by Elly Blake
First published 2025
Cassia remembers when she and the demon boy Zeru played together in Thirstwood's crimson trees. She remembers the amber ring he gave her as a gift. She also remembers how that simple gesture sparked a war between her father the forest king and the demon queen. Now Cassia fights for her father's army, using the ring's power to blind hundreds of demons in battle. The ring shoots light that can disorient entire enemy forces. Then Zeru captures her. He wants to steal back the ring that caused his childhood mistake to cost so much. Cassia finds herself traveling with her former friend to a place both thought existed only in stories. Their old friendship begins to return, growing into something deeper. But the war follows them. A threat emerges that endangers both forest folk and demons. Cassia must navigate her feelings for Zeru while facing dangers that could destroy both their peoples.
Genres: romance, fantasy, young-adult, fantasy-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Thirstwood
382 pages · Kindle Edition · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers