Year of the Reaper – Lucier Makiia (2021)

The past never forgets. Three years ago, Lord Cassia disappeared in the midst of war on a mission entrusted to him by the king. Since then, a devastating plague has swept the land, leaving countless people dead and the kingdom forever changed. Having survived a rotting prison cell and a merciless illness, Cas, now eighteen, wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget the horrors of the past. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court, and they have brought their enemies with them. When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for the killer—one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with Lena, a brilliant young historian. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war. Kristin Cashore, author of the Graceling Realm books, calls it a dark yet hopeful tale filled with magic, while Juliet Marillier, author of the Blackthorn & Grim and Warrior Bards series, praises its complex characters and relationships, excellent worldbuilding and compelling story full of twists and turns.