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At the heart of Dreadmore Manor lies a gallery of haunted masterpieces. Every canvas a whisper, each sculpture a secret. On every quarter century, four are chosen to compete for its inheritance. This time, Alexandria Blanchet is among them.

Invited under the guise of study, Alexandria and her rivals must endure a year of cryptic lessons, arcane trials, and perilous games. Where knowledge is currency, deception is art, and only one can claim the prize. The rules are simple: Use whatever advantage you can. Trust no one. Never forget the paintings are alive. And remember, only one needs to survive the year to claim the keys.

But as Alexandria becomes entangled with Sebastián, the charming archivist at the local historical society and drawn into a dangerous enticement with Evander, a rival whose secrets run as deep as his gaze...pale blue, like the still light in Monet’s Water Lilies. She begins to blur the lines between truth, loyalty, and desire.

In a world where magic lingers in brushstrokes and betrayal is just another medium, Alexandria must decide what she’s willing to lose to win.

Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and Ninth House, The Art of Deception is a tale of art, ambition, and the dangerous games we play for legacy and for love.