Grace spots a lie faster than the blink of an eye. As the Republic’s Truthteller, she uproots criminals and vermin, and is showered with jewels as her reward. But her fortune does little to purchase what she truly needs: the ability to trust people.

When Vincent, a newly-appointed regent, is imprisoned after being caught purchasing an illegal drug in the floating city of Bar-ga-Dur, Grace is sent to question him… only to discover he’s the only man she’s ever met immune to her truthtelling gifts. As he reveals that one of the Republic’s politicians is using the drug to manipulate the court to do his bidding, Grace strikes a pact with Vincent to help him uproot that corruption.

As Grace confronts the trauma tied to her magic, realizing how deeply it has shaped her decisions and relationships, she finally begins to trust again—only to discover that the walls of the floating palace where she has lived all her life are not made of crystal, but of lies.

Themes and Tropes

• Time magic & truth magic with a twist

• A depraved court in a whimsical floating palace

• Childhood friends-to-idiots-to-lovers

• Yearning, pining, spice 🌶️🌶️

• Dealing with gaslighting, exploitation

• Fear-mongering, propaganda, corruption