Tarisai longs for the warmth of a family. But her mother's plans for her include a magical command that Tarisai kill the crown prince once she gains his trust. Can Tarisai resist being made a pawn?

What if you've sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy? Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. When Tarisai comes of age, The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire from Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince's Council of Eleven. If she's picked, she'll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won't stand by and become someone's pawn -- but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraoridinary world-building and breathtaking prose written by an incredible new talent, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we're willing to go to for the ones we love. -

Tarisai was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince's Council of eleven. The Lady has made a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won't stand by and become someone's pawn, but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Contending with the lives of her loved ones in danger, assassination attempts, and a new stranger she can't quite trust, Empress Redemptor Tarisai must decide if she is willing to die for justice--or to live for it.