City of Iron and Ivy by Thomas Kent West

This beguiling historical romantasy debut blends dark academia with the glamour of Bridgerton, as a scholar of magic investigates her sister's murder--perfect for fans of Heather Fawcett and H. G. Parry.In an alternate London alive with botanical magic, Elswyth Elderwood is a thorn among roses: a bristly, scarred scholar in a world of socialites. Her sister Persephone is the opposite: a graceful debutante seeking a marriage that will save their family from ruin. At least, until Persephone is murdered.Suddenly the last scion of her house, Elswyth must abandon her studies and find a wealthy husband. She is thrust into a London fueled by floromancy: hedge witches sprout nightshade from their fingertips, high-born ladies weave gowns from wildflowers... and a serial killer called the Reaper transforms his victims into plant-human hybrids.When clues suggest the Reaper is a powerful nobleman, Elswyth's search for her sister's killer and her hunt for a husband become one and the same. But she