HOUSE OF MARIONNE

A desperate teen with deadly magical secrets turns to her family legacy.

Without much explanation from her mother, high school senior Raquell Janae Marionne only understands that they can’t stay in one place long because of the toushana that grows inside her like a curse. The Draguns are assassins tasked with hunting anyone suspected of possessing this magic, and a slip-up has left Quell alone, seeking refuge with her only remaining family—her grandmother who is headmistress of House Marionne of the Order of Highest Mysteries. Quell and readers benefit significantly from the crash course in magical history, aristocracy, and political intrigue she receives. Latin terms and old European courtship traditions are woven into a magical finishing school tucked away in an alternative New Orleans with a population cued as racially diverse. Quell finds the debutante life both risky and rewarding as she struggles to control her toushana. Plus, there’s dangerously alluring Jordan, a young, brooding Dragun. Elle ramps up the tension between the two as Quell masters enviable abilities before her Cotillion debut. As secrets both magical and political are revealed, she learns that even the Marionnes have skeletons in their closets, and a Dragun lover may not be the easiest partner to navigate it all with. An undeniably rich sense of magic pervades this fantasy that treads familiar territory with aplomb.

A strong atmosphere marks this series opener that will draw in genre fans.