A lawless wilderness. A polished court. Individual fates, each on a
quest to expose a system of corruption.
The desolate canyons of Alcoro--and the people desperate enough to hide
there--couldn't be more different from the opulent glass palace and lush
forests of Moquoia. But the harsh desert and gleaming court are linked
through their past, present, and future: a history of abductions in the
desert to power Moquoia's quarries and factories, and a bleak, inhumane
future built on the sweat and sacrifice of these bond laborers.
But events unfolding in the present could change everything. In the
desert, outlaw Lark--known to most as the Sunshield Bandit--has built a
name for herself attacking slavers' wagons and freeing the captives
inside. But while she shakes the foundation of Moquoia's stratified
society, she also has to fight to protect her rescuees--and
herself--from the unforgiving world around them.
In the Moquoian court, young ambassador Veran hopes to finally make his
mark by dismantling the unjust labor system, if he can navigate the
strict hierarchy and inexplicable hostility of the prince.
And caught in the middle of it all, Tamsin is trapped within four walls,
the epicenter of a secret political coup to overthrow the Moquoian
monarchy and perpetuate the age-old system of injustice.
Separated by seas of trees and sand, the outlaw, the diplomat, and the
prisoner are more connected than anyone realizes. Their personal fates
might just tip the balance of power in the Eastern World--if that very
power doesn't destroy them first.
