-stars says a lot for me because I don't typically enjoy fantasy style books. It helped that there was not an excessive use of mythical creatures. The characters and their experiences were highly relatable and believable; therefore, the storyline felt more like historical fiction than fantasy. I look forward to reading the next book in the series! Ages 16+ for adult topics.

[Melissa Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. Love, loyalty, and friendship permeated the pages. The take on magic was unique and interesting. It was difficult putting this down.

I only struggled with the names. At times trying to pronounce them stalled the fluidity of the story.

I can’t wait for the next in the series.

I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. My review is brief but honest.