Eliran is a memory thief in the gilded, decaying heart of the Chrysanthemum Court. Her gift and her curse is the ability to steal the very essence of a moment: the joy of a first kiss, the peace of a summer day, the sharp sting of regret. She sells these glimmers to the wealthy and hollow, surviving in the shadows of a society that feasts on emotion.
But when a mysterious cult begins turning people into statues of salt erasing them from the world's memory altogether Eliran is caught in the crosshairs. To survive, she must forge an uneasy alliance with the austere Keeper of the city's archives, a man who believes memories should be preserved, not sold, and a dazzling, fading prince who trades in curated joy.
Hunted through opulent ballrooms and a sentient, weeping forest, Eliran discovers the killer is searching for an ancient truth buried at the world's wounded heart. To stop them, she must master not just the art of theft, but the far more dangerous power of restitution. She must learn that in a world starving for feeling, the most revolutionary act is not to take a memory... but to give one back.
A stunning debut perfect for fans of:
Lush, gothic aesthetics and intricate magic systemsSlow-burn romance between morally grey charactersPhilosophical questions about memory, pain, and what makes us humanHeists, ballroom intrigue, and journeys into living, magical wilds