Elodie and the Dark Lord

To save her brother, a magicless librarian must infiltrate a magical academy and trust a Dark Lord, in the first novel in a spellbinding new fantasy duology from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip.

Elodie Kess is a librarian in a quiet seaside town on the far reaches of the kingdom. It’s not adventure and whirlwind romance, but as a scholar of magic with a strange affliction that deadens spells upon her touch, reading about it is the closest she can get.

Her unremarkable life is upended when her brother Emmerick, an esteemed professor at the High Arcanum Conservatory, disappears alongside his coveted research. Knowing she's the only one who can save him, Elodie infiltrates the Conservatory glamoured as a graduate student. Her prime suspect: the school's most infamous professor, a centuries-old Dark Lord cursed to live as a cat.

When Elodie’s affliction unexpectedly dispels his curse—revealing the disarmingly attractive man beneath—the two become unlikely allies. As they investigate Emmerick's disappearance, Elodie discovers the Dark Lord is nothing like the villain of legend—and soon finds herself risking not only her life, but her heart. Because while history may be written by its victors, every legend contains a grain of truth, and the Dark Lord was cursed for a reason . . .

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs