When the scout Lia was given one final chance to prove herself, she never imagined that a routine recapture of an escaped slave could spiral into chaos. Finding herself captured by the fierce, if socially anxious demon Velvet, Lia is taken to the city-state of Aevifell, where magic and technology work together to produce breakthroughs in medicine. But even there, far from the clutches of the oppressive Golden Empire, not everything is as it seems. With her head spinning from having the lies of her home exposed, Lia must work together with Velvet to protect a fellow captive, a child who holds a secret that could topple kingdoms.

City of Dragon’s Teeth is a political thriller set in an urban fantasy world. It has a powerful cast of strong but flawed women who must grapple with their own personal failings to solve the conspiracy they have become entangled in. Fans of books like Gideon the Ninth or The Traitor Baru Cormorant will feel right at home.

Lia, now going by the name Nessa, has been recovering from the events of her defection and settling into life in Aevifell and working with Velvet and her team of investigators. But the scars, both mental and physical, that Velvet left on her during their first meeting have not fully healed, and when a new crisis hits the city, both women will be stretched to their breaking point and beyond. Famine has come to Aevifell, right as the criminal organizations from the neighboring city of Freeport have made a play to control the buying and selling of vital food. Only by working together can Nessa and Velvet save the city they both call home, but can they do that with the bad blood between them? 

City of Famine’s Grip is the sequel to City of Dragon’s Teeth. Currently about 30% completed, I am pleased to be continuing the story of Velvet and Nessa.