It’s been over a century since the shroud blotted out the sun, a disaster that drove humanity to seek refuge in the domed cities of Sensaan. Two castes have arisen as heroes of the Empire:
Aetherian, who use their magic to make life possible under a sunless sky.
And guardians, who risk their lives to protect aetherian.
Rell has no memory of her past, and without a trade, status, or magic, in a city that values little else, she is destined for exile. But Rell will stop at nothing to uncover her forgotten past and exact vengeance against whoever is responsible for the events that left her alone, injured, and forgotten. To do that, she must stay in the city, whatever it takes.
A chance encounter with Sensaan’s most celebrated aetherian, Feng, provides Rell an opportunity. A position as his guardian. A position fraught with danger, but one that would guarantee her a place in the city and the time she needs to investigate her past.
To become Feng’s guardian, Rell must first survive an elite, brutal academy. As she fights to balance a lethal education with her illicit investigations, her growing attraction to Feng—and his treasonous ambition to cure the shroud—just might be the death of her.
As Rell uncovers the truth, she realizes the greatest threat to Feng’s life might just be the woman sworn to protect it.
