Lianthorn Belladonna could have been so many things. An artist, a mage, a gardener. Instead, his family sealed his future, trapping him in a life of scheming, poison, and murder.

He's through with it.

On the cusp of completing his poisonous masterpiece, Lianthorn makes a choice that will change everything. He flees the gilded cage of their family manor and seeks refuge in a quiet town on the outskirts of civilization, where the name Belladonna means nothing.

With his family's infamous scarlet-bound recipe book hidden away, he attempts to forget the toxins and discover the simple joy of helping people. But out on the frontier and in the company of a red-scaled Draconian working as a carpenter in spite of her fire powers, 'helping people' will require all his skills.

Including the alchemy he worked so hard to escape.

Lianthorn abandoned everything he'd ever known to gain his freedom. Now, to flourish in his new life, he'll have to learn a whole new way of living and maybe, just maybe, discover the recipe for love along the way.