About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is wrestling with the heavy weight of conflicting loyalties or the realization that family members are more complex and flawed than they remembered. While Kiva Meridan has escaped the horrors of prison, she finds herself in a different kind of cage: a palace filled with secrets, where she must choose between the family she spent years trying to find and the new friends who have shown her genuine kindness. The story explores themes of trust, systemic injustice, and the emotional toll of leading a double life. It is highly appropriate for older teens who enjoy high-stakes fantasy but are also ready to engage with the psychological reality of trauma and moral ambiguity. Parents will appreciate how it challenges the idea of absolute villains and heroes, encouraging readers to look beneath the surface of people's motivations.
