Ratings2
Average rating3
Badriya has a debt to pay. The beautiful oasis city of Aran lies at the center of the Lost, a desert haunted by ghosts, demons, and Witches of the Lost who prey on unwary souls. Badriya and her mother, having been exiled from their home on the coast, flee to the desert city for a new start. But after losing her mother to the desert--and the King and Queen of Aran dying swiftly after--Badriya is forced to live in the dark shadow of the new Queen, Solena. Working as her assassin, Badriya is tasked with poisoning the Queen's unwanted suitors, rivals in love, and anyone else who dares to cross her. When a potential suitor and his advisor visit the palace, Badriya becomes tangled in a web of secrets and deceit. Desperate to return to her seaside home, Badriya finds herself torn between protecting Princess Najma, releasing her mother's soul from the Lost, and securing her own freedom. The silver she earns from her potions and cosmetics will pave the way, but she must remember: magic has its price.
Reviews with the most likes.
The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this (via Edelweiss+).
I struggled a bit with this one. It felt like the first two thirds of it moved slowly and as a result the last part felt rushed.
3.5 stars
This was a decent read. I really liked the characters. The MC had it rough from the start and I found myself rooting for her. I would read more in this series just to see what happened to Aran.
I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.