by C. L. Clark
First published 2025
Luca sits on Balladaire's throne, but her new crown feels more like a noose. The empire fractures around her while the Withering threatens to destroy her people. She needs to find Balladaire's lost magic, but the one person who can help her demands she abolish the monarchy itself. Touraine has climbed from soldier to general, achieving everything she once dreamed of. Yet threats multiply on every border. The alliance with Qazal grows fragile. Neighboring kingdoms circle like vultures, sensing Balladaire's vulnerability. When enemy forces march toward them, Touraine discovers her former lover leads the assault. She must confront hard truths about her identity and the empire she once served. Two crises converge on the kingdom. Internal betrayals multiply as external enemies advance. Luca searches desperately for magical solutions while Touraine prepares for military ones. Their relationship anchors them both, but the mounting pressures threaten to shatter even their bond. They can face the approaching storm as allies, or watch it destroy everything they've built together.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, action, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Balladaire
573 pages · Paperback · Orbit