The Moonsteel Crown

Three unlikely characters land in the midst of political intrigue in this fun fantasy from Deas (The Silver Kings). Myla is a former sword-monk in training now just trying to keep her head down. Seth, a former novice driven out of the priesthood, and his close friend Fings—who took Seth in to help him survive the streets—only want warm food and to get through another horrific winter in the Empire of Aria unscathed. All three are approached by a man they call the Murderous Bastard about joining a heist with the promise of great riches, and they dubiously accept. The promised riches are real—but the heist throws the scrappy trio into the middle of a conspiracy involving the recent assassination of the emperor. It also drops the Moonsteel Crown into their hands. Each of the many contenders for the throne wants the crown, but in the wrong hands it could spark a devastating war. Deas punctuates the sometimes frustratingly slow-burning plot with great character moments, like Myla’s internal conflicts over using her training to kill and Seth learning sigils to make the dead speak. This will most appeal to fantasy readers who love seeing everyday characters caught up in sweeping events. (Feb.)