Without flight, there’s only fight. Escape comes with a price—one Avaris is willing to pay.
In a post-apocalyptic world once known as Earth, two factions fight for dominance over the reign of humanity and the remaining resource that sustains life—water. Above the surface lies Deshret, a vast, barren desert ruled by the Genesirians—angelic descendants living in gleaming towers above the sand. Underground in the water-rich cities of Keket, the Demoni, descendants of demons, rule with cunning cruelty. Their tenuous peace, forged after centuries of bloodshed, hinges on the Sand Games—a deadly televised competition where humans, unwillingly chosen to fight for their lives, risk everything for a rare chance at freedom.
Avaris Gamal, a twenty-nine-year-old half-breed slave, has known more pain and betrayal than most can fathom. Betrayed by her own. Brutalized by her enemies. And disgraced by everyone but the humans. The Sand Games are her one shot at escape. If she can somehow get herself into them. But as she plans to enter the lethal contest, something unexpected happens—an attraction to someone she should hate. As a forbidden love slowly ignites between her and the very enemy she’s been taught to despise, Avaris finds herself conflicted but no one can stop fate.
What begins as a secret, forbidden connection soon becomes a dangerous entanglement that could change her preconceived notions of love. But in a world where trust is a luxury, the line between ally and enemy blurs, and Avaris must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice. Because her plans for freedom may come at a price too steep to pay—and in the end, the heart may demand more than she’s willing to give.
Wings and Scythes is the first book in a duet called The Sand Games, a dark dystopian paranormal romance, blending angels and demons and deadly games in a world where love can straddle the line of salvation and destruction. For mature readers 18+ due to adult content, darker themes, and intense emotional stakes. Please check trigger warnings before reading.
