After accidentally starting a cult and invoking the wrath of the gods, a scam artist must fight to save everyone she has ever loved in this sequel to Margaret Owens YA fantasy Little Thieves. When misfortune strikes, the 'reformed' jewel thief Vanja manipulates a remote village for help and in turn, accidentally starts a cult around a Low God, the Scarlet Maiden. Soon after, her nemesis-turned-suitor Emeric and a supervising prefect arrive to investigate the claim of godhood, and she realizes how in over her head she must be. But the Scarlet Maiden does reveal herself...only to claim Emeric as her virgin sacrifice. Desperate to save the only man she's ever cared for, Vanja decides to seek an alternative: bring the Scarlet Maiden a drop of blood from each of seven brothers for the midsummer feast. While the thief and prefect-in-training still have feelings for one another, Emeric must determine whether Vanja has committed fraud as his final test for prefect-hood. And as they travel the Haarzlands, a harsh land far from the rules of the city, the past that Vanja barely remembers comes into full view and she fears a future that does not require her to keep running.

"If you made it through Little Thieves, you ought to be fine with this one. That said, this story contains the following potential triggers: verbal and physical abuse, abandonment, anxiety and panic attacks, blood and gore, mention of animal death (off-page), misuse of animal carcass, cults, mention of death of a parent (off-page), body image issues, and sexual situations. Oh, and for one unfortunate prefect: horses" -- title page verso.