Waking in Chains

She comes to in a filthy cage, her memory erased, surrounded by other captives. Panic and confusion war with the pain in her body as she tries to piece together who she is and why she's there. The iron bars burn her skin, and the word "fae" floats in her mind, but nothing else surfaces. Orc guards drag her from the cage, subjecting her to humiliation and threats, and she's delivered to a fae named Dorsin, who claims to know her. Dorsin's cruelty is immediate, and Auset's sense of self is battered further as she's chained, interrogated, and beaten. The only thing she knows for certain is that she is utterly alone, and her life is now a commodity to be traded, her body and identity stripped away.

The Price of Survival

Dorsin's plans for Auset are revealed: she is to be ransomed, her value determined by her bloodline and beauty. But when Dorsin betrays his own allies, poisoning the orcs who helped him, Auset is left in a room with three masked assassins—the Order of Scorpions. They kill Dorsin and his men with ruthless efficiency, ignoring Auset's pleas for help. She is left chained, bloodied, and traumatized, forced to survive on her own wits. When Tilleo, Dorsin's second, finds her, he assumes she is responsible for the carnage and spares her from the flesh market, instead consigning her to the brutal training grounds of the ludere, where survival means becoming a weapon.

Blood and Betrayal

In the ludere, Auset is stripped of her past and remade as a blade slave. She endures endless cycles of violence, starvation, and training, learning to hide her true strength to avoid the attention of the masters. The Bidding approaches—a chance for the best blade slaves to be purchased by the Orders of Assassins. Auset's only hope is to be bought by a house that will value her skills, not her body. But Tilleo, the master of the ludere, has other plans: he orders her to kill a member of an Order during the Bidding, a command that will guarantee her death. Auset realizes she is a pawn in a game she cannot win, and her only chance is to outlast everyone who would use or destroy her.

The Bidding Begins

The Bidding brings the great Orders of Assassins to the ludere, including the enigmatic Order of Scorpions. Auset is assigned to serve them, and she recognizes them as the masked killers from her past. The Scorpions are both fascinated and wary of her, sensing her hidden power and trauma. As the Bidding's trials begin, Auset is forced to fight, endure humiliation, and navigate the deadly politics of the Orders. She is tested in every way—physically, emotionally, and morally—while Tilleo's kill order hangs over her. The Scorpions, meanwhile, begin to see her as more than a slave, and a dangerous attraction grows between them.

Scorpions in the Shadows

The Scorpions are both hunters and hunted, attending the Bidding for their own secret reasons. They are drawn to Auset's resilience and the mystery of her origins. When she is punished for defiance, the Scorpions intervene, healing her wounds and questioning her about her past. Auset, desperate for answers, bargains with them, and a tense alliance forms. The Scorpions begin to suspect that Auset is more than she appears—a highborn fae with rare abilities, possibly the key to a larger conspiracy. As the Bidding's violence escalates, Auset and the Scorpions are forced to trust each other, even as betrayal and death close in.

Becoming a Blade Slave

Flashbacks and present trials show the relentless brutality of the ludere. Auset's skills are honed through pain, and she learns to hide her true self to survive. The masters use poison, torture, and psychological games to break the blade slaves, and Auset's only solace is the hope of freedom. Her relationships with other slaves are fraught with danger—friendship is a liability, and betrayal is common. The Bidding's tests push her to the brink, and she is forced to choose between mercy and survival. The Scorpions, watching her, begin to see the depth of her scars and the strength she has forged from them.

The Order's Arrival

The Order of Scorpions is more than a group of assassins—they are brothers, bound by blood and trauma, each with their own secrets and powers. Their leader, Tarek, is calculating and protective; Curio is the armorer and tactician; Riall is the Sanguinna, a rare blood-drinker. Their interest in Auset grows as they witness her defiance and skill. They recognize her as kin, a survivor shaped by the same violence that made them. As the Bidding's politics turn deadly, the Scorpions begin to plot a way to save Auset from Tilleo's machinations, even as they hunt for answers about her past.

