The Seller of Secrets

The Seller of Secrets

Inspired by historical Florence, Italy, and based on legends of the Renaissance-era Medici family, The Seller of Secrets is a YA romantasy novel with a sensory and elemental–based magic system. On the mystical island of Bardia, Bell Asbury’s sister is dying. A girl with an extraordinary but volatile gift for fusing magical elixirs, Bell was eleven when she accidentally struck her sister, Roza, with a magic that left her with an incurable illness. Six years later, she overhears her sister’s fiancé buying illicit ingredients for a brainwashing elixir. Alarmed and infuriated, Bell tries to end the engagement, but Roza's fiancé is from a noble house, the sisters’ father is in debt, and their mother is eager to have a connection to a powerful family. Desperate to find a cure for Roza’s disease and an antidote to the brainwashing elixir, Bell uncovers a tangled web of secrets that leads to a man called the Seller of Secrets and his plot to use the brainwashing elixir to force the entire island to obey him. Bell alone can create an antidote, but her experiments risk the sanity of those she loves. Rian, an infuriatingly handsome spy, offers to help her defeat the Seller of Secrets. Although she knows Rian is a master of deception, Bell can’t stop herself from falling for him. But with so many things changing in her life, Bell doesn’t know who she can trust and who is working to control her gift. “Drawing upon the infamous Medici family as inspiration, Yutzy creates a magical world. The story is loaded with intrigue and full of deception, secrets, and a touch of romance, and readers will be drawn in by Bell’s search for the truth. A combination of mystery, burgeoning love, and strong worldbuilding makes for a tempting read.” — Kirkus Reviews "In the enigmatic fantasy novel The Seller of Secrets , a girl grows into her magical abilities amid a search for understanding... The characters are complex and well-rounded, with layered motivations... [which] add to the book’s eerie atmosphere." — Foreword Reviews “ The Seller of Secrets is a luscious tale of whimsical magic, deadly secrets, and how using one’s gift can either better the world or bring destruction. Yutzy weaves themes of sisterhood, sacrifice, and friendship while also giving us a magnetic romance with the best emotional whiplash. The worldbuilding is intricate and persuasive, making it feel as if we could step right into its pages. Perfect for readers of Stephanie Garber!” —Emily Barnett, author of Thread of Dreams “ The Seller of Secrets will sweep you away to a magic-infused Renaissance Italy full of intrigue, enchantments, and romance. If you love historical fantasy, humble heroines discovering their bravery and untapped talents, charmingly mischievous suitors, and settings so vibrant you can almost smell the magical flowers, this book is sure to become one of your new favorites.” —Carrie Anne Noble, award-winning author of The Mermaid's Sister “A spellbinding tale rife with intrigue, intricate magic, and finely-drawn characters. You will want to revisit Bardia over and over again!” —Laura Weymouth, author of The Light Between Worlds and The Castle & the Cloister “Sheri Yutzy’s The Seller of Secrets is an immersive cross between Caraval and Flowerheart . It’s a beautiful adventure with complex worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance, lushly told.” —Emily Bain Murphy, USA Today bestselling author of The Ivory City Sheri Yutzy lives in a small Ohio town in a nineteenth century Italianate home with her musician husband and four beautiful children. When she’s not writing, she’s tending her garden, baking something, or pulling her youngest children in their wagon. Find Sheri online at Instagram @sheriyutzyauthor, Facebook @sheriyutzy, or on her website at sheriyutzy.com Audrey Puente is a freelance illustrator who believes in making personal connections through her art and creating works that reflect her beliefs in inclusivity, friends and family, and a general joy for life. She primarily uses digital programs to capture the magic in mundane and fantastical illustrations. Her interests and inspirations include cooking, music, books, all kinds of games (board games, video games, TTRPGs), and anything that can make her laugh. https://www.audreypuente.art/