A sweeping love story set against a fantastical, dangerous world…

In Gateley’s final installment in The Lost Wells Trilogy, Julia and Domhnall grapple with the aftermath of betrayal and battle as they flee from Cassius’s relentless pursuit alongside his sinister Wraiths. In a world threatened by darkness and a chilling prophecy, Cassius Longinus, the ancient Child of Rome, has unleashed chaos in his relentless pursuit of answers. Julia, a former linguistics student turned powerful witch, and Dom, heir to the Irish throne, have spent countless lifetimes battling Cassius, their once-trusted friend who has now aligned himself with evil. Isolated and constantly on the run from Cassius’ forces, Julia and Dom must gather what little allies they have left and devise a plan to stop the spreading darkness. Their only hope lies in deciphering a cryptic prophecy and finding a way to restore balance before it’s too late.

In this thrilling conclusion to the series, Gateley once again demonstrates her mastery of storytelling, leveraging the extensive groundwork laid in previous volumes to delve even deeper into character development and narrative complexity. Julia and Dom’s profound bond forms the heart of the narrative. Across time, Dom has protected Julia as she reclaims her memories. Their love deepens into an unquenchable desire, revealed through passionate encounters. Meanwhile, the ancient and disconnected Cassius poses a formidable threat. The tension and emotional stakes are palpable as alliances are tested and loyalties are questioned, driving the narrative forward at a frantic pace. Despite the complexity of the worldbuilding, Gateley ensures that readers never feel overwhelmed by its weight. Instead, the intricately crafted setting serves as a rich backdrop against which the characters’ journeys unfold, enhancing the immersive experience for readers without detracting from the story’s momentum. While the pacing occasionally veers into frenetic territory, particularly in the novel’s final chapters, this serves to heighten the tension and excitement, propelling readers toward a thrilling climax. Many of the elements of the setting and story will be familiar to fantasy fans; but this is not a mere rehash of common romantic fantasy tropes – it is a gripping and original tale, infused with exciting magic and exhilarating battles of life and death.

With its rich character development, intricate worldbuilding, and pulse-pounding action, the series concludes on a high note, leaving readers thoroughly satisfied with its culmination. Both a mesmerizing fantasy adventure and a profound meditation on love.

Still reeling from the treachery of their once-trusted ally Ronan, Julia and Dom are trying to navigate the wilderness of British Columbia, and striving to regroup their fragmented coalition of seers, magicians, and ancient orders. Their mission is simple: to confront Cassius and thwart his malevolent schemes. With a new prophecy guiding their path, the pair embark on a quest for an ancient weapon, holding onto hope for redemption in their final stand against the encroaching darkness. Will they succeed?

Gateley’s skillful fusion of ancient history with contemporary action is accentuated by the enhanced depth in characterizations and interpersonal dynamics. At the heart of this tale of love, heroism, and struggle against darkness, is the characters’ intricate interpersonal dynamic, notably between Julia and Dom, whose relationship is tested to its limits by the shattering betrayal of Ronan. Gateley deftly navigates the complexities of these relationships, exploring the depths of trust, loyalty, and forgiveness.  Action-packed battles unfold as Dom and allies face Cassius’s relentless army. An adrenaline-charged and perfectly paced conclusion to an exciting series. Lovers of high fantasy will want to take a look.

n Kate Gateley’s fantasy novel Severance of the Sorcerer, a witch and a druid who are cursed to cycles of death and rebirth prepare for a final confrontation with an immortal sorcerer.

For thousands of years, Julia and Dom (prophesied to be the Sovereign and the World Ruler who guide the world out of darkness) have been bound to Cassius, a powerful sorcerer known as the Child of Rome. Part of the curse is that after they die, they are reborn and must reunite to recover their memories before Cassius finds them again. Their current lives have been their longest but also their most tragic; they’ve been betrayed and forced into hiding. To fulfill the prophecy, they must overcome their grief and rebuild trust in each other.

Meanwhile, Cassius and his unrelenting minions continue their dark machinations. But even as his power approaches new heights, Cassius still wants to capture, punish, and destroy Julia and Dom. A new prophecy warns, “Darkness wields a steady foothold, should only two destroy the throne”: Julia and Dom will not win alone. Their allies—an eclectic cohort of witches and druids—have a part to play, and potential new life hinges on their ability to unravel new mysteries related to the source of Cassius’s powers.