A Savage's Worth

The Bidding's trials become a crucible for Auset, forcing her to fight for her life and her future. She is pitted against stronger opponents, sabotaged by the masters, and punished for every act of resistance. The Scorpions intervene, healing her wounds and offering her a place among them, but Auset is wary of trust. When she is ordered to kill during the sanctum of the Bidding, she must choose between her own survival and the lives of others. Her power—her ability to heal under the moon, her Sanguinna blood—begins to manifest, drawing the attention of those who would use or destroy her.

The Taste of Freedom

When Tilleo's plot comes to fruition, Auset is forced to kill or be killed. She chooses to fight back, using her hidden abilities and the weapons she has stolen. The Scorpions aid her, and together they turn the tables on their enemies. Auset's defiance inspires others, and the blade slaves rise up against their masters. In the chaos, Auset escapes the ludere, wounded but free for the first time. The Scorpions take her in, offering her sanctuary and a chance to discover who she truly is. For the first time, Auset dares to hope for more than survival.

The Scorpions' Test

In the Scorpions' stronghold, Auset is given a new life, but trust is hard-won. The brothers test her loyalty, her skills, and her heart. She trains with them, learning to master her powers and her rage. The bond between them deepens, becoming both a source of strength and vulnerability. As they hunt for answers about her past, Auset is forced to confront the ghosts of her trauma and the possibility of love. The Scorpions, in turn, must decide if they can let her in, risking everything for a future together.

The Bond of Blood

The connection between Auset and the Scorpions is sealed in blood and passion. Their relationship becomes physical, emotional, and magical—a bond that transcends pain and history. Together, they hunt those who wronged them, seeking vengeance and justice. Auset's Sanguinna nature is revealed, and she forms a Blood Bond with Riall, deepening their connection and power. The Scorpions teach her to embrace her darkness, and she teaches them to hope for more. Their unity is tested by enemies old and new, but together they are unstoppable.

The Hunt for Answers

The Scorpions and Auset travel the realms, following clues about her past. They encounter allies and enemies, including the Order of Vulpi and the mysterious Igeeyin. Auset learns she is not who she thought—she is a decoy, created to protect a princess, her life force meant to be sacrificed for another. The truth is both liberating and devastating. The Igeeyin's plans for war are revealed, and Auset must choose between vengeance and mercy. The Scorpions stand by her, helping her to claim her own destiny.

The Ghosts of the Past

In the Igeeyin stronghold, Auset meets Neith, the true princess, who wears her face and has lived the life that was stolen from her. Their connection is both magical and tragic—a bond that allows Neith to siphon Auset's life force. The truth of Auset's sacrifice and the Igeeyin's betrayal is laid bare. Together, they confront the corrupt leaders who orchestrated their suffering. Auset chooses to spare the innocent and punish the guilty, forging a new path for herself and her people.

The Princess and the Decoy

With the truth revealed, Auset rejects the role of decoy and the chains of her past. She chooses her own name, her own family, and her own future. The Scorpions stand with her, and together they destroy the last remnants of the ludere and the masters who tormented them. Auset's power is fully realized, and she becomes a force of justice and vengeance. The bond between her and the Scorpions is unbreakable, and they begin a new reign as the Order of Scorpions, protectors and avengers.

The Igeeyin's Secret

The Igeeyin are not just a clan—they are a people with ancient power, seeking to reclaim the realms for the Moon's line. Their thura, the ability to control and move anything with a thought, is both a gift and a curse. Auset learns that her connection to Neith is a perversion of the Sanguinna Blood Bond, created to protect the princess at the cost of her own life. The Igeeyin's plans for war are exposed, and Auset and Neith must decide what kind of leaders they will be—monsters or saviors.

The Moon's Army

The Igeeyin's army is revealed to be both formidable and fractured. Neith, once a figurehead, becomes a true leader, using her power to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Auset, with the Scorpions at her side, helps to dismantle the corrupt order and free those who were sacrificed for the Cause. Together, they forge a new alliance, one based on justice and choice, not blood and betrayal. The realms are forever changed by their actions.

