Defiance

Sal and Jase are sent to a distant, icy country on a covert mission to remove a king and place a more useful replacement on the throne. The assignment is supposed to be dangerous and politically useful, but Sal finds that the new land treats her very differently from home, giving her an unexpected chance to prove herself.

As she and Jase travel, fight, and negotiate their way through the mission, Sal keeps building alliances with soldiers, leaders, and new species she meets along the way. The story follows her growth as a warrior and leader, as well as the strengthening of her bonds with the people around her.

What starts as an assassination and installation mission expands into a larger struggle over identity, belonging, and the future of her people. As the politics, warfare, and relationships deepen, Sal uncovers new pieces of her world’s history and pushes toward a future where her side can survive and be respected.