Peculiar things happened to Tess as a child; during moments of despair, she’d feel herself drifting away, drawn to a refuge where the darkness couldn’t touch her. Now, at sixteen, Tess is pushed beyond her limits and again reverts back to her old desire to be elsewhere- only to have the wish fulfilled. In a world not her own, where all the inhabitants have auras and the entire seaside town seems trapped in time from centuries ago, Tess is forced to rely upon the kindness of strangers to survive. Despite the odd circumstances of her arrival, she begins to find a place for herself, and even gains the affection of a small group of local friends. But dark truths hide in the shadows of this town, and Tess begins to doubt the intentions of those around her. As the truth is discovered, Tess must decide who and what she’ll stand for, and what she’s willing to lose to protect her newfound family. An outsider to this strange land, Tess may be the only one who holds the key to unlocking the mysteries here. Too bad she has no idea how to use it.

In the second installment of the Alitura Realms trilogy, Tess and her newfound friends struggle to maintain a tenuous grasp on the truth, as they search for clues that will lead them to track the evil lampreys, desperate to expose them before any more lives are destroyed. Armed with a new grasp on her power, Tess is challenged to use her gift in an entirely new way- mental espionage. All the while, Tess hides the full truth about herself from the person she cares most deeply for, though the guilt permeates each new decision she makes. When it becomes obvious that Tess must go against the wishes of some within the group, and deceive others, she enlists the help of the one who trusts her the least, all while working to protect a man she despises. Motives become muddled as truths are uncovered, and Tess struggles with whether to reveal her closest secrets. As she journeys beyond Wharfton, new bonds are formed, while others threaten to break, and Tess begins to wonder if the answers she finds will also solve the mystery of her appearance in Alitura- and what that might mean for them all.

In the final installment of the Alitura Realms trilogy, Tess and Rosie continue their long trek west as they sail to the city of Turand, the capital of Alitura and the seat of power for the monarchy. Desperate to find new allies to aid them in their plight against the lampreys, they first seek out a high scholar whom they’ve been told they can trust. In doing so, they discover an accomplice who reluctantly shares with them centuries-old truths that consume and overwhelm them, while at the same time clarifying the intentions and objectives of the lampreys and their web of power. It suddenly becomes clear to Tess why she has become a valuable resource to her enemies, and why she must continue to evade them while searching for more answers, both without and within. As her journey continues, Tess must confront enemies on all fronts while scrambling to determine who she will help, and why. The world of Alitura may be dying, and Tess could possibly be the one and only person who can save it, or she may unwittingly aid in its destruction. In the end, only one question matters- how far will Tess go to save those she loves?