After a brutal war between the gods, HessaโHigh Priestess of the Eangenโhas brokered a fragile alliance between warring tribes and bought peace to her home.
But a new threat is growing in the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire. Three factions are vying to take the throne, the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Emperor. Hessa knows she cannot let this chance pass byโshe must intervene, to protect her peoplesโ hard-won future.
With the peace she has sacrificed so much for at stake, Hessa must lead an army of Algatt and Eangen warriors into the heart of enemy territory. But warring Arpa factions are not the only dangerโa sinister new cult is on the rise, one that sucks the life from everything it touches.
With enemies on every side and the fragile peace beginning to waver, Hessa must decide who to place on the throneโno matter what it may cost her.
โOne of the great new voices in epic fantasy ... bold characters, shocking twists, and heart-pounding action.โโM.J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves
Sciencefiction en fantasy