When Halley's Comet blazed across the sky in 1759, onlookers saw a sight far more spectacular--and disastrous--than they ever could have imagined. Destroyed in a magical battle, the comet is rent in two and appears to strike Earth. The event is known as The Sundering, the moment in which the Old World is separated from the New, perhaps permanently isolating the Americas. What's more, The Sundering has brought magic into the world--creatures from folklore and fairy tales come to life, along with wizardry and magework unlike anything seen outside of legend. The New World is now far stranger than before, and the Europeans, Africans, and Indigenous peoples on the American continent must forge new bonds if they are to survive.

So, when magic returns to the world of the 1700s, who does the world turn to for help? None other than the father of electricity himself: Benjamin Franklin But Franklin is in for a shock if he thinks his knowledge of science will prepare him for the world of magic. The master once more becomes the apprentice. But Franklin must learn his spells fast, for he is far from the only one studying magic.

In point of fact, he's late to the race and almost out of time . . .

Praise for Peter J. Wacks:

"Peter Wacks is a talented writer coming at you from all different genres. Watch out, readers "--Kevin J. Anderson

Praise for the work of Etyan Kollin:

"Reminiscent of Heinlein--a good, old-fashioned, enormously appealing SF yarn. bravo "--Robert J. Sawyer

"Turns what could have been a one-note trilogy into something more interesting that encompasses a wide range of ideas."--The Denver Post

"The Kollins' masterful command of multiple plot threads, characters, and the motifs of grand-scale space opera make for a breathtaking sequel."--Booklist

"Rich with multiple plot thread skillfully handled by the authors. . . . Well-conceived characters, along with intense battle-oriented space content, will keep even new readers glued to the page."--RT Book Reviews