The phoenix king - Aparna Verma

In a kingdom where flames hold magic and the desert hides secrets, an ancient prophecy comes for an assassin, a princess, and a king. But none are ready to face destiny-and the choices they make could burn the world.

"If we carry the burdens of our fathers, we'll never know what it means to be free."

For Elena Aadya Ravence, fire is yearning. She longs to feel worthy of her Phoenix god, of her ancestors who transformed the barren dunes of Sayon into a thriving kingdom. But though she knows the ways and wiles of the desert better than she knows her own skin, the secrets of the Eternal Flame elude her. And without them, she'll never be accepted as queen.

For Leo Malhari Ravence, fire is control. He is not ready to give up his crown-there's still too much work to be done to ensure his legacy remains untarnished, his family protected. But power comes with a price, and he'll wage war with the heavens themselves to keep from paying it.

For Yassen Knight, fire is redemption. He dreams of shedding his past as one of Sayon's most deadly assassins, of laying to rest the ghosts of those he has lost. If joining the court of flame and serving the royal Ravence family-the very people he once swore to eliminate-will earn him that, he'll do it no matter what they ask of him.

But the Phoenix watches over all and the fire has a will of its own. It will come for all three, will come for Sayon itself....and they must either find a way to withstand the blaze or burn to ash.

The first in an action-packed debut epic fantasy trilogy, The Phoenix King is "a captivating adventure from a gifted new voice" (Peter V. Brett).

'The kind of book you sit down with to read one chapter and end up spending the whole day on. Come for the science fantasy worldbuilding and stay for the characters you just can't get out of your head'
Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

'Vast and fascinating . . . A satisfying slow-burn romance only enhances the political machinations. This exciting fantasy promises good things from the series to come'
Publishers Weekly

'Verma seamlessly blends fantasy with sci-fi . . . A highly recommended read'
Fantasy Hive