The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois - by Ryan Graudin Hardcover

About the Book

"Once, Celeste Artois had dreams of being an artist. But when the creative elite of Paris dashed those plans, she turned her talents to forgery and cons. She and the Enchantresses-her two fellow thieves and best friends-see Paris as a rich hunting ground for marks. Yet even though their hideout in Pere Lachaise cemetery is bursting with francs, Celeste cannot rest. There is always more to take. And the blood she has begun to cough into her handkerchief means her time is running out. But everything changes when she encounters Rafe, a mysterious and beautiful stranger who leads her to an enchanted salon-a place where artists can bring wondrous imaginations to life. Celeste is captivated by this establishment, and learns of the existence of magical Paris, hidden in the pockets and alleys of the ordinary world, if one only knows where to look. Rafe offers Celeste an irresistible deal: the gift of time in exchange for lending him and his benefactor her forging talents. But one must be careful making deals with devils, and there's more to this hidden world than meets the eye. Shadows have begun to circle Paris. And soon, the Enchantresses will find that true magic is far more powerful, and deadly, than they ever imagined"--

Book Synopsis

"This is the Paris novel of my dreams."―Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer

"Thrilling, charming, and utterly transportive. It's impossible not to walk away enchanted."―Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

In this lush and lyrical fantasy debut, Ryan Graudin transports readers to the hidden magical pockets of early 1900s Paris--a place of enchanted salons and fortune tellers who can change your stars--and introduces Céleste Artois, a con artist who will make a deal with the devil in exchange for her life...and change the fate of the world.

Once, Céleste Artois had dreams of being an artist. But when the creative elite of Paris dashed those plans, she turned her talents to forgery and cons. She and the Enchantresses--her two fellow thieves and best friends--see Paris as a rich hunting ground for marks. Yet even though their hideout in Père Lachaise cemetery is bursting with francs, Céleste cannot rest. There is always more to take. And the blood she has begun to cough into her handkerchief means her time is running out.

But everything changes when she encounters Rafe, a mysterious and beautiful stranger who leads her to an enchanted salon--a place where artists can bring wondrous imaginations to life. Céleste is captivated by this establishment, and learns of the existence of magical Paris, hidden in the pockets and alleys of the ordinary world, if one only knows where to look.

Rafe offers Céleste an irresistible deal: the gift of time in exchange for lending him and his benefactor her forging talents. But one must be careful making deals with devils, and there's more to this hidden world than meets the eye. Shadows have begun to circle Paris. And soon, the Enchantresses will find that true magic is far more powerful, and deadly, than they ever imagined.

Review Quotes

"It's always nice to see a new way of thinking about magic, both in how it might come into existence and then be used; Ryan Graudin has done it thoughtfully, without overly complicated rules and still internally consistent."

--Locus

"Graudin's adult debut weaves real and imagined characters into a tale full of romance, art, curiosity and pain. An expansive fantasy."--Library Journal

"Every page of Ryan Graudin's latest is molten gold. Thrilling, charming, and utterly transportive. True to form, Graudin sprinkles this tale with so much heart and humor and glittering dialogue that it's impossible not to walk away enchanted."--Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

"Graudin mixes a heady cocktail of decadent parties with the bittersweet tang of a world about to self-destruct. This is a delectable confection." --Publishers Weekly

"Ryan Graudin's magical Paris is glittering and seedy, glorious and deadly, fabulous and unforgiving. This novel of delicious skullduggery brings the City of Lights to life. I wish I could slip into its pages for a stroll, and see my favorite places rendered fantastical. This is the Paris novel of my dreams."--Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer

"The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois is sublime and seductive, full of midnight magic and spun-glass secrets. I never wanted to wake up from this luminous fever dream of a novel." --Lyra Selene, author of A Feather So Black

About the Author

Ryan Graudin is the award-winning author of ten novels, including the Carnegie nominated Wolf By Wolf duology, Invictus, The Walled City and the The World Between Blinks series. She resides near Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. You can find her online at www.ryangraudin.com.