Shadow and Light - Lady Babalon series, #2

NIC BARNABY may operate in the modern world of NYC advertising, but his family lives in a world steeped in dark magick and shadow, fighting a supernatural struggle between two powerful factions: The Arkane and the Arcana. 

Nic's influential grandfather, the Arkane's Magus, creates the rites and rituals of their society, from magick spells as simple as fascination or compulsion, to the intricate ceremonies that transfer a person's soul – and therefore their power – into a talisman that imbues the owner with those talents, something Nic's mother has already killed to acquire. 

Marlowe Giles moved from Dallas to accept Nic's employment offer at the advertising agency, and immediately her dreams were hijacked by a mysterious queen who is awakening a magick Marlowe never knew she had, and is drawn into a world she never knew existed. She meets Char, who introduces her to the Arcana's world, not realizing Nic's powerful connections to the sinister Arkane. Marlowe is Lady Babalon to the Arkane, and High Priestess to the Arcana, but at heart, she is just a girl who finds magick in her dreams.  

From the moment he meets her, Nic strives to protect Marlowe from the Arkane, even pretending to his family they are a couple. Who would dare threaten the Devil's fiancée? But when they travel to England for his grandfather's death, Nic wonders how he can protect Marlowe among a full contingent of Arkane Trumps - the most powerful of the Arkane hierarchy.

It's time to separate himself from his family, and the Arkane's magick, but that's not something anyone has attempted and survived. Nic's journey of transformation evolves from a reluctant participant in his family's schemes to a determined protector willing to risk everything for Marlowe's safety, navigating a world of magical societies, power struggles, and familial intrigue. 

Enemies to lovers, with themes of loyalty, power, and redemption, these 112k words are a blend of urban fantasy and supernatural thriller, rich in magical realism.

Shadow and Light was a Book Finalist in 2023 Page Turner Awards.