Joythief

Joythief. The most feared weapon of the elite thieves' and assassin's guild known as the Star-Blades. The magical poison that doesn't kill its victim, but kills the most prized aspect of themselves. Star-Blades rarely use this terrible poison, and never against their own. Except Mariq Ashai Meidani, Princess of Kuriza and Star-Blade spider-thief, has been poisoned. She knows exactly what the Joythief will take from her-her thieving skills, the one thing that makes her more than a simple pawn in her father's court. Trying to discover who poisoned her, and why, leads Mariq to discover plots far more intricate than the blackmail of a single spider-thief.
The Star-Blades would use her as a tool in their war against magic, a war that would leave thousands dead and the land devastated. A war Mariq cannot allow to happen. Battling the Joythief is futile. Battling the Star-Blades seems even more so. Yet if Mariq wants to be anything besides a delicate, useless princess or a catalyst of destruction, she'll have to fight both -- and, somehow, win. ? 2023 Foreword INDIES Finalist: Fantasy (Adult Fiction) "The plot twists will keep readers on edge as Mariq and her allies face unexpected difficulties and explore the depths of abilities to resolve them." - Booklist "Perfect and satisfying in its final moments, JOYTHIEF is a stunning magical story about people who find their true places in the world, freeing themselves from emotional chains." - Foreword Reviews, starred review