The Price of Vengeance

With the Igeeyin defeated and the truth revealed, Auset is faced with a choice: destroy everyone who wronged her, or spare the innocent and build something new. She chooses mercy, guided by the Scorpions and her own hard-won wisdom. The guilty are punished, the innocent are freed, and the cycle of violence is broken. Auset claims her own destiny, no longer a pawn or a sacrifice, but a queen in her own right.

The End of the Ludere

Returning to the ludere, Auset and the Scorpions free the remaining slaves and burn the stronghold to the ground. Tilleo and the masters are forced to fight to the death, and justice is finally served. Auset is given a home, a family, and a future by the Scorpions, and together they begin a new reign as the Order of Scorpions. The story ends with hope, healing, and the promise of love and vengeance in equal measure.

Characters

Auset

Auset is the protagonist, a fae woman who awakens in chains with no memory of her past. Her journey is one of trauma, resilience, and transformation. She is remade as a blade slave, enduring years of brutality and learning to hide her true strength. Her Sanguinna blood gives her rare powers—healing under the moon, forming Blood Bonds, and a predatory hunger for justice. Auset's relationships are shaped by betrayal and the desperate need for connection. Her bond with the Scorpions is both healing and dangerous, as she learns to trust, love, and claim her own destiny. Psychologically, Auset is marked by dissociation, hypervigilance, and a fierce will to survive. Her arc is one of reclaiming agency, choosing mercy over vengeance, and forging a new identity from the ashes of her past.

Tarek (Scorpius)

Tarek is the head of the Order of Scorpions, a master assassin with a gift for fire and shadow. He is protective, strategic, and deeply loyal to his brothers. Tarek's attraction to Auset is immediate, but he is wary of trust and haunted by the knowledge that he once left her behind. His psychological complexity lies in his need for control, his fear of loss, and his capacity for both violence and tenderness. Tarek's arc is one of learning to let go, to trust in love and partnership, and to accept that redemption is possible even for those who have done terrible things.

Curio (Skull)

Curio is the mind behind the Scorpions' weapons and armor, a fae with a sharp intellect and a hidden vulnerability. He is the most reserved of the brothers, preferring observation to action, but his loyalty is unwavering. Curio's relationship with Auset is built on mutual respect and the slow revelation of trust. He is fascinated by her strength and resilience, and his own arc is one of opening up, embracing intimacy, and finding purpose beyond survival.

Riall (Bones)

Riall is the blood-drinker of the Scorpions, a rare fae with the power to heal and bond through blood. He is the most physical and passionate of the brothers, his need for Auset both literal and emotional. Riall's psychological struggle is with his own monstrous nature, his fear of losing control, and his desperate need for acceptance. His Blood Bond with Auset is transformative, giving him both strength and vulnerability. Riall's arc is one of embracing his darkness, finding balance, and learning that love can be both wild and safe.

Tilleo

Tilleo is the architect of the blade slaves' suffering, a man who profits from pain and betrayal. He is cunning, ruthless, and ultimately weak, hiding behind power and cruelty. Tilleo's relationship to Auset is one of exploitation and control, and his psychological makeup is defined by narcissism, paranoia, and a deep-seated fear of retribution. His arc ends in poetic justice, forced to face the consequences of his actions.

Neith (The Moon)

Neith is the real heir to the Nalrora line, raised as a figurehead and protected by the Igeeyin. She is both Auset's double and her opposite—privileged, sheltered, and ultimately powerless until she claims her own agency. Neith's psychological journey is one of awakening, guilt, and the struggle to lead. Her bond with Auset is both magical and tragic, a reminder of what is lost and what can be reclaimed.

Faline

Faline is the leader of the Igeeyin, a woman driven by ambition, ideology, and a willingness to sacrifice anyone for the Cause. She is manipulative, ruthless, and ultimately undone by her own hubris. Faline's relationship to Auset and Neith is one of betrayal and exploitation, and her psychological profile is marked by fanaticism, control, and a lack of empathy. Her arc is a cautionary tale of power corrupted.

