Stripped Away (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781957508122)

In a realm ruled by tyranny, two sisters hold the key to freedom.

The usurper king's thirst for power knows no bounds. Crown and kingdom are not enough; he craves magic, a force only women possess. For years he has tightened his grip, stripping women of their rights and denying them access to their elemental powers through the profane ritual known as the Quickening.

Twins, Kennara and Kellesha, are blessed - or cursed - with these innate magical abilities and have been living in hiding for five harrowing years, concealing their gifts while studying under the protection of a sun-dappled university town, where anxiety-ridden Kennara works in the library alongside Eljin, and warrior Kellesha trains with Eljin's friend, Cas. Their peaceful existence shatters when the king's envoys, accompanied by a mysterious scryer, descend upon the town.

Fear grips them, prompting a swift departure. Now, the twins find themselves on the run, joined by Eljin and Cas, friends whose motives remain veiled. An unexpected encounter with Abria and her allies forces them to confront a pivotal decision-continue to flee or stand against the oppressive regime that seeks to strip away the essence of their being.

As destinies entwine, the group grapples with a choice that could reshape their world. Is it time to challenge the oppressive order they've known, or should they persist in the shadows, evading the relentless pursuit of the usurper king's Quickenings?

Now on the run, will this small band of friends decide to elude the king forever, or will they find the courage to confront him and halt his dark ritual? In a narrative woven with trust, romance, and the essence of choice, Stephanie K. Clemens' romantic high fantasy delves into the dynamics of twinhood, the bonds of found family, and a woman's right to wield her own magic.