A mute radical. A brutal queen. A quest through a deadly maze. Yosyph fences his heart and keeps his mouth shut. Posing as a mute tavern-hand, he gathers information on his bigoted queen and silently seeks to raise a rebellion. But when he discovers the monarch's scheme to enslave thousands, he fears leading a revolt now would only end in a massacre. Desperate for allies in the coming war, Yosyph travels through a deadly desert in search of his kin. But he's shocked to discover his only option to defeat the queen's vast military is an ancient magic that will consume him-unless he opens himself to the voice of his god. Will Yosyph's unexpected answers to his prayers stop his realm from descending into bloody darkness? 2019 Whitney Awards Nominee