The burning queen

After the events of The Phoenix King (2021), Elena, the exiled queen of Ravence, is mourning the loss of one love interest, Yassen, while teaming up in a love/hate relationship with the other, Samson, the would-be leader of Seshar. Elena and Samson are working to liberate their countries from the imperialistic Jantari, wielding their different fire magics as compatible weapons while also mutually rebelling against the other's domineering approach. Meanwhile, the Arohassin, the group that had planned Elena's assassination, returns, albeit this time as allies, with gamemaster Jaya wielding remote-controlled electronic spiders. Their support encourages Samson to attack Jantari-owned mines, while Elena reaches out to the Yumi for assistance. Elena and Samson each deceive the other while traversing through webs of political intrigue, all while contending with unexpected betrayals from allies with their own agendas, and Elena's surprise attendance at the council of the Second Continent appears to be an unmitigated disaster for all parties except the Jantari. Verma has masterfully built out her world while setting up an exciting conclusion to the various intertwined plots in the forthcoming final book in the Ravence trilogy.