L. Johnson

The Quarrel of Sword and Bone was a death sentence for anyone who stepped into the arena with the deranged Queen, whose soul had crisped to frost in an age long since past. Sixteen-year-old Helen Bell understood tragedy better than most kids growing up—she knew what it was like to wear clothes from donation bins and be mocked by the beautiful girls in school. She thought these brutal experiences made her ready for anything.

In the Tribe of Dawn, one must always follow the rules: Never steal from a neighbor. Never curse the skygods out loud. Never lie to the High Court. Never wander into the East Woods alone. Never speak to an enemy clansman. Never approach the boundary. Never, ever cross the boundary. The rules must always be followed. The rules must always be followed. Lilian Utopiv is wandering through the woods alone one afternoon when she sees a boy across the boundary. She knows the rules. She knows what will happen if she breaks them.