The Ordeals

Get ready to be swept away. An irresistible YA romantasy - perfect for fans of Alexandra Christo, Sarah Underwood and Shelby MahurinRomance. Betrayal. Magic. The YA debut of 2024.Mira is a wrecker, one of the seven chosen to swim out and plunder the wrecked ships beyond the Isle of Rosevear. The waves sing to her soul, the call of the sea beckoning her into deeper waters. But Rosevear needs her, and she could never abandon her home. Until one evening when lightning splits the sky and the Watch descend, taking Mira's father away.Mira must set off on a journey to win back her father's freedom. She will encounter two strangers along the way - enigmatic Seth and smouldering Elijah - and learning who to trust will not be easy. When she discovers a dark family secret, buried deep in the ocean, Mira finds that securing her future - and that of her island - will come at a high price . . .'A magical tale with a lot of heart' Alexandra Christo, author of To Kill a Kingdom'Brimming with wild magic, adventure and dreamy romance' Catherine Doyle, co-author of Twin Crowns'Greenlaw's immersive voice and skilful world-building shine' Adrienne Young, author of Fable'An addictive blend of lyrical prose, shimmering magic and whip-sharp pacing' Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

A Waterstones' Best Romantasy Book of 2025'A rich romantasy ideal for fans of dark academia' The Mirror'The magic system is captivating, and the ending will leave you yearning for the second book' The Express'Sizzling and addictive romantasy' Sunday Post'I absolutely treasured it from beginning to end' Cecelia Ahern,Sunday Times Number One bestseller on The Woodsmoke Women's Book of SpellsOld Magic. New power. A contest to die for.**************************************************Sophia DeWinter has been bound to her cruel uncle, the Collector since he exacted a blood bond from her as a child. When she learns of Killmarth, an elite academy for magic wielders outside of the Collector's control, she grabs it as her only chance to break free.Each hopeful must prove their worth by competing in brutal and deadly challenges - the Ordeals. And that's just the beginning, because hopefuls are also being viciously picked off one-by-one. To survive, Sophia could team up with another challenger. Perhaps the powerful wielder Alden Locke. But how to identify an ally from a rival? Or even a murderer?In her haste to escape the Collector's power over her, has Sophia risked everything only to run from the flames and into the fire?'Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets the Scholomance series!' Reader review ***********************************************************'Combines captivating world building, a seriously twisty plot, and a steamy romance... impossible to put down' Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones'Deliciously dark with high stakes and a sizzling hot romance, The Ordeals is not to be missed!' Tessonja Odette, author of A Rivalry of HeartsReaders ADORE The Ordeals:'Mysterious, chilling, and utterly addictive' Reader review,*****'This completely swept me away. The world-building is absolutely stunning' Reader review,*****'Exciting and unique, quick paced and kept you guessing throughout' Reader review,*****'I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book' Reader review,*****'A quite creepy atmosphere and... Buffy-esque vampire slaying into the mix' Reader review,*****PRAISE FOR RACHEL GREENLAW:'It is an absolute masterpiece' Frost magazine'Completely captures the imagination' Muddy Stilettos'The characters are so raw and relatable and the mystery so intriguing that I hated slipping out of this magical world and back to reality.' Kate Robb, author of This Spells Love

Bargains made in desperation have steep costs.Mira has been listless on Rosevear, waiting for the moment that she can join Elijah, avenge her father, and put a stop to Seth and Renshaw’s schemes. But, before she can take action, the watch strike and leave devastation in their wake.With a crew of loyal friends, Mira makes plans to cut down Renshaw’s reach with the use of her mother’s map. Though Elijah is worried about the word of Mira’s ability spreading, she’s determined to stop the people threatening her island. But, as she learns more about Renshaw’s plans—her control over the watch, and other allies in high places—she realizes that danger surrounds her on every side.Mira might be in over her head, but after surviving so much betrayal, will she be able to trust Elijah and his crew in order to save herself, her homeland, and the people she loves most?

Get ready to be swept away. An irresistible YA romantasy - perfect for fans of Alexandra Christo, Sarah Underwood and Shelby MahurinRomance. Betrayal. Magic. The YA romantasy debut of 2024.Mira is a wrecker, one of the seven chosen to swim out and plunder the wrecked ships beyond the Isle of Rosevear. The waves sing to her soul, the call of the sea beckoning her into deeper waters. But Rosevear needs her, and she could never abandon her home. Until one evening when lightning splits the sky and the Watch descend, taking Mira's father away.Mira must set off on a journey to win back her father's freedom. She will encounter two strangers along the way - enigmatic Seth and smouldering Elijah - and learning who to trust will not be easy. When she discovers a dark family secret, buried deep in the ocean, Mira finds that securing her future - and that of her island - will come at a high price . . .'A magical tale with a lot of heart' Alexandra Christo, author of To Kill a Kingdom'Brimming with wild magic, adventure and dreamy romance' Catherine Doyle, co-author of Twin Crowns'Greenlaw's immersive voice and skilful world-building shine' Adrienne Young, author of Fable'An addictive blend of lyrical prose, shimmering magic and whip-sharp pacing' Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

