When Shadows Burn

This is a limited deluxe edition available from the first print run only -- with stained edges, a decorative case, and ribbon!

Vanessa Le's new fantasy duology starter follows a demon-hunting duo in an exorcist university layered with magic, murder, and corruption -- perfect for fans of BABEL and DIVINE RIVALS.

In Yennington, exorcism is a job for two: a demon caller, and a demon slayer. Kiet Sren is a hotshot caller despite dropping out of the esteemed Phenbridge University; his blood attracts any demon. Song Sarna is the top slayer of her class; her blade and wit kills any demon. Together, they run Inkspill Agency.

When one day Kiet's estranged family hires them to hunt an aberrant demon, they are propelled into the most dangerous job of their lives -- an investigation that reveals the workings of a deadly group seeking to destroy the university from the inside out.

But as their search dredges up long-buried history, they discover that the one behind this criminal group is closer to home than they realized, and that perhaps the upstanding Phenbridge University is hiding secrets of its own. To exorcize the aberrant demon and put an end to the deadly possessions, Kiet and Song must decide how much they're willing to bleed: for their families, for their city -- and for each other.

Vanessa Le's latest crossover fantasy combines dark academia with a propulsive detective tale at its finest -- with a slow-burn romance and medical magic system as intricate as lab work.

For fans of:
- Dark academia
- Murder mystery
- Slow burn romance
- Secret identities
- Family drama
- Demons & magic

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Published: 12/01/2026
ISBN: 9781250420473
Pages: 384
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 8.25h x 5.38w x 1.00d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 09/28/2026