The Desecrated Vessel

Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2025.

In the most lavish mansion in Daretana, a senior imperial official is found dead. His death is a mystery: it seems he was killed by a tree that grew through his body. Even here, on the borders of the Empire, where plagues abound and the blood of leviathans causes strange magical transformations, this death is both horrifying and impossible.

Detective Ana Dolabra is assigned to unravel the mystery. It is said that she possesses a brilliant mind and unrivalled eccentricity, that she covers her eyes with a blindfold and is able to solve the most impossible case without leaving her home.

Her new assistant Dinius Koll has magical modifications that make it the perfect tool for Ana's genius. Dean is often confused or furious with his superior, but over the course of the investigation he sees her mind leap from one startling conclusion to the next, and understands why she is considered the greatest detective in the country.

But as the two get closer to unraveling an ingenious plan that threatens the security of the Empire, Dean realizes he's only begun to piece together the puzzle called Ana Dolabra. Perhaps the real mystery is how long he can keep his own secrets from her penetrating mind.

The unforgettable duet in the style of Holmes and Watson, the intricate plot and the original fantasy world are some of the elements through which „The Defiled Court“ builds a new, fresh interpretation of the classic mystery.

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