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Description

By sinking a fleet of Imperial Warships, the Pirate Supreme and their resistance fighters have struck a massive blow against the Emperor. Now allies from across the empire are readying themselves, hoping against hope to bring about the end of the conquerors' rule and the rebirth of the Sea. But trust and truth are hard to come by in this complex world of mermaids, spies, warriors, and aristocrats. Who will Genevieve — lavishly dressed but washed up, half-dead, on the Wariuta island shore — turn out to be? Is warrior Koa's kindness toward her admirable, or is his sister Kaia's sharp suspicion wiser? And back in the capital, will pirate-spy Alfie really betray the Imperials who have shown him affection, especially when a duplicitous senator reveals xe would like nothing better?

Meanwhile, the Sea is losing more and more of herself as her daughters continue to be brutally hunted, and the Empire continues to expand through profits made from their blood. The threads of time, a web of schemes, shifting loyalties, and blossoming identities converge in Maggie Tokuda-Hall's remarkable companion to The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, as unlikely young allies work to forge a new and better world.

Press

★ "Careful prose juxtaposes gentleness and brutality, contrasting the tender emotions between Flora/Florian and Evelyn and the violence of a pirate’s life. Set against the backdrop of colonial expansion, this nautical fantasy goes beyond mere swashbuckling to examine the impacts of imperialism and misogyny on a diverse cast of varying ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities. Witches, mermaids, and secret operatives add layers of magic and intrigue to the queer romance at the heart of this book...Absolutely enthralling." — Kirkus Reviews starred review

Blurbs

“A reckoning delivered in gorgeous prose, this sequel explodes with characters new and old whose stories weave together in powerful ways. A tale of loss, love, and resistance that forges its own song and lures the reader into stunning emotional depths.” — A. R. Capetta, Lambda Literary Award–winning author of The Heartbreak Bakery

“The follow-up to The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea cements Maggie Tokuda-Hall as one of the most unflinching voices in contemporary genre literature. This book contains the compassion we need alongside the reckoning we deserve.” — Sarah Gailey, author of When We Were Magic