First published 2023
Jun carries the weight of past failures as a palace guard. Keema fights as an outcast seeking his place in the world. Both serve an empire ruled by the Moon Throne, where a despotic emperor and his three monstrous sons terrorize the land with powers stolen from a captive god. When that ancient deity breaks free from her prison beneath the royal palace, she flees her own children who would drag her back to bondage. Jun and Keema become her unlikely companions on a five day journey across a broken landscape. The god seeks more than freedom. She wants to destroy the Moon Throne forever and end centuries of tyrannical rule. The three royal sons, known as the Terrors, pursue them with inherited divine powers. The pilgrimage grows more perilous with each passing day. Jun must confront the guilt that haunts him. Keema must prove himself worthy of belonging somewhere. The god must decide whether vengeance or mercy will define her legacy. Their quest becomes a test of loyalty, courage, and the bonds that form between unlikely allies.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-allies
Setting: Moon Throne, Royal Palace
Period: Ancient
523 pages · Paperback · Del Rey
Content warnings: violence