Set in a world where magic is powered by Essence- the thread that weaves souls together- Madelynn Hawtrey, a recent debutante turned runaway, must make an impossible decision: Love or Power.   When Madelynn's parents attempt to force her into a courtship with the notorious Black Crow- Casimir Aldrich- she must fight for her agency in the only way she knows how.   A dangerous game of marriage and politics drives her story, starting when she meets The Silver Dove- Callum Whitlock.  A chance encounter at her debut ball sends her spiraling into a world of war, magic, and manipulation. Will she fall pray to the addictive, sensual power Casimir offers, or will she choose to live a life of love and agency with Callum? A break from the Romantasy slow-burn cliche, The Heron dives into a dynamic of forbidden love and manipulative tendencies.   (This book is still a work in progress, and I'm hoping some feedback will inspire me to continue pushing through my first draft.)