by Kerstin Hall
First published 2021
Elfreda Raughn serves the Sisterhood of Aytrium, where women wield magic through bloodlines passed from mother to daughter. The daily horrors of her duties pale beside what truly terrifies her: the expectation that she will bear children to continue the magical lineage. Pregnancy means death for Elfreda, but refusing means death as well. When mysterious conspirators offer her a way out, she accepts their bargain and becomes their informant. Her new role grants access to the Sisterhood's inner circles, where elaborate celebrations mask deadly politics and blood flows beneath beautiful facades. Elfreda navigates this treacherous world of privilege and violence, gathering secrets for her handlers while the walls close in around her. In a society built on inherited power, even women with extraordinary abilities find themselves trapped by forces beyond their control. Elfreda must decide what price she will pay for freedom.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, literary-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, informant, trapped-by-forces, women-in-power
Setting: Aytrium, Sisterhood
400 pages · Kindle Edition · Tordotcom
Content warnings: death, violence