Squire / Alfageeh, Sara

As a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Aiza knows the only way she can become a full citizen of the Bayt-Sajji Empire is to become a Knight. When Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war, Aiza has the opportunity to finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program. She knows she must keep her Ornu background a secret, but when she learns the terrible truth behind the war, she must decide where her loyalties lie: with her people or the Empire.

" Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program. It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the 'greater good' that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined. In this . . . story, Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire"--OCLC.