In a world where poverty and vengeance fuel their actions, Maya Solanki and her band of misfits—a bloodthirsty drunkard, a runaway bride, and a color-blind genius—hunt Foul Yodhins, magic wielders who steal life force. When a desperate stranger offers a lucrative job, Maya is unable to refuse, leading them away from the safety of their kingdom into the dangerous Eastern Lands. Their mission: assassinate a powerful mage, return the stranger home safely, and secure a hefty reward. But lurking within the Eastern Lands are nightmarish monsters, as well as the haunting demons of their pasts—a shape-shifting serpent, a vengeful prince ridiculed at the altar, and an enigmatic Yodhin whose gaze lingers on Maya with unsettling intent. BLURB: The prince traced his hand over the canvas, its paint and parchment rough against his palm. The girl in the painting looked just like he had always imagined her to be, her brown skin gleaming and her plump lips stretched into a breath-taking smile. Her eyes were the gentlest shade of warmth, twinkling with a sharp, exultant glimmer of mischief as the dark waves of her hair danced around her, alive and fizzing with power. Her arms were spread open as if inviting someone to embrace her. But the prince knew that wasn’t what it was, for she was no ordinary girl. She would not ask for hugs or affection. She would not need childish love or coddling. That girl… was to be a queen, one who would demand respect, loyalty and allegiance, who would strike fear and induce shivers in the strongest of hearts. She wouldn’t fantasise, daydream or hold moons in her gaze. She would have the power to acquire anything she ever wanted. Ambition would drive her every move, magic running through her veins instead of blood—the same magic she summoned at her fingertips in the portrait he’d had so intricately painted. She would be fierce and flawless. Daunting and dangerous. Beautiful, yet terrifying. She would be everything he had ever imagined, and more. And in return, he would be everything she would ever need by her side. When the time would come for their paths to finally cross, the prince would not pull her into his arms or kiss her tempting mouth. He would drop to his knees and bow his head, place a fist to his heart and pledge everything he owned to her. On a single command spoken from those glorious lips, he would light the world in searing flames and leave it to burn for eternity, simply to win her approval, only to earn a mere glance from those maddening eyes. The prince would do anything to make her his. No matter the loss. No matter the price. No matter the sacrifice.

Requirements & Requests

I need feedback on how engaging the story is, the characters, and the pacing. How well the reader can imagine everything, and if they notice any inconsistencies.

Comparable Stories:

Grishaverse series by Leigh Bardugo, The Assassin's Blade, The Gilded Wolves, Silver Queendom, Foundryside

Trigger Warnings:

Blood, violence, flashback of SA, murder, death, kidnapping.