City of Iron and Ivy
Thomas Kent West
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars
4.29
· Steam/Spice level: 3 of 5
Open door [?]
· 7 ratings · 576 pages · Published: 21 Apr 2026
―T. Kingfisher, New York Times bestselling author
This beguiling historical romantasy debut blends dark academia with the glamour of Bridgerton, as a scholar of magic investigates her sister’s murder—perfect for fans of Heather Fawcett and H. G. Parry.
In an alternate London alive with botanical magic, Elswyth Elderwood is a thorn among roses: a bristly, scarred scholar in a world of socialites. Her sister Persephone is the opposite: a graceful debutante seeking a marriage that will save their family from ruin. At least, until Persephone is murdered.
Suddenly the last scion of her house, Elswyth must abandon her studies and find a wealthy husband. She is thrust into a London fueled by floromancy: hedge witches sprout nightshade from their fingertips, high-born ladies weave gowns from wildflowers … and a serial killer called the Reaper transforms his victims into plant-human hybrids.
When clues suggest the Reaper is a powerful nobleman, Elswyth’s search for her sister’s killer and her hunt for a husband become one and the same. But she is drawn to bastard-born archaeologist Silas Blackthorn—who may have dark, twisted secrets of his own.
Elswyth must determine friend from foe and lover from liar—or suffer the same fate as her sister.
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Tagged as:
- fantasy 3
- mystery 3
- historical 3
- paranormal 2
- magic 2
- horror 1
- suspense 1
- new adult 1
- victorian 1
- dark romance 1
- funny 1
- m-f romance 1
- political/court intrigue 1
- found family 1
- war 1
- betrayal 1
- competent heroine 1
- grumpy/ice queen 1
- independent heroine 1
- sassy heroine 1
- gifted/super-heroine 1
- plain heroine 1
- late 20s fmc 1
- sleuth heroine 1
- aristo/royal heroine 1
- Add topics
- geography
- united kingdom 1
- Format
- standalone 1
