Face your demons…or feed them. Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war–and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army. Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried–and some wounds aren’t meant to heal. Enter the Grishaverse with this new novel from #1 New York Times -bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. An Imprint Book “Deadly clever political intrigue, heart-stopping adventure, memorable characters, and several understated, hinted-at romances (how will we wait?!) come together in one glorious, Slavic-folklore infused package. Bardugo’s star continues to rise.” — Booklist , starred review Praise for the Grishaverse “A master of fantasy.” — The Huffington Post “Utterly, extremely bewitching.” — The Guardian “The best magic universe since Harry Potter.” — Bustle “This is what fantasy is for.” — The New York Times Book Review “[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” –NPR “The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” — Entertainment Weekly “Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” — USA Today “There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” — Vanity Fair “Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” –Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent “Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” –Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series “This is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien.” — RT Book Reviews A Junior Library Guild Selection