When Shadows Burn
Dec 2026 · Sold by Henry Holt and Company (BYR)
Ebook
384
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
infoThis book will become available on December 1, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.
About this ebook
Vanessa Le's new fantasy duology starter follows a demon-hunting duo in an exorcist university layered with magic, murder, and corruption — perfect for fans of BABEL and DIVINE RIVALS.
In Yennington, exorcism is a job for two: a demon caller, and a demon slayer. Kiet Sren is a hotshot caller despite dropping out of the esteemed Phenbridge University; his blood attracts any demon. Song Sarna is the top slayer of her class; her blade and wit kills any demon. Together, they run Inkspill Agency.
When one day Kiet's estranged family hires them to hunt an aberrant demon, they are propelled into the most dangerous job of their lives — an investigation that reveals the workings of a deadly group seeking to destroy the university from the inside out.
But as their search dredges up long-buried history, they discover that the one behind this criminal group is closer to home than they realized, and that perhaps the upstanding Phenbridge University is hiding secrets of its own. To exorcize the aberrant demon and put an end to the deadly possessions, Kiet and Song must decide how much they're willing to bleed: for their families, for their city — and for each other.
Vanessa Le's latest crossover fantasy combines dark academia with a propulsive detective tale at its finest — with a slow-burn romance and medical magic system as intricate as lab work.
For fans of:
- Dark academia
- Murder mystery
- Slow burn romance
- Secret identities
- Family drama
- Demons & magic
In Yennington, exorcism is a job for two: a demon caller, and a demon slayer. Kiet Sren is a hotshot caller despite dropping out of the esteemed Phenbridge University; his blood attracts any demon. Song Sarna is the top slayer of her class; her blade and wit kills any demon. Together, they run Inkspill Agency.
When one day Kiet's estranged family hires them to hunt an aberrant demon, they are propelled into the most dangerous job of their lives — an investigation that reveals the workings of a deadly group seeking to destroy the university from the inside out.
But as their search dredges up long-buried history, they discover that the one behind this criminal group is closer to home than they realized, and that perhaps the upstanding Phenbridge University is hiding secrets of its own. To exorcize the aberrant demon and put an end to the deadly possessions, Kiet and Song must decide how much they're willing to bleed: for their families, for their city — and for each other.
Vanessa Le's latest crossover fantasy combines dark academia with a propulsive detective tale at its finest — with a slow-burn romance and medical magic system as intricate as lab work.
For fans of:
- Dark academia
- Murder mystery
- Slow burn romance
- Secret identities
- Family drama
- Demons & magic
Vanessa Le's new fantasy duology starter follows a demon-hunting duo in an exorcist university layered with magic, murder, and corruption — perfect for fans of BABEL and DIVINE RIVALS.
In Yennington, exorcism is a job for two: a demon caller, and a demon slayer. Kiet Sren is a hotshot caller de...
Discover more
About the author
Vanessa Le was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, though her education has taken her to frigid Rhode Island, where she received her Bachelor's in Human Biology at Brown University, and to dry California, where she studies medicine. When not writing, she’s studying or studying or sometimes studying. She is the Forbes 30 Under 30 author of The Last Bloodcarver and His Mortal Demise and has found a home in writing science fantasy that blends magic with a little bit of medicine.
Vanessa Le was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, though her education has taken her to frigid Rhode Island, where she received her Bachelor's in Human Biology at Brown University, and to dry California, where she studies medicine. When not writing, she’s studying or studying or sometimes ...
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
