by Paula Volsky
First published 1982
Zargal stands at the edge of a forbidden swamp, knowing he must face Queen Godescalc in her own domain. The witch-queen has cast a terrible curse upon King Laza and Princess Bellora, and only by confronting her directly can Zargal hope to break the spell. The swampland stretches before him, filled with dangers that have claimed countless lives before his. Queen Godescalc waits somewhere in the murky depths, protected by the treacherous terrain she commands. Zargal must navigate both the physical perils of the marsh and the magical threats that guard the witch-queen's stronghold. As he ventures deeper into her territory, he faces not only the challenge of survival but the greater test of whether he possesses the strength to overcome a curse that has already brought suffering to the royal family. His quest becomes a battle between determination and dark magic.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, dark-fantasy, epic-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, quest
Setting: Swamp, Witch-Queen's Stronghold
345 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Del Rey
Content warnings: violence