At age six, Elias was chosen to train to become a soldier for the Martial Empire. Now he is the most promising soldier at the academy, but secretly, he loathes the cruelty of the Empire and is planning to desert. Then he learns that he has been selected as one of four students who will be tested to become the next Marital Emperor, and his chances of escape fall apart.
Laia is a scholar, a group of people who have become second-class citizens when they lost the war with the Martial empire. When her brother is taken by the Martial Empire, Laia will do anything to get him back. Even though her parents were betrayed by the Scholar Resistance they had led, Laia knows the rebel Scholars are her only chance to get her brother back. They agree to help her if she will pose as slave for the deadly commander of the Martial training academy and spy on her. Of course, Laia agrees.
One Scholar girl who is certain she will never be strong enough to protect those she loves, and one Martial boy who dreams of a world of peace. When they meet at the Academy, they will both inspire each other to fight for the world's they desire. However, their dreams will come at a terrible price.
Finally, a new fantasy series that you can get excited about! Tahir creates a world where it is difficult to know who trust, where cruelty reigns, and where the stories of magic are coming true. Laia and Elias are well-drawn characters that you will grow to admire, and their relationship is rich and complex. Fans of Game of Thrones will love this new series. Highly recommended!