THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Sixteen-year old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition. Deka prays for her red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity-and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki-near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat. Yearning for assistance, Deka decides to leave the village that has turned its back on her. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be-not even herself.

ISBN: 9781984848710