Enchanted Net summary

Enchanted Net, the first book of the Mysterious Fields trilogy, begins with Thessaly Lytton-Powell’s betrothal to Childeric Fortier in March 1889 at his family’s demesne estate, Arundel. 

The betrothal is the event of the season, a gathering attended by nearly every powerful person in Albion (Britain’s magical community), and everyone the Fortiers want to impress. Along with members of Albion’s Council, the guests include many allies of the Fortiers such as the formidable Henut Landry and her sons Philip and Alexander. Henut and Philip are established magical specialists, while Alexander is almost finished with his time as a student at Schola, about to depart on a Grand Tour. 

Thessaly comes from good families with powerful magic – the Lyttons and the Powells – but neither have the same kind of social power. Marrying the golden son of the Fortiers is quite a step up. Thessaly’s willing. She understands the family expectations and obligations – or at least she thinks she does. Her apprenticeship in illusion work is going well, even if Thessaly does not expect to need to make her living at it. Besides, she’s also a duellist, skilled in using her magic and her wits to reach her goals. 

Marrying into the Fortier family is a particular kind of challenge, though. They are a family of strong magic and stronger opinions. The Dowager Lady Chrodechildis still rules the family with a strong hand, even though Lord Clovis and Lady Maylis Fortier’s sons (Childeric and Sigbert) are young adults. Dagobert (Chrodechildis’s younger son) and his wife Laudine maintain a little more space from the family, but are at all the necessary events with their 9-year-old son Garin. 

The Fortier marriage agreements are clear about what is and is not permitted and expected. Thessaly is committed to marrying Childeric and doing her best to provide him with children, but other relationships that do not interfere with that are possible. Certainly, Childeric’s taking advantage of that clause. 

Vitus Deschamps comes from a less distinguished family, with his father acting as a man of business for various Fortier client families and his brother Lucas serving in a non-magical cavalry unit. Vitus has been travelling on the Continent, learning from talisman makers and gem cutters as he comes to the end of his apprenticeship as a talisman maker. His apprentice mistress, Niobe Hall, welcomes him back warmly, wanting to set him up to succeed for the future. His return also lets him reconnect with the Four Metals, a secret society focused on crafting and innovative magic. 

When Vitus meets Thessaly at a costume gala, they immediately find each other to be kindred spirits, interested in exploring the artistry that magic makes possible, as well as the function of different enchantments and forms of magic. 

As spring turns into summer, however, there are some worrying signs. Childeric alternately ignores Thessaly and becomes increasingly controlling of her behaviour.  Both Vitus and Thessaly have also become aware that a number of people around their age are not fulfilling their magical promise the way anyone expected – there are failed apprenticeships, complications for expected marriages, and more. 

Vitus spends his spring developing his own connections, both within the Four Metals and consulting with Philip Landry about a particular technique. He knows what he needs to do to conclude his apprenticeship: gather a few more key examples of his work to present to his guild. Vitus also needs to set up his business and ways to establish his skills and differentiate himself from Niobe.

As Thessaly and her beloved aunt Metaia (a member of Albion’s Council) are getting ready for the Council rites on Summer Solstice, Metaia asks some probing questions and shares her worries about Childeric, as well as making it clear Thessaly has her support. The evening is a shining show of magic and prestige, as expected, but Vitus and Thessaly do get a chance to dance together. 

When Metaia is found dead the next morning, Thessaly – and her family – are shocked and grieving, especially Thessaly’s mother Sioned, Metaia’s older sister. More puzzling, there’s another death, that of Philip Landry. Thessaly is desperately trying to figure out what happened and what it means, and Vitus offers what comfort he can – if constrained by proper behaviour and his own social station. 

The funerals raise questions, odd moments of behaviour that don’t make sense. The Fortiers have retreated into their estates, barely making the necessary condolence calls. Vitus and Thessaly both notice several odd reactions at Philip’s funeral. Vitus begins to try and figure out what might be going on, even though he has very little information to work with.

Ten days after Metaia’s death, Thessaly is summoned to Arundel with no explanation. She’s shocked to hear Childeric announce that he intends to challenge for Metaia’s open seat on the Council. She’s rightfully upset that he didn’t discuss it with her, or give her any warning of what he had planned. And yet, while she’s furious, she can’t go against him – not in public, and not in private. 

Vitus has his own unexpected conversation when Henut Landry asks if he would take over the lease on Philip’s rooms, solving his search for his own professional space. He agrees, once she makes clear what the catch is. Vitus is, after all, more likely than a stranger to let her know if some odd object or paperwork turns up. He also takes on a commission from Theo Carrington, another of the declared challengers for the open Council seat, for a talismanic piece that will support his magic. 

At the end of the book, Thessaly and Vitus manage to get a chance to meet and talk. When Vitus admits he wishes he could kiss Thessaly, she agrees that she wishes he would. They kiss, but almost immediately are discovered by one of the worst gossips. Vitus walks away in order to offer Thessaly the scant protection he can.