It’s hard to compete with a ghost…or eight…of yourself.

Abducted by a bubble of light, Esme is not in her Kansas City anymore. The Sanctuary is an alternate world – home to an ancient, secret Order with a king, conjuri magicians, cavali soldiers, and paranormal races Esme never believed were real. Werewolves patrol with the KCPD.

Fairies dream of Hollywood. Goblins are bankers. Elves are lawyers. Vampires make excellent doctors. Trolls are warriors…and serve the best barbecue in town. But why have the conjuri summoned Esme to this paranormal melting pot? As an alt-world version of the original Esme, she is an alterni. And alterni wield magic that no one else can – magic the Order needs to fight malevolenci, demonic beasts that attack through otherworldly rifts.

Protecting the Sanctuary from these monsters is the Order’s main purpose, and now it’s Esme’s turn to master alterni magic, partner with the king, and hold back the malevolenci invasion. Unfortunately, the model-perfect King Owen is broken by grief and guilt, the Order has little faith in her, and malevolenci attacks are worse than ever.

Eight alt-world Esmes preceded her. Eight lost their lives. Can Esme use her unique gifts to succeed as an alterni? If she fails, the consequences might be more devastating than Owen is willing to say.