First published 2026
Two powerful families stand ready for battle in the canton of Sapirdad, their retainers gripping drawn swords. The spark that threatens to ignite civil war across the empire is a murder charge against one family's eldest son. The evidence appears solid, but if Ana Dolabra cannot prove his innocence, the resulting conflict will bring starvation and chaos to millions. Ana arrives with her assistant Din to find a case that seems impossible even by her standards. Within hours, her sharp mind detects a larger pattern behind the crime. Someone with access to ancient magical technology orchestrates a complex web of death. Each suspect Ana identifies turns up murdered, and every new killing pushes the feuding clans closer to violence. Din pursues their enemy through dusty towns, sprawling ranches, and blood-soaked slaughterhouses, but finds his own loyalties tested in ways he never expected. Ana must solve not just one murder but a series of calculated killings designed to destroy the peace.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, fantasy, action, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, murder-mystery, political-conspiracy
Setting: Sapirdad
Period: Ancient
400 pages · Kindle Edition · Del Rey
Content warnings: violence