Saved by the Spell

Abbott Elementary, but make it magical: from the beloved Tanya Huff comes a new cozy fantasy novel perfect for fans of The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

At the High School for Performing Magic, the teachers are dismayed at the rise of a Hero…because it means a Villain isn’t far behind

It’s September, and the teachers at the High School for Performing Magic are gearing up for another school year, and hoping it will be a quiet one. Teach students some magic, help them learn their craft, and get out in one piece.

Unfortunately, by the end of the first day, it’s become obvious that they have a potential Hero. All the signs are there. By the end of fourth period, Lyla White has stood up to a bully, turned out to be more powerful than anticipated, and acquired a smart frenemy and a nerdy, loyal roommate.

The problem? Where there’s a Hero, there’s bound to be a Villain. And when Heroes and Villains face off, it’s going to be anything but a normal school year.

Overworked and underpaid, the teachers at the High School for Performing Magic did not sign up for this, but now it’s also their jobs to keep the Hero alive, keep damage to a minimum, keep math scores up to the national level, and find the student who will turn out to be a power-hungry, amoral villain.

Will no one think of the teachers?

Funny, irreverent, and absolutely charming, this cozy fantasy is a gleeful romp through fantasy school tropes—from the other side of the desk.Tanya Huff lives in rural Ontario with her wife Fiona Patton, five cats, and an increasing number of fish. Her 32 novels and 83 short stories include horror, heroic fantasy, urban fantasy, comedy, and space opera. Her Blood books were turned into the twenty-two episode TV series Blood Ties, and writing episode nine allowed her to finally use her degree in Radio & Television Arts. She’s on Bluesky as @tanyahuff.bsky.social and Facebook as Tanya Huff. She has never used her Instagram account and isn’t sure why she has it.