Four destinies collide in a unique fantasy world of war and wonders,
where empire is won with enchanted steel and magical animal companions
fight alongside their masters in battle.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR - Tordotcom - Kirkus
Reviews
A soldier with a curse
Tala lost her family to the empress's army and has spent her life
avenging them in battle. But the empress's crimes don't haunt her half
as much as the crimes Tala has committed against the laws of magic . . .
and against her own flesh and blood.
A prince with a debt
Jimuro has inherited the ashes of an empire. Now that the revolution has
brought down his kingdom, he must depend on Tala to bring him home safe.
But it was his army who murdered her family. Now Tala will be his
redemption--or his downfall.
A detective with a grudge
Xiulan is an eccentric, pipe-smoking detective who can solve any
mystery--but the biggest mystery of all is her true identity. She's a
princess in disguise, and she plans to secure her throne by presenting
her father with the ultimate prize: the world's most wanted prince.
A thief with a broken heart
Lee is a small-time criminal who lives by only one law: Leave them
before they leave you. But when Princess Xiulan asks her to be her
partner in crime--and offers her a magical animal companion as a
reward--she can't say no, and she soon finds she doesn't want to leave
the princess behind.
This band of rogues and royals should all be enemies, but they unite for
a common purpose: to defeat an unstoppable killer who defies the laws of
magic. In this battle, they will forge unexpected bonds of friendship
and love that will change their lives--and begin to change the world.
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