The battle has been won, but the war is just beginning. Although at long last Razia Khan has found peace with herself and love with her prince, Arjun, her trials are far from over. In order to save her prince and his city from certain destruction, Razia made a deal with the devil--her father, the Sultan of Nizam. Now the bill has come due.   Razia must secure the province of Zindh, a land surrounded by enemies, and loyal to a rebel queen who has survived her father's purge.  But when her old tormentor Prince Karim invades her new home and forces her into a marriage alliance, Razia finds herself trapped in the women's quarters of a foreign palace, with her beloved Prince Arjun exiled from her side.     Now, in order to free herself, and her province, from Karim's clutches, she must call upon all of her training as a royal princess, a cunning courtesan, and a daring thief to summon new allies and old friends for a battle that will decide her fate, and the fate of an empire. Praise for STEALING THUNDER: "STEALING THUNDER was immersive from the very first page. Razia is everything you want in a protagonist."—Peter V. Brett,  New York Times  bestselling author "This is an epic fantasy for our time, beautifully written, considerately composed, and very important in many ways.  Highly recommended."—Seanan McGuire,  New York Times  bestselling author "STEALING THUNDER draws you in with its richly-detailed worldbuilding and hooks you with gripping action and suspense, but the biggest appeal is the book’s themes of politics, family, and identity. This is the kind of book you’ll want to share with people, so buy multiple copies."—Rob Hart, author of  The Warehouse "A breakout novel any way you choose to look at it, STEALING THUNDER features an appealing young dragon-loving heroine sure of who she is but still figuring out where she belongs.  Between Razia's capers, romances, and political intrigues, Boyden weaves fantasy threads into a fascinating tapestry... I loved her fresh take on dragons and their riders."—E.E. Knight, author of  Novice Dragoneer "This delightful debut is rich with detailed worldbuilding, political intrigue, and South Asian cultural references drawn from Boyden’s experience as a trans activist who has traveled in India and Pakistan. Boyden handles the story with a steady hand, and this first novel will delight romantic fantasy enthusiasts."— Library Journal (starred review) "Come for the vivid world, stay for the intrigue, the dialogue and the top-notch character design."—BookPage "In Razia you will find a heroine that is beautiful, strong, trustworthy, and above all resilient. Hers is a story worth reading no matter where you lie on the gender spectrum."—Black Girl Nerds Alina Boyden is a cultural anthropologist focused on organized communities of transgender women in Pakistan, known as khwaja siras, or more popularly as hijras, focusing on how they use their unique community organization to advance the fight for their rights at home and abroad--something which has inspired her, as a transgender woman, in her own battles for civil rights in the U.S. as she fought for transgender care in a major court case with the ACLU. Chapter 1 Outside the palace of Bikampur, the monsoon rains fell in torrential sheets, the sound a constant, dull roar that filled my ears. But on this side of the marble latticework jali screens, it was warm, and dry, and safe. The oil lamps, ensconced in pierced-brass chandeliers, sent cascades of orange stars across the dark backdrop of my bedchamber's marble ceiling, and Prince Arjun Agnivansha was busy unwinding my dupatta from my head and shoulders, his full lips stretching into an eager grin. "My lady, my lady!" The shouting in the corridor outside gave me just enough warning to pull away, to throw the loose end of the silk fabric back over my head in some semblance of order before Shiv, one of Bikampur's court eunuchs, came striding into the room. My cheeks burned nearly as brightly as his did when he saw the state of my clothes, and just how close Arjun was standing beside me. "Ah . . ." Shiv pursed his lips, his blush stretching all the way to his ears. "Forgive me, this is a bad time." "No, no, it's fine," I said, because I didn't think we were going to get the mood back now anyway. "What did you need?" "I was just making the final preparations before your household leaves for Shikarpur in the morning, my lady, and-" "Your highness," Arjun corrected. "She's a princess of Nizam now, remember?" I could have kissed him for that, had Shiv not been there. Royal titles weren't things that were branded on your skin. They only existed if other people believed that they did, and so Arjun's support meant everything to securing my station. "Of course." Shiv bowed by way of apology. "Your highness, I was preparing your household as you commanded and the workmen told me they were ready to load your bed." His eyes flickered to the one that was sitting in