Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive. For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen.
The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her. But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.
Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials—a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that—if found out—would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.
Don't miss this one! I rooted for Ikenna, the trials gripped me, and the political mystery at the heart of it all kept me constantly on my toes.
A must-read! Davenport is a force to be reckoned with. It is action, mystery, and heartfelt character--all balanced perfectly on the tip of a knife. Davenport had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and constantly guessing. This story beautifully tackles some difficult themes that resonated with me deeply and imagined the main character that I fell in love with. She attended the University of Southern California and studied biological sciences and theatre arts.
