Synopsis
Book 3 of 3 of the Dauntless Path. I've been cursed, betrayed, and sold into slavery – but the truth I carry can't be allowed to die. Only Rae knows the extent of the corruption at the heart of the kingdom of Menaiya, from the noble lord who betrayed her, to the Circle of Mages whose wards protect the slavers from discovery. Injured and imprisoned on a slave ship, Rae’s options are quickly running out. When a desperate escape attempt goes terribly wrong, she finds herself indebted to a terrifying Fae sorceress. Now Rae will not rest until she has rescued her fellow prisoners and freed her land from the darkness that has taken hold. To succeed, she’ll need every ally she can find—including Bren, the thief who may have stolen her heart. But Bren is hiding his own secrets, and the curses that encircle Rae have sunk their claws into her mind. With her debts coming due and time running short, all the truths in the world may not be enough to save her kingdom, or herself.- ★★★★★
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Mindful Muslim Review
While “thief lords” and assassins often show up as protagonists in YA literature with the tired tropes of victimhood as a backstory, this unusual novel sees the thief lord debating ethics, justice, and the role of law with the protagonist. A romance develops between the two as they try to figure out whether vigilantism is better than working with the authorities, especially when the government has some level of corruption and doesn’t always deliver justice. In the end he decides to work with the authorities and within the legal system, giving up his criminal life even though it costs him.
The protagonist is a shining example of strength and resilience as she deals with a physical handicap (club foot) and sacrifices freedom, wealth, and even personal comfort to help protect her younger sister and the children of her community.
Mindful Muslim Reader recommends Books 1-3 in this series.
Teaching Tools
A character in this book disguises herself as a man in order to save her life. We have many stories in history of men and women who acted in a similar manner out of necessity. However, parents should be aware that this content may be taken out of context by a child, especially one who is exposed to the forceful promotion of the non-binary view of gender in modern Western societies.
