Synopsis
Cyrene Lemarre is a special girl in an unspecial place, treated with disdain in her village because of her powers but staying positive for her mother and little sister. She practices magic with what little resources she has in memory of her late father, who was one of the strongest magicians in Newerick, trying to be happy with what she has but privately longing to further her skills with a formal education.
When her mother surprises Cyrene on her birthday with enough money to visit Laynevale, the magic capital of Newerick and where her father was born, she is both guilt-ridden and overjoyed. The prospect of leaving her only family behind to journey on her own is frightening, but also holds the sweet promise of the possibilities she spent her whole life imagining.
Nerves and dark thoughts weighing her down like chains binding her ankles, Cyrene sets off for Laynevale with the hope of being accepted into Burlingcroft Institute and the fear of being turned away, wasting her family's money and shaming her father's name. Little does she realize what Laynevale really holds for her.
Excerpt
Just as they were finishing up there was a knock on the door. They shared a glance.
"Were you expecting anyone for Cy's birthday?" Mara asked their mother.
"No," Emilie said, looking curious. She got up and opened the door just as Cyrene took a big gulp of milk. "Oh, hello, Dundan!"
Cy choked on her drink and Mara immediately started pounding on her back with too much force. Emilie turned to them with surprise as Cy coughed and wheezed and Mara asked seriously if she should give her the Heimlich. She finally recovered after shooing Mara away and looked up to see Dundan standing with her mother in the doorway, looking confused and concerned and a little bit amused. Cy realized at that moment she must have the biggest milk moustache in history and wiped her mouth quickly while averting her eyes, wondering how much of her dignity she could get out of this situation with.
"Um, I just came over to see Cyrene—if she's okay," Dundan said, still watching Cy.
She quickly looked at her mother, trying her best to convey through her face the message that, no, she was not fine, so if he asks for her to step out with him then she, as Cyrene's parent, must say no.
"I'm sure she is," Emilie said instead. "Do you want her to step out for a few minutes?"
Cy's forehead collided with the table.
"Maybe she's not fine," Mara said skeptically, peering sideways at her older sister.
