by Rae Carson
First published 2021
Red Sparkle Stone has spent years running and fighting, but now the sixteen-year-old foundling sees hope. Empress Elisa plans to adopt her into the royal family, giving Red the home and belonging she has always craved. Her magical mark and mysterious past will finally matter less than having people who choose her. Then the empress's political rival destroys the adoption with a single calculated move. Red watches everything she worked toward collapse. She refuses to let the empress become vulnerable or to give up on her chosen family. Red joins the Royal Guard, the empire's most elite fighters, determined to prove her worth and protect those she loves. No woman has ever survived the brutal recruitment year, but Red pushes forward anyway. Someone orchestrated her failure as a princess, and their hidden plans threaten everyone Red cares about. As enemies close in and the empire faces danger, Red must navigate deadly training while uncovering the conspiracy against her. She fights not just for survival, but for the family and place she has found at last.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, action, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Empire
448 pages · Paperback · Greenwillow Books