JOIN THE CONSERVATORY
JOIN THE CONSERVATORY
FORESYTH CONSERVATORY is a gothic mystery of intellect, inheritance, and the occult—set against the crumbling grandeur of an elite magical institution in 1910.
Dahlia Blackburne reads Tarot, but she doesn’t believe in magic. Instead, she relies on deduction rather than divination to make ends meet. But when a stranger known as the Meister appears in her failing bookshop with an impossible request—and an even more tempting sum—Dahlia is lured into a deeper game. His offer: pose as a scholar and infiltrate Foresyth Conservatory to uncover the truth behind the alleged suicide of a brilliant, but unstable student, Julian Earhardt.
Inside Foresyth’s candlelit halls and ivy-choked towers, Dahlia finds a world of obsessive rituals, dangerous philosophies, and rival students who blur the line between performance and possession. Here, Tarot is not studied—it is embodied. As Dahlia is drawn deeper into Julian Earhardt’s secrets, and the strange, seductive currents of Foresyth itself, she must decide what she's willing to sacrifice for truth—and what it means when the magic isn’t taught, but inherited.
Perfect for fans of A Study in Drowning, Mexican Gothic, and Ninth House, FORESYTH CONSERVATORY is for readers who believe the mind is a haunted house and academia a battleground for the soul.
“Most children inherit jewelry or surnames—I inherited death, debt, and a door I should have never opened.” - First line
Early Praise for FORESYTH CONSERVATORY:
“Sterling’s debut novel shines brightly as a genre-defying piece of mysticism and mystery. It’s one of those rare books I wish I could experience for the first time again.”
- Madison H. (beta reader)
“WARNING: This book could cause book insomnia–a condition where a story is so compelling that one forgets that one's body needs sleep. Expect to see the sunrise because you won't want to stop reading until it's finished.”
- Lessa G. (beta reader, professional tarot reader)
“A page turner where I loved every second of it—I couldn’t put it down! I want to tell everyone I know to read it.”
- Rachel B. (beta reader)
“Blurring the lines between prose and poetry, FORESYTH CONSERVATORY gave me everything from butterflies to goosebumps. A compelling and captivating read—I cannot recommend it enough.”
- Ishita K. (beta reader)