A non-stop, fantasy adventure set in a unique and expansive magical world, perfect for fans of Samantha Shannon, Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jackson Bennett. Ailyanna was one good con away from her ticket East and escape from the looming war, and instead she's locked in the palace dungeon staring at a lifetime sentence. You scam one prince and suddenly you're the captain of the constable's personal obsession. While Captain Kresta would love for Ailyanna to rot in that cell forever, she cannot ignore the reality. To the North, the invasion of the magical empire Lamore creeps ever closer, and civil war threatens to tear her home apart before they can hope to defend themselves. Kresta must squash a duke's treasonous plans, and to do so, she must release the thief she spent years tracking down. Through gritted teeth, Kresta offers Ailyanna a royal pardon, and her precious ticket East. Used to working alone, Ailyanna's saddled with weapon obsessed twins, a locksmith too handsome for his own good, and the captain who's promised to chase her to the ends of the earth. Ailyanna needs that ticket to keep escaping Fate, but time is ticking, and the past never forgets.