Strange Familiars
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- Pedido anticipado
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- Se espera: 19 may 2026
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- $199.00
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- Pedido anticipado
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- $199.00
Descripción editorial
Two scholars of magical veterinary science must put aside their lust and loathing to save the world in the first installment of this whimsical, romantic, dark academia duology.
All Gwendolynne Chan needs is to get through final year at Seamere College, where she is on track to graduate as number one —as long as the pretentious prat Harrisford Briggs doesn’t beat her to it.
Harrisford Briggs’s father, the chief financial officer of Magecorp, a major global distributor of magic, expects him to come top of the class. Harrisford, though, can’t help but notice that his father has been acting odd. And there are strange whisperings, too, of uncontrollable surges of excess magic.
When these magical surges begin to rock London, causing chaos and explosions and animal familiars going feral, Gwen and Harrisford find themselves reluctantly involved, putting both of their veterinary careers at risk.
Along with Gwen’s snarky cat familiar, Gwen and Harrisford must team up to diagnose the problem. But as the two academic rivals fight their burgeoning feelings, they quickly realize that magic is not the only thing surging.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Chow (For No Mortal Creature) launches her Seamere College duology with a rocky romantasy centered on mystical veterinary care. Gwendolynne Chan is in her final year of vet school specializing in magical familiars. She's determined to graduate as Dux, head of the class, and step into a lucrative Ministry job so she can help her struggling family. Standing in her way is her academic "nemesis" Harrisford Briggs, son of a Magecorp executive, one of the two largest purveyors of magic in the world, whose status gives him access to the magic Gwen can ill afford. When familiars begin exhibiting strange symptoms from carrying an excess of magic, the pair are forced to work together to figure out what's going on. Mystery, betrayals, and plenty of family drama ensue. The setup is fun, and Chow's background in veterinary medicine adds detail and authenticity to the magical world, but the plot takes too long to heat up and the relationship between Harrisford and Gwendolynne can feel uneven as their transition from enemies to lovers hits some jarring beats. It's a cute premise that falters in execution.
