Worthy of Fate (Realms in Peril, #1)

Worthy of Fate is one of those debut novels that has no business being this fully realized. The world-building is genuinely impressive - intricate magic systems, spirit companions, and political factions that feel lived-in rather than info-dumped. The slow burn between Kya and Ryker is the kind that makes you feral by the halfway point. Read it when you have a whole weekend free because you will not be putting it down, and that cliffhanger ending is not playing around.