Altered Destiny

by Lorna Tedder

Book 1 in the Witch Out of Time series
in the Secret Lives of Librarians universe

High-Concept Tagline

Think: The Dresden Files meets The OA meets Minority Report in a reincarnation thriller where memory, magic, and murder collide.

Description

Veronica Winzler von Windlach remembers lives she hasn’t lived yet. Gifted with the rare “Gift of Knowing,” she’s spent years navigating the shadows of secret societies, ancient reincarnation rituals, and occult libraries hidden in plain sight. But when a mystic reading reveals her timeline has been tampered with, her future disappears—and her death moves 40 years closer.

Determined to solve the mystery of her own impending murder, Veronica follows the trail left by a fellow priest’s death—a death that may hold the key to unraveling who rewrote her fate. But reality is fracturing. Memories blur. Allies lie. And every clue unearths more danger in a world where time, magic, and identity are up for grabs. Now she must fight to reclaim her fate before it’s overwritten—for good.

Genre

Urban Fantasy, Mystery Thriller, Occult Detective Fiction, Reincarnation Thriller

Tone

Wry, cynical, suspenseful, darkly humorous, emotionally anchored

Tropes

• First-person narration
• Secret society conspiracy
• Altered timeline/memory manipulation
• Reincarnation cycle
• Race against destined death
• Murder mystery with magical stakes
• Magical female lead
• Prophetic visions

Why You’ll Love It

Altered Destiny offers empowerment and agency for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by fate. It doesn’t promise fighting destiny is easy—but it proves that with wit, stubbornness, and the right allies, you can still rewrite the script—even when time itself has betrayed you.

Trigger / Sensitivity Warnings

Murder and death threats, Memory manipulation and identity confusion,  Betrayal by trusted institutions, Magical coercion and conspiracy, Discussion of mortality and extinction-level events

Note: All traumatic content serves character development and narrative purpose. No gratuitous violence.