Witchmark

C.L. Polk

Image | Book Cover: Witchmark by C.L. Polk

(Tor.com)

In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.
Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn't leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans' hospital, Miles can't hide what he truly is.
When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles' healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient's murder. To find the truth he'll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he's ever seen. (From Raincoast Books)

From the book

The memo stank of barrel-printing ink and bad news. Oh, it began with the usual hurrahs, our boys victorious and finally coming home, but it ordered me to banish sixteen patients from my care by week's end. I didn't have ten men who were safe to send home to their families. This could not stand, and I'd tell Mathy to her face.
Green-tinged gaslight in the stairwell gave way to the lobby's white-gold aether lamps, and I suppressed a wince at the familiar prickle and whine of modern lighting. The clerk at reception waved me over, but I ignored the message slips in her hand.
"Have you seen Dr. Matheson?"
"Good evening, Dr. Singer. She left twenty minutes ago." She nodded her head leftwards.
Matheson had sent her memo late to escape before the news spread. She wouldn't be the one to send veterans home before they were ready. That responsibliity was on me.

From Witchmark by C.L. Polk ©2018. Published by Tor.com.