Trust the enemy, or Die. To be a Marked means to be loyal and protected. To be a Carved is to be the vilest of traitors. Born branded as a Marked, Kaianne trusts the system. When her brother is born brandless, her misconceptions come crashing down. Now, an orphan and with only one uneasy ally, she turns to the Carved. What she finds is purpose, a chance for revenge, and a family as strong as the one she lost. She will stop at nothing to protect them and further their growing rebellion. If the talented disciples from the realms’ religious order cannot dissuade her, a prince certainly cannot stop her. Her once ally must either step aside, cut her down, or join her people’s crusade. The Brand Edicts were meant to bring stability, but more people are born brandless as the decades pass. The Carved are growing more combative against the realms’ edicts. And like wounded animals, those in power are more dangerous than ever. It’s time for a change. The question is how. An epic fantasy debut enjoyable for fans of Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson that offers a slow burn romance fans of Amanda Bouchet are bound to enjoy.