Julia and Dom are heroes whose passion for each other centers the tale. Dom chased Julia across centuries, protecting her while she recovered her memories. In their current lives, their love is even deeper, akin to craving. They seize every opportunity for intense erotic connection. And in the course of their exchanges, the subtler attributes of their personalities come to the fore, as with Dom’s outbursts, wherein his language becomes archaic and religious. Elsewhere, Cassius’s voice is ancient, making him seem out of touch when he interacts with others; he feels less human the more he speaks.

Beyond these personalities are vibrant action sequences in which Dom and the druids face Cassius’s endless army of wraiths, their rising emotions matching the physical clashing of their weapons. Still, defeating Cassius isn’t as straightforward a prospect as the prophecy would suggest. It becomes apparent that Julia and Dom have one last chance to defeat him—and that the path to their success is a perilous one.

This final volume of an epic fantasy trilogy spans thousands of years and features a multitude of characters.

Julia O’Brien and her husband, Domhnall, are holed up in a cabin in Saskatchewan, hiding out while they lick their wounds. Ronan Gallagher, the man Dom thought of as a brother and someone Julia considered family, betrayed them and is now working with their greatest enemy—Marcus Cassius Longinus. Cassius has been alive for over a millennium, and Julia and Dom have spent countless lives trying to defeat him. Julia, the victim of a curse, is reborn every time she dies. Dom chose to be cursed so he could regenerate and find her again. At one point, Julia recalls: “To him, our love had always been a cause worth dying for.” Now, after so many rebirths, she’s noticed that her memories of her past lives have been deteriorating. There’s something about this life cycle that might end the curse. Julia wants to have a normal life with Dom—to start a family—and the only way to do that is to ensure Cassius’ demise. Julia must develop and fully control her magic. With the help of her friends, found family, and a collection of Druids, Wielders, and Knaves, she must annihilate the evil Cassius and his army of Wraiths. In this third volume, Gateley delivers the epic ending that readers are surely clamoring for. The novel relies heavily on the audience being familiar with the previous books, since characters are known by multiple names and titles that are used interchangeably. For example, Cassius is also called “the Sorcerer” and “the Child of Rome,” with Julia and Dom having similar titles. But despite the work’s heavy backstory and use of multiple names, Gateley skillfully weaves an enthralling tale starring remarkable players on a dangerous mission. The author’s fantasy world is rich and varied, with different types of magic users, including Druids, Bearers, and Wielders, to name a few. These elements, combined with Julia and Dom’s engrossing love story, will please fantasy and romance fans alike.

Robust worldbuilding and a millennia-spanning romance make this fantasy series finale a compelling read.

A vast saga of magic, mythology and reincarnation comes to a head in Severance of the Sorcerer, the last entry in Kate Gateley’s ambitious Lost Wells trilogy.

This volume opens with the two series’ protagonists Julia and Domhnall, dealing with the fallout of battle and betrayal. Julia, a linguistics student turned powerful witch, and Dom, scion of Irish kings, have spent lifetimes battling Cassius, the evil “Child of Rome” who has been after them for millennia.

In the two previous books, the battle was waged across continents, as Julia, Dom and their allies struggled to defy ancient prophecies and destroy Cassius’s evil magic. Here, readers find the couple fleeing Cassius’s evil “Wraiths,” malevolent forces intent on rooting them out. They’re still processing their betrayal by Ronan, a druid and Dom’s longtime ally who joined the enemy’s forces in the previous book.

As Julia and Dom seek escape across British Columbia, they must figure out how to reassemble their forces, a coalition that includes seers, magicians and ancient orders, in a final effort to stamp out Cassius’s hold and stem a terrible evil. It’s a battle that hinges on a new prophecy, one that will end with a quest for an ancient weapon and the possibility of redemption.

Gateley reaches her narrative stride in this final entry to the series. The characters have had plenty of space to develop in the previous books, both of which clock in at more than 500 pages, and that room to grow pays off here. The relationship between Julia and Dom, the true weight of Ronan’s betrayal, and other human elements add a compelling element to the magic, action and other features that characterize the series.

The author’s knack for combining ancient history and modern action remains sharp here, and the added depth in characterization and human interactions make the 500-plus page length feel more manageable for casual fantasy fans.

Overall, this is a laudable conclusion to an engaging series.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.

