The Manuscript, 2024

"Thirteen witches must be ritually executed by the Basarab Priest-King to cure the Empire's plague. With the capture of the final witch, Rue, this deadly rite is hours away. But with the help of the twelve other imprisoned witches, Rue escapes, taking with her the first clue to a different, witchly, ritual--one that would cure the plague, strip the Basarabs of their power, and leave the witches alive. The Priest-King's nephews hunt Rue as she searches the Empire for further clues. Merrick, the youngest, is spurred by more than the promise of inheriting the Holy throne: each day, the plague claims more lives. As the man who unwittingly helped Rue escape, each life lost weighs on his conscience. Yet when Merrick captures the witch, he doesn't find a villain, but a woman whose every effort to be good has been used against her, until villainy is all she thinks remains. Even so, she isn't content to save witches, but insists that her profane ritual will save people, as well. Merrick knows that no witchly magic would help a human. Still, while unwilling to allow his people to die, Merrick finds himself unable to sacrifice the witch he should hate. With every reason to hate the empire that has vilified her, Rue nonetheless finds herself drawn to Merrick, who, for all his conditioning, treats her more like a person than anyone in her past. The attraction between Rue and Merrick could fell an empire, but their love--and their determination--might save its people. If neither is lying, that is." -- Abstract