A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae.

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt.
And they are put to death.

When my forbidden power is discovered, I’m forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore.

To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary. A dark and brooding man.

Whose face I have been seeing in my dreams . . .

It’s agreed that I’ll help him into the city. And he’ll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I’ve always kept hidden.

The power that may just be the key to my survival.

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love.

Secrets that could tear this kingdom – and perhaps even this world – apart . . .