Cirrus@Austlit

'Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in the start of a riveting fantasy series spanning gangsters' dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Illuminae Files and the Aurora Cycle.

'Selly has saltwater in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails to adventure in the north seas. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician's marks on his arms commandeers her ship under cover of darkness: He is Prince Leander of Alinor, and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods.

'Selly has no desire to escort a spoiled prince anywhere, and no time for his entitled demands or his good looks. But what starts as a leisure cruise will lead to acts of treason and sheer terror on the high seas, bringing two countries to the brink of war, two strangers closer than they ever thought possible and two dangerous gods stirring from centuries of slumber...' (Publication summary) 

'Magic and sacrifice will collide as lovers and gods, enemies and allies vie for the fate of the world in this heart-pounding sequel to The Isles of the Gods from the New York Times bestselling author of the Illuminae Files and the Aurora Cycle.

'Selly has always loved the sea, so falling for spoiled Prince Leander of Alinor was the last thing on her mind. Yet when the two are thrown together by a foiled assassination attempt, the bond they develop is unmistakeable – and their mission to pay homage to the Goddess Barrica takes on perilous urgency.

'It’s only when an ancient ritual goes terribly wrong that Selly and Leander discover that Barrica has a plan of her own: she wants to be resurrected, and she requires a willing body to host her. Now possessed with a force that threatens to overwhelm him, Leander needs Selly and her fledgling skills as a magician more than ever. But what neither of them could suspect is that the god Mallacea has also been roused from his slumber and is intent on destroying Barrica ... at any cost.

'Leander is determined to banish Barrica and prevent the total devastation war between the two gods would bring, but doing so will mean severing himself from Selly forever.' (Publication summary)