The Traitor Baru Cormorant

On the remote island of Falcrest, Baru Cormorant's idyllic life is shattered when the monolithic Masquerade empire conquers her homeland, erasing its culture and criminalizing its customs. Witnessing her heritage dismantled and a beloved father murdered, Baru conceives a chilling, audacious plan: infiltrate the heart of the empire she despises, climb its ranks, and ultimately dismantle it from within. Driven by a burning desire for revenge and the liberation of her people, Baru dedicates herself to mastering the Empire's intricate systems of economics and governance. Her exceptional intellect propels her through the civil service, earning her a posting as an Imperial accountant to the distant, rebellious province of Aurdwynn. There, she finds herself entangled in a web of seditious dukes and shadowy imperial factions, forcing her to make impossible choices. To succeed, Baru must sacrifice everything, including her own identity and humanity, orchestrating a dangerous game of loyalty and betrayal. The cost of her long game of freedom, she soon discovers, may be a price far greater than she ever imagined, demanding the compromise of her very soul.