First published 2011
King Kieri Phelan sits uneasily on the throne of Lyonya, his half-elven blood earning him suspicion from both races he rules. Courtiers pressure him to marry and produce an heir, but greater dangers loom. A mysterious rift has opened between Kieri and his co-ruler, the immortal elven Lady. The ex-pirate Alured plots to seize both Kieri's crown and that of neighboring Tsaia, where King Mikeli faces his own crisis. Remnants of the evil Verrakaien magelords still threaten Mikeli's rule, while the kingdom of Pargun masses forces to the north. The two kings, once allies, find themselves dangerously divided as enemies circle closer. Old friendships strain under the weight of crown and duty. War approaches from multiple directions, and a startling revelation will reshape everything the kings thought they knew about their world.
Genres: fantasy, epic-fantasy, political-thriller, historical-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, political-intrigue
Setting: Lyonya, Tsaia, Pargun
Period: medieval
478 pages · Hardcover · Del Rey