A Tribute of Fire

Lia is the princess of Locris, a desert nation that is slowly dying under a curse laid centuries ago by an earth goddess. The goddess is still worshipped in Ilion, a prosperous neighbour and enemy of Locris.

Each year Ilion demands a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens must race through the city to the goddess's temple, and losing costs them their lives. In a thousand years, no maiden has come out of Ilion alive.

This year Lia is one of the two. Her training in battle gives her a real chance, but the odds are worse than she expected. Her sister Quynh, whom she loves and who has no fighting skill, has been chosen to run beside her.

The streets of Ilion have been reshaped into a maze of choices and dead ends, and every wrong turn can cost a life. Lia also has to decide whom to trust. Jason, an Ilionian sailor, draws her in, though she resents needing him and wants him more than she has wanted anyone.

If she survives the race, she hopes to lift the curse, restore Locris and spare the young women who would follow her. The deadly contest drives this fantasy adventure, and a romance runs alongside it.