A romantic standalone fantasy set in the world of Raybearer, from New York Times bestselling author Jordan Ifueko
The smallest spark can bind two hearts . . . or start a revolution.
In the magic-soaked capital city of Oluwan, Small Sade needs a job—preferably as a maid, with employers who don’t mind her unique appearance and unlucky foot. But before she can be hired, she accidentally binds herself to a powerful being known only as the Crocodile, a god rumored to devour pretty girls. Small Sade entrances the Crocodile with her secret: she is a Curse Eater, gifted with the ability to alter people’s fates by cleaning their houses.
The handsome god warns that their fates are bound, but Small Sade evades him, launching herself into a new career as the Curse Eater of a swanky inn. She is determined to impress the wealthy inhabitants and earn her place in Oluwan City . . . assuming her secret-filled past—and the revolutionary ambitions of the Crocodile God—don’t catch up with her.
But maybe there is more to Small Sade. And maybe everyone in Oluwan City deserves more, too, from the maids all the way to the Anointed Ones.
Praise
***STARRED REVIEW***
"The book contains thoughtful conversations around domestic abuse and labor inequities, the queer characters are well rounded and self-determined, and the romance, intimacy, and understanding of explicit consent are truly swoonworthy. A beautifully realized evergreen story about finding love and community."
—Kirkus Reviews
***STARRED REVIEW***
"Ifueko delivers a complex and nuanced exploration of intersections between disability, economic inequity, and abuse of power. Sade’s relationship with the Crocodile God presents a thoughtful examination of power and consent without sacrificing tenderness or chemistry."
—Publishers Weekly
"This standalone novel, set within the same universe as Ifueko’s Raybearer duology, offers a fresh narrative lens within that universe by prioritizing the perspectives of commoners over royalty...First-person narrator Sade’s distinct voice and her journey of discovery and transformation are likely to captivate readers."
—Horn Book Magazine
"Readers new to Aritsar and Oluwan will be swiftly drawn into its complex politics without feeling alienated, and fans who loved the previous installments with Tarisai will get to a fresh experience of this world from the perspective of an average citizen who accomplishes great things through the power of community."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
