In the captured kingdom of Averaine, the empire rules through fear—and entertainment. Prisoners are forced to fight as gladiators in the royal colosseum while crowds cheer for bloodshed beneath stolen banners. Then a new fighter enters the arena. Emma Vale is young, unknown, and the only woman forced to fight among the empire’s deadliest gladiators. Everyone expects her to die in her first battle… until she defeats one of the arena’s strongest fighters and becomes the empire’s newest obsession overnight. As her victories turn her into a symbol of hope for the conquered kingdom, Emma catches the attention of Cassian Draven, the undefeated champion who’s survived the arena for years by never caring about anyone. But the more dangerous the games become, the harder it is for either of them to ignore what’s growing between them—especially when rebellion begins rising beneath the empire’s feet.