Trade Paperback |368 pages

The Witchermeets Naomi Novik in this fast-paced fantasy rooted in Slavic folklore, from an assured new voice in genre fiction.

As a witch in the walled city of Chernograd, Kosara has plenty of practice treating lycanthrope bites, bargaining with kikimoras, and slaying bloodsucking upirs. Theres only one monster she cant defeat: her ex, the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters. Shes defied him one too many times and now hes hunting her. Betrayed by someone close to her, Kosaras only choice is to trade her shadowthe source of her powersfor a quick escape.

Unfortunately, Kosara soon develops the deadly sickness that plagues shadowless witchesand only reclaiming her magic can cure her. To find it, shes forced to team up with a suspiciously honorable detective. Even worse, all the clues point in a single direction: To get her shadow back, Kosara will have to face the Foul Days biggest threats without it. And shes only got twelve days.

But in a city where everyone is out for themselves, who can Kosara trust to assist her in outwitting the biggest monster from her past?