Description

An immortal monster hunter and a royal handmaiden embark on an epic journey to change their fates in this soul-stirring young adult fantasy novel for fans of The Witcher and The Last Unicorn.

By night, the Ankou is a legendary, permanently young mercenary—the most fearsome sword for hire in all of the Five Lands, and its most abiding mystery. But when the sun rises, a dark magic leaves him no more than bones. Cursed with this cycle of death and resurrection, the Ankou wants only to find the final rest that has been prophesied for him, no matter the cost.

When the kingdom of Kaer-Ise is sacked, Flora, handmaiden to the royal family, is assaulted and left for dead. Wounded, heartbroken, and the sole survivor of the massacre, Flora wants desperately to be reunited with the princess she served and loved. She and the Ankou make a deal: He will help Flora find her princess, and train Flora in combat, in exchange for her aid in breaking his curse. But it isn’t easy to kill an immortal, especially when their bond begins to deepen into something more . . .

Together, they will solve mysteries, battle monsters, and race against time in this fantasy novel about sacrifice, love, and healing by Elysium Girls author Kate Pentecost.

About the Author

NOVL - Headshot photo of Kate Pentecost

Kate Pentecost was born and raised on the Texas/Louisiana state line, where there are more churches, pine trees and alligators than anything else. She has worked in teaching, indie publishing, anti-censorship advocacy, and (her favorite) hand-selling children’s books at NYC’s famous Strand Bookstore. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and has studied with Susan Fletcher, Louise Hawes, A.S. King, Micol Ostow, and Nova Ren Suma as well as adult authors such as Ken Liu and Antonya Nelson. Elysium Girls was her debut.

From NOVL Nation

“This story captivates the reader from the first page and keeps a steady and consuming pace throughout, making it highly devourable. The characters really shine in this story, particularly for the obstacles which they must overcome and the way they come into their own.”

—Olivia, @onemused

“Phew. I devoured this book in less than two days and for good reason; it took me completely bur surprise. So rarely do we get a story that reflects the beauty and tragedy of its cover. This fast-paced story is going to take the YA world by storm. Give it all the attention, all the bookstagram features. THIS BOOK!”

—Celia, @celiamcmahonreads

“Damn! This was a work of art!”

—Carla, @___magnus_chase___

#ThatDarkInfinity

Meet The Author: Kate Pentecost

Kate Pentecost was born and raised on the Texas-Louisiana border, but has lived in many different places. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She currently lives in Houston with her dog, Stevie Nyx, and has plans to build her own black caravan, just for the fun of it. Elysium Girls was her debut young adult fantasy novel.

Discover More