The Beholden (Paperback)

The Beholden By Cassandra Rose Clarke Cover Image

The Beholden (Paperback)

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“An atmospheric tale of two sisters, each as formidable in her own way as the gods they must battle, The Beholden is a story to lose yourself in. Clarke’s intricately-designed world of rogue magics and unique powers is a character all its own.” —Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

Two sisters, a pregnant aristocrat and a scholar-magician, find themselves at the center of a conflict between the immortal being Decay and the Emperor himself . . .


Orphaned as young women, Celestia and Izara De Malena find themselves land rich but destitute, with only a failing rainforest acreage, Celestia’s perfect manners, and Izara’s nascent magic to their aristocratic names. With the last of their money running out, they enact a dangerous plan—using a spell she doesn’t fully understand, Izara summons the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor: a husband for Celestia, one rich enough to enable the De Malena sisters to keep their land. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost...

Now, five years later, rumors of war and disease are spreading, Celestia’s husband has been called away on a secret mission for the Emperor, and the Lady of the Seraphine is back to collect her due. Izara will be forced to leave the academy where she has been studying to become a mage; Celestia will be pulled from her now-flourishing farm while newly pregnant with her first child. Together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with Celestia’s husband, the Emperor, and a god even more powerful than the Lady of the Seraphine. 

Gorgeous, compelling, and utterly captivating, The Beholden follows Celestia and Izara as they journey from the lush rainforest to a frozen desert on an impossible quest to find a god who doesn’t want to be found and prevent the end of the world.
Cassandra Rose Clarke is the author of Star’s End, Our Lady of the Ice, and The Mad Scientist’s Daughter, as well as several novels for young adults. She holds an M.A. in creative writing from The University of Texas at Austin, and attended Clarion West in 2010. Her work has been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, and YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults.

Product Details ISBN: 9781645660255
ISBN-10: 1645660257
Publisher: Erewhon Books
Publication Date: January 18th, 2022
Pages: 544
Language: English
“A wonderful, creepy quest through a magical, ever-changing wilderness, with the world at stake and love in the balance. More please!” —Max Gladstone, Hugo and Nebula Award Winning co-author of This is How You Lose the Time War

“Lush and compelling, Clarke has created a world that captivates . . . A gorgeous story with a deep heart.” —Fran Wilde, Nebula Award-winning author of Updraft and Riverland

“An atmospheric tale of two sisters, each as formidable in her own way as the gods they must battle, The Beholden is a story to lose yourself in. Clarke’s intricately-designed world of rogue magics and unique powers is a character all its own.” —Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

The Beholden is a rich enchantment of a novel, dizzying, dangerous, and delightful. I loved it.” —Trent Jamieson, author of Day Boy

“A dark and gripping fantasy with the atmosphere of a haunted southern evening on the bayou. I loved it!” —Stina Leicht, author of Persephone Station 

“With its charming and multiplex nature, The Beholden will manage to satisfy any fans of Tanith Lee, Ellen Kushner or Robert Jackson Bennett—or really, any reader who delights in tales of realistic bravery and hyper-real magic.” —Locus Magazine