A wonderful new epic fantasy set in the dark heart of an academy for assassins. Mia has many names: The Pale Daughter, The Crow, or Kingmaker; she is the killer of killers and destroyer of empires; but her story begins when she is only ten years old and forced to watch her father hang as a traitor.At the time of his death, her shadow deepens and a darkness joins Mia.

A darkness that takes the shape of a cat and helps her to escape the men tasked with her disposal. She calls him Mister Kindly, and he drinks her fear.