Ellie was never meant to matter. In the Golden Citadel, only Warriors are allowed to lead, and girls like her are meant to obey. But when Ellie uncovers a hidden power long erased from the city’s history, she is thrust into a brutal struggle for control of the Citadel itself. Now Ellie must claim the truth of her forbidden power as a Shield and stand against the leaders who erased her kind from history.

But revolution is only the beginning. With enemies inside the city, rival kingdoms circling beyond its walls, and her bond with warrior Mace Hardfield strong enough to break them both, Ellie must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice: the boy she loves, or the freedom of an entire people.

For fans of Red Queen, An Ember in the Ashes, and Fourth Wing.

Tropes: Forbidden Romance • Childhood Friends to Lovers • Chosen One Who Doesn't Believe It • Found Family • Class Warfare • Dystopian Society • Magic System Based on Quarters/Castes • Forced Proximity • Protective Hero • Underdog Heroine • Revolution/Rebellion • Political Intrigue • Forced Proximity • He Falls First • Touch Her and Die • Competence Kink

–

'Absolutely perfect … Blew me away' ★★★★★

'Incredibly difficult to stop reading … By the end, I was already hoping to return to this world' ★★★★★

'Action packed' ★★★★★

'I didn't stop until the end … I had my heart in my throat while smiling' ★★★★★

'A truly excellent book … had me tearing up … I could rave all day about the romance' ★★★★★