Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled
warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her
kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New
York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin
series--an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue,
adventure, and a hint of romance.
In a realm where one's magical power determines one's worth, Lady
Everleigh's lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the
royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition.
Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a
ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.
But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia,
the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the
throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal
family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape
the massacre.
Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe.
Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the
gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of
war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his
own. Uncertain of her future--or if she even has one--Evie begins
training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.
But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the
brink of war, Evie's fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome
gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.
