First published 2003
Tal Hawkins, a skilled swordsman recruited by the secretive Conclave of Shadows, infiltrates the court of a bloodthirsty duke to assassinate him. But to earn the tyrant's trust, Tal must first prove his loyalty through a series of increasingly vile acts. Torn between his thirst for vengeance and his own morality, Tal faces a grim choice: embrace evil to destroy it, or succumb to madness and damnation.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, moral-dilemma
374 pages · Voyager
Content warnings: murder, violence