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Synopsis
Growing up in the Kegari slums, Aiz has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.
Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, Sirsha is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she’s willing to give up. Quil is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.
Thoughts
Despite its many rave reviews, I had a hard time getting into this one. Neither the plot nor the characters were enough to really draw me in. In the end, I think the multiple POV approach left the story feeling thin and my attachment to the characters feeling shallow. Perhaps it will pick up in the second book, as this is set to be a duology.
★★★
☊ Listening to this via audiobook was lovely. Narrators Vidish Athavale, Esme Lonsdale, Joe Pitts, Marco Young, and Rachel Petladwala did a great job.