First published 2019
Mahit Dzmare steps off the transport into the heart of the Teixcalaanli Empire, ready to serve as her mining Station's new ambassador. She quickly learns that her predecessor died under suspicious circumstances. No imperial official will call it murder, but the evidence suggests otherwise. Mahit realizes she may be the next target as political chaos grips the imperial court. She must uncover the truth behind the killing while protecting herself and her small but independent Station from the Empire's relentless expansion. The alien culture surrounding her proves dangerously attractive, pulling her into complex political schemes. Meanwhile, she guards a technological secret that could either destroy her home or save it from total destruction. Mahit navigates deadly court intrigue while racing to solve an interstellar murder mystery that threatens everything she holds dear.
Genres: science-fiction, mystery, space-opera, political-thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, political-schemes, race-against-time
Setting: Teixcalaanli Empire, Mining Station
Period: Interstellar
464 pages · Paperback · Pan Macmillan Paperbacks