I won a copy of this book from BookishFirst. This book was a whirlwind of activity. All Zahru, a Whisperer who can talk to understand animals, wants to do is visit the palace. Her friend Hen manages to sneak her name on the list of invitees, but accidentally puts her with the group of contenders vying for the honor of helping one of the three heirs complete the Crossing. A case of mistaken identity and sibling rivalry soon leads to Zahru being named as the event's sacrifice. So begins a crazy adventure across the desert to what is supposed to be Zahru's death. Throughout the entire story, Zahru tries to help others through kindness. She even tries to reach Katsu, the eldest heir, who is crazily paranoid, and it almost works. I love that she was able to communicate with Maia. That epilogue has terrifying implications. The ending was a bit unexpected, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.