Raybearer, by Jordan Ifueko

I looked forward to this, and the only disappointment was that the version with the gorgeous cover is not yet available as a paperback in the right size for my bookshelf. I loved the worldbuilding, the characters, the villains, and the tropes – canon soulbonds! Forced betrayals (and their aftermath)! Delicious.
( Major spoilers )

(The longer I think about it, the more things come to mind that I was slightly less happy with – but that's normal, and mainly things that I wouldn't even mention if the entire book wasn't so great that such details stand out.)

I'm thinking of nominating this for Yuletide. I'm not sure yet if I want to request it, but I think I'd like to offer it, and maybe between now and sign-ups more people will get a chance to read the book.