Some love stories are written in ink. Others are written in blood.In the city of Mashina, suspended high above a war-torn and desolate world, progress thrives on a dark foundation: the Arkane Sciences—a forbidden art that demands sacrifice.Nero, an Emperor with no memory of his past, clings to journals that hold fragments of his identity and the secrets of his sacrifices. When the city's Chancellors conspire to strip him of power, Nero must uncover the truth buried in his forgotten mind and confront the terrible cost of keeping Mashina alive.Dimitri, an experienced investigator, is drawn into a grisly murder that leads to a conspiracy threatening the city. Forced to work with Marisha, a fugitive claiming to know the truth, he must question everyone he trusts—including himself.As rebellion brews and the city teeters on the brink of collapse, Nero and Dimitri's paths converge at the heart of Mashina. With time running out,...