There is no aspect of life that magic does not touch, including death. Raised to follow in her mother's footsteps, groomed to be a proper hedgewitch, Macaria longs to blossom and bloom both into womanhood and her magic. But deep inside, doubts have begun to take root. During a springtime ritual meant to ensure a fruitful growing season, fate conspires to redirect Macaria's path. Falling victim to ill omen after ill omen, she returns home bloody and bruised to meet her destiny. With the dawn, and an unfortunate sacrifice, her magic unfurls and her new vocation as a death witch is revealed. Can Macaria learn to see the beauty in Death? Or will the Council of Witches force her into its final embrace? A prequel novella in the universe of The Clockwork Witch