After escaping a monster's dungeon-where torture, violation, and a spreading curse mark left Soleil shattered-she vowed never to leave the Library again. A sanctuary between worlds and the only place the nightmares and her ferocious fire magic feel manageable. Then a stranger falls from the sky. A prince from a realm where magic is hunted, order is everything, and fear is law, he struggles to exist in her world of chaos and impossible things. But his only path home lies through the ruins of Enki-an ancient island where gods once lived and travelers never return. To help him, Soleil must venture beyond her sanctuary's walls and face the darkness she's been running from. Joined by Bes, an exiled death god with shadows at his command, and Jia Min, a ruthless sorceress hungry for forbidden power, they journey through kingdoms drowning in blood magic and a wilderness twisted by corruption. But as Soleil's curse mark spreads and her control fractures, she begins to suspect there is more truth hiding from the light. When betrayal carves through her found family and ancient forces close in, Soleil must choose: remain the frightened girl hiding from her flames, or become the light she was always meant to be. Sometimes transformation requires destruction. Some love transcends death itself. And some fires-once lit-can never be extinguished.
