Description

Two gods strike a bargain that leads them on a journey with devastating consequences in this lush historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Ann Liang.

‘Lyrical, heart-wrenching and gloriously romantic. I luxuriated in every beautiful sentence’
– Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of This Immortal Heart

China is in the Age of Brilliance, where gods freely wander the three realms. Amongst them is the cruel and beautiful Death God, who has never failed to collect a soul on time. Until now. For when he seeks out Rujia, the noble god of healing, she makes him an offer he can’t refuse: she will help lift the excruciating curse placed upon him if he gives her a one-month reprieve.

Rujia’s deal with Death is merely an excuse to buy herself time. But when her plan causes the Celestial Palace’s collapse and the beloved crown prince’s disappearance, she and Death are both held responsible. The only way to avoid the wrath of all the other gods is to travel across the realms and safely retrieve the crown prince themselves.

As the unlikely alliance between them blooms into more, and Death’s resolve to kill Rujia weakens by the day, neither can outrun their intertwined fate without devastating consequences . . .

‘Romantic, aching, and impossible to put down’
– Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide

Publisher Review

Lyrical, heart-wrenching and gloriously romantic. I luxuriated in every beautiful sentence and every twist and turn of emotion. Hades and Persephone meet Romeo and Juliet to give us the ultimate in star-crossed lovers who must defy the heavens to be together — Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of This Immortal Heart Ann Liang masterfully crafts a story of fate and freedom-rich, wondrous, and devastating all at once. A must read — C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of the Dark Rise series Another gorgeously spun fantasy from Ann Liang, whose crystalline prose and lush, mythic worlds enchant readers into a poignant yet perilous tale of love and duty. Readers will be swept away, as I was — Elizabeth Lim, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Forgery of Fate A sweeping tale of forgiveness, doomed love, and the exquisite pain and joy of living. Romantic, aching, and impossible to put down — Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide A resplendent tale of two gods’ ruinous and undying love, rich with Liang’s enchanting prose and endearing romance. The most epic love story since The Song of Achilles — Kylie Lee Baker, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng This heroine has a heart of gold, but she’s a delightful blend of scrappy and snarky, and one of the most memorable romantic fantasy protagonists I’ve encountered in a very long time. Fans of Liang’s poignant love stories will be enthralled — Kemi Ashing-Giwa, USA Today bestselling author of The King Must Die Exquisite and devastating. It won’t fail to move you — Shelley Parker-Chan, number one bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun on A Song to Drown Rivers