A young witch forced to play concubine for her empirical captor, finally breaks free to find a life of her own, but even those with the power to call Death cannot outrun their past…
All witches must serve the cruel and immortal Emperor Yamueto. Upon discovery of her powers, Khana was ripped away from her desert home at fourteen years old and enslaved as a concubine. After years in service, her only friend in the palace is brutally murdered for supplying her forbidden birth-control, and Khana must make her escape. But not before accidentally discovering the secret of Yamueto’s power and immortality – he has been making deals with Death. And now, thanks to a twist of fate, so is she.
Armed with new magic that she doesn’t fully understand, Khana flees to a small mountain town. Although she tries to keep her identity a secret, Khana’s powers are soon discovered after rescuing a dying soldier. News of her abilities starts to spread, putting a giant target on her back. And Yamueto is not the forgiving kind.
Khana’s magic and courage are put to the ultimate test when she is finally forced to stop running and fight back. But every deal she makes with Death takes another piece of her soul, and there’s only so much that Khana can give before turning into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.
WARNING: This book contains references to violence, war, racism, xenophobia, sexual assault and domestic violence.
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New Author, New World, New Adventures
So far, I had not heard of the author or the book before stumbling upon it on Netgalley. The cover, the synopsis, and the overall aesthetic drew me in immediately. The book itself took me a bit longer to get excited about it once I started, but with every passing chapter, I grew fonder of Khana and more emotionally attached to her new-found allies. Even before we start her story, Lucy Walker-Evans reads out content warnings that I am immensely grateful for. Especially the experience of sexual assault keeps haunting Khana and shapes her reactions and actions. Thankfully, she gets to know people who listen and respect her boundaries. This representation felt so healing and wonderful next to all the trauma and the terrifying reality that Khana is still experiencing.
Death Doesn’t Discriminate
The world and powers that C.M. Alongi thought of had caught my attention within a few chapters. Step by step, we get to know what witches in this universe can do, how they come to be, and how they are abused. Khana’s escape from her oppressive life and journey into a hopefully better one shows her lack of options as much as her bravery. She is a burnt child when she finds a place to rest for the first time and to earn some money to eventually start out a new life somewhere far off. While working for a little money, she finds something that is way more important than any treasures of the world: people to rely on. I loved, loved, loved Khana’s slowly emerging found family and how she gradually grows with it, daring to be herself and share her past with them.
War and Sacrifice
The first small part of the book shows Khana’s initial life, then her escape and arrival in a small mountain town she will learn to call her home. The second bigger part depicts her life and new connections there, still often resembling a game of deceit to hide her past from her new acquaintances. Eventually, Khana won’t be able to escape her past and the war that her former oppressor rages on her new home. The pacing was well-balanced so that we could get familiar with Khana, her reasonings and backgrounds, then her new surroundings and friends, before fearing for it all on the final battlefield. Due to the long build-up, we were really engaged in the final battles and sacrifices to be made to free herself. Throughout the book, we are also allowed to not only closely follow Khana’s experience but also other characters’ encounters and decision-making. I fell for Khana’s close circle as much as for her as our protagonist herself.
Conclusion
A book I did not expect to move and engage me as much as it did. Alongi’s world- and character-building was great and made this story an intriguing adventure of facing one’s horrible past experiences but also moving on and allowing new memories and connections to form—all spiced up with fascinating fantasy elements.
The author:
Christina Marie Alongi earned a bachelor’s in history and social justice from Hamline University in 2017. Immediately after graduating, she worked as a community support staff (sort of a personal care assistant plus job coach) for people with disabilities for over two years, including adults with autism, which helped inspire the main character for her debut sci-fi novel Citadel.
In addition to writing, Alongi created the popular TikTok series CaFae Latte (which is available on YouTube).
When she’s not writing, reading, or creating, Alongi enjoys crocheting, long walks, and defending her furniture from her roommates’ evil cats.
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