by Tomi Adeyemi
Part of Legacy of Orïsha, book 3
First published 2024
Zélie believed her greatest trials were behind her. The royal palace had fallen to her power. The maji walked free once more. She never imagined she would wake up imprisoned aboard a strange vessel, sailing far from everything she knew. Warriors bearing iron skulls have seized her and her people, transporting them across vast waters to distant shores. Her true enemy reveals himself as King Baldyr, ruler of the Skulls, a conqueror who has destroyed civilizations in his hunt for her abilities. Baldyr seeks to steal Zélie's magical strength for his own dark purposes. This forces Zélie to join Amari and Tzain in a desperate search for allies in unfamiliar territories. Meanwhile, disaster approaches the shores of Orïsha itself. As Baldyr draws closer to achieving his goal, Zélie must gather every ounce of power she possesses. She faces her most dangerous opponent yet while her homeland teeters on the edge of complete destruction. The fate of her people rests on her ability to defeat the Skulls before they wipe out everything she holds dear.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, action, young-adult
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Orïsha
Period: 21st-century
358 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co.
Content warnings: violence