The much-anticipated stand-alone prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy . . .
A decadent kingdom . . . a descent into darkness . . . alliances forged under fire . . . a prophecy that will change the course of history . . .
''A suspenseful, multi-layered tale'' Cassandra Clare ''A must-read for fans of the Tearling!'' Helene Wecker ''Dark and timely'' Kim Harrison
The Tearling has reverted to feudalism, a far cry from the utopia it was founded to be. As the gap between rich and poor widens and famine threatens the land, sparking unrest, rumours of a prophecy begin to spread: a great hope, a True Queen who will rise up and save the kingdom.
But rumours will not help Lazarus, a man raised to kill in the brutal clandestine underworld of the Creche, nor Aislinn, a farm girl who must reckon with her own role in the growing rebellion.
And in the Keep, the crown princess, Elyssa, finds herself to
