“Audacious and supremely satisfying.”
Leigh Bardugo
Author of the Shadow and Bone series
This adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan puts the reader in the villain’s shoes, for an adventure that is both “brilliant” (Holly Black) and “supremely satisfying” (Leigh Bardugo). Expect a rogue’s gallery of villains including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with dark moods, a homicidal bodyguard, and a playboy spymaster with a golden heart and a filthy reputation.
When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favorite fantasy series.
She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she’s not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor’s tale.
So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they’re doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor’s fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.
THIS IS A TALE FOR EVERYONE WHO’S EVER FALLEN FOR THE VILLAIN…
“Audacious and supremely satisfying.” – Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow & Bone
“Clever banter, delightful turns of phrase, and epic worldbuilding in the service of exploring the nature of stories and the freedom that comes with embracing being named a villain—and maybe actually becoming one.” – Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince & The Prince of Night
“Brennan brings the people and the world of Eyam to vivid, often heartbreaking life with such incredible skill… ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.” – KIRKUS, Starred Review
“Readers will laugh at the absurd situations and revel in all of Rae’s successes. Two great stories in one!” – BOOKLIST, Starred Review
“The fantasy novel that every fantasy reader has been waiting for.” – Jay Kristoff, author of Empire of the Vampire
“Utterly magical. Sarah Rees Brennan is a genius of emotional control. No other author can make me cry by page two, be laughing out loud three pages later, and then rip my heart out with a smile.” – Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun
“Sarah Rees Brennan’s charms are unmatched. Her books makes you feel as if you’re in on the joke and always invited on the most fantastic and romantic adventure.” – Rainbow Rowell, author of FANGIRL
