Sibling Rivalry I loved my sister with all my heart, but there were times like these when I hated her, too. I tried very hard not to allow the reality of being Syd’s little sister weigh on me, but it was so difficult when my entire life was about scrutiny, either from those who couldn’t wait for me to screw up, or from my family who watched with barely-concealed concern. Everyone waited for me to crack under the pressure. The next person who compared anything I accomplished to what Syd would have done was going to perish in flame and agony. Meira might sit on First Seat, but her initial four years as Ruler haven’t been as easy as she thought they’d be. Thanks to her father’s new policies, Meira’s power has been diverted away from Ruler and into the hands of her Second Seat and grandfather, Henemordonin, as well as the greedy and grasping court of Demonicon. Struggling to regain control while being constantly bullied and tormented, Meira faces a fresh concern—a cult of mysterious demons has risen in the outer planes, preaching love and peace, finding followers where no religion has ever succeeded before.

Grandfather from Hell “I can assure you, with the utmost confidence,” Henemordonin gestured with grand arrogance, “our people, our planes, are safe and secure under my rule.” Oh, he so did not just say that out loud, Ahbi snarled. “Very well,” I said in as bored a tone as I could wrangle while my grandmother raged in my head. “Thank you for your little update, Henemordonin. Was there anything else?” My grandfather didn’t comment as all the work he’d put into his speech unraveled in a tittering wave of amusement from the court. “I do hope not,” I said, looking away from him with a slow eye roll. “We have more important matters to deal with than yet another long-winded explanation why you are the center of the Universe.” Meira’s troubles are far from over. While her grandfather, Henemordonin, continues to undermine her power and authority, the Planeless sweep across Demonicon, recruiting more and more demons to their control. What’s worse, parts of the Node holding the demon planes together seem to be disappearing without a trace. With the help of some unlikely allies, Meira must find the source of the decay of Demonicon’s Node or risk the total destruction of her world.

Losing Demonicon “I wish I had better news,” Jabuitcabron said, making my insides sag with further defeat. “No matter what we do, how hard we fight, we are losing by the hour, my Ruler.” I nodded. “So much for Xeoniteridone’s declarations of peace and love.” Jabut shrugged as Sassafras snorted next to me. “Peace and love my furry butt,” the Persian snapped. “More like lie and cheat and steal until there’s nothing left.” Demonicon is coming apart at the seams, the Node holding the planes together separating with barely a complaint, and there is nothing Meira or her friends can do about it. Even the mighty drach, the first race, are at a loss to stop the Planeless leader from tearing her world apart. And though the young and worried Ruler faces defeat, losing Demonicon might be her only hope.