Queen Diem has a deadly secret-one that has already cost the lives of everyone she's ever loved. In a land long ruled by men, she must forge her own path as the first female ruler the kingdom of Domhan has seen in two centuries, a task that will be dangerous at best, and fatal at worst. If she is to survive, she must take a throne she's never wanted and enforce the bloody, semi-annual ritual of the Ivory Rite, a practice that keeps more than half of her people oppressed. Living as a prisoner in a castle made of ice and glass, she's plagued by dreams of Mam, the kind-eyed woman who raised her, and Colter, her childhood best friend. The responsibility of their deaths is almost too much to bear, until she meets a boy with familiar eyes and hair kissed by fire; a boy with a startling resemblance to someone long thought dead. The gift of a seemingly innocent trinket and an ominous prophecy will cause Diem to question everything she thought she knew.

[Wattys 2023 Grand Prize Winner] After an eight-hour flight sitting next to her high school nemesis Jackson Carter, fashion designer and barista Isabelle Curtis thought that would finally be the last she would see of him. But as the saying goes, famous last words. * * * Isabelle Curtis and Jackson Carter were fierce academic rivals in high school, up until Jackson moved to the UK in junior year for boarding school. Eight years later, Jackson has returned from abroad to take on the role of CEO at his late father's company. When Isabelle and Jackson meet again, there's a war of words, banter and a passionate dislike towards each other. Throw in a high school reunion, some more chaos, and a 'deal' in the mix-one that might just involve a little faking and pretending. It's all fun and games and tit for tat, almost just like in high school, until real feelings become involved...