Idonea learned illegal blood magic from her mother, Nellith, who goes missing shortly after completing a tattoo on her daughter’s back. Idonea locates her mother’s ring and a mysterious volume with “obscure ritual references. A sketch of a tree without roots. A map of stars that didn’t belong to their sky.” Accompanied by Nellith’s pet dragon Lance, Idonea goes on a quest to find her mother, as well as a relic in the book called the Heart of Ffyrnedd. She books a ride on a pirate airship and befriends its captain, Safira. Idonea soon arrives in the capital city, where she starts her hunt for Nellith. She’s arrested there by Templars for being in the vicinity of a murder, and Lysander, a young Severant (part of an order of magic users), is assigned to guard her. Idonea is eventually released into the custody of her father, Alcaeus, who left her with Nellith years before, taking her sister, Dyota, with him. Alcaeus gives her a week to find Nellith and the relic with Lysander’s assistance, and while they search, an unknown assailant kills three local witches—and Idonea may be in mortal danger as well, from a threatening demon. Australian author Rose has created a complex world in this novel, including reference tools, with a map in the front and a pronunciation guide and other useful materials in the backmatter. In order to fully appreciate the action, though, readers must either flip back and forth between the narrative and these references or forge ahead uncertainly, which may be frustrating for some. Idonea and Lysander are compelling characters who experience growth and, inevitably, overcome their differences to end up together. It’s enjoyable to watch Idonea learn how to see through the subterfuge that was a key part of her young life, and readers will have no doubt by the end of the book that she’s ready to meet more daunting challenges.