This is not an author I’ve read before. Her previous books are mysteries, and actually this book is a murder mystery, but one with a fantastic fantasy world built around it.
Neema has risen to be the High Scholar for the Emperor Bersun, in an empire where each emperor or empress serves for 24 years. At that the end of that term, the houses of seven of the eight guardians send representatives to compete to be the next emperor.
This is a fantastic world – it’s been a very long time since the Guardians have appeared, so many people, Neema included, don’t necessarily believe that they’re real anymore, even though they serve in the houses. Neema herself belongs to the Ravens.
I hate to go into too much detail – the book starts with a very singular scene that comes out of left field if you’ve read the back cover, but completely sets the scene for the entire story, and many of the people that will influence it. There are several twists and turns – just when you think you’ve figured it out, something else gets thrown in. I loved this – can’t want to see what comes next.