Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611

  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Astrophysics and Other Local Superstitions

Astrophysics and Other Local Superstitions

Savage, Amanda C.

Paperback

Romance

ISBN13: 9798285177050
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: May 24 2025
Pages: 172
Weight: 0.52
Height: 0.37 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Dr. Aris Thorne, a pragmatic astrophysicist, inherits his estranged grandmother's eccentric bookstore in the whimsical small town of Havenwood Creek, intending to sell it and return to his real life. He clashes immediately with Luna Meadows, a warm, free-spirited herbalist and tea shop owner who firmly believes in the town's unique charms and the bookstore's potential magic. Their witty debates over science versus superstition become a local fixture, complicated by Aris's inexplicable daily visits to Luna's tea shop, which he claims are purely for her unadulterated black tea.

The town's upcoming historical festival prompts the Mayor to hire Aris to investigate the mysterious Hemlock House, a grand Victorian estate notorious for occupants vanishing every four months. Luna, drawn to the mystery, discovers an ancient, symbol-covered grimoire in Aris's bookstore. This book, dating back to 1212 AD, reveals the house's true name - The Crescent Star Estates - and contains its original blueprints, hinting at hidden rooms and a lineage connected to a legendary Lost King.

Their investigation is complicated by the arrival of the ageless and sinister Lord Alaric Valerius, who is also seeking the grimoire and seems to have a dark connection to the house and Luna's heritage. Aris's grandmother's journals further unravel the past, exposing a scandalous affair between a past owner, Mr. Hemlock, and a young man bearing a striking resemblance to Valerius, complete with explicit, hand-drawn illustrations that shock and amuse Aris and Luna.

As Aris and Luna delve deeper, their long-suppressed feelings for each other ignite, leading to heartfelt confessions of love and revelations about a shared past, including a memorable prom night where they lost their virginity to each other. Their budding romance unfolds amidst escalating supernatural occurrences.

The mystery deepens with the spectral appearance of Crescentio Starling, Luna's supposedly deceased father. He reveals he is long-lived due to his bloodline (distantly related to the Lost King) and earth magic. He confirms the Lost King is the protective spirit of The Crescent Star Estates. Starling explains Valerius's unnatural longevity is due to forbidden magic - stealing life essence from others, particularly Luna's mother, Lady Meadows, and previously Mrs. Eleanor Hartford (Luna's cousin). Valerius, it turns out, is the Lost King's banished firstborn son, his immortality a result of ancient Druidic knowledge twisted by dark arts, not vampirism as Luna initially suspected. Starling also reveals the crucial role of the Thorne family: for centuries, they have acted as chroniclers and a grounding force for the potent, sometimes volatile, magic of the Crescent Star lineage, explaining Aris's innate connection to Luna and his ability to withstand her powers. It's also revealed that Luna possesses significant innate magical abilities, including an energy shield and the ability to affect her surroundings when emotional, which the house spirit helped her Mammy manage during her childhood.

The climax occurs when Valerius confronts Luna in her tea shop, which is being renovated to merge with Aris's bookstore. The event is inadvertently broadcast live to the world by Martha Pringle, the town's enthusiastic gossip columnist. Luna, with her family and Aris supporting her, unleashes her full power, repelling Valerius and sending him flying through the newly demolished wall, aging him into a feeble old man and neutralizing his threat. Dr. Armitage, a local physician aware of the town's secrets, discreetly takes Valerius into long-term care.


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