BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL

A ruthless young noblewoman seeks greatness by rescuing her city from drought.

In the veiled city of Occhia, anyone with an omen—a red mark that appears on the body—must surrender themselves to the ancient watercrea, who takes and transforms their blood into Occhia’s carefully rationed water. Seventeen-year-old Emanuela Ragno is imprisoned in the watercrea’s tower on her wedding day after her omen is revealed at the ceremony, but she escapes and kills the watercrea, unaware that Occhia’s underground well is almost empty. Without the watercrea, the city is doomed. When the hunt for Emanuela commences, she flees into Occhia’s catacombs with Alessandro, her meek and bookish fiance. The two emerge in an unfamiliar city where a mysterious young woman called the Heart provides the citizens with abundant—and bloodless—access to water. Emanuela is intrigued: If she discovers the source of the woman’s magic, she can return to Occhia as its savior. Cunning and ambitious, Emanuela pushes the narrative forward with confidence in her own judgment and ability, paying no heed to Ale’s words of caution. Her eagerness to gain power, paired with a sense of self-righteousness, propels her toward a path of violence and revenge. Flashbacks offer further insight into the characters. Emanuela and Ale express same-sex attraction and have a platonic relationship. Characters are White by default.

A fast-paced debut that reaches spectacularly bloody heights, with an ending that teases a sequel.