She can’t save all the boys of Merilaad. But can she save the one she loves the most? From gender politics to magical mystery and intrigue, The Last Culling, the thrilling debut novel from author Rachael Vaughn, is sure to hook fantasy and romance lovers with its timeless story of love, loss and the age-old battle to bring the truth to light. Elena is an apprentice mage with powers she resents, and a past she’d rather forget. In spite of it all, she remains loyal to the ruling Mage Council of Merilaad—a trio of powerful elder women who fought to bring peace after an intense and bloody gender rebellion. The men of Merilaad are uniformly non-magical. They are peaceful, hard-working and they toe the line. But this peace comes at a cost. Because in Merilaad, any boy displaying magical ability is swiftly put to death. Elena knows it has to be this way. To protect them all. To protect their way of life. And so she continues placing her faith in the authority and guidance of her elders. Until Jascha changes everything. When her best friend suddenly and unexpectedly develops magical powers, Elena finds herself making a dangerous choice—to report Jascha and sentence him to certain death, or risk everything to keep his abilities hidden. As the two of them work together to keep their deadly secret, they uncover more deception, lurking just beneath the surface of their peaceful, idyllic city. Can they reveal the truth in time to save Jascha? Or will they plunge Merilaad back into its bloody past?

Sen will never forget the day magic changed his life - and not for the better. After narrowly avoiding death at the hands of the Mage Council, he's ready to put the past behind him and live a quiet life learning to deal with his new powers. But the peaceful city of Merilaad is changing, and the future is coming for Sen whether he's ready or not. When a battered ship limps into Merilaad harbor, bringing with it the first foreigners seen in generations, Sen finds himself at the center of another tangled web of lies and mysteries the likes of which he hoped he'd never see again. Unsure who to trust, Sen joins forces with Talvina, the mysterious foreign captain's daughter. Together, can they unravel the mystery in time to save the only home Sen has ever known?