Stars and Soil by Dax Murray

It is not enough to kill a king; a revolution is needed to kill kingdoms. Caitlin had her whole life planned out until a gruesome murder sets her on a collision course with fate and magic. She would live in the bustling port city of Whick with the reformed pirate she fell in love with and, one day, inherit her fathers' growing trading business. She did not intend to stumble into an anti-monarchy riot and become involved with the revolutionaries determined to overthrow the nobility and create a world without hunger, poverty, and homelessness. A world with justice for all, and not just those with means. She did not want to catch the eye of a spoiled prince. She did not want him to pursue and court her, plunging her into a world of bickering dukes, suspicious foreign ambassadors, scheming advisors, and political intrigue. She did not seek out the attention of ancient and secret religious orders, intent on controlling the machinations of a kingdom from the shadows. Organizations that whisper of magic and promise great power. But she did. Caught in a web of deception and conspiracies, she must now she must fight for her own life in the coming political chaos. True Revolutions Destroy Kingdoms "A complex story about grief and trying to find both agency in one's life and what one wants out of it, Stars and Soil has a large, diverse cast of characters - some charming, some despicable, but all complex and real. Tons of description paints vivid pictures that really draw you into the environment and the story, and the intrigue will leave you second-guessing everyone's motives as the events of the present eerily echo events of the past that refuse to let go." - Liz Sauco, Author of Lost Blades (Blades of the Goddess) "She comes to odds with her own family, battling frustrations she buried in her heart for years, the anger and isolation of being uprooted, and the resentment towards having others direct her life. Dax has a very emotionally convincing main character, making her journey through her fantastical world all the more engaging." - Ka'ua Lara, author of A New World For You 2023 Queer Ink Awards nominee for: Best Overall Fantasy Best Overall Epic Fantasy Best Overall Dark Fantasy Best Supporting Character