Gilded Veins

In a world divided into seven regions, every citizen is taught the same truth: separation is peace, obedience is survival, and the Sanctum Trials are a sacred path to honor. Maya Hawkins has never believed every word she's been told—but questioning the truth is dangerous. When she is chosen to represent her region in the brutal Sanctum Trials, Maya is thrown into a deadly competition where only one tribute is meant to survive. Forced to rely on Noah Evans, the disciplined son of a powerful mayor from a rival region, she begins to uncover cracks in everything she thought she knew. The trials are more than a fight for survival. They are designed to expose every weakness, twist every fear, and bury every secret. As alliances shift and long-hidden truths come to light, Maya realizes the greatest threat isn't the arena—it's the system that created it. Because some lies are built to last. And some truths are worth starting a revolution for. Perfect for readers who enjoy The Hunger Games, Caraval, and The Inheritance Games, Gilded Veins is a YA dystopian fantasy filled with deadly trials, political intrigue, slow-burn trust, and shocking twists.