The Shape of Monsters

By: Tessa Gratton

A talented heretic and the emperor she both loathes and loves will learn what monsters are really made of in the second installment of the Moon Heresies trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Tessa Gratton.

Iriset—prodigy, outlaw, now sunderer—has broken the Moon-Eater god’s prison at the heart of the empire. But the consequences of her actions land her in a city of monsters where the heretical magic of human architecture is freely practiced, and the only person she knows—and can trust—is Lyric, the emperor she’s lied to and loved in equal measure.

As scheming kings and capricious gods drive them towards different extremes, they soon realize that to find their way home, they must remake the world … at the risk of breaking it forever.

Praise for the Moon Heresies trilogy:

"Laced with a vivid sensuality." —Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Kushiel's Dart

"A beautiful, elegant, passionate novel. A triumph and a delight from start to finish." —Antonia Hodgson, author of The Raven Scholar

“Sensual and suspenseful.” —Publishers Weekly

"A lush story of dangerous intrigue in an intricate and utterly unique world." —C. S. Pacat, author of Captive Prince

Critic reviews

Praise for The Mercy Makers:

“Sinking into the pages of The Mercy Makers is like being immersed in a wondrous lucid dream. The atmosphere is a tantalizing blend of the familiar and the strange, laced with a vivid sensuality that invites the reader to forge new connections at every turn.” —Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Kushiel's Dart

"The Mercy Makers manages to be both lush and tight, with characters who are strange and original, sexy and intriguing, plus an amazingly detailed and precise world. Tessa Gratton can basically do anything!" —Ellen Kushner, author of Swordspoint

"A lush story of dangerous intrigue in an intricate and utterly unique world." —C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Rise

"Simultaneously intricate and emotional, The Mercy Makers is a deeply intriguing story that highlights Gratton's exceptional talent for world building. I fell in love with Iriset and her complexities, and I can't wait for the next installment in this epic romantasy trilogy!" —Rebecca Robinson, author of The Serpent and the Wolf

"The Mercy Makers is a beautiful, elegant, passionate novel—as intricate and beguiling as a spider’s web. And just like a spider’s web, I was trapped in its immaculate design—happily so. Tessa Gratton kept me guessing, kept me hooked… and kept me wanting more. I can’t wait for book two! A triumph and a delight from start to finish." —Antonia Hodgson, author of The Raven Scholar