Sequel to the instant #1 New York Times bestseller! Shadow and Bone meets The Selection in this second book in the sharp, sexy, and twisty #1 New York Times bestselling romantasy trilogy about a teen girl in possession of an illegal magic, who joins her kingdom’s harsh and glittering royal court only to find herself caught in a web of hidden intentions. Alissa has defied the odds, escaping her kingdom—and King Erik’s clutches—with the coveted Spellmade compass. Burdened by guilt over her old friend Garret’s sacrifice, and struggling with her own growing power, she vows to destroy the compass before it can harm any more Wielders. But when she lands in the Wielder-ruled kingdom of Ansora, she finds herself pulled again into Keil’s orbit—and into the political landscape of a nation at war. Fearing Erik’s reach, and his wrath, Alissa has no choice but to accept when the formidable Empress of Ansora offers her protection…at a very steep price. As Alissa dons the vicious mask of a courtier once more, she and Keil delve secretly into the compass’s sinister nature, and also delve tentatively into a relationship free from King Erik’s hovering presence. But Erik is closer than they realize, and as Alissa grows even more uncertain of her place in Ansora, she must decide whether protecting the compass—and protecting Wielders everywhere—is worth losing all she holds dear. And whether trusting fellow Wielders might be the most dangerous move of all.