Jacketed Hardcover edition

Trigger Warning: This novel contains graphic violence, assassination, childhood abduction, and themes of parental loss.

Bound by blood and ancient markings, strangers forge a shared destiny.

For over a decade, Qat has kept aer heart as sharp and solitary as aer blade. An assassin and thief on the run, Qat lives for the next score, but when a sweet, fiercely protective archer named Bell defends her companion with a rock to Qat's temple, Qat's life is thrown off balance-not by the blow, but by the unfamiliar sting of connection.

Meanwhile, Qrodin has spent the last twenty years tirelessly building his empire while obsessively searching for his twin. When they meet face-to-face in a crowded tavern, Qrodin sees the reunion he's dreamed of; Qat sees only a dangerous, unwelcome phantom of the past ae doesn't remember.

Qat wants nothing to do with family or commitment, but ae can't seem to leave the eccentric travelers who take aer in: Bell, whose heart is bigger than her hearth; Llani, a studious elf whose uncontrollable magic masks a deeper, forbidden legacy; Kasaandra, a grumpy dwarf bladesmith who can't stand Llani's laziness; and Akin, a silent monk whose hands speak volumes in battle.

As this chaotic crew races across the country, dodging enemies and uncovering a vast cultural treasure, Qat's isolated world begins to crack. Ae finds aer protective instincts sparked by Bell's quiet vulnerability, and when Qrodin's life is threatened, Qat faces a choice that feels far more important than any riches or ancient legacy:

Is the profound, terrifying connection Qat feels for this found family worth the risk of being tied down-or being found by the enemies they've created?

If you love TTRPGs, you'll enjoy this ensemble cast in a saga that explores the high price of finding where you belong.

Content Advisory:

Please be advised that this novel contains the following themes and graphic descriptions:

Graphic Violence and Gore: The story include detailed descriptions of combat, including the use of blades to lethally strike targets, battle scenes with fantastical creatures resulting in severe injuries and dismemberment, and the graphic murder of a parent witnessed by children.

Childhood Trauma and Abduction: The narrative centers on the long-term psychological effects of a character being abducted at age eleven and separated from their family.

Assassination: The protagonist is a professional assassin, and the book opens with a detailed depiction of a contracted hit.

Body Horror: Includes descriptions of rotting infections, creatures swallowing characters whole, and the physical toll of "energy siphoning" magic.

Psychological Manipulation: Characters utilize magical abilities-such as "Soothe," "Coax," and "Terror"-to influence or override the emotions and willpower of others.

Animal Death/Violence: While primarily involving fantastical monsters like manticores and "spider frogs," the book contains scenes of creatures being hunted and processed for parts.