The Mercy Makers

Iriset is the daughter of a powerful crime boss and, under the alias Silk, a prodigy who creates forbidden magical disguises and enhancements: wings, night-sight, cures for disease, even a shot at ending mortality itself. She wants to use her gift to remake what it means to be human, but the empire hunts anyone who works magic like hers.

When her father is captured and sentenced to death, Iriset has no choice but to pose as a sheltered young lady and infiltrate the palace, hiding her true identity from the empire's fanatical ruling family even as she searches for a way to free him. Taken in by the Emperor's sister as a lady in waiting, she keeps up the charade until a poisoned piece of candy forces her back into the role of Silk, and gives her an unexpected chance to bring the empire down from the inside.