KFrancesca

In the lush forest kingdom of Verdanthe, magic is a crime punishable by death. Pandora, a quiet girl living on the outskirts of the kingdom, is different.

Born with a voice that could weave storms, heal wounds, and hands that could create plant life, Pandora has spent her life in silence, fearing that even a single note or flick of her wrist might expose her. Her father once told her that magic like hers can only end in fire. But when the ruthless king’s hunters arrive in her village, searching for her, she is forced to flee back to her home in the Nyxmaris sea.  

She is one of the last of her kind and the only one who can restore magic to the world. But the more Pandora uncovers about the her origins, the more she realizes that singing might not set her free—it might break the world apart.  

Torn between silence and rebellion, fear and freedom, Pandora must decide: will she keep swallowing the magic inside her, or will she let it finally be heard?  

Perfect for fans of lyrical prose, atmospheric fantasy, and heroines who wield quiet power, The Wild Song She Swallowed is a spellbinding tale of identity, music, and the price of unleashing your true self.

The Wild Song She Swallowed

Stellaris' grip tightens, and for a moment, I think this is it. My lungs burn, my vision blurs, and the world tilts beneath me.

Avis moves faster than I thought possible. His dagger whips through the air, slicing toward Stellaris' outstretched hand. He jerks back, the spell breaking.

Air floods my lungs. I gasp, coughing, my body trembling from the sudden release.

Avis doesn't hesitate. He lunges, another blade in hand, aiming for his ribs.

Stellaris deflects with ease, his sword meeting his dagger in a shower of sparks. "Cute," he says, shoving him back with a twist of his wrist.

Avis stumbles, but I see the flicker of calculation in his eyes. He wasn't aiming to kill just to distract.

Because while Stellaris was focused on him, he wasn't focused on me.

My magic stirs, raw and unrefined, but there. The flames in the lanterns around us bend, reaching toward me, recognizing me. I don't think. I pull.

The fire leaps from its source, streaking toward Stellaris in a wave of searing gold.

He barely has time to react. He throws up a shield of dark energy, but it's rushed, he wasn't expecting this. The fire collides with his magic, and for the first time, his expression flickers with something close to surprise.

We leap from the rooftop, landing hard in the alley below. Pain jolts up my legs, but there's no time to recover. Shouts ring out behind us.

"He won't be down long," Avis grits out, dragging me forward. "We need to get to the docks."

"The docks?" I gasp, barely keeping up.

"The Nyxmaris Sea is the only way out of the city. If we make it to the boats, we can lose them."

The city blurs around us dark alleys, abandoned streets, the distant glow of lanterns in shuttered windows. The soldiers are still searching, but we're ahead of them. For now.

The crashing waves, the low groan of ships swaying with the tide. The scent of salt and damp wood fills the air.

We skid to a stop at the edge of the docks. Boats bob along the water, ropes creaking against the worn wooden planks.

Avis scans the area. "We need a ship fast. The moment he recovers, he'll..."

A low horn echoes through the city.

Into the Dark