ARMOR FOR LIARS

In the late 1880s, a spirit and an enchanter work together to destroy a powerful secret society.

Four months ago, Sam May died. Now in the spirit realm, Sam plots revenge against his murderer: Simeon Trench, an enchantment student at Massachusetts Commonwealth University and member of the secret Cisneros Society, which rules with an iron fist. It’s able to do so thanks to powerful enchanters among their ranks who are supported by bound spirit thews. Sam’s options are limited to influencing one unusually perceptive police constable. That is, until Sam notices Clem Quinn, a seemingly bumbling new enchantment student at the university who’s become a target for blond, blue-eyed golden boy Simeon’s covert cruelty. Unbeknownst to Sam, however, Clem has plans of his own. When Clem was a child, his mother was killed and made into a spirit thew. Now, he’s determined to free her. But when a secret Clem is keeping is revealed, he must rework his plans while navigating scandal and pushing back against societal inequalities and the Society’s malevolence. With her immersive setting and engaging narrative, Grove weaves a complex tale that explores the fight against injustice and exploitation, with details that will delight attentive readers. Through surprising twists and well-timed reveals, the compelling plot and smooth prose maintain suspense despite the leisurely pacing. In this world, with its Spanish language–infused magic system, Sam and Clem have familial roots in the Yucatán and Hispaniola, respectively.

An enchanting, socially conscious fantasy with sophisticated layers.