Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry

<b><i>A Tor.com Reviewers' Choice Best Book of the Year</i> <p/>Sparks fly in this enchanting fantasy novel from the author of <i>Unnatural Magic</i> when a down-and-out fire witch and a young gentlewoman join forces against a deadly conspiracy.</b> <p/> Dellaria Wells petty con artist occasional thief and partly educated fire witch is behind on her rent in the city of Leiscourt--again. Then she sees the wanted sign seeking <i>Female Persons of Martial or Magical ability to guard a Lady of some Importance prior to the celebration of her Marriage</i>. Delly fast-talks her way into the job and joins a team of highly peculiar women tasked with protecting their wealthy charge from unknown assassins. <p/> Delly quickly sets her sights on one of her companions the confident and well-bred Winn Cynallum. The job looks like nothing but romance and easy money until things take a deadly (and undead) turn. With the help of a bird-loving necromancer a shapeshifting schoolgirl and an ill-tempered reanimated mouse named Buttons Delly and Winn are determined to get the best of an adversary who wields a twisted magic and has friends in the highest of places.