Book excerpt: Flint thought that growing up in the dangerous frontier town of Far Enough, with six older brothers, would prepare her for anything...until she met the monster. She had worked hard for a chance to study at the School for Wizards and Weirdlings, but things went sideways when fearsome magic turned her world inside out. Seeing a cruel injustice, Flint took a stand to protect the life of a dangerous creature. The ensuing complications could set her against some powerful people. She’ll need a lot more than a strong back and an honest heart to survive the repercussions of her good intentions. Not sure of who might be her allies or enemies, she’ll have to learn to survive by a very different set of rules or suffer the dire consequences. For fans of smaller world, character-driven fantasy without romance.