Askia didn’t become heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh by being a mouth-breathing politician; it was her willingness to act that earned her the crown. But not even she can stand against the invading Roven Empire and the mad emperor bent on enslaving her people. When six months of guerilla warfare fails to liberate her country, she sails to sun-drenched Vishir—a land renowned for its political intrigue—to beg Emperor Armaan for aid. Now the singular magical ability Askia has kept secret her entire life is at risk of exposure, and its discovery could end Seravesh's bid for freedom before it even begins. With the ghosts of her past haunting her in more ways than one, Askia is faced with an impossible choice—and no matter what she chooses, Seravesh may still fall.