The Dark Archive (The Invisible Library, #7)

by Genevieve Cogman

“Hidden order of nuns?” “The Order of St. Anastasia. It’s one of those situations where an order of nuns become experts at treating poisons, everyone suspects they’re really poisoners, multiple cardinals die, they have to flee for their lives . . . then they save a king’s sister from dying and he builds them a secret nunnery. You know how it goes.” “Oh, that happens all the time,” Kai agreed. “My mother joined a few of those—only appearing in her human identity, of course. She says they’re very convenient in an emergency. Almost as good as universal health care.”

“May I be frank?” Sterrington asked. Irene sighed. This was always the sign of a fast-approaching insult. “Do go on,” she said drily. “With the utmost respect, anyone who knows you would expect you to investigate a potentially dangerous door while already facing a life-or-death situation.” Irene liked to think of herself as sensible. But she couldn’t deny she’d gone through the door.

It was a sad commentary on Irene’s life that, on waking up in chains, her first thought was Oh no, not again.