Embers of Magic
Will be published approx. on 3. December 2026
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-06-342732-7 (ISBN)
Description
From the bestselling author of Flowerheart, Catherine Bakewell, comes a cozy, romantic, and enchanting reimagining of The Snow Queen perfect for fans of Allison Saft and Sarah Beth Durst.
Fiamma has never trusted her fire magic. It's volatile, unpredictable-destructive. All she wants now is to leave her past and her magic behind her, and search for the parents who vanished long ago.
Yet when she seeks aid from the king, he issues a chilling demand: she must first assist his son, Prince Joseph, in ending the magical frost creeping across the kingdom... by killing the witch responsible.
Joseph is sweet, thoughtful--if mercurial. He seems entirely unlike his father; gentle in ways that Fiamma doesn't expect. As the two work together, Fiamma finds herself drawn to him, something beginning to spark between them.
But their newfound closeness uncovers a terrible truth: this unnatural winter isn't just consuming the land. It's consuming Joseph, too, freezing his heart into something cold and unrecognizable.
To save him, Fiamma must confront the past she's so desperate to forget, and the true, devastating nature of her fire-even if doing so might unravel everything she's begun to hope for.
Fiamma has never trusted her fire magic. It's volatile, unpredictable-destructive. All she wants now is to leave her past and her magic behind her, and search for the parents who vanished long ago.
Yet when she seeks aid from the king, he issues a chilling demand: she must first assist his son, Prince Joseph, in ending the magical frost creeping across the kingdom... by killing the witch responsible.
Joseph is sweet, thoughtful--if mercurial. He seems entirely unlike his father; gentle in ways that Fiamma doesn't expect. As the two work together, Fiamma finds herself drawn to him, something beginning to spark between them.
But their newfound closeness uncovers a terrible truth: this unnatural winter isn't just consuming the land. It's consuming Joseph, too, freezing his heart into something cold and unrecognizable.
To save him, Fiamma must confront the past she's so desperate to forget, and the true, devastating nature of her fire-even if doing so might unravel everything she's begun to hope for.
Reviews / Votes
"Glittering with Bakewell's signature whimsy and heart, Embers of Magic is both a frost-laced fairytale and a spark of warmth in a cold world. I was swept away." - Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wings of StarlightEnchanting, lovely, and romantic! A beautiful fairy tale, Embers of Magic makes you feel like you're reading by a crackling fire while freshly fallen snow sparkles outside. - Sarah Beth Durst, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE FARAWAY INN
Embers of Magic is truly lovely. It captivated me with its fairytale heart and beautiful spirit, and I came away feeling that I'd just spent time inside a gorgeous, glimmering magical spell woven by the story. Catherine Bakewell is so talented! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes for a soulful, enchanting read. - India Holton, USA Today bestselling author
"Sparkly, charming, and swoony, Flowerheart is a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon. Bakewell's unique magical world, beautiful prose, and childhood friends-to-strangers-to-lovers romance cast an undeniable spell." - Sasha Peyton Smith, New York Times-bestselling author of The Rose Bargain
"Flowerheart is like a garden in full bloom: vibrant and sweet, whimsical and wondrous. With warm, lovely prose and a charming cast, Bakewell's YA debut is guaranteed to be fantasy fans' new comfort read." - Allison Saft, New York Times-bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
"An uplifting and meaningful tale bursting with floral imagery and cottagecore aesthetics." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A comfort read with the super cute slow-burn childhood friends-to-lovers trope and an enchanting, whimsical setting." - USA Today
"A gentle love story and a fantasy that faces the dark voices of anxiety and depression with mettle." - Kirkus Reviews
"An enchanting fantasy filled with lovely imagery and a sweet romance." - School Library Journal
"A mystical, cozy, and utterly spellbinding tale complete with whimsical world-building and characters you can't help but love. It's best read with a warm cup of tea." - barnesandnoble.com
"Peppered with moving moments of comfort, self-reflection and joy, Flowerheart is an intimate, charming read." - BookPage
"A magical blend of romance and whimsy, equal parts devastating and hopeful. With a touching, tender slow-burn romance at its core, Where Shadows Bloom is a lovely and rich confection of a book." - Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning
"Hopeful, poetic, and profoundly romantic, Where Shadows Bloom reads like an enchanting daydream. A beautiful ode to the enduring power of love." - Pascale Lacelle, New York Times & Indie bestselling author of Curious Tides and Stranger Skies
"Gorgeous, lyrical, and incredibly emotional, Where Shadows Bloom is a story about love in all its forms-when it's false, when it's real, when it hurts, and when it heals. I cannot recommend this dark daydream of a novel highly enough." - Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of So Let Them Burn
"The glittering balls of Bridgerton meet the dark mystique of magic in this enthralling sapphic love story. Catherine Bakewell's lush and lyrical writing will sweep you away to the exquisite palace of Le Chateau, where dark shadows lurk just beneath the gilded surface. I was utterly enchanted!" - Leslie Vedder, bestselling author of The Bone Spindle trilogy
"Storybook-sweet and achingly magical-a sapphic fairytale you will instantly fall for!" - Kika Hatzopoulou, internationally bestselling author of Threads That Bind
"In this serene tale of love and longing, Bakewell (Flowerheart) conjures a beguiling setting filled with danger and desire... the result is uniquely magical, romantic, and poetic." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"[Ofelia and Lope's] sapphic romance is delightfully swoony, while the mystery at the heart of Le Chateau Enchante is suitably dark, but with a well-earned happy ending." - Booklist
"The will-they, won't-they romance told in alternating points of view is delightful, especially since queer romances are nothing taboo in this universe... Love blooms in this well-developed Sapphic high-fantasy adventure." - Kirkus Reviews
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Eighth Grade and over, Interest Age: From 13 to 99 years
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
646 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-342732-7 (9780063427327)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Catherine Bakewell is a writer, artist, and opera enthusiast. She has lived in Spain and in France, where she romped through gardens, ate pastries, and worked on her novels. She is also the author of We Are the Song and the bestselling Flowerheart, and you can find her at catherinebakewell.com.