Synopsis

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay alive in the kingdom of Blunder, where magic is outlawed and those who possess it are hunted by the Destriers. She's been hiding her infection—a dark magic that whispers to her through the cards she carries—but when she encounters the mysterious highwayman known as the Nightmare, her secret is exposed. The Nightmare reveals himself to be Ravyn Yew, nephew to the king and captain of the Destriers, the very people who should be hunting her. Instead of turning her in, Ravyn offers Elspeth a dangerous bargain: help him find the Twin Alders cards, ancient artifacts that could save the kingdom from a creeping darkness called the Shepherd King, and he'll keep her secret safe. As Elspeth delves deeper into the world of card magic, she discovers that her infection is tied to something far more sinister than she ever imagined. The cards whisper of power and corruption, and each use of magic pulls her further from her humanity. Working alongside Ravyn and his band of unlikely allies, Elspeth must navigate court intrigue, ancient magic, and her growing feelings for the enigmatic captain who should be her enemy. But as the Shepherd King's influence spreads and the kingdom faces an existential threat, Elspeth realizes that the cards she's been trying to resist may be the only thing standing between Blunder and total destruction. The question becomes whether she can master the dark magic within her before it consumes her completely, and whether love can survive when both hearts are touched by darkness.