Blurb: (From Book 1) Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought.
Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet's edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne.
Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren't for sale.
Review: I am torn on whether to recommend this or not. The cover dragged in me in to begin with, and the great setting got me hooked quickly. The story gave off shades of Baru Cormorant, which further promised me a great read. The balancing of the multiple perspectives was also well handled. Something changed at about half way through the book though. I'm no stranger to indecision and finding myself going backwards even after I've finally made a decision, but this book brought too much of that energy in such a high stakes setting that I found myself frustrated. Too many plot points were built around miscommunication and decisions, which are only moments afterwards regretted. I'd still suggest giving the book a try if it sounds appealing as there's plenty of positives, although I'm unsure if I will continue reading the series.