Every Rule Undone
Book 1, The Last Magic City
by Nancy SM Waldman
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Pub Date 16 Oct 2024 | Archive Date 15 Mar 2025
Nancy SM Waldman | By and By Press
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Description
Aza Gen, curse cleaner and snooper at keyholes, never set out to break all the rules.
She lives a sheltered life as a curse cleaner for Maripesa's ruling family. At thirteen, the day of her first period, she acquires an ability to split herself and see from two perspectives. She keeps it a secret, not knowing where this Talent fits in the magical structure of her society.
Magic can so easily slide into chaos. That's why the belief in it was phased out over eons. But the island of Maripesa took a different approach. They used those eons to breed a system that uses magic to maintain order. Spell types are genetically bound to family clans. The upper clans curse. The mid clans repair or heal those curses. The lower clans have no magic. Anyone who breeds outside their clan is executed. It is a simple and perfect balance of power.
Years later, Maripesa's rigid calm devolves under an upper clan spellwar and, not coincidentally, Aza loses everything. Sick, fearful and grieving, she's thrust alone into the unfamiliar city where she encounters hypocrisy and deception—so much worse than the twin evils of curses and maladies. But there are also good people with wells of kindness and wisdom; the experience of romance and sexual awakening; profound new kinships; and a burgeoning awareness of her own power. She finds women who have magic similar to hers. Women's magic—minimized, ridiculed, suppressed through generations—becomes her focus. Aza realizes that because it crosses and includes all clans, it can subvert the system. Her rage at mounting injustices will not stop until every outdated rule is undone.
Book One of The Last Magic City unfolds through four characters from different clans. In addition to Aza Gen, there are Ferjival Puraples, son of the ruler, and an angst-ridden antagonist; Benelek Kruik, a fun-loving, charismatic woman whose generosity and ambition don't always coexist easily; and Vijo Besin, healer of maladies, scholar of all magic, romantic soul with perhaps too much patience for his own good.
Aza, Ferjival, Benelek and Vijo show us the way through this charm-filled, twisty, heartfelt journey about the chaos that hypocrisy and hubris can bring and the healing that kindness will always manifest.
A Note From the Publisher
Edited pdf version uploaded on October 16
Amazon.com published the paperback book early on October 16;
Reviews will be welcomed anytime!
Edited ebook version uploaded on September 30
Edited pdf version uploaded on October 16
Amazon.com published the paperback book early on October 16;
Reviews will be welcomed anytime!
Advance Praise
Every Rule Undone by Nancy SM Waldman comes out October 22nd. Since I got my hands on an ARC, here's my review: 5/5 add this to your TBR.
This story follows the lead character of Aza Gen, that last name indicating which magical clan she belongs to and thus, her loyalties and abilities. The Gen in this world act as a submissive partner to the Puraples, the leading magical clan. In contrast, their enemies, the Cruiks, have their own submissive clan, the Besin healers. The Puraples and the Cruiks spend their time tossing magical curses at each other, and their submissives scramble to clean them up. If this sounds like an endless cycle, it is, and revolution is brewing when a full-on magical curse plague breaks out.
Added to these four clans is another set of people, folks whose parents broke the law by cross-breeding between magical clans and abilities. If they manage to escape execution, these Undones have no place in society.
Aza leads the reader through this world as unrest grows and builds, becoming the sort of delicious revolution story where unexpected heroes emerge simply because of the situations they find themselves. It is a pleasure to read how Aza and her friends grow, change, and become different people across the events in the book.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that. If you enjoy a character-driven story filled with difficult decisions that change their worlds forever, this needs to go on your TBR!
- Jennifer Shelby, SFF writer
Marketing Plan
Every Rule Undone will be published as ebook and print edition on October 22, 2024. By and By Press is the author’s imprint.
The ebook was distributed for pre-orders using KDP and Draft2Digital online distribution network in early August 2023, including library distribution. As well, it was uploaded to Kobo. It is listed on Goodreads.
The print book will be placed with Ingram-Spark as well.
Online promotion and marketing has been on-going since early summer 2024. Promotional reels, stories, and static ads are periodically placed on social media including Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, FB, and TikTok.
The author has a widespread online platform, with longstanding author pages on Goodreads, Amazon and Facebook.
The author has membership in SFWA and SF Canada.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781777620257 |
| PRICE | US$5.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Jade H, Reviewer
This was a book full of chaos, with lans where each specialises in a form of magic and hierarchy between the reigning clan and the others is causing chaos.
Full of found family, we follow a mere Gen girl called Aza amongst the chaos trying to change the status quo and make society more fair and equal.
It's heartbreaking as we grieve friends and family lost to various causes but is an interesting set up to what will be a unique series with wild magic, political infighting, and more.
Chhavi G, Reviewer
📖 Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
⭐ Rating: 4/5
📚 Overview
Every Rule Undone transports readers to Maripesa, a society bound by magic and rigid hierarchies. The protagonist, Aza Gen, works as a curse cleaner for the ruling family, but her unique ability to see the world from multiple perspectives sets her apart. As she uncovers deeper truths about her powers and the constraints of her world, she must decide whether to conform or break free. This is a story of defiance, self-discovery, and the courage to rewrite the rules.
🧐 What I Loved
✔ Immersive World-Building – The magic system in Maripesa is intricately crafted, and Waldman does an excellent job of making it feel lived-in. The hierarchy, customs, and history are richly detailed.
✔ Aza's Growth – I loved seeing Aza evolve from a dutiful servant to someone who questions authority and reclaims her power. Her journey is inspiring and deeply relatable.
✔ Thought-Provoking Themes – The book explores the tension between tradition and change, individual freedom versus societal expectations, and the cost of rebellion. These themes resonate beyond the fantasy setting.
🤔 What Could Be Better
🔹 Uneven Pacing – While the world-building is immersive, certain parts of the book slow down due to heavy exposition. Some readers may find these sections dragging the plot.
🔹 More Development for Side Characters – While Aza is well-fleshed out, some secondary characters could have been given more depth, especially those opposing her.
✨ Final Thoughts
Every Rule Undone is a compelling fantasy novel with strong themes of identity, power, and challenging the status quo. Waldman creates a rich, magical world and a protagonist worth rooting for. Though the pacing stumbles at times, the emotional payoff is worth it.
📌 Would I recommend it? Yes! If you love magic-infused societies, strong heroines, and stories about defying expectations, this one is for you.
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