In the small New England town of Ipswich, four teenage boys—Caleb Danvers, Pogue Parry, Reid Garwin, and Tyler Simms—are known as the Sons of Ipswich. They are descendants of colonial witch families and possess magical abilities passed down through generations. Their powers first manifest on their 13th birthday and grow stronger until their Ascension at age 18. Upon Ascending, their powers increase dramatically but come with a dangerous cost: the use of magic draws upon their life force. The more magic they use, the more addictive it becomes, leading to premature aging and eventual death if abused.
The story begins with the Sons attending a bonfire party near their elite boarding school, Spenser Academy. At the party, Caleb meets Sarah Wenham, a transfer student from Boston, and her roommate, Kate Tunney. The Sons also encounter Chase Collins, a new student at Spenser. Their conversation is cut short when the police arrive to break up the party. Using their powers, the Sons cleverly evade capture.
The next day, the school is rocked by the discovery of a student’s body near the campus. Soon after, strange and unexplainable events begin to occur, many of which seem to target Sarah and Kate. Frustrated and concerned, Caleb suspects Reid, the most impulsive and reckless member of the group, of abusing his powers. Reid angrily denies the accusation, creating tension within the group.
As these events unfold, Caleb and Pogue witness a “darkling,” a malicious spirit associated with death and misfortune. The appearance of the darkling signals an ominous presence that alarms the Sons. Meanwhile, Caleb and Sarah grow closer, and their romantic relationship begins to blossom.
During a school swim meet, Caleb notices Chase exhibiting signs of magic use. This discovery leads him to investigate Chase further. Caleb eventually concludes that Chase is a descendant of a fifth Ipswich family, one believed to have died out centuries ago. This revelation shocks the Sons, as they were unaware of any surviving members of the fifth bloodline.
The situation escalates when Kate falls into a coma, the result of a powerful spell. Devastated, Pogue confronts Chase in a fit of rage but is overpowered and left severely injured, landing in the hospital. These events confirm Chase’s involvement and reveal his dangerous intentions.
Chase lures Caleb into a trap and reveals his backstory. He was unaware of his magical heritage until he discovered his biological father, who was already consumed by the cost of using magic. In an attempt to escape his fate, Chase’s father transferred all his power to him, but this only accelerated Chase’s descent into addiction. Now, Chase seeks to force other Ascended witches to transfer their power to him, believing that accumulating more power will prolong his life. He demands that Caleb surrender his power, threatening to harm Caleb’s family and friends if he refuses.
Determined to protect those he loves, Caleb reveals the truth about Chase to Sarah and takes her to his father, William Danvers. Once a powerful warlock, William is now a frail and decrepit man, prematurely aged by years of magic abuse. Sarah suggests that one of the other Sons transfer their power to Caleb to give him an advantage in fighting Chase. However, Caleb refuses, knowing that doing so would cost the donor their life.
On the night of Caleb’s 18th birthday, he prepares to confront Chase. He instructs Reid and Tyler to stay behind and protect Sarah, but Chase manages to abduct her. Caleb follows Chase to an abandoned barn, where the two face off in a tense showdown. Chase reveals that Sarah is under a spell and gives Caleb an ultimatum: surrender his power or watch her die. Caleb Ascends but refuses to transfer his power to Chase. A fierce battle ensues, with Caleb initially struggling to match Chase’s superior strength.
Back at the Danvers estate, Caleb’s mother, Evelyn, pleads with William to save their son. Moved by her desperation and realizing the gravity of the situation, William makes the ultimate sacrifice. He wills his remaining power to Caleb, ensuring that his son has the strength to defeat Chase. Infused with his father’s power, Caleb unleashes a devastating attack, engulfing Chase in a massive explosion.
With Chase defeated, the spells binding Sarah, Kate, and Pogue are broken. Firefighters arrive at the barn to extinguish the blaze and inform Caleb and Sarah that no third body was found in the wreckage, suggesting that Chase may have survived.
As the danger subsides, Caleb and Sarah leave the scene together. Caleb uses his magic to repair the broken windshield of his car, and Sarah holds his hand in reassurance. They drive off to reunite with the rest of the Sons, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
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