Phoenix

Plagued by bad decisions and a desire to be loved at any cost, Eva Wilder enters into a government-arranged marriage to save her reputation. Lonely and isolated, she lives with her cold commissioner husband in a seaside village until the day he is executed for trying to rescue a female prisoner. With a single gunshot, Eva loses everything: trust in her spouse, her lofty social position and all financial support.

For the first time in her life, Eva must fend for herself. She knows the only recourse is to take the next train back to her dreary job in Londo City. The prospect fills her with dread.

But as Eva waits for the weekly train, two things happen to derail her plans. One, she stumbles upon the lone survivor of a shipwreck—a handsome Croatian who claims he’s come to the Anglo Territories to kill the king of the vampires. And two, she spots her estranged sister in a line of prisoners awaiting transport to the NorSea work camps. Eva knows her own wayward past is the reason Joanna is in chains. She has to do something to help her sister escape. But what? She’s never been as strong or as smart or as brave as Joanna.

Can Eva find the courage to fight the darkness that has come to her little town? And should she accept the Croatian’s offer of help? She doesn’t trust men, and she certainly doesn’t trust herself. But the time has come to make amends. Or die trying.