Description

A young sorceress's entire life has been shaped to destroy the empire controlling her world. She could change history. But everything she thinks she knows is a lie. The sequel to the critically acclaimed Death Sworn will thrill fans of Leigh Bardugo and Robin LaFevers.

At seventeen, Ileni lost her magical power and was exiled to the hidden caves of the assassins. She trained the assassins in magic—and fell in love with one of them. And she discovered her entire life had been built on a lie. After all of this, she wants to see the truth for herself. She infiltrates the Imperial Academy of Sorcery. She will see everything she despises about the corrupt empire—its thirst for power, merciless control, and careless violence. But she also finds something she never expected—friends, and a place to belong. Ileni no longer knows whose side she is on. Leah Cypess spins an intricate and beautiful conclusion to Death Sworn.


What happens when your mission is to destroy the only place you’ve ever belonged?


  • Morally Grey Characters: Ileni was trained to hate the Empire, but inside the Academy walls, allies and enemies look dangerously alike.
  • Enemies to Lovers: Her heart is torn between Sorin, the assassin she was never supposed to love, and a new ally within the Empire who sees the sorceress she could become.
  • Political Intrigue: Caught between the assassins' deadly plots and the Empire's corrupt magic, Ileni must play a lethal game where one wrong move means death.
  • A World of Secrets and Betrayal: Everything she believed was a lie, and the truth about her power could be the weapon that saves the world—or shatters it.

About the author(s)

Leah Cypess wrote her first short story—in which the narrator was an ice cream cone—at the age of six. She has degrees in biology, journalism, and law, and has traveled to Iceland, Israel, Jordan, and Costa Rica, among other places. She now lives with her family in Maryland. She is also the author of the acclaimed fantasy novels Death Marked, Mistwood, and Nightspell.

Reviews

Praise for Death Sworn: “In a striking start to a new series full of magic and murder, Cypess has created a heroine at the intersection of Tamora Pierce’s Alanna and George R. R. Martin’s Arya Stark.” - Booklist

“Spellbinding. . . . Cypess is an author to continue watching and reading.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Mesmerizing.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Cypess masterfully depicts battles with daggers, spells, and wits. The surprising conclusion leaves readers hoping for a sequel.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“A thoughtful exploration of identity and responsibility wrapped in a twisty, suspenseful mystery and set in a gorgeously realized fantasy world.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[I]t’s impossible not to fall deep into the dark yet alluring world of sorcery and secret assassins.” - Teen Vogue

More by Leah Cypess

More Action & Adventure

More Young Adult Fiction

More Fantasy

More Romance

More Mysteries & Detective Stories

More Coming of Age

More Romance

More Girls & Women

More Epic

More Dystopian

More Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural