Nyx is a bel dame, a bounty hunter paid to collect the heads of deserters - by almost any means necessary. `Almost' proved to be the problem. Cast out and imprisoned for breaking one rule too many, Nyx and her crew of mercenaries are all about the money. But when a dubious government deal with an alien emissary goes awry, her name is at the top of the list for a covert recovery. While the centuries-long war rages on only one thing is certain: the world's best chance for peace rests in the hands of its most ruthless killers. . . Set in a futuristic world dominated by war, religion and an insectile technology which borders on magic, Kameron Hurley's debut is set to be the highlight of the year.