An assassin without a name, born to kill. Owned by a vicious man who refuses to call her anything but girl, she is forced to commit atrocious acts of violence. Vowing to take her future into her own hands, the seventeen-year-old decides to risk everything on one act of defiancé—drinking from The Death Drink. The beverage kills most whose lips touch it—only allowing those who are destined to be royalty survive the first sip. To the astonishment of the nation of Valcora, she imbibes it and lives, which crowns her queen. Thrown into a life of royal intrigue, she now has a purpose—to rule with the fairness she was never shown. Despite her altruistic plans, it becomes apparent that someone wants her dead. The new queen must use her training from the former life she only wants to forget in order to stay alive long enough to turn her kingdom into something she can be proud of. She’ll hold onto the crown… or die trying.

Ryn finally has a name, and a chance at life now that Daros has been taken to the dungeons. Or at least she did until he escaped. Not knowing whether to be scared or filled with rage, Ryn sets her guards out to find him. As much as she wants to help, Ryn must be the Queen her people needs. Or try to be. There's much she needs to do, but she sees Daros everywhere, hunting her. No one can seem to catch Daros, despite her spotting him, and his ruthlessness knows no bounds. When the unthinkable happens, Ryn must face her fears or lose all she's gained.

A queen without the hope of her country is no queen at all. Knowing this, Ryn undertakes the challenge of regaining the trust and favor of her people, though her chance to do so is slipping through her fingers. To make matters worse, Ranen may be dead, but Daros is actively hunting her, distracting her from her royal duties. With her concentration already split between revenge and duty, she isn’t sure she can handle the new obstacle thrown into her path—a couple who claim to be her long-lost parents. Despite the turbulent circumstances, Ryn decides to open her arms to her newfound family, but trusting them won’t come easy. As the fight for her country continues, Ryn vows to protect the parents she never thought she’d have. But Ryn’s subjects are restless and she’ll have to find a way to appease them while juggling her new family life… or risk losing it all.

Struggling to live in a body that has betrayed her, Ryn refuses to give up, even if that means working alongside her sworn enemy to take down an even bigger threat. Daros was once the most hated man in Ryn's life, but now he just may be her salvation… if she can convince him that her side is the right one. While the First Queen invades Ryn's thoughts and leaves havoc in her wake, there's little room for mistakes in the fight for Ryn’s life and country. But as the crown’s enemy grows ever closer to success and targets the people Ryn loves the most, the young queen must dig deep inside herself for the strength and courage needed to win this war… or risk leaving her country in the hands of a madwoman.