Witching World Complete Series Bundle

In nineteenth century Norland, magic is forbidden, punishable by death. But it’s coming for Clara…

Clara was born to the nobility at a time when rank and power are often more valuable than the bonds of family. Her parents have plans for her, none that she wants, all involving her arranged marriage to a suitor selected for her, without her input.

From her birth, her entire life has been planned out for her, from lessons with her governess in academics—only what a future wife in society needs to know, of course—to etiquette and needlepoint. Every step of her path is meant to end with her walking down an aisle and then popping out heirs, to eventually begin the cycle anew.

Her true feelings shared only with one of her sisters, Clara cringes at the thought of her destiny, doing all she can to accept the fate her parents have chosen for her.

Only then, for the first time in her life, something unexpected happens. Clara falls gravely ill, and none of the usual methods, including leeching, can save her. With their daughter on the brink of death, when her future alliance is already settled, her desperate father finally calls on a mysterious man whose expertise is in the banned arts. It’s a dangerous move, one that threatens all that her parents have built.

Now, an illegitimate wizard is Clara’s only hope of survival. And under his secret care, an unforeseen side effect develops.

Magic awakens in Clara, gifting her with a second chance.

Her entire life, she has resisted the lure of magic, doing what has been expected of her.

Nothing has prepared her to deny the temptation of the only man willing to save her … from herself.

Chapter One: Claiming Sickness

Father and Mother stood at the entrance of my chamber, minimizing their risk of contagion. They’d forbidden my sisters to be anywhere near the quarantine zone. “What is it, Doctor? What’s wrong with her?” Father called from across the room.

Doctor Whittling was the second physician to see me in as many days. The first doctor had no real understanding of what to do with me and left in a hurry, pocketing the payment he’d done little to earn, while murmuring far-fetched hypotheses and generic treatment instructions.

The fidgety Doctor Whittling had no more of an idea of what was wrong with me than the first physician but truly wished to see me recover. With meaty fingers, he brushed aside strands of red hair, plastered against my forehead, saturated with sweat and dark as blood in the dim light.

Mother ordered the servants to change my soaked bed linens just before sunset, but it made no difference. The fever was strong. The fresh sheets clung to my slick skin.

Doctor Whittling lifted my eyelids with gentle fingers and drew a candle near to examine my clouded eyes. Before shifting his gaze to my parents, he let out a heavy sigh of resignation. The round little doctor froze, knowing he couldn’t retract it, while everyone in the room pretended to ignore his lament and what it implied.

“I’m uncertain of the cause of her affliction, nor do I know why it settled into her body so rapidly, but I can say that her condition is very dangerous. Unless her fever breaks shortly, you may lose her."

Doctor Whittling looked toward the doorway with a practiced expression of regret. He delivered this kind of news regularly. It was an unavoidable part of his profession.

Unlike the physicians and my parents, I knew what had caused my illness. Over the last several feverish days, between hallucinations, I realized that I’d claimed it. I told my mother, “I am sick.” And so I’d become.

I’d never had a thought like that before, and now I wonder if the feverish hallucinations were what allowed me to reach through to what had not yet come.

But first, I had to survive, and the fever had a vise-like grip on me, fragile and devastated as I was.

Chapter Two: A Dreaded Grand Arrival

It all began on a particularly cold day. Nestled in the countryside, Norland was a beautiful place, but during the winter months, a bone-chilling, damp cold was the price to pay for the future reward of sunshine and verdant landscapes.

I woke to the subdued sounds of my lady’s maid stoking the fire. Her trembling silhouette clinched her shawl closer around her neck and shoulders. Her body relaxed only when the fire stretched from the night’s sleep and awakened.

“Good morning, Maggie,” I said.

She turned, surprised. “Good day, Milady. I’m sorry to have disturbed you. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s all right. I was ready to waken. Has day broken yet?”

“Only just, Milady.”

It wasn’t possible to open the shutters and let in the morning light. It was too cold early in the day at this time of year, nearing the winter solstice. Maggie opened the shutters only during the height of the day, and even then, for only an hour or two at most.

She scuttled around the room lighting the candles left from the previous evening. She looked much older than her years, still hunched with the memory of an overbearing cold. She was only as old as I was.

“Shall I prepare your clothes, Milady?”

I stretched. My bed was warm. I was reluctant to leave it. I knew how cold the stone floors were.

“I suppose so. I think I’ll wear my green dress, the thick one.”

Maggie was already assembling the small pile of clothing expected of a future countess. “Perhaps Milady may want to reconsider. Today the Count and Countess of Chester are arriving. Perchance your new violet dress would be a better choice.”

I groaned. The violet dress was not as warm, and the sleeves and bodice were tight and itchy. But Maggie knew better than I did what my parents expected of me. I’d learned long ago that resistance to her suggestions was futile. Inevitably, my mother would send me back to dress precisely as Maggie had recommended in the first place.

“Maggie, I wish you looked like me. Then you could take my place, and I’d be free to do as I wish.”

YA Historical Adventure Fantasy
✔️Academy
✔️Coming of Age
✔️Fish out of Water
✔️Magical Creatures
✔️Found Family
✔️Witches & Wizards
✔️Shifters & Vampires
✔️The Chosen One
✔️Hidden World