Mantle of the World Ruler is the second installment in the Lost Wells Trilogy by Kate Gateley. The trials and tribulations of Julia Harrison continue as she and Dom O’Brian try to recuperate after the onslaught of danger by Marcus Cassius Longinus. However, things slowly get better as Julia tries to control her Bearing magic and lay low in LA for the time being. Julia works hard to unlock her potential and the full extent of her powers, but it cannot come quickly enough. Cassius is hot on their heels and is ready to do whatever it takes to remove Julia from the equation. As Julia tries to master her power, she begins to sense a dark and dangerous Bearing magic wielder who could be far more lethal than Cassius. But Julia and her friends cannot ignore Cassius for long as he drums up something dangerous that can end magic users once and for all. They have their hands full, but can they stop him before it is too late?

I love it when the second novel in the series is far superior to the first one. This is a massive compliment because Tides of the Sovereign is one of my all-time favorite reads. Fantasy stories can be redundant and overdone, but not when Kate Gateley writes them. She works magic to build the most realistic yet fantastic world you can imagine yourself in. Julia’s world is something like that. The mystery oozes out of the pages as Gateley takes us through the motions and gives us a first-hand look inside her characters’ minds. The narrative style is fantastic, and the pace complements Julia’s development through and through. While Julia isn’t so sure about her powers, Dom believes her irrevocably. He follows her lead wholeheartedly while providing her with the best support possible. Mantle of the World Ruler is a novel for adults, thanks to the passionate relationship between the protagonists and the constant action that demands our attention. I don’t want to give away much, but I love the plot’s complexity! I cannot praise this installment enough.

rophecies are mutable in Mantle of the World Ruler, Kate Gateley’s compelling second installment of The Lost Wells Trilogy.

In the first book, 30-year-old linguistics student Julia Harrison learns of her status as a witch, as well as a love connection with Irish scholar and warrior Dom O’Brien that’s spanned countless lifetimes. The pair work with allies to thwart Cassius, a villainous “Child of Rome” who’s been hunting her for millennia.

At the outset of the second book, Gateley’s protagonists have derailed an ominous ancient prophecy, but Cassius won’t be stopped so easily. Seeking to defeat his longtime nemesis, he returns to Rome to glean another prediction from an ancient sybil, in hopes of achieving immortality.

Dom and Julia, meanwhile, work to decode the new prophecy, one that foretells of “the Sovereign standing tall,” and insists that “the World Ruler too must bear his crown.” This prediction adds new perspective to Dom’s role in the battle, even as Julia continues to understand her status as a wielder of ancient magic

In their struggle to defeat Cassius, the pair travel to many locales, connecting with characters from the first book, such as Dom’s longtime friend Ronan, who’s given more depth and intrigue here. Gateley also introduces a broader cast of interesting characters, including an ancient sect of wielders and seers called the Knaves.

As in the first installment, Gateley melds a knack for storytelling with academic expertise in ancient history, Celtic mythology and epic fiction. Her roots in historical fiction and romance genres are clear, as she bides her time exploring the longtime ties between Julia and Dom.

This facet works alongside plenty of action, intrigue and adventure, but with 500-plus pages, there’s also time to get to the story’s more harrowing segments. For fans of the first book, that pace will feel familiar. For fantasy readers more accustomed to a rapid roll-out, patience pays off in this exciting second installment of this promising trilogy.

With Cassius determined to draw a prediction from an ancient seer in his bid to achieve immortality, the pair know they must find a way to decode the new prophecy. The story boasts a fully fleshed-out cast, fantastical worldbuilding, and tight plotting. Alternating between a third-person narration and Julia’s first-person voice, the narrative delves into the characters’ inner turmoil, revealing their self-doubts, fears, insecurities, and inner struggles. Gateley is at her best when writing about her heroine’s immensely agonizing experience of coming into her own power. Her exploration of love, friendship, human connection, individual angst, self-discovery, and identity is equally compelling. Dom shines through and through. Ronan’s journey, though slightly less significant than Julia and Dom’s ongoing stories, is equally engaging. The final act delivers an unlikely predicament for Ronan and a startling betrayal. An expertly woven and enthralling offering.

