Generations ago an empire was destroyed by war. The technological/magical remnants of that society are now either in the hands of the Twilight Order or hard sought by the criminal and/or rebellious elements of the society. A sister and brother find themselves on opposite sides of that power dynamic in this complex and fascinating fantasy novel.
As the novel opens, Gyre and his younger sister Maya's lives are forever changed with the arrival of a powerful visitor at their parents' farm. A member of the Twilight Order has made a deal with their parents to take Maya away and when Gyre steps in to try and protect his sister, he's dealt an injury that leaves him missing an eye. Years later Gyre has joined a gang of thieves. He plots and steals, not only to survive, but also to make things difficult for the Dawn Republic and to find word of his sister. While Gyre plots and steals, Maya has been raised by the Order to be a warrior who is passionate about seeking out the criminals that endanger the empire. Gyre's obsession with finding Maya, whom he's still convinced needs rescuing, lead him and his team into dangerous territory. When their latest quest goes wrong, Gyre may finally achieve his goal, but with disastrous results.
I can't remember where I ran across a mention of Django Wexler's first in the Burningblade & Silvereye series. But whereever (or whoever) it was that brought it to my attention? Thank you. This is a dark and twisty read and I look forward to reading the nex in the trilogy, Blood of the Chosen.