With all jinnkind advancing toward Tulan, Alizeh must hasten to secure both crown and land to protect her people in this follow-up to These Infinite Threads (2023).Alizeh knows that accepting King Cyrus' proposal of marriage will bring her the power to protect her people and seek her destiny, but she's unprepared to deliver the death that will release him from the Devil's torment. Cyrus guards the terms of his deal with Iblees closely, but his passionate feelings for Alizeh, first implanted in sensuous dreams by the fallen jinn, are their own kind of torture. He refuses to believe that Alizeh's feelings of contempt have evolved into real tenderness and desire for him. For her part, Alizeh cannot completely trust Cyrus, bound as he is to Iblees, even if she desperately wants to. Further complicating matters are the arrival of Prince Kamran and Alizeh's Ardunian friends-the prince wants revenge against the Tulanian king for the death of his grandfather and demands an explanation of Alizeh's perceived betrayal. Stunned by the accusation, Alizeh realizes that her feelings for Kamran have dissipated and is further shocked by his belief that the prophecy foretells their union. But the truth of the prophecy may not be yet known, and the devil, ever the master of deceit, has never lost a wager. Mafi continues her stunning, spellbinding epic narrative of secrets, confusion, and burning desire in a volume that's more about characterization than action but is still a fast, gripping read.Captivating. (Fantasy. 14-18)