Stars Die (Caldryn Parliament Book 1)

When a portal opens, someone is found dead. The Realm is a sprawling interstellar society of predominantly human inhabitants, along with magic practitioners. At its center lies Caldryn Parliament, where Vanda Kavanagh serves as the new Warden, responsible for guarding ancient and arcane secrets. After five years on the frontier, Vanda must rebuild her reputation in Forum City. She faces the challenge of maintaining the parliamentary wards while navigating complex political dynamics where a murderer operates in the shadows. A new gremlin sidekick adds further complications as malice and magic converge into a dangerous trap. Vanda must determine whether she can evade it—or if she is the one constructing it. The story combines political intrigue, futuristic fantasy, slow burn romance, found family themes, and cozy mystery elements.