The Harwood Spellbook Series by Stephanie Burgis

"A niftily done short romance in a satisfyingly gender-role-reversed world." – K.J. Charles, author of Spectred Isle In the world of the Harwood Spellbook, 19th-century Angland is ruled by a powerful group of women known as the Boudiccate - but in order to become a member of that elite group, any ambitious young politician must satisfy tradition by taking a gentleman mage for her husband. Amy Standish is a born politician...but Jonathan Harwood is her greatest temptation... more"A niftily done short romance in a satisfyingly gender-role-reversed world." – K.J. Charles, author of Spectred Isle In the world of the Harwood Spellbook, 19th-century Angland is ruled by a powerful group of women known as the Boudiccate - but in order to become a member of that elite group, any ambitious young politician must satisfy tradition by taking a gentleman mage for her husband. Amy Standish is a born politician...but Jonathan Harwood is her greatest temptation. On the night of the Harwoods' Spring Solstice Ball, in an underwater ballroom full of sparkling fey lights and danger, Amy will have to fight the greatest political battle of her life to win a family and a future that she could never have imagined. It will take an entirely unexpected kind of magic to keep everything from crashing down around her. Warning : this novella contains forbidden romance, dangerous magic, and political intrigue in an underwater ballroom. What could possibly go wrong? Published first in the anthology The Underwater Ballroom Society on April 30th, 2018. "Spellswept by Stephanie Burgis somehow makes room for EPIC ROMANCE and ADORABLE FAMILY LOVE and MENTORSHIP and POLITICS and MAGIC and CHANGING SOCIETY and I think I actually squeed aloud at several points because it’s JUST. SO. LOVELY." – Starship Library "Stephanie Burgis is a fresh new voice and I can’t wait to see what she does next." Ilona Andrews less

In nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules... Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life... moreIn nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules... Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life. Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good. But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago. To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness. A witty and sparkling romantic fantasy novella that opens a brand-new series for adults from the author of Kat, Incorrigible, Masks and Shadows and Congress of Secrets. Volume I of The Harwood Spellbook less

Cassandra Harwood scandalized her nation when she became the first woman magician in Angland. Now, she's ready to teach a whole new generation of bright young women at her radical new school, the Thornfell College of Magic… Until a sinister fey altar is discovered in the school library, the ruling Boudiccate sends a delegation to shut down Thornfell, and Cassandra’s own husband is torn away from her... moreCassandra Harwood scandalized her nation when she became the first woman magician in Angland. Now, she's ready to teach a whole new generation of bright young women at her radical new school, the Thornfell College of Magic… Until a sinister fey altar is discovered in the school library, the ruling Boudiccate sends a delegation to shut down Thornfell, and Cassandra’s own husband is torn away from her. As malevolent vines slither in from the forest and ruthless politicians scheme against her, Cassandra must fight the greatest battle of her life to save her love, her school, and the future of the young women of Angland. less

Take one ambitious politician and one determined magician with wildly different aims for their next meeting... moreTake one ambitious politician and one determined magician with wildly different aims for their next meeting. Add a secret betrothal, a family scandal, and a heaping of dangerous fey magic in an enchanted wood…and watch the sparks fly! For just one moonlit, memorable night, Thornfell College of Magic has flung open its doors, inviting guests from around the nation to an outdoor ball intended to introduce the first-ever class of women magicians to society…but one magician and one invited guest have far more pressing goals of their own for the night. Quietly brilliant Juliana Banks is determined to win back the affections of her secret fiancée, rising politician Caroline Fennell, who has become inexplicably distant. If Juliana needs to use magic to get her stubborn fiancée to pay her attention…well, then, as the top student in her class, she is more than ready to take on that challenge! Unbeknownst to Juliana, though, Caroline plans to nobly sacrifice their betrothal for Juliana’s own sake – and no one has ever accused iron-willed Caroline Fennell of being easy to deter from any goal. Their path to mutual happiness may seem tangled beyond repair…but when they enter the fey-ruled woods that border Thornfell College, these two determined women will find all of their plans upended in a night of unexpected and magical possibilities. less

All of Angland knows by now of the famous fall of Honoria Fennell...who can no longer be known as Lady Cosgrave. She lost her marriage of convenience as well as her political career in the mysterious events at Thornfell College of Magic. Now, she has retired to lick her wounds in private, ready to be forgotten by the nation she used to gloriously co-rule...But deep within the elven dales, one can never be truly certain of being either alone or safe... moreAll of Angland knows by now of the famous fall of Honoria Fennell...who can no longer be known as Lady Cosgrave. She lost her marriage of convenience as well as her political career in the mysterious events at Thornfell College of Magic. Now, she has retired to lick her wounds in private, ready to be forgotten by the nation she used to gloriously co-rule...But deep within the elven dales, one can never be truly certain of being either alone or safe. Soon, Honoria will have to summon all of her steely courage for one final, potentially deadly confrontation - and discover whether she can seize a new hope for the future after all.A sapphic romantic fantasy short story set in the world of The Harwood Spellbook (and taking place after the events of Thornbound). less

Two years after Snowspelled, on the eve of the Winter Solstice, Cassandra Harwood faces one of her most ambitious challenges yet: juggling holiday celebrations for all of her students, a nerve-wracking visit from her intimidating parents-in-law, all of the usual fey and human chaos at Thornfell College of Magic for Young Women - and an un-missable personal anniversary for her and her husband, the brilliant magician Rajaram Wrexham... moreTwo years after Snowspelled, on the eve of the Winter Solstice, Cassandra Harwood faces one of her most ambitious challenges yet: juggling holiday celebrations for all of her students, a nerve-wracking visit from her intimidating parents-in-law, all of the usual fey and human chaos at Thornfell College of Magic for Young Women - and an un-missable personal anniversary for her and her husband, the brilliant magician Rajaram Wrexham. Luckily, Cassandra has never lacked in determination - but she may yet be surprised along the way!A sparkling, 7,600-word novelette that serves as an epilogue to the series and includes every couple from Snowspelled, Spellswept, Thornbound, and Moontangled. less