Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
"Times are changing in Rendelsham. The old King is dead, and the foolish Prince Florian has assumed the throne. Florian's mother, Queen Ysa of the House of Oak, still controls the land from behind the scenes, but her job grows more difficult every day. Her unworthy, headstrong son is harder to control than her husband was, and she must spend more time than ever masking her own movements. The barbarian Sea-Rover clan presents problems from the edge of the Bog, Ysa's newest magical ally has been exposed as a traitor, and still the unknown yet encroaching threat from the North continues to grow.". "Ashen, heir to the nearly dead House of Ash and illegitimate half-sister of the boy king, is the only force for good in the kingdom. To keep her further from the throne, Ysa has arranged for her to be married and far from Rendelsham - and Ashen, eager to be away from the predatory politics of the palace, is happy to go. But duty overwhelms personal desire in matters of the court, and soon she must return to Rendelsham for the good of the kingdom.". "Through births and deaths, marriages and duels, love and betrayal, magic and force, the four Houses of Rendelsham can only survive by the strength of their unity - but is unity possible in such a court of intrigue as this one?"--BOOK JACKET.
Is Knight or knave appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 14 and up.
Parents should know this political fantasy contains court intrigue, arranged marriages, duels, betrayal, and mentions of births and deaths. The violence is present but not graphically detailed, and romantic content stays at a modest level.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, mild sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, betrayal, and political violence (see the full list above).
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens will enjoy the complex political maneuvering, strong female protagonist fighting against a corrupt court, and the tension of a kingdom on the brink of collapse.