Secrets of the First School
Published on 16. October 2025
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-1-0350-5548-7 (ISBN)
Description
One final adventure for Ropa Moyo - orphan, mischief-maker and failed magician. Secrets of the First School is the mystery-filled finale to T. L. Huchu's enchanting Edinburgh Nights series.
'I've had my arse kicked more times than I can count'
Ropa Moyo is dead, banished to the Other Place by the reanimated spirit of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville of Scotland. Turns out being on the losing side sucks worse than being skint.
Now, the Cult of Dundas intends to ascend to godhood, spreading their corrupting reach from Edinburgh to all of Scotland's schools of magic. Ropa must find some way to escape the Other Place, save her sister and gather allies across the country before Edinburgh falls.
A royal plot, a family secret and a stolen body. As Scotland descends into petty in-fighting, Ropa's only hope lies in her grandmother's final secret: the first school of magic.
An ancient power is returning . . . and is hungry for revenge.
* * *
Praise for the Edinburgh Nights series:
'Fast-moving and entertaining . . . Stupendously engaging'
- Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London series
'I am such a fan of T. L. Huchu and this series - I recommend it to everyone I meet'
- Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six
'I highly recommend The Library of the Dead'
- Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series
'I've had my arse kicked more times than I can count'
Ropa Moyo is dead, banished to the Other Place by the reanimated spirit of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville of Scotland. Turns out being on the losing side sucks worse than being skint.
Now, the Cult of Dundas intends to ascend to godhood, spreading their corrupting reach from Edinburgh to all of Scotland's schools of magic. Ropa must find some way to escape the Other Place, save her sister and gather allies across the country before Edinburgh falls.
A royal plot, a family secret and a stolen body. As Scotland descends into petty in-fighting, Ropa's only hope lies in her grandmother's final secret: the first school of magic.
An ancient power is returning . . . and is hungry for revenge.
* * *
Praise for the Edinburgh Nights series:
'Fast-moving and entertaining . . . Stupendously engaging'
- Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London series
'I am such a fan of T. L. Huchu and this series - I recommend it to everyone I meet'
- Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six
'I highly recommend The Library of the Dead'
- Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series
Reviews / Votes
Another rip-roaring adventure with Ropa and a very welcome return to Edinburgh after the sojourn in Skye in the last installment . . . Mr Huchu - *chef's kiss* - it is a knockout. Can't wait for the final novel, especially after that cliffhanger! -- NetGalley 5* Reader Review for <i>The Legacy of Arniston House</i> An artful combination of magic, history and imagination wrapped up in an engaging story -- Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of <i>Rivers of London </i>on <i>Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments</i> Ropa is an irresistible protagonist . . . There's something here for everyone -- <b>Olivie Blake, author of <i>The Atlas Six </i>on The Edinburgh Nights Series</b> Engrossing and entertaining . . . with genuine emotion - and genuine betrayal -- Genevieve Cogman, author of the Invisible Library series on <i>The Legacy of Arniston House</i> A fast-paced, future-set Edinburgh thriller . . . mixes magical mysteries with a streetwise style of writing * The Times * Ropa's investigation is thrilling, but Huchu's real skill lies in crafting a magical contemporary world that feels familiar yet filled with its own secrets . . . This is good fun * Publishers Weekly * Skillfully mixes the city's Enlightenment history, African magic and thrilling adventure in multiple supernatural worlds, all set against a reimagined Edinburgh on the brink of civil collapse * The Scotsman *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
506 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-5548-7 (9781035055487)
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
T. L. Huchu is a writer whose short fiction has appeared in publications such as Lightspeed, Interzone, Analog Science Fiction and Fact and elsewhere. The Library of the Dead won Best Novel at the Nommo Awards, presented by the African Speculative Fiction Society. And his work has also been short-listed for the Caine Prize and the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire. Between projects, he translates fiction from Shona into English and the reverse. He is the author of the Edinburgh Nights series.