On the day of the blood ceremony, sixteen-year-old Deka's blood runs gold, the color of impurity, and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki, near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to journey to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life. She will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be-not even Deka herself.
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