This offers a complex, rigidly hierarchical society and a protagonist stuck right in the middle of it, with plenty of tense action resulting.
Before the story begins, Jessamy's life has been rigidly dull. Her military father is a common man from the ruling race who has climbed as high in the social order as his station allows. Her mother is his faithful companion from the conquered race--which would normally be a dirty secret to sweep under the rug--but she and her four daughters have lived such impeccably perfect, honorable lives that his household is allowed a bottom rung on the noble ladder. Then their sponsoring patron, a high-born lord, dies an untimely death, and their carefully manicured lives disintegrate.
Jes does what she can to survive the scandal, conspiracies, and intrigue of the fallout in the hopes of preserving as much of her family as she can, centered around the realization of her ambition to become a serious runner of the Fives, her nation's professional sport that is somewhat akin to TV's Ninja Warrior obstacle course series. Both the Fives course and society require agility, balance, timing, strategy, and daring to negotiate, with death a real danger at all times. Sometimes the only choices are bad ones, and Jes must learn to pick the ones that will cause the least amount of damage.
Impressive world-building, compelling tension, and an admirably strong (though realistically flawed) main character. I'm ready for the sequel.