SHADOW AND BONE meets AN EMBER IN THE ASHES in this exciting YA romantasy debut by young adult author S. L. Byers, featuring magic, a childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous heist that could determine the fate of a fractured continent. In a kingdom ruled by magic, Shai's rare ability to unravel spells and dismantle wards makes her a valuable asset-especially to The Cliq, a ruthless gang of thieves. After being exiled, joining the criminal underworld was the only way for Shai and her mother to survive on the streets of Valizea. But when a heist goes wrong, Shai is captured and thrown into the palace dungeon...face-to-face with Prince Jistan, her childhood friend. Now the head of the Royal Defense Patrol, Jistan is stunned to find Shai behind bars. Instead of punishing her, he asks for her help to pull off a heist in a rival kingdom. Shai agrees, and together they assemble a crew to steal a mystical treasure chest, one that could help end the strife in their country. Somehow The Cliq learns of the plan, and their brutal leader demands that Shai bring the chest to them, threatening her mother if she doesn't obey. Torn between loyalty, survival, and the prince she has feelings for, Shai must decide if she's willing to betray Jistan to save the only family she has left. When the chest's true power is revealed, the consequences of it falling into the hands of the ruthless gang or the tyrannical emperor could plunge the world into chaos. And if Shai and Jistan decide to keep it from both sides? They could lose everything, including their lives.