The second irresistible adventure in the Compass and Blade trilogy, full of intrigue, sizzling romance, dark magic and monstrous beings.A magical bargain always comes at a cost.On Rosevear, Mira is plagued by nightmares. She is lost and untethered - and then the watch strike, burning her home. The attack ignites a spark within her, and Mira knows it's time to call in her bargain with Elijah, and tear down Captain Renshaw and the watch. But she must find allies to help her unlock her siren abilities, and the witches aren't all on Mira's side.In Coven Septern, Brielle has always believed in her work as a hunter, is proud to slay the monsters plaguing their world. She's a trained weapon, a sharpened blade, a nocked arrow. She knows the blood she drains will be used for good, and yet her next assignment is a human girl. For in the eyes of the council, Mira is a monster, and monstrous creatures must be tamed ...

The second irresistible adventure in the Compass and Blade trilogy, full of intrigue, sizzling romance, dark magic and monstrous beings.A magical bargain always comes at a cost.On Rosevear, Mira is plagued by nightmares. She is lost and untethered - and then the watch strike, burning her home. The attack ignites a spark within her, and Mira knows it's time to call in her bargain with Elijah, and tear down Captain Renshaw and the watch. But she must find allies to help her unlock her siren abilities, and the witches aren't all on Mira's side.In Coven Septern, Brielle has always believed in her work as a hunter, is proud to slay the monsters plaguing their world. She's a trained weapon, a sharpened blade, a nocked arrow. She knows the blood she drains will be used for good, and yet her next assignment is a human girl. For in the eyes of the council, Mira is a monster, and monstrous creatures must be tamed ...

“This is a story of romance, broken friendship, and staying true to yourself under the weight of family obligations. This sweet tale with light magic will appeal to readers of Sarah Addison Allen and fans of the movie (and book) Practical Magic.” — Booklist In a magical new direction for One Christmas Morning author Rachel Greenlaw, an evocative and mysterious story about lost love and the magic of coming home, for readers of Adrienne Young and Breanne Randall.There is an old tale woven through the mountain town of Woodsmoke about a stranger who appears as the first snow falls in winter, who will disappear without a trace as the frost thaws in spring, leaving a broken heart behind.Carrie Morgan ran from Woodsmoke ten years ago, and the decision has haunted her ever since. Spending a decade painting and drifting around Europe, she tries to forget her family’s legacy and the friends she left behind. But the Morgan women have always been able to harness the power of the mountains surrounding the town, and their spells—and curses—are sewn into the soil. The mountains, they say, never forget.Sure enough, when Carrie’s grandmother dies and leaves behind her dilapidated cottage, she returns to renovate—certain she will only be there for one winter. She meets Matthieu as the temperature dips, a newcomer who offers to help refurbish the cottage. Before long, and despite warnings from her great-aunt Cora of the old stories, Carrie finds herself falling for the charming stranger. But when the frost thaws in spring, Matthieu goes missing.Carrie is convinced he’s real, and he’s in danger. As she fights her way across the mountains to find him, she must confront all the reasons why she left Woodsmoke and decide whether the place she’s spent the last decade running from is the home she’s been searching for.Rachel Greenlaw, the beloved author of One Christmas Morning, returns with another beautifully crafted, emotionally charged, and romantic tale about lost love and the magic of coming home."The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells captivated me from the very first page... I absolutely treasured it from beginning to end." —Cecelia Ahern, New York Times bestselling author

For fans of Fable by Adrienne Young or To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo, this romantasy debut is filled with sirens and mysterious magic, swoony romance and cutthroat betrayal.This world of sea and storm runs deep with bargains and blood.On the remote isle of Rosevear, Mira, like her mother before her, is a wrecker, one of the seven on the rope who swim out to shipwrecks to plunder them. Mira’s job is to rescue survivors, if there are any. After all, she never feels the cold of the frigid ocean waters and the waves seem to sing to her soul. But the people of Rosevear never admit the truth: that they set the beacons themselves to lure ships into the rocks.When the Council watch lays a trap to put an end to the wrecking, they arrest Mira’s father. Desperate to save him from the noose, Mira strikes a deal with an enigmatic wreck survivor guarding layers of secrets behind his captivating eyes, and sets off to find something her mother has left her, a family secret buried deep in the sea.With just nine days to find what she needs to rescue her father, all Mira knows for certain is this: The sea gives. The sea takes. And it’s up to her to do what she must to save the ones she loves.