Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
"No night was perfect for treason, but this one came close." In the Kingdom of Yan, people who can predict the future and wield magic are considered monsters, brutally hunted down and executed - as are their sympathizers - in the name of peace and justice. After her father’s suspicious death, Queen Hesina, with the help of a mysterious convict and her step-siblings, will try to find the culprit, taking the case to the Investigation Bureau for trial and placing her trust in the justice system (Spoiler Alert: Big Mistake). Welcome to a world where everyone is wearing big, elaborate masks and hiding behind their “good intentions”. The ‘Descendant of the Crane’ is full of political intrigue and self-righteous back-stabbers, with a twisty finish, which, considering how slowly the plot developed, escalated rather quickly and made for a riveting conclusion. This isn’t a stand-alone novel; the ending lays the groundwork for a sequel. If I'm being honest though...