Wrighting Old Wrongs

By: Maria Grace

Narrated by: Benjamin Fife

Controlling Fire, Earth, Water, and Air with a simple touch would have been much more impressive if it paid the bills.

For nearly 200 years, the Wrights have controlled the Elements, shaping them to their will. But, the new era of industrialization threatens their extinction. Journeyman Wright Rebecca Fuller has more important things to worry about, though, like paying bills and keeping a roof over her head. Unfortunately, she inherited her father’s debts along with his shop. With the Guild limiting her prices, even a brisk business barely makes ends meet. If only the Guild would consider her application for Mastery. But between having the audacity to be female and studying under the most unconventional Master in the Guild, her chances were as thin as Air.

Unfortunately for Guild Undersecretary David Enright, barrister, procedural maven, and all-around rule-follower, the Guild violated its own rules where Rebecca was concerned. With her irascible temper and unorthodox approach to working the Elements, she’s exactly what he wants most to avoid. Unfortunately, he can’t simply ignore her.

Rule-following aside, though, what she knows, what she can do, could be the key to saving the Wrights from extinction.

Audacious barely describes David’s strategy to right old wrongs. If Rebecca agrees, his plan could solve both their problems—or cost them everything.

©2023 Maria Grace (P)2024 Maria Grace

Victorian England with elemental magic

This novel deals with classism and women’s rights (few!) in Victorian England. Women have just been permitted to own property, even if married, but a single, working class woman has limited options. For Rebecca, the refusal of the local Guild of Wrights to acknowledge her mastery leaves her on the edge of poverty. David, a Full Wright, has his own story of hardship, and initial hostility between the two gives way to grudging respect, then friendship as they fight for fairness in a society that does not value it.

CW: domestic abuse, off screen, both implicit and explicit.

Love this take on Elemental work

The story is good, slow start but worth staying with it. I love the Elemenal work & the distinction from witchcraft. This book as a bit of a Steampunk feel. I don’t love the narrator, his voices have a slightly clunky feel to them.

New gas lamp fantasy

Wrights, a firm of elemental magician, are stuck in old ways that may completely undermine their existence!

Rebecca Fuller was taught in an unconventional way, and the culture of Victorian England is keeping her from being all she can be. Can David Enright help her become all she can be?

Amazing new premise opens a new form of magic.