Every crime must be answered: in sentence, in virtue or in heartbreak. Jane Darling has no magic and no business venturing into mage territory. But after she's caught trespassing across their forbidden lands, she's sentenced to serve under the unforgiving eye of the Mage Lord himself, Reagan. With her family’s livelihood hanging in the balance, Jane must rely on the estate’s staff to secure vital trade agreements while defending herself against supernatural beasts and a centuries-old Order steeped in prejudice and violence against her kind. But as the stakes heighten and the undeniable attraction between Jane and Reagan intensifies, she must decipher the rules of magic and rely on her unrelenting wit to face magical threats, political intrigue, and the dangerous pull of a man she’s not supposed to want. For readers who love: 🗝 Forced proximity tension 🧠 Clever, underestimated heroines 🏰 Courtly dynamics and intrigue 🖤 Power plays, banter, and unraveling lies 🌘 Fairy tale retelling with a twist Wretched Mage is the first book in a New Adult romantic fantasy series brimming with heart-wrenching romance, magecraft, venomous contempt, and tangled intrigue, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and Carissa Broadbent.