House of Marionne by J. Elle

This dazzling contemporary fantasy has it all — secret societies, deadly magic and steamy romance. Fans of Leigh Bardugo and Stephanie Garber won’t want to miss the dark academia vibes of House of Marionne.

An INSTANT New York Times bestseller!
An INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller!
An INSTANT Sunday Times bestseller!

A modern-day YA romantic fantasy series opener about a glamorous magical world of social elites, forbidden love, and a dark magic that could destroy it all.

"Dazzling and deceptive. The perfect escape!" – Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Timesbestselling author of The Ballad of Never After

"The forbidden love story of my wildest dreams!" – Ali Hazelwood, New York Timesbestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

BURY YOUR SECRET OR DIE FOR IT.

17-year-old Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have fled from city to city in order to hide the deadly magic that flows through Quell’s veins.

Until someone discovers her dark secret.

To hide from the assassin hunting her and keep her mother out of harm’s way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever.

If caught, she will be killed.

But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and assassin-in-training.

When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: Embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life, or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love.

Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.

Brimming with ballgowns and betrayal, magic and mystery, decadence and darkness, House of Marionne is perfect for readers who crave morally gray characters, irresistible romance, dark academia, and a deeply intoxicating and original world.