Lutyn

Lutyn is Neith's guard and confidant, a fae torn between duty and conscience. He is brave, resourceful, and ultimately chooses to help Auset and Neith break the cycle of violence. Lutyn's psychological struggle is with loyalty, guilt, and the need to do what is right even when it is dangerous.

Hatus Orill

Hatus is a cobbler who survives a massacre and becomes the key to uncovering the Igeeyin's secrets. He is marked by fear, guilt, and the burden of knowledge. Hatus's arc is one of survival, confession, and the hope that truth can lead to justice.

Verus

Verus is a fae with the ability to move objects with his mind, a member of the Igeeyin's Moon's army. He is both a threat and a victim, his arrogance masking deep trauma and loyalty to a cause that betrayed him. Verus's psychological profile is marked by fanaticism, self-sacrifice, and the tragic consequences of blind obedience.

Plot Devices

Trauma as Transformation

The narrative structure of Order of Scorpions is built on the cycle of trauma, survival, and transformation. Auset's journey from victim to weapon to leader is mirrored by the Scorpions' own histories. The use of amnesia, flashbacks, and physical scars as metaphors for psychological wounds allows the story to explore the ways in which pain can both destroy and create. The Bidding, the blade slave system, and the Orders themselves are all plot devices that force characters to confront their own darkness and choose what kind of monsters they will be.

Blood Bonds and Magical Tethers

The Sanguinna Blood Bond, the magical link between Auset and Neith, and the thura abilities of the fae are all devices that literalize the psychological and emotional bonds between characters. These connections are both sources of power and vulnerability, forcing characters to trust, to sacrifice, and to confront the ways in which they are shaped by others. The magical realism of the world allows for the exploration of consent, agency, and the price of love and loyalty.

The Double and the Decoy

The use of doubles—Auset and Neith, the princess and the decoy—serves as a plot device to explore questions of identity, worth, and agency. The revelation that Auset is not the true heir but a sacrifice is both a devastating blow and a liberation, allowing her to claim her own destiny. The motif of mirrors, twins, and mistaken identity is used to foreshadow the truth and to force characters to confront the ways in which they are both unique and interchangeable in the eyes of power.

The Cycle of Vengeance and Mercy

The story is structured around cycles of violence—abuse, betrayal, revenge—and the possibility of breaking them. Auset's choice to spare the innocent, to claim justice rather than destruction, is foreshadowed by her own journey from victim to avenger. The burning of the ludere, the punishment of the guilty, and the sparing of the innocent are all plot devices that allow the story to explore the possibility of healing and the cost of mercy.

Found Family and Chosen Bonds

The formation of the Order of Scorpions as a found family, and Auset's eventual acceptance of their love, is a central plot device. The story uses the tropes of romance, brotherhood, and magical bonds to explore the ways in which love can heal, empower, and redeem. The contrast between blood family (the Igeeyin, the Nalrora line) and chosen family (the Scorpions) is used to question what makes a home, a clan, and a future worth fighting for.

Analysis

Order of Scorpions is a dark, brutal, and ultimately redemptive fantasy that interrogates the price of survival, the meaning of identity, and the possibility of healing after trauma. Ivy Asher crafts a world where power is both a weapon and a wound, and where love is as dangerous as any blade. The novel's central lesson is that pain can be transformed into strength, but only if it is faced, named, and shared. Auset's journey from nameless victim to self-chosen queen is a testament to the resilience of the human (and fae) spirit, and to the power of found family to heal what blood and birth cannot. The story does not shy away from the horrors of abuse, betrayal, and violence, but it insists that mercy, justice, and love are possible even in the darkest of worlds. The Scorpions' devotion to Auset, and her eventual acceptance of their love, is both a fantasy of healing and a challenge to the reader: to believe that even the most broken can be made whole, and that vengeance, when tempered by mercy, can be a path to freedom.

Last updated: September 26, 2025