A thrilling and romantic fantasy adventure from Everina Maxwell, bestselling author of Winter's Orbit.
En is a weapon.
Battle spells are carved into her skin, she's trained to work through pain, and she's magically compelled with loyalty to the archmagi. When she's sent on a mission to retrieve a group of infamous traitors from exile in a land of unpredictable and deadly magic, she's forced to team up with a common soldier to have any chance of success or survival.
Tamol is a disaster.
En isn't fooled by the soldier's silver tongue and good looks. Tamol is flighty, cowardly and the worst soldier En has ever met. But she's also brilliant at magic and kinder than En has any right to expect. When she saves En's life, it takes everything En has not to start falling for her. That is, until En discovers Tamol is one of the very traitors she seeks.
The empire never forgets.
Years ago, the exiled traitors were just normal students with a vision for a better kingdom. They put their lives on the line fighting for it and lost. So, they were exiled to the Far Peninsula to die. But now, the empire discovers the traitors may yet live, and they've unearthed something in the wilderness that the archmagi will pay any price to get.
But the might of an unforgiving empire isn't the greatest force in all the land. Something monstrous is living in the Far Peninsula that does not discriminate between soldiers, traitors, and kings.
The future of the empire is unexpectedly in the hands of En and Tamol. At least the perfect soldier would never betray her orders, no matter how much she starts to question her command. Would she?
Call Me Traitor is an enthralling sapphic adventure from academia into exile and beyond.
"Maxwell is operating on a whole new level with this one."
Freya Marske, author of the Last Binding trilogy
"Sharp, confident writing makes Maxwell's stories hum with energy."
Katherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor
"Just as queer and subversive as their previous books, with strong themes of ideology and identity, a detailed magic system, and smart characters, all hallmarks of Maxwell's creative voice, which is well displayed here."
Library Journal, starred review, SFF Pick of the Month
"An exceptional novel.... The ingenious magical system, the existence of war-tanks, a budding LGBTQ romance, and the glittering, magic-eating gauze are all part of the nuanced and magnificent world building that make this such a superb read."
Booklist, starred review
"★ "Exceptional.... The ingenious magical system, the existence of war-tanks, a budding LGBTQ romance, and the glittering, magic-eating gauze are all part of the nuanced and magnificent world building that make this such a superb read."
