Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.
When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.
She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princesa, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge―and her Condesa.
“One of Time Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time noting that “in Isabel Ibañez’s alternate universe, heroes can weave tapestries with moonlight and read the wisdom in the stars.”
—Time Magazine
Enemies to Lovers
Fake Identity
Court Intrigue
Magic & Slow Burn
Morally Grey Characters
Spitting Llamas
Tara Spruit
“a rollicking political fantasy inspired by Bolivian history and filled with irrepressible heroines, opulent settings, twisty court intrigue, bloody revolutions, and mouthwatering feasts.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“immersive setting and complex characters… a captivating debut.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“a lush, vibrant world inspired by Bolivian culture… a must-have for YA fantasy shelves.”
—School Library Journal