This beguiling historical romantasy debut blends dark academia with the glamour of Bridgerton,as a scholar of magic investigates her sister’s murder–perfect for fans of Heather Fawcett and H. G. Parry. In an alternate London alive with botanical magicElswyth Elderwood is a thorn among roses: a bristlyscarred scholar in a world of socialites. Her sister Persephone is the opposite: a graceful debutante seeking a marriage that will save their family from ruin. At leastuntil Persephone is murdered. Suddenly the last scion of her houseElswyth must abandon her studies and find a wealthy husband. She is thrust into a London fueled by floromancy: hedge witches sprout nightshade from their fingertipshigh-born ladies weave gowns from wildflowers… and a serial killer called the Reaper transforms his victims into plant-human hybrids. When clues suggest the Reaper is a powerful noblemanElswyth’s search for her sister’s killer and her hunt for a husband become one and the same. But she is drawn to bastard-born archaeologist Silas Blackthorn–who may have darktwisted secrets of his own. Elswyth must determine friend from foe and lover from liar–or suffer the same fate as her sister.