Of Venom and Vengeance by Mikayla Bridge

Mikayla Bridge returns with Of Venom and Vengeance, a deliciously dark standalone companion novel to her YA fantasy tour de force, Of Flame and Fury, with a criminal underworld, dazzling magic and an enemies-to-lovers romance at its heart. Perfect for fans of Chloe Gong and Leigh Bardugo.

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for her sister’s killers, convinced her family are shielding her from the truth.

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief for one reason: retribution for his family, who were murdered by Inna’s mother. Armed with illusion magic, he plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna’s ruin.

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, they enter into a perilous alliance that neither intends to keep — even as bitter attraction ignites into something more . . .