Aurelia Valiana Faramond is no damsel in distress. When her Kingdom is attacked without warning on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Aurelia is ready to take up arms and fight back, but she is forced into hiding instead. When the cunning King of Valkenor enters his son into the Trials of Valor to compete for her hand and Meridian’s throne, Aurelia’s only hope lies with a very unexpected hero
Cressida Serena Faramond is a natural peacemaker. She is generous, graceful, gentle—everything a Princess of Meridian ought to be—but when her peaceful world is turned upside down in the chaos of war, Cressida’s natural desire to end the conflict leads her down a dangerous path of espionage and treachery that only makes things worse. With her own heart at war, will she ever find her way back to peace?
Had I known how wonderful this book was I may have waited until the 2nd book came out, as I now must anxiously await the next one. 3 strong female leads, though in very different ways. Wonderful and unexpected twists and turns. Beautifully sprinkled with odes to original fairy tales. I loved it and was very sad when I finished it. Not because the ending was sad, but because the book was done.
