The Circle Reforged expands on the lives of those introduced in the first two Circle series.

The Will of the Empress follows the original young mages as they grapple with who they’ve become during their time apart. Called north to Namorn by her cousin, the Empress Berenene, Sandrilene fa Toren has no one to rely on in this foreign country but her foster siblings. Her title isn’t much protection against kidnapping or blackmail, even if the empress is her cousin. But her foster siblings are dealing with their own troubles, hiding the choices they’ve made and the trauma they’ve been through in their travels. Moreover, Berenene wants all four of these powerful young people to stay in her court and enrich her kingdom, and she’s willing to do anything and everything in her power to keep them fractured and alone.

Melting Stones follows Evumeimei Dingzhai as she travels with Dedicate Rosethorn to the island of Starns, a poor place with very little to offer other than its very rich soil. But the trees are dying, the water is turning to poison, and even some of the rocks that Evvy encounters have become tainted with a power she’s never encountered before. Can she, Rosethorn, and the fussy Dedicate Myrrhtide discover what’s happening in time to help the inhabitants of Starns? And after the trauma of the war in Gyongxe, does Evvy even want to help?