To escape a brutal death sentence for her family’s illegal trade of morbidly bound books, Forsythia Spine promises her life to the Great Archive of Oskiorra. Tasked with protecting the world from the dangerous spells she once dealt for a living, Forsythia struggles against the strict confines of her new position. Things only get worse when Einhark—a prolific black market bookbinder and her ex-lover—goes missing. Desperate to hold onto the last relic of her past life, Forsythia follows clues of his disappearance down the darkest stacks where she uncovers an ancient book that binds her to the magic of six near-dead gods.

Fearful that the vengeful gods that once ravaged the world will be revived, the Great Archive demands her death. Her only chance at survival is to bargain with the wealthy and mysterious private collector who has taken a keen interest in her new connection—and who is also her main suspect behind Hark’s disappearance. Surrendering control of her newly forged divinity in exchange for refuge, Forsythia is exiled to his isolated archive buried in the guts of a rotting cathedral.

But Einhark isn’t the cathedral’s only captive. The gods haunt the halls, eagerly awaiting their new Archivist, and if she doesn’t reclaim control of the decrepit deities before the collector uses her power to resurrect their magic, the bookbinder won’t be the only thing Forsythia is destined to set free.

Perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten, S.T. Gibson, Garth Nix, and Bloodborne.

ARCHIVE OF SPINE is currently on submission.