An Instant New York Times Bestseller! This limited deluxe edition is printed with one-of-a-kind etched , gold foil edges , stunning foil on the case, and a striking printed endpaper map! "Absolutely soars and proves Petra to be a new force in the genre." ― Cosmopolitan "An instant classic." ― The Washington Post In this unforgettable fantasy for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Olivie Blake, Brandon Sanderson, and R.F. Kuang, a desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath. Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. But Ana can’t afford to escape it, even as the wealthiest in Caimor buy and discard expensive designer bodies without a thought. When she fails to gain admittance to the prestigious Paragon Academy―and access to the healthy new forms the school provides its students―her final hope implodes. Now without options, Ana must use her illusion magic to try to steal a healthy chassis―before her own kills her. But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor's smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith. With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of renegades: an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters―and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Brandon Sanderson, Lev Grossman, and R.F. Kuang. "Totally gripping and overflowing with delicious angst." ―Alice Oseman, bestselling creator of Heartstopper "The ruthless, remarkable world you’ve been waiting for." ―Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times - bestselling author of These Violent Delights An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller! An Apple Best Book of the Month! An Amazon Best Book of the Month! "Her pacing is immaculate, and the ending is surprising, clever and emotionally devastating. This is an instant classic." ― The Washington Post "This new exciting fantasy absolutely soars and proves Petra to be a new force in the genre." ― Cosmopolitan "Enthralling in its magic and ensnaring with its unique take. Nothing is as it seems, and the deft subversion strikes true each time." ―Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times - bestselling author of These Violent Delights "A twisty, dark academia fantasy full of heart, with rich worldbuilding and a heroine whom you want to succeed in every way." ―Marie Lu, #1 New York Times- bestselling author of Red City "This book destroyed me. I want seconds." ―Yoon Ha Lee, New York Times - bestselling author of Ninefox Gambit "Totally gripping and overflowing with delicious angst." ―Alice Oseman, bestselling creator of Heartstopper “If you want to be surprised, gripped, moved and wildly entertained – this book is for you.” ―Antonia Hodgson, author of The Raven Scholar "A work of wild imagination, this is an outstanding debut." ―Juno Dawson, Sunday Times -bestselling author of Her Majesty's Royal Coven "Unputdownable and utterly unique―a spectacular, mesmerizing debut." ―Katherine Webber, author of Twin Crowns "My new obsession!" ―Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen * "Thrilling action, escalating stakes, and avalanching plot twists." ― Publishers Weekly , starred review * "Fantastic." ― School Library Journal , starred review * "Readers... will look forward to the sequel and say, 'Bring it on.'" ― BCCB , starred review Petra Lord is the New York Times and Indie–bestselling author of Queen of Faces . She has a BFA in TV Writing from New York University, which she uses to recommend TV shows to her parents and predict the endings of movies. She's currently based in Los Angeles, where she feeds her dual addictions to hot pot and Korean barbecue, with an incessant drive to do karaoke on Tuesday nights. Follow her on Instagram @petralordauthor. PETRALORD.COM