On This Unworthy Scaffold

Jetta is in the center of a war. With her magical power, she could save everyone, save her country . . . or she could destroy it all.

Heidi Heilig blends traditional storytelling with ephemera for a lush, page-turning commercial fantasy for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Leigh Bardugo.

The final book in the acclaimed Shadow Players trilogy.

Jetta’s home is spiraling into civil war. Le Trépas—the deadly necromancer—has used his blood magic to wrest control of the country, and Jetta has been without treatment for her malheur for weeks. Meanwhile, Jetta’s love interest, brother, and friends are intent on infiltrating the palace to stop the Boy King and find Le Trépas to put an end to the unleashed chaos.

The sweeping conclusion to Heidi Heilig’s ambitious trilogy takes us to new continents, introduces us to new gods, flings us into the middle of palace riots and political intrigue, and asks searching questions about power and corruption.

Acclaimed author Heidi Heilig creates a rich world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures and French colonialism. Told from Jetta’s first-person point-of-view, as well as with chapters written as play scripts and with ephemera such as songs, myths, and various forms of communication, On This Unworthy Scaffold is a satisfying finale to the epic fantasy trilogy. It will thrill readers who love Claire Legrand’s Furyborn, Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer, and N. K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season.

Jetta holds the fate of a nation in her hands—and in her blood.

• Necromancer Fantasy: Jetta can raise the dead, but her enemy, Le Trépas, wields a twisted version of her power. Can she control her magic before he destroys everything she loves?
• Epic Fantasy Trilogy Conclusion: The unforgettable finale to the Shadow Players series, where every alliance will be tested and the civil war for Chakrana reaches its explosive end.
• Found Family: To stop the Boy King, Jetta must rely on her found family of rebels: her resurrected brother Akra, her love Leo, and a troupe of performers-turned-warriors.
• Unique Storytelling: Told through Jetta’s fierce first-person narrative, illustrated play scripts, letters, and myths that bring the world of Chakrana to life.