Marion Casterline is the highwarden of Malachite, an ancient, beautiful city floating in a shallow sea. In the aftermath of a brutal gang war, there is finally peace in the city, and new life every year through the sacred ritual of Aequora. Through Aequora, exiles, outlaws, and orphans can become citizens of Malachite. This ritual is vital to the city's survival, because Malachite is populated only by males.
Jean Rivard grew up in the Zanzare slums at Marion's side. As boys, they were branded into the violent Teschio gangs ruling the criminal underworld of Malachite. Known in the slums as the Prince, Jean became a spy, an assassin, and Marion's lover. As men, they worked together to destroy the Teschio and crown Kon Sessane as magestros of the city, only to drift apart after the battles were won: Jean to the Black Keep, Marion to the grand halls of the Consolari.
When Marion announces his engagement to Kon's son, Jean is hurt and resentful. Marion is leaving him and their past behind in every possible way. Marion also believes that he's starting a new life, but when a charismatic rebel leader kindles a revolt in the slums, he realizes that the only man who can prevent war from devouring the city he loves is his very own prince.
"It is not often I come across characters who are as complex as these. I understood why Tris had his moments of indecision and brattiness. I understood Kon’s obsessive need to keep his son safe. I understood Jean feeling as though everyone had either thrown him away or been stolen from him. These characters had painful and on occasion torturous experiences and were allowed to act damaged because of them. Most compellingly, they still felt a strong need for a human connection, and I wanted them to get it. In a lot of ways this was largely a character driven novel, and the characters are fascinating."
MALACHITE is full of intrigue, secrets, twists, and surprises. The tension and suspense is constantly growing and you never cease to want to know more, to get behind what is going on, what secrets the characters keep from each other and from us, the reader....
