With the help of her magical time-bending abilities, young adult Eona has made a name for herself as an acrobat traveling throughout the Kingdom of Fer and performing with the theatrical Ghorres family. But since magic has been strictly controlled by the king, her power also makes her a target. When Lassadar, the Royal Sorcerer, dispatches guards to kidnap her, Eona is offered a choice: become Lassadar’s magical apprentice or risk being sentenced to death. Hoping to find a way out of her predicament, Eona agrees to Lassadar’s tutelage. Eona’s magical prowess grows exponentially via his harsh lessons, but as she delves further into the workings of the palace, she’s forced to reckon with her inadvertent complicity in enforcing an oppressive regime. Eona’s acquisition of a peryton, a mythical deer-like creature with wings, adds buoyant levity to her situation. Excerpts from fictional books about the Kingdom of Fer’s history begin each chapter, providing slim context for subsequent happenings; the underdeveloped worldbuilding lends to a disjointed narrative and undermines the intriguing premise. Even so, Wynter imbues Eona’s far-reaching travels with gripping tension that propels this fantastical adventure. Ages 14–up. (Self-published)