Praise for The Five Penalties

"Combines the engrossing worldbuilding of epic fantasy with the disturbing thrill of hunting a serial killer.... As the mystery unfolds, every reveal draws readers further into a highly original world, exposing secrets and injustice that go back to the mythical founding of their society. Lostetter has crafted an ingenious genre hybrid."—Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Marina Lostetter brings together a cast of relatable, remarkably human characters across three separate timelines to tell a beautiful story of struggle, loss and, eventually, triumph... Tears, smiles and surprise await any reader that opens this book."—BookPage, starred review.

"Transports readers to an intensely unique and creative world, with interwoven secrets and heart-pounding action. Bloody, ambitious, and absolutely riveting."—Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

"A mysterious and mind-ripping journey through the mystic depths of time and the darkness of the human psyche." —Matt Wallace, author of the Sin du Jour and Savage Rebellion series

"Beautiful and vicious, The Helm of Midnight will snare you with its intriguing mystery and then enthrall you with its rich characters and inventive world."—Megan E. O'Keefe, author of Velocity Weapon

"An utterly enthralling mystery of magic, masks, and murder. Marina Lostetter weaves together three stories to a stunning conclusion with a skill that will leave you breathless."—K. B. Wagers, author of the Farian War series

"A tense and atmospheric mystery in an inventive fantasy setting, Lostetter weaves three stories of trauma and grief together with skill and suspense to a thrilling conclusion."—Sam Hawke, author of City of Lies

"A firecracker.... What makes this book a captivating read is not merely the tight prose and exquisite use of language to create tension, but the master craft level of world building that offers much more to the fantasy genre than the usual fare. Don’t pass this one by, it’s too good.”—New York Journal of Books

"This tale has creative worldbuilding and an intense focus on the psychology of a killer."—Library Journal

"Just as riveting as the first, with a cast of relatable characters and multiple plotlines that Lostetter masterfully weaves together in her signature style."—Booklist

"Presents dark and complex mysteries in a world nested with secrets like a matryoshka, only here, the conspiracies only get bigger as you go deeper. . . . A wild ride that left me breathless for the concluding volume."—Geekly Inc