A city of scholars. A stolen vial. A bakery case full of regrets. Magic is power, and only the Kirosz Empire wields it—or so everyone thought, until a Nirsuathan professor engineered a magic of his own. When the professor’s aptitude test sparks ambitions, Tyatavar, a baker’s daughter, promptly fails it. No surprise there—until her sister passes. Vilari becomes the first student of the professor’s new magic, while Tyatavar remains stuck. Stuck drowning in flour and currant loaves. Stuck in an unwanted marriage—and lying about it constantly. Plus, with her sister skipping bakery shifts to study magic, there’s no space to claim a future of her own. Then a new friendship with an odd glass merchant offers her a way out: printmaking. But tradition and obligation tighten around her—and threaten to keep her trapped when someone from her past returns. Still, even for a magic test failure, the professor’s magic may be the solution. As change ripples through her city, impulse collides with desperation, and Tyatavar faces upending everything she knows. A Chain of Lights is the first book in a character-driven gaslamp fantasy series full of slice-of-life vibes, mysterious magic, and a looming imperial conflict. If you enjoy... * Cozy fantasy—with sharper edges * Character-driven stories with rich worldbuilding * Misfits, mayhem, and magical worlds * Banter, baked goods, and bad decisions ...this is your book.