Note: Mild spoilers ahead! A dozen harried candidates line up in the great hall. We are specks of faded color against white marble, just the crumbs of those who began the competition. I can no longer tell who was rich or who was poor. All of us are changed, our expressions raging from haggard, to wary, to haunted.  My face is a mask I don’t recognized. My skin is flecked small cuts where leaves whipped past me in the demon storm, and what little softness there once was feels as if it’s been scoured away.  “You may be aware of…

AKA We’re All Going to Die, So Let’s Eat Cake Note: No spoilers here, but I do recommend reading the book first so you know who everyone is. “You came!” Virian leaves a ring of flour all over my fine dress, and remains unapologetic about it. There’s flour in her hair, and on her nose, and Dayen is spooning pure sugar into his mouth. “Of course, its Dayen’s birthday and I promised.” I do not feel festive, but for them, I try on a tired smile.  The kitchen staff glances at the trio of us now and again, and keep…