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This read is described as Uprooted meets Children of Blood and Bone and is based on a Malian fairy tale.

Amie lives in the imperial palace at Timbuktu, but everything about the life she’s known is out the window in a matter of months. She’s now being accused of a crime, she’s been disinherited, and her new role is to serve Princess Mariama of Mali.

Mariama’s father has set up a whole slew of tests for his daughter’s future suitors. None of them can live up to the tests, and in response to their failures, her father boils the potential suitors alive. Now there are 99 corpses of those not deemed good enough to marry Mariama.

Amie is initially bored by her new role as Mariama’s servant. But soon, the girls grow closer, especially as Amie sees it’s not necessarily amazing to be in Mariama’s position. Amie still keeps a little distance though, as the plan is for her and her intended Kader to escape Timbuktu. It offers them nothing but pain, suffering, and a future full of death.

Except, Amie continues to be drawn to Mariama, and the feeling is mutual. Amie’s made a discovery that could change all of their futures and now, she must test the limits of her own strength and resolve to travel the desert in search of an exiled god who may be the only one able to help them all.