'[A] thoughtfully developed fusing of magic and linguistics' - Financial Times

'An absolutely fantastic debut... I tore through this book and loved every second. Shay Kauwe is a talent to watch' - Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of the Between Earth & Sky trilogy

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When language is magic, words can kill.

Kea Petrova is dealing with more than her fair share of trouble. At just twenty-five years old, she's the youngest of the five Hawaiian clan leaders living on the Homestead in outer Los Angeles, following catastrophic flooding that destroyed their islands.

Kea struggles to keep her small clan afloat, scraping rent together through odd jobs and selling the Hawaiian-language spells she crafts. Life is difficult enough, but the murder of Angelo Reyes - a prominent LA activist - turns her world upside-down. Angelo was killed by a death spell - something that can only be created in Hawaiian - so Kea quickly becomes the prime suspect, known for her unique spellwork. To clear her name, she must unravel the mystery behind Angelo's murder and confront LA's most powerful players, all while under the supervision of a dangerously attractive guard. The clock is ticking - can Kea save herself, her clan, and the Homestead before it's too late?

'Inventive and just really, really exciting' - Reactor