She confessed to a crime she didn't commit. Now the empire is turning her into a symbol of obedience.

Broken by torture and paraded as a traitor, Mali LaSalle is promised healing, food, and fame?right before they execute her. But deep inside, something is shifting. The truth she forgot is clawing its way back, and it's not coming alone.

Caer Cymraeg, torn between his bloodline and his conscience, abandons his title and turns to vengeance. As Mali's fate tightens under palace control, Caer's secret war pushes the empire closer to collapse.

And while kings plot and rebels bleed, an ancient force watches from beyond. One that has chosen Mali for something far more dangerous than survival.

Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes, this dark young adult fantasy blends psychological warfare, elemental power, and cosmic prophecy into a pulse-pounding rebellion.