Ruti is Markless. In a society where worth is determined by the mark on your palm and the magic it grants you, this also deems...

Ruti is Markless. In a society where worth is determined by the mark on your palm and the magic it grants you, this also deems her worthless. Except she's also a hardened survivor, a protector of the Markless...and the most powerful witch in Somanchi. With a single song, she can pray to the many gods for unimaginable powers.

Dekala's Mark is strong, a Mark fit for the future queen of Somanchi, but it's also unstable. She knows the only solution is to be bonded, but she also knows that this would mean relinquishing control over her throne and kingdom. So when she is witness to Ruti's power, Dekala offers the witch a deal: She can be prosecuted for her crimes...or she can help Dekala ascend to the throne, unbonded.

Dekala is cold and brutal and cares only about getting her way. She is also determined, intelligent, and compassionate. Ruti is torn between wanting her to fail or to emerge victorious. But as the gods are defied, new alliances are forged, and unexpected feelings are unearthed, Ruti realizes the fate of the kingdom--and the survival of the Markless--lies in her unmarked hands.

P R A I S E

"Fast-paced and thrilling, this magical fantasy brings the enemies-to-lovers trope to new heights while poignantly examining themes of poverty, discrimination, and sexuality."
--Kirkus

"Malburi crafts an ambitious adventure teeming with surprises and romance"
--Publishers Weekly

Author: C. G. Malburi
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 07/23/2024
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.30lbs
Size: 8.49h x 5.96w x 1.05d
ISBN: 9781646143771
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/25/2024
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2024
Booklist 05/15/2024 pg. 45
School Library Journal 06/01/2024 pg. 87
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2024

About the Author
When CG MALBURI read her first sapphic love story, she felt recognized in a way that she never had before. Now, she's determined to fill bookshelves with more sapphic books for teens so they can experience the same. She lives on the East Coast and loves fandom, tropes, and stories in which characters flout destiny to choose each other.