Death Marked

A young sorceress's entire life has been shaped to destroy the empire controlling her world. She could change history. But everything she thinks she knows is a lie. The sequel to the critically acclaimed Death Sworn will thrill fans of Leigh Bardugo and Robin LaFevers.

At seventeen, Ileni lost her magical power and was exiled to the hidden caves of the assassins. She trained the assassins in magic—and fell in love with one of them. And she discovered her entire life had been built on a lie. After all of this, she wants to see the truth for herself. She infiltrates the Imperial Academy of Sorcery. She will see everything she despises about the corrupt empire—its thirst for power, merciless control, and careless violence. But she also finds something she never expected—friends, and a place to belong. Ileni no longer knows whose side she is on. Leah Cypess spins an intricate and beautiful conclusion to Death Sworn.

She was sent to destroy the Empire from within. But what happens when the enemy becomes her only home?

• YA Fantasy Romance: She fell for the one person she can never trust—the new master of assassins. Now, separated by empires and secrets, their connection could be her only hope, or her ultimate downfall.
• Morally Grey Characters: From the ruthless sorceress Karyn to the charming but dangerous Evin, no one at the Academy is what they seem. Trusting the wrong person could be a fatal mistake.
• Deadly Secrets: Her entire life was a lie designed to turn her into a weapon. The truth about her power is the one secret the Empire and the assassins will kill to protect.
• High-Stakes Magic: In the Empire, magic is stolen from the dying. To wield it is to embrace a terrible evil—but for Ileni, a sorceress with no power of her own, it’s an intoxicating temptation.

Praise for Death Sworn: “In a striking start to a new series full of magic and murder, Cypess has created a heroine at the intersection of Tamora Pierce’s Alanna and George R. R. Martin’s Arya Stark.” - Booklist

“Spellbinding. . . . Cypess is an author to continue watching and reading.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Mesmerizing.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Cypess masterfully depicts battles with daggers, spells, and wits. The surprising conclusion leaves readers hoping for a sequel.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“A thoughtful exploration of identity and responsibility wrapped in a twisty, suspenseful mystery and set in a gorgeously realized fantasy world.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[I]t’s impossible not to fall deep into the dark yet alluring world of sorcery and secret assassins.” - Teen Vogue