Never trust a Pebble Pincher.

What if your magic wasn't a gift...but a death sentence?

Terhese has spent her life working towards one thing?to become an Official. As her failed attempts at Pinching Pebbles pile up, her frustration grows until her real power awakens...and her dreams are shattered.

Her magic isn't just rare. It's raw and visceral and forbidden. It is the magic of the late Ràej, thought to have been eliminated 20 years ago during the Great War. Punishable by death, Terhese must keep her true self hidden as she attends the Academy.

Against Jensen's dire warnings, she allows herself to get close to new friends, and a new man, while uncovering secrets and unraveling lies that have shaped her life.

But a force like Terhese won't stay quiet forever...