Nature is out of balance in the human kingdom. The sun hasn't shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. And the people's survival hangs in the balance.

To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin, two seventeen-year-old girls, are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Tanlili, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet the two girls' destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever.


The exciting adventure prequel to Malinda Lo's highly acclaimed novel Ash is overflowing with lush Chinese influences and details inspired by the I Ching, and is filled with action and romance.

• We started tracking this book on January 10, 2011.
• This book was $9.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 64 times in the past 5,324 days.
• The current price of this book is $2.99 last checked 3 hours ago.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $1.99.
• The lowest price to date was $1.99 last reached on July 24, 2025.
• This book has been $1.99 14 times since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $10.59 last reached on July 26, 2025.
• This book has been $10.59 7 times since we started tracking it.

• Teen & Young AdultScience Fiction & FantasyFantasyFairy Tales & FolkloreAdaptations
• Teen & Young AdultLiterature & FictionSocial & Family IssuesDiversity & Multicultural
• Teen & Young AdultRomanceRomance

• Publication Date: April 8, 2025
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 380 Pages
• File Size: 14 KB