Perfect for fans of Allison Saft and Sarah Beth Durst, a grumpy mage and a familiar matchmaker navigate their magical connection in Mara Rutherford’s newest cozy fantasy.

Winslow Green is known far and wide for her ability to match mages with the perfect animal familiar. Though she doesn’t possess any magic, she has a knack for knowing what her customers need, even if they can’t see it themselves.

Still grieving the tragic death of his last familiar, Bastian Triplehorn reluctantly seeks Winnie’s aid in finding a new partner. She’s determined to live up to her reputation, despite Bastian’s excessive grumpiness. Until the inexplicable happens: Bastian sparks a familiar bond with Winnie instead.

Unable to deny their powerful connection, the two agree to work together until they can solve the mystery behind it. As Bastian and Winnie train for a royal mage competition that could solve all their problems—or ruin their lives forever—Winnie gets a taste of what it’s like to have magic herself. And Bastian discovers that all of these unfamiliar feelings are a little like magic, too.

"Perfectly, deliciously fantastical.” - Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons, and currently calls Rome, Italy, home. A triplet born on Leap Day, she is the author of YA fantasy novels including the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology, The Poison Season, A Multitude of Dreams, and A Curious Kind of Magic. When she's not writing, Mara can be found curled up with a good book, a cup of tea, and Mishka (a magical creature often mistaken for a dog).