After surviving their destined run-in with the sinister Cassius, Julia Harrison and Dom O’Brien leave the West Coast of Canada and land in LA. With their future uncertain, the pair know the Prophecy is broken. But decoding the new Prophecy is a gigantic task. Meanwhile, Cassius has disappeared. Unbeknown to the pair, he is searching for an ancient tome that’s supposed to put an end to all Wielders. Will they learn about Cassius’s destructive plan? Over the course of this compelling tale, Gateley offers readers vividly descriptive prose, an intriguing storyline, and tight plotting. Her knack for creating strong-willed heroines and heroes who are nothing but gentlemanly shines here along with her gift for fantastical worldbuilding. She stylizes the narrative as an alternating third-person omniscient voice and Julia’s first-person narration. Julia’s intimate perspective makes her relentless turmoil understandable as she fights to understand and control her powers. Her turmoil stems from both Dom’s over-possessiveness and compulsively assertive attitude as well as her struggle to come to terms with her new powers. The sensitive, caring, and fierce Dom remains an appealing protagonist, and readers will find that getting to know the way his mind works is one of the story’s greatest pleasures. Ronan’s character gets more growth and depth. There is also plenty of power struggles, political intrigue, dark magic, and delicious romance to please diehard romance fantasy fans, but beneath this facade, Gateley tells an intriguing story of the meaning of love, human connection, and responsibility versus personal desire. Much of the first third of the novel is a gentle setup of Dom and Julia settling into a new routine in LA and the latter’s struggle as she tries to come into her true self. Not much time is wasted once the main events get going and the story moves without a hitch as Julia and Dom struggle to decode the new prophecy while trying to stop the unshakable Cassius. The book is the second that the author has set in this fantasy world, and though there’s a lot of background to catch up on, Gateley skillfully infuses the necessary backdrop, making the novel accessible to new readers. Readers who are already familiar with the story will thoroughly enjoy this thoughtfully developed, vivid tale. Captivating.

In Kate Gateley’s fantasy novel Mantle of the World Ruler, a young witch continues to learn and understand her power while trying to stop an implacable sorcerer who’s seeking immortality.

It’s been a year since Julia learned that her life as a university student was yet another life in a cycle of rebirth thanks to an ancient curse. She hails from a long line of witches capable of Sight, or divining the future through vivid visions. The sole respite in the cycle of deaths and rebirths is the one constant: her true love Dom. The two have spent lifetimes together, apart, and every variation in between, always trying to thwart the machinations of Cassius, who has sought the means of pure immortality for thousands of years.

Julia is destined to be the Sovereign and rule alongside the World Ruler to usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Her curse strips her of her memories until she reconnects with Dom, but her memory never fills in completely. Her fallible memory and growing power help draw the world building out: she’s still learning everything herself. Much of the story is told through her perspective with an intimacy that complements the core romance.

Cassius remains a looming threat throughout, but the focus stays on Julia discovering her power and interpreting the visions and her growing relationship with Dom. Their relationship is unusual in that he remembers their shared past, and she has an intense emotional and physical connection to him. Following as she regains some memories and also develops their bond as the current version of herself is equal parts steamy, endearing, and humorous. Julia and Dom bicker, joke with each other, and crescendo in erotic passion while waiting for the means of confronting Cassius.

The story begins right after the events of the first book, but thanks to a careful doling out of context, this second volume is accessible to new readers. There are some elements that are not explained, such as the backstory of why Julia and Dom are trapped in their cycle. Subtle breaks in the ongoing narrative to reflect on previous events—framed through Julia’s amnesia—allow the story to keep attention on the romance and the slow build toward a confrontation with Cassius.

The prose is polished, with a keen ear toward dialogue. It uses the unusual nature of long-lived characters to frame events in a humorous way. Dom often lapses into archaic phrases when he’s overwhelmed with emotion—as with his tendency to invoke religious concepts when inflamed by passion. The sections told through Julia’s perspective are the most compelling: she’s an old soul living in modern times, unaware of her past self but aware of how Dom and the magic realm affect her.

The inevitable conclusion finds Julia and Dom becoming aware of how Cassius hopes to achieve his immortality—and how their cycles of death and rebirth are connected to his plans. There’s a lack of finality as the narrative is set up to continue in future books. Julia and Dom still must grapple with the prophecy deeming her the Sovereign, with Cassius’s hunt for immortality, and with a painful betrayal.

Mantle of the World Ruler is a romantic fantasy novel in which two reborn lovers try to understand their place in the prophecy-threatened modern world.

Fate has united Canadian Julia Harrison and Irishman Dom O’Brien throughout their various lifetimes. Together once again in 2018, they survive their destined run-in with depraved sorcerer Cassius, largely thanks to Julia’s fairly new Bearing magic, akin to witchcraft. Julia and Dom leave Canada’s west coast for LA, where they hope to lie low for a spell. But it’s not easy to elude Cassius’ Wraiths, which have been ominously gathering all around them. Fortunately, the couple isn’t short on allies—from magic-wielding Druids to weapons-oriented Knaves. Julia is still trying to “unlock” her own power but hasn’t yet mastered it. Though Bearers like her are rare, she senses a dark wielder of Bearing magic who’s possibly in league with Cassius. Meanwhile, Julia and the others are oblivious to what Cassius is up to—scouring the globe for an ancient tome he believes will put an end to all “Wielders.” With any luck, Julia’s visions will warn her about Cassius’ fiendish plans. This second installment of a trilogy (following Tides of the Sovereign, 2022) sharpens its focus even more on Julia and Dom’s riveting series-driving union. It’s steeped in searing romance and tragedy; for centuries Cassius has killed them off each time they connect, and Dom, unlike Julia, remembers their past lives and all the times he’s watched her die. Moreover, the couple treks the world together, as when one of Julia’s “Divinations” sends them to Mexico. Through uber-evil Cassius’ point of view, the reader is privy to the novel’s vividly rendered global settings, whether he’s wandering through market stalls in Marrakech or driving past a medieval fortress in Carcassonne, France, for example. The author elevates this fantasy with some intense magic-driven action in between the sympathetic couple’s many intimate and convincingly passionate scenes.

Romance and resplendent characters fuel this novel’s enthralling magical world.

It speaks to the author’s knowledge of ancient rites and abilities that are still practiced, likely misunderstood, and rarely appreciated. She has woven that knowledge and insight into a remarkable story with strong, believable characters, rich situations, palpable feelings, and an uncontrived, fascinating plot that draws the reader across the pages. Seeing “Book One” on the front cover will excite an enthralled reader who wants to stay in this remarkable space—the author’s timing for Book Two is critical!

In Kate Gateley’s fantasy novel Tides of the Sovereign, a woman reckons with an ancient prophecy, her magical awakening, and destined love.

Julia is finishing her delayed senior year of college after her grandmother’s death. She’s a woman with a magical heritage, but her powers are dormant. Then she feels a sudden attraction to her new linguistics professor, Domhnall, who reveals himself to be her lover from centuries ago. And even as Julia struggles to accept that she has been cursed to reincarnate along with Domhnall, they are forced to flee from an ancient evil that’s stalking them.

With action spanning Vancouver, Ireland, and England, the story follows Julia, Domhnall, and their Druid allies as they try to revive Julia’s past life memories. Julia’s reincarnation seems incomplete this time, given that her memories and magic are both limited. The team is on borrowed time as well: a series of murders indicates that their enemy is drawing closer. Cassius, a sorcerer who has prolonged his life with dark magic, plans to entrap Julia and enact a prophecy in his favor.

Julia and Domhnall’s backgrounds in linguistics lead to frequent word play in their snappy conversations. Much is made of Domhnall’s Irish brogue and raw masculinity: he and Julia share many intimate moments. The emotions of their reconnection are fraught, though, with misplaced memories, mistrust, and doubt complicating their reunion. Julia also has trouble accepting and processing her identity as the crucial part of a prophecy.

Point-of-view shifts away from Julia’s perspective are used to track Domhnall’s activities and Cassius’s nefarious plans. The related sections are grim, though entire months pass without much action while Julia tries and fails to get a handle on her powers. Meanwhile, Cassius remains one step ahead of Julia and her allies, and Julia plays into his hands more than once. Her helplessness against her more knowledgeable enemy is wearying.

The book’s final battle, with its significant sacrifices accruing on both sides, is involving. It includes the high-stakes threat of Cassius prevailing and remaining free inflict harm on others in his pursuit of endless power.

The first book in a trilogy, the fantasy novel Tides of the Sovereign follows a prophesied woman as she struggles to access her ancestral magic (and her past-life memories) to assist in an epic battle against an ancient Roman sorcerer.

*Kate Gateley’s Tides of the Sovereign was a finalist for the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

Readers are introduced to Julia Harrison, a 30-year-old linguistics student at the University of British Columbia who has just re-entered the world of academia after the death of her Grandma Gertie. Her grandmother, we learn early on, wielded magic, as does Harrison herself. Harrison is also a Witch.

When Harrison meets her new professor, a visiting Irish scholar named Dom O’Brien, he immediately resonates with her. That’s not accidental. Harrison and O’Brien have been lovers in countless previous lifetimes, an ageless connection that has always been cut short far too quickly.

The details behind this relationship become increasingly clear as Harrison draws on her power of Sight and begins to recover memories from past lives. Along with O’Brien, she travels to Ireland to unearth the secrets behind past tragedies. The pair meet Druids, find clues about Harrison’s magical lineage and uncover the evil plot of Cassius, a “child of Rome” who has been hunting her through millennia. Through it all, O’Brien and Harrison’s revived relationship blossoms.

Across 500 pages, the author writes with a commitment to character, history and theme. She also pays attention to historical accuracy when it comes to Celtic myth, and is dedicated to portraying strong female characters and incorporating elements of feminism, even at the book’s most fantastical moments. The story and romance at the center of the action are engaging and convincing.

The only shortfall is the academic tone used throughout, which impedes the story’s dynamism. Like her lead protagonist, the author clearly has roots in academia, and overly convoluted language sometimes muddies the novel’s action. However, thanks to her well-drawn characters, she manages to overcome the stuffiness of the language.

Overall, Tides of the Sovereign is an ambitious undertaking that will appeal to lovers of fantasy, history and romance alike.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.

Thirty-year-old Canadian Julia Harrison knows that she’s from a family of Witches, but she’s learned little about her own magic in her quiet existence on Vancouver Island. She does, however, have the power of Sight, which torments her with disturbing nightmares and visions of the past, present, and future. Some could be glimpses of her former lives—and these include people whom Dom O’Brien knows quite well. He’s a visiting Irish professor at the University of British Columbia, where Julia is finishing her final undergraduate semester, studying linguistics. It turns out that he’s been her lover in numerous past lifetimes; each time, they find each other, share a few months together, and then die—a cycle that’s playing out once again. As Julia slowly regains her past-life memories, Dom stays quiet about a relevant prophecy, even after the pair encounter friendly, magic-wielding Druids in Ireland. As it happens, the wicked, immortal sorcerer Cassius has been hunting Julia through the centuries. Julia’s hazy recollections and her “unreliable” magic skills make her rely on Dom and the Druids, but she aims to control her own destiny and join in the fight. Gateley’s book stirs up myriad questions as it provides details about the couple’s fated deaths, and it lets a handful of mysteries linger, presumably for sequels. For the most part, the story centers on Julia and Dom’s sublimely complex relationship, delving into such uncertainties as how their lives might unfold if they were able to be together, uninterrupted, for years. Gateley illuminates this fantasy novel with vibrant descriptions, as when the couple flies through Ireland’s countryside in a classic sports car, or how their mutual attraction is like an “electrical storm brewing.” The tale also has a strong feminist theme as Julia resists various male oppressors—from enemies trying to prevent Witches like her from using magic to allies sidelining her in their plan to defeat Cassius.

A sprawling tale of love and magic with an engaging protagonist.

Gateley’s debut installment in The Lost Wells Trilogy is a compelling, leisurely moving tale that grounds paranormal elements in a fascinating love story. Thirty-year-old magic Bearer Julia Harrison has always found herself struggling with the magic and power that she shares with the women of her bloodline. All she wants to do is earn her degree and get on with life.  When her beloved grandmother, Gertie, dies, Julia finds herself struggling to feel connected to the world around her. But the arrival of Dom O’Brian, a visiting Irish professor, changes everything for Julia: there is an odd sense of familiarity Julia feels in the presence of Dom, and his raw masculinity is more than inviting. But he also shares with her a connection that’s centuries-old. Gateley has shaped a world that neatly straddles the myth and the reality. There are healthy doses of action, intriguing magic, angst-y romance and tender emotions. The mythical intertwines with the present, and magic, both dark and ordinary plays a critical role in the action. In this world, Druids and Sorcerers and Wielders and Bearers are as real as the general population of humans. The battle between the malevolent Cassius and Dom fuels the plot, as does the romance between Julia and Dom. The slow reveal of Julia and Dom’s romance is achingly poignant. The supernatural aspects of the story bring Julia and Dom’s vividly depicted lives and complex relationship into sharp focus. Gateley deftly establishes parallels between Julia’s internal turmoil—between coming to terms with her part in the ancient prophecy and finding her footing in the real world. Dom’s struggles to understand his own part in Julia’s tragic destiny are equally compelling. Cassius makes for a malevolent antagonist. The minor characters are sharply drawn, with their own longings and fears, impacting the trajectory of the story. Gateley has paid great attention to her characterization, but as a skilled storyteller, she never lets the details of the characters’ backstories get in the way of a compelling and neatly structured narrative. Feminism remains a domineering theme, with complex subjects of longing, passion, what it means to love truly and wholly, duty, destiny, belonging, lust for power, rebirth, and mortality deftly woven into the affecting narrative. At its heart, the novel is an evocative romance, grounded in profound emotion and character. A winner.