Description: After trading her life for forbidden magic to save her sister, a young woman must survive a deadly competition--and assassinate a tyrant king--in this dark, Irish lore-inspired romantasy and "sizzling, high-stakes debut launching a series that readers will greedily devour" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price. But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything for the forbidden magic that might save her. She even trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumored to be more brutal than his tyrannical father. Maeve, however, hasn't come for the crown. She has come to kill the king. With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost--one that will tear Maeve's world, and her heart, in two. What would you sacrifice to survive?Brief description: Amanda Connolly is a Canadian political journalist and editor. A winner of the EU-Canada Young Journalist Fellowship, she is a dual citizen of Canada and Ireland. Amanda is also the author of The Lure of Wolves and Whispers, the first book in The Martyred Isle trilogy.
Review Quotes: "[A] pulse-pounding romantasy debut . . . Maeve's candid narration amplifies the tale's emotional impact, while subtle, effective worldbuilding adds texture. Political intrigue, high-stakes action, and a steamy love triangle between white-cued characters combine for a twisty, electrifying trilogy launch."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review