A captivating dark gothic fantasy set in the same universe as the award-winning author's All
The Murmuring Bones The Path of Thorns and The Briar Book of the Dead. A tale of vampires
assassins ancient witches and broken promises perfect for readers of Alix E. Harrow Hannah
Whitten and Alexis Henderson. Violet Zennor has had a peculiar upbringing. Training as a
fighter in underground arenas honing her skills against the worst scum murderers and thieves
her father could pit her against she has learned to be ruthless. To kill. Until the day
Hedrek Zennor dies. Violet thinks she?s free ? a rich young heiress with a world of
possibilities in front of her. Then to her horror Violet learns that her father planned to
send her into the Darklands where the Leech Lords reign. Where Violet?s still-born brother was
taken years ago after Hedrek sold him to a man bearing the mark of the mysterious Anchorhold.
Her father?s solicitor and the city?s bishop are insistent she fulfil her duty but Violet
steadfastly refuses. Until one night two assassins attempt to slaughter her ? and it becomes
clear: if she wants to enjoy a future free of the interference of either solicitors bishops or
assassins she?s going to have to clean up the mess her father made. On her journey Violet
seeks the help of Miren O?Malley in the hidden estate of Blackwater whose family once produced
the purest strangest silver Ellie Briar of Silverton the Briar Witch who guards the gateway
to the realm of the Leech Lords and Asher Todd of Whitebarrow who did terrible things and
found The Three Who Went Beneath. Ultimately Violet must go alone. Into the Darklands. To the
Anchorhold where it all began. Where it will all end. To do what must be done. By turns
gripping and bewitching sharp and audacious this mesmerising story takes you on a journey
into the dark heart of Slatter's sinister and compelling fantasy world where blood is currency
and magic is a weapon.
