First published 2008
Caine built his legend by nearly wiping out the Black Knives, the most feared tribe in a magical world that serves as the stage for deadly reality shows. That blood-soaked campaign made him a superstar in his home dimension, where audiences watch interdimensional entertainment. Thirty years later, Orbek, his adopted brother and the last surviving Black Knife, calls Caine back to the scene of that brutal triumph. Caine finds himself once again fighting for survival against overwhelming odds, but this time the stakes reach beyond personal glory. Two worlds hang in the balance as he confronts the true cost of his past actions. The street thug turned assassin must face not only external enemies but the consequences of what some call his greatest crime. In this savage land where gods walk among mortals and magic flows like blood, Caine discovers that some victories carry prices that compound over decades.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, redemption
Setting: Black Knives
343 pages · Paperback · Random House Worlds
Content warnings: graphic-violence