From breakout star Sydney Shields comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of Heavenly Bodies and The Atlas Six.

Claudia Jolicoeur shouldn’t be here. When she was rejected from Cygnus, her dream occult university, she was supposed to live out her life as the wife of an old man, a pawn sacrificed for her father’s debts.

But her celestial magic is rare enough to attract a desperate demon named Dorian, and when he offers her a bargain — acceptance to Cygnus in exchange for his freedom — she accepts. As Claudia unravels the mystery of Dorian’s prison of stars, the only thing standing in her way is the handsome, cruel academic star of Cygnus: Cassius MacLeod.

What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker and dangerously sensual. Now caught in the centre of an ancient curse, Claudia must decide who she can trust — and who she must kill.

‘Utterly transportive and thrilling. Shields is clever as they come, and this the author at her most ambitious and triumphant’ S. T. Gibson, bestselling author of A Dowry of Blood

‘An Arcane Study of Stars is a deal with the devil like you’ve never read before. Sharp, clever, spicy; this is the blueprint for dark academia romantasy’ Breanne Randall, author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

‘An atmospheric and devastating tale. . . This magical, phenomenal novel will keep you guessing until your last second at Cygnus’ Kamilah Cole, USA Today bestselling author of An Arcane Inheritance

‘Gothic, gripping and utterly spellbinding’ Hazel McBride, author of A Fate Forged in Fire

‘Glitters with the lush atmosphere and heart. . . written in prose so sharp it sinks its teeth into you and takes a bite out of your soul’ Callie Rowland, author of Fields of Asphodel