Aaron Dozie has fought hard to get where he is. Once a scared runaway forced to hide his outlawed magic abilities, he's finally found a sense of safety as the star bartender at the hottest magical speakeasy, or "charm school", in the city of Ad Astra. All that is threatened, however, when reporter Colleen O'Cremin, desperate for a scoop, starts digging into the mysterious disappearances of magic users from charm schools across the city. When Aaron learns the disappearances are connected to a sprawling antimagic conspiracy, he realizes he has no choice but to team up with Colleen. As their investigation deepens, they find common ground—but will it be enough to reconcile Colleen's drive to expose the story and Aaron's determination to protect what he holds dear? Or will their partnership unravel before they find the answers they both badly need?