A fugitive queen strikes a bargain with her greatest enemy—who could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever—in this unmissable, slow-burn, Egyptian-inspired epic fantasy debut.

"A remarkable, razor-sharp debut that cuts straight to the heart." -Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic was outlawed. Its royal family murdered. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe. The Heir of Jasad escaped the massacre, and she intends to stay hidden, especially from the armies of Nizahl that continue to hunt her people.

But a moment of anger changes everything. When Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, Sylvia accidentally reveals her magic—and captures his attention. Now Sylvia’s forced to make a deal with her greatest enemy: Help him hunt the rebels in exchange for her life.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity, even as hatred shifts into something more between the Heirs. And as the tides change around her, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she abandoned.

The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

"Will have you turning pages in a frenzy." -Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun

"A romance that takes some popular fantasy tropes and turns them on their axis … some truly amazing enemies-to-lovers action.” —USA Today

"Hashem weaves a complex tapestry of magic, danger, and violence set against some vividly atmospheric worldbuilding in her mesmerizing debut." —Publishers Weekly

"The type of mythological and romantic tale you would bargain your last breath for... A book that coils you into its serpentine grasp." -Observer