Drawing on knowledge gained from his dream of a second life in another world, Arcus created the aethometer: a device that measures the essence of all magic. Now, he is finally ready to present his revolutionary invention to his nation’s premier magicians and military leaders. With the circle of trust containing the device’s earthshaking implications cast wider, how will the aethometer move to change Arcus’ fate and the fate of the world itself? Others within the gentry are keeping a close eye on Arcus after his decisive actions on the marquess’ estate. Whether they are friend or foe remains to be seen—but subtle machinations rarely remain so for long when Arcus is involved.

Having come a long way since his disinheritance, Arcus is introduced to his very own servant: Noah Ingvayne, the “winter wunderkind,” brought in not only to aid with Arcus’s invention, but also to help him further his magic and combat studies. Speaking of the aethometer, it’s time to introduce it to the Guildmaster... Meanwhile, Lecia’s father takes her to a party thrown by one Cau Gaston as preparation to take up the mantle of heir to the Raytheft house. Troubling rumors surround the party’s host, but surely Lecia is too young to have to worry about them...right? With dark dealings threatening his sister’s safety, it’s up to Arcus to face one of the most powerful nobles in the land.

The Raythefts are an old, minor noble house defined by magical talent and martial service. When six-year-old Arcus Raytheft, firstborn son to the family, proves disappointingly inept at magic, he is stripped of his inheritance and written off by his parents. His adoptive sister Lecia still adores him, but as the new heir, she is forbidden to interact with anyone who might drag her down. But when one inheritance is lost, fate arranges another: Arcus remembers another life, in a world where science prevails and magic belongs to the realm of fiction. Suddenly endowed with the life experience of a grown man and pressed to find a purpose as his family turns against him, Arcus resolves to find a way to break the laws of magic and Raytheft tradition over his knee!

After a war of twists and turns and a brief convalescence, Arcus is finally ready to return to Lainur’s capital. There he’ll meet Ceylan’s father, King Crosellode, and be rewarded for his valiant efforts—although he’s not the only one due for an audience with the king. While rumors about Arcus continue to spread, the Empire evaluates its own part in the war. Will the nation remain a sleeping lion, or begin plotting its next move? And what of the cryptic quest to seek out an emerald on Chain’s behalf, which Arcus received in a dream? Without any clues as to what it might mean, he hardly knows where to begin. But one thing’s for sure: he’s going to be busy for a long while yet.

Arcus’s aethometer is making waves in Lainur as it enables a revolutionary leap forward in the kingdom’s grasp of magic. But, out of nowhere, the supply of Sorcerer’s Silver essential to the device’s manufacture dries up. Unable to meet demand without it, he and his companions travel to the silver-rich western territory of Rustinell. What friends and foes lie ahead? What greater machinations are at work behind this unprecedented upset? And as the consequences of his actions ripple out far beyond his reach, can Arcus still hold his own?

Now thirteen years old, Arcus crushes the entrance exam for the Royal Institute of Magic, and he soon begins his new life as a student. Disowned for his supposed lack of ability, he makes waves both good and bad when he quickly outstrips his distinguished peers, rising to the top of his class. His success does not escape the notice of Claudia Saifice, granddaughter of the Institute’s headmaster. What exactly does she have in store for him?

Arcus came to Rustinell to top up on supplies; that’s still on his to-do list, but he has averted a plot to kill the crown prince of Lainur! The prince declares war on the treasonous Porque Nadar—and orders Arcus to fight by his side. Arcus never meant to get involved, but a monarch’s word is law. After all he’s been through, Arcus might be prepared for open warfare; regardless, there’s no place more dangerous to stand than in the shadow of the boy who would be king. Especially when you consider the royal family’s track record with close friends...

Ancient Egypt has long been a source of fascination in Western popular culture. Movies such as The Mummy (1932, 1959), Biblical epics like The Ten Commandments (1923, 1956), and pharaonic films like Cleopatra (1934, 1963) and The Egyptian (1954) have all recreated the glamour and allure of Egyptian art and civilization for Western audiences. This work traces how these and other films were inspired by writers like Bram Stoker and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and by the art of Victorian painters. Similarly, it shows how the soundtracks to such films belong to a Romantic musical tradition stretching back beyond Verdi and Mozart. Exploring these artistic endeavors addresses the question of whether the fantasy of ancient Egypt represents racist misunderstandings of a far more significant reality, or a way for Western culture to understand itself.

Volume 1 includes material "on nearly 3,300 American musicals. Volume 2 consists of complete indexes to more than 42,000 songs and more than 16,000 personnel, as well as a chronological listing of titles by year of production."