Of Blood and Silence

By Faith Spencer

At Aethelred University, the mist hides more than just secrets-it hides a death sentence.

Nestled deep within the Scottish Highlands, Aethelred is a cutthroat sanctuary where secrets are the currency of power. For Orla, an outsider just trying to survive the university's elite, the campus was supposed to be a place of study. Instead, she finds herself thrust into a world of Gothic spires and ancient legacies. When a dormant, terrifying magic awakens within her-triggered by her late mother's garnet necklace-Orla becomes the ultimate prize in a war waged by shadows.

Then there is Torin. The head of the university's secret society. Obsessive, lethal, and devastatingly charming, he is the first to recognize the volatile power surging in Orla's veins. As he pulls her into his orbit, the lines between mentor and captor, ally and enemy, begin to blur. He doesn't just want her magic; he wants to claim the girl who holds it.

But the shadows are closing in. Rival covens are gathering at the gates, and the Headmistress is watching Orla's every move. As the first winter storms bring a catastrophic siege, Orla is trapped between a man who would cage her for her own safety and the sovereign, ancient magic demanding to be let free.

In a world where love is bought with blood, surrender is a luxury she can't afford.

The reckoning has arrived. Do you run, or do you burn?

If you love dark academia aesthetics, explosive hidden powers, and a morally grey, possessive hero who will burn the world down for his heroine, this intoxicating adult romantasy is your next obsession.

Read what early readers are saying about this dark, addictive fantasy romance:

"An absolute masterclass in dark academia The tension between Orla and Torin had me holding my breath." - W.Pally

"Gothic, moody, and completely unputdownable. That ending left me reeling " - R.S.Reves

Aesthetic: Dark Academia, Gothic Spires, Scottish Highlands, Witch CovensThe Hero: Morally Grey, Ultra-Possessive, Lethal & Devastatingly CharmingTropes: Touch Her and Die, Forced Proximity, Mentor/Captor to Lovers, Hidden Magic PowersVibe: High Tension, Slow Burn, Dark Romance Energy, High-Stakes Siege

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H4RTJDZB
• ISBN13: 9798180703910
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"