Brutal, poetic, and unforgettable…
A warrior princess, a scarred prince, and an ancient oath intersect in Elliott’s myth-drenched story of survival, selfhood, and sacrifice on the Scythian frontier. Anaiti, a hamazon trained in the ways of her mother’s people, is sent to marry the aging King Ariapaithi to seal a fragile alliance. However, the revelation of her warrior oath changes the game. No longer a bride, she becomes an outsider facing a brutal rite of passage. Her path forward is clear—Kill, or return home in shame.
Anaiti’s journey from noble daughter to oath-bound initiate is quiet, internal, and agonizingly real. Aric, outwardly stripped of status and marked by injury, is less a suitor than a shadow, someone who understands what it means to be bound by duty, not desire. The novel’s pacing is deliberate, particularly in the middle chapters, where ritual and reflection take precedence over action. But the slower tempo works in the book’s favor. Throughout, Elliott delves into grit, sacred duty, and the terrifying cost of transformation.
A haunting, vivid read that lingers long after the final page.
Pub date September 1, 2025
Warden Tree Press
ISBN 978-1966394020
Price $24.99 (USD) Hardcover, $16.99 Paperback, $4.99
