Stars, Hide Your Fires
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“A delightfully mischievous adventure full of intrigue, betrayal, and a touch of romance. Get ready to join your new favorite rebel crew.”—Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer
A sapphic sci-fi mystery for fans of Iron Widow and The Darkness Outside Us
As an expert thief from a minor moon, Cass knows a good mark when she sees one. The emperor’s ball is her chance to steal a fortune for herself, her ailing father, and her scrappy crew of thieves and market vendors.
Her plan is simple:
1. Hitch a ride to the planet of Ouris, the dazzling heart of the empire.
2. Sneak onto the imperial palace station to attend the emperor’s ball.
3. Steal from the rich, the royal, and the insufferable.
But on the station, things quickly go awry. When the emperor is found dead, everyone in the palace is a suspect—and someone is setting Cass up to take the fall. To clear her name, Cass must work with an unlikely ally: a gorgeous and mysterious rebel with her own reasons for being on the station. Together, they unravel a secret that could change the fate of the empire.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Eighteen-year-old Cass lives in the Helia Empire on Sarn, a minor moon of the planet Danae. Cass supports her ill father by scavenging for scrap, pickpocketing unsuspecting passersby, and running cons with her small chosen family. When Cass learns of an opportunity to make "change-your-life-forever" amounts of money, she and her family rush to prepare her for the Ascension Ball, a gathering of society's crème de la crème to celebrate a new emperor's coronation. Once she arrives at the gala, Cass quickly enlists enigmatic fellow attendee Amaris as her trusted partner in crime. But when the emperor is mysteriously murdered, all fingers point to Cass as the culprit, setting off a chain of events that plunges Amaris, Cass, and Cass's crew into convoluted interstellar politics, nascent rebellion, and a fight for survival. Rich with inviting detail, this genre-blending adventure smorgasbord features socially conscious commentary regarding financial disparity and an intricate plot that's equal parts sci-fi, murder mystery, and fast-paced thriller. A sweet, gently played romance and a widely utilized, intersectionally diverse cast add nuance to Best's tantalizing debut. Ages 14–up.
