First published 2021
Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus stares at the impossible: an alien armada positioned at the borders of Teixcalaanli space that defies every attempt at contact or combat. Her weapons prove useless against the mysterious invaders, and her communications officers cannot decode their signals. With her fleet stretched thin and options dwindling, Nine Hibiscus makes a desperate gamble on diplomacy. She calls for Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass, two envoys still recovering from the political chaos that recently shook the Empire. The pair must attempt what military force could not accomplish: establishing contact with an utterly alien intelligence. Their mission carries enormous stakes. Success might forge an unprecedented alliance or at least secure peace. Failure could doom Teixcalaan to destruction. As Mahit and Three Seagrass work to bridge the communication gap with beings whose motives remain opaque, they discover that understanding the alien threat requires confronting fundamental questions about identity, belonging, and what it means to be human in a vast and dangerous universe.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, aliens
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: first-contact, found-family
Setting: Teixcalaanli
496 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books