Sara and Pride escaped Verweald's dangerous streets, but their quest to kill the Sin of Envy has just begun. In search of a way to end the immortal creature's life, Pride and the dying woman find refuge in the manor of Crow's End, where the residents harbor deadly, secretive histories, and the walls breathe with the memories of a madman as old as time. As their time draws short, Pride must manage an impossible feat no other Sin has accomplished before while Sara tries to survive the madness of Crow's End and come to grips with her own limited mortality. ---------------------------------- [[SEQUEL TO BEREFT]] [[ORIGINAL DRAFT]] [[ Highest Rank: #3 in Fantasy ]] [[Winner of the 2017 Fiction Awards (Best Fantasy Story)]] [[Winner of the 2017 Cryptic Awards (Best Dark Fantasy)]]

~ retelling of Hades and Persephone ~ EVERY TEN YEARS, THE GOD OF DEATH TAKES A BRIDE. In the Kingdom of Minoa, a sacrifice of a virgin girl is given to the God of Death to try and appease the never-ending winter. She's accompanied by a male sacrifice, intended to be her guardian so that she can reach the Underworld safely. THIS TIME, SHE'S NOT A SACRIFICE. SHE'S A RECKONING. When Nerissa, a bold and willful young woman, volunteers to be the bride, she forfeits her human life. Along with her less-than-capable guard, Mercer, they make their way to the palace of the Underworld to meet her husband: the King of the Underworld, and Death himself. BUT AN ANCIENT CURSE IS BINDING THE KINGDOM... Death's bitter foe has cursed him, so that he spends his days awaiting the return of his love, Persephone, who will bring back Spring. One night with Death, and Nerissa will be granted half his power...and the ability to find her brother's killer. ...SHE HAS ONE MONTH TO OUTSMART DEATH. Despite their increasing attraction to one another, her husband insists on keeping her in the dark. Nerissa must use all of her guts and guile to do the one thing he's not used to: people outsmarting him. DEATH IS ABOUT TO HAVE THE (most problematic) TIME OF HIS LIFE.

"It is your choice," he said, stepping so close to me that our lips were almost touching. "Either do what I say - or get another job." My heart stood still as I gazed up into his deep, dark, dangerous eyes... In a world where women's only role in life is to sit at home and look pretty, Lilly is determined to fight for her freedom. There's only one problem: a powerful man blocking her way.