An Arcane Study of Stars

By: Sydney J. Shields

Published by Redhook, 2026-04-28

From Sydney Shields, the breakout author of The Honey Witch, comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance, and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. When Claudia Jolicoeur is rejected from Cygnus University, a devilish stranger named Dorian appears in her nightmares and offers her a bargain: he will get her into Cygnus if she learns how to free him from a prison of stars. He takes a bite of her soul to seal the deal, and Claudia wakes to a letter from the High Sage of Cygnus stating she will take the place of Odette Dufort, a Rhetoric student who passed away. Her arrival raises suspicions, and Cassius MacLeod, the High Sage's apprentice and fellow Rhetoric student, spins the rumor that Claudia had a hand in Odette's death. Hellbent on clearing her name, she searches for any evidence that could prove her innocence. When someone--or something--starts slipping her pieces of Odette's diary, Claudia uncovers a horrifying truth: over the last century, celestial witches at Cygnus have been murdered. Odette was one of them, and Claudia could be next. For her own protection, Claudia needs to free Dorian--and fast. By night, she studies the stars, slowly unraveling the mystery of Dorian's prison. By day, she and Cassius wage rhetorical war as debate partners in class. What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker, and dangerously sensual. But her research into Cygnus's shadowy past leads her to suspect that Cassius may be the celestial witch killer she's been desperately trying to evade. As Claudia inches closer to the truth, she must decide: would trusting him be the last mistake she ever makes?