A legendary king becomes a sorcerer's puppet in this novel of art and artifice from the author of The Glass Magician. "This book is a gem." —Tor.com

When artist's apprentice Hail Rosamer replicates a coin bearing the visage of the long-dead King Julian, she does so to practice her craft, not to be accused as a counterfeiter. In danger of being imprisoned, Hail flees the city of Aravis—only to come face-to-face with the man whose profile appears on the coin . . .

A necromancer has aligned herself with enemies of the current king. Her goal: to sow chaos throughout the empire by resurrecting King Julian two hundred years after his death. If she succeeds, the throne will be hers.

While Hail was growing up, the phrase "when the king comes home" meant that all well-meaning promises would be kept. But Hail knows that nothing good can come of it now, not with such malevolent forces at play. As spirits from the past begin to arise, Hail joins the battle, riding into an arena of the darkest magic with only her vision, her craft, and her courage to guide her . . .

"Absolutely the best I've read in ages! Each chapter is a new revelation on the nature of art or magic, friendship or creativity, heroism or home . . . Stevermer captures the gritty reality that makes fantasy believable; and also finds magic in the most commonplace details." —Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award–winning author

"[A] glittering Renaissance triumph set in world an angel's-wing away from our own. Stevermer brings both hearts and crowns vibrantly to life." —eluki bes shahar (pseudonym of Rosemary Edghill , New York Times–bestselling author of Book of Moons )

"Beautifully rendered . . . fantasy of a high order." — Kirkus Reviews