by Sabaa Tahir
First published 2024
Aiz grows up in the Kegari slums, driven by vengeance for an old tragedy. Her fierce love for her people sustains her until one reckless act lands her in an inescapable prison, where her anger burns hotter than ever. Sirsha, banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, scrapes by as a tracker who uses magic to find her targets. Desperate for money, she accepts a job hunting a killer who murders children across the Martial Empire. The work seems straightforward until an unexpected attraction complicates everything. Quil, crown prince and nephew to a revered empress, dreads inheriting the throne. As the son of a hated emperor, he knows how power destroys those who wield it. When a brutal new enemy threatens the Empire's survival, Quil must decide if he can overcome his father's legacy. Sabaa Tahir weaves together these three lives as they face power, betrayal, and love while confronting the brutal cost of unchecked greed.
Genres: fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Kegari, Martial Empire
Period: 21st-century
484 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: violence