Where the Flame dims, the Shadow rises.
In the vibrant city of Miska, the Summer Solstice is a day of celebration-a time of music, trade, and the long-awaited selection ceremony for the Order of the Flame, an ancient priesthood bound to the city's protective fire spirit.
When Yma, a potter's daughter from the city's lowest terrace, finds herself unexpectedly drawn into the order's secret world, her life changes forever. What begins as the fulfillment of her oldest dream, becomes a dangerous tangle of half-truths, forbidden questions, and powers she was never meant to touch.
For lovers of complex characters, magic that comes at a cost, secret orders, mystery, and 'stare-at-the-wall' endings.
This book is YA fantasy, but covers mature and emotional themes (no spice, low romance), blending dark academia with classic quest fantasy. If you enjoy Robin Hobb, but with a faster plot, this is a book to pick up. Advised reading age is 13+