Luc, a poor but vain young man in 1775 Paris, is confused by his dreams of gilded ballrooms and unknown people in lace and jewels. What’s more, everything before the past two years is a hazy fog in his mind. His only link is Aunt Mathilde, who gives him few answers.

What he doesn’t know is that ‘Aunt Mathilde’ is in fact his mother and a Sorceress. She keeps him captive under her magical veil, desperate to both protect him and punish him for the evil deeds of his royal past.

When disease leaves Luc scarred and weakened, he feels his life is over. He pushes away his humble friends, including Emilie, a young housemaid.

Emilie, scarred from smallpox, is resigned to life as a spinster. Yet, she sees beauty and joy in life and understands Luc’s despair beneath his bitter, beastly attitude.

Unless Luc can embrace his inner strength, care about others, and love unselfishly, he risks destroying himself once more.

Book 1 of the ‘Mages in the Mundane’ historical fantasy series. A twist on Beauty and the Beast, with family drama, a secret underground society of Mages, and a sweet love story. The novel ends with a lead-in to the sequel.

$0.99 on Kindle.