There are no chains for criminals on Abashi Island, only endless ice.

Born into prison, Kira has only known the arctic wasteland where the worst criminals are sent to be forgotten-including her mother. When a brutal Imperial Inspector sentences her family to death, she unleashes a forbidden magic that comes with a devastating cost: her sister is cursed, transformed into a monster.

Desperate for a cure, she strikes a deal with Captain Ren, a notorious monster hunter whose icy exterior matches the unforgiving landscape. He's everything Kira despises-rigid, lawful, dangerous-and unfortunately, necessary for survival.

As the two forge an uneasy alliance, Kira discovers the chilling truth about her imprisonment and that more is at stake than her sister's soul. Now, Kira must risk treason and master her ancestors' wayfinding magic before she loses her sister-and the beautiful world she's only begun to discover.

An epic fantasy for fans of Les Misérables and Studio Ghibli with dragons, no-spice romance, and historical Japan vibes.