When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in the southern kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true: she is left without a patron. Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, she reluctantly accepts. But there is much more to his story, for there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana—the rival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved, some closer to Brienna than she realizes. With war brewing, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. Who will be that queen? With gorgeous description and detailed rendering of a world where not everything is what it seems, debut author Rebecca Ross weaves an intricate tale of revenge, loyalty, and, ultimately, self-discovery.

At long last, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, the disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his House. Though she’s just survived a revolution that will finally put a queen on the throne, she faces yet another challenge: acceptance by the MacQuinns. But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s House with serving her country. And then there’s Cartier. Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia and his current one as lord of a fallen House. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers Tomas, a young boy whose past is a mystery. So when Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, Cartier lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his House alone? However, Brienna and Cartier must put their love aside and stay focused on the most vital tasks at hand—the Lannons' trial, forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one halts the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces. And what makes one more vulnerable than love? In this epic follow-up to The Queen's Rising, Rebecca Ross weaves political intrigue, complicated relationships, and undying love to create a story that readers won't be able to put down.

Regno di Valenia, 1566. Sono passati sette anni dall'arrivo di Brianna nella prestigiosa Magnalia, la scuola per giovani prescelte che ambiscono a perfezionare la propria vocazione ed essere adottate da un patrono. Brianna però è l'unica allieva a non aver mai mostrato doti particolari e, se non fosse stato per l'enigmatico maestro Cartier, non avrebbe trovato la sua