The Duality of Fate

Amara Cho has kept her forbidden magic hidden, determined to live quietly as an herbalist. But when she uses a rare plant, Crimson Heart, to save a life, her secret is exposed. Summoned before the High Council, Amara discovers that a fragile peace treaty is about to expire. To prevent war, she’s offered an unprecedented role as a royal healer, the first openly magical Touched in centuries. Her mission? Convince visiting enemy diplomats, who revere magic, that her kingdom deserves peace, or her soldierly sister will be sent to war.

Yet, during her struggle with her new duties, Amara unearths a dark secret buried under centuries of tradition and reverence. Despite longing for a quiet life, Amara finds she isn’t cut out for peace. Not while the truth about Crimson Heart and the Touched fester in silence.

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A Fantasy About

Magic

In Eloria, every child is tested for magic. If their blood turns black, red dots are inked into the flesh under their eyes, marking them as Touched. Reviled and scorned for their magical abilities, they are seen as no better than the enemy, the Oskilians, thriving just across the border.

Secrets

The Luminary Alignment is the first full lunar eclipse to take place in 1,000 years, and astronomers expect the celestial event to last for six hours. Rumors race around the city, faster than wildfire. All portents point to darkness, a harbinger, and a sleeping deity.

Politics

The Cursed Wars ended 300 years ago. Since then, the kingdoms of Eloria and Oskil have managed a tenuous truce, but the peace treaty just expired—and 17-year-old Amara Cho is caught in the middle. As one of the Touched, Amara hides what she can do. Until now.

Nefer Doane

Hi there, it's nice to meet you.

An avid reader since childhood, I'm fascinated by imagined worlds, complex relationships, and how perception shapes reality. In years past, I worked at Apple, consulted for an organic juice shop, and became a Twitch Affiliate. When not writing, I can be found reading, hiking through the forests, and playing cozy computer games.