First published 2024
Astraea lives in hiding with only five years of memories intact. Celestial guardians have abandoned her world to a tyrant king, while vampires hunt humans after dark. Her captor claims he protects her from these bloodthirsty creatures, but Astraea wants answers about her forgotten past. She flees and encounters the enigmatic Nyte, who offers his assistance. Desperate, she accepts his help without knowing if he belongs to the very monsters she fears. When her best friend Cassia travels to the King's Central for the Libertatem trials, Astraea sees her chance to escape. Every hundred years, five human territories compete in these deadly contests for a century of vampire protection. After a participant dies, Astraea must choose whether to take their place. Victory could shield her kingdom from the creatures that claim souls and spill blood in darkness. But the trials may cost her life, and she still doesn't know if the safety she seeks or the truth about her past matters more.
Genres: science-fiction, romance, adventure, fantasy, action, young-adult
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: King's Central, Libertatem
Period: Hundred Years
412 pages · Hardcover · Bramble
Content warnings: violence