Power plays, spilled blood, and romance abound in this thrilling sequel to the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller Immortal Longings, inspired by Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra.

Calla Tuoleimi has succeeded in the impossible. Despite the odds, she has won San-Ers bloody games and eliminated King Kasa, her tyrant uncle and the former ruler of Talin. She serves now as royal advisor to Kasas adopted son, August Shenzhi, who has risen to the throne.

Only Calla knows it isnt really August.

Anton Makusa is still furious about Callas betrayal in the final round of the games. In an impossible feat, he took over Augusts body to survive, and has no intention of giving up this newfound power. But when his first love, the beautiful, explosive Otta Avia, awakens from a years-long coma and reveals a secret that threatens the monarchys authority over Talin, chaos erupts. As tensions come to a boiling point, Calla and Anton must set their conflicts aside and head to the kingdoms far reaches to prevent anarchyeven if their empire might be better off burning.