The mighty comet her mother had foretold arrives in 1618, the long-awaited omen urging Nelia to fulfill her destiny.

From her ranch in Valencia, she travels through ghostly forests and ancient cities across Spain, carrying with her the fierce spirit of a flamenco dancer. The Inquisition and the Gypsy travel ban threaten to bar her path as, guided by her magical medallion, she seeks a way to steal cinnabar from a heavily guarded mine to extract its mercury and find an alchemist she can trust. All the while, she faces mounting pressure from her clanmates, who are eager to twist her mission toward selfish ends despite her warnings about the curse.

Torn between her forbidden love for Vera, her tempestuous Gitano, and the Spaniard who offers guidance and comfort, Nelia must decide whose love to let go—and which will ultimately claim her heart.

Blending historical fiction with magical realism, tenderness, rough humor, and desire, The Cinnabar Medallion follows one woman's courage as she seeks to heal others for centuries with the Elixir of Life, with new tales yet to unfold in lands near and across the seas.