A USA TODAY BESTSELLER | A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

“Epic and luminous.” —Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

For fans of The Poppy War, She Who Became the Sun and The Will of the Many, a breathtaking fantasy novel about the daughter of an overthrown emperor from an exciting new voice

The discarded daughter of an emperor, Khamilla Zahr-zad is raised with her mother’s nomadic tribe until a violent raid ends that peaceful life. Amid the chaos of death, the heavenly magic of nur awakens within her, granting her the power to wield a cosmic light. Khamilla suddenly goes from outsider to weapon, finally accepted into her father’s court. Now worthy, she trains in combat and poisons, pledging loyalty to his throne.

But tragedy strikes again, and when her clansmen are defeated by a rival empire, Khamilla vows lasting vengeance as she escapes. However, Khamilla is not alone—for something shadows her, feeding her darkness.

Hiding her identity, Khamilla infiltrates the enemy’s military academy. She studies jinn, magic and martial arts from cutthroat mystic monks in a bid to bring down an empire from within. However, through her studies Khamilla begins to question her father’s teachings of war and power.

With war escalating across kingdoms and a twisted magic spreading, Khamilla is torn between two impossible choices: revenge or freedom.