by Kerstin Hall
First published 2023
Vasethe arrives where railway tracks meet the saltpan, seeking help from a woman locals once called the end-of-the-line woman. She lives on the Ahri side of the shadowline and is not what she appears. To get what he needs, Vasethe must enter Mkalis, a realm of spirits where gods and demons fight without end across nine hundred and ninety-nine territories. This world contains impossible oceans, hidden fortresses, and a vast bureaucracy governing demon realms. What Vasethe uncovers in Mkalis could expose his hidden past and destroy both worlds. Meanwhile, warrior Tyn guards her ruler but feels disconnected from her duty. She has survived a goddess's revenge and learned devastating truths about who she used to be. Wrestling with this knowledge of her identity, Tyn lashes out at innocent people, her anger misdirected and dangerous.
Genres: fantasy, supernatural, dark-fantasy, epic-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, identity-crisis
Setting: Mkalis, Ahri, Saltpan
Period: Contemporary
441 pages · Kindle Edition · Tordotcom
Content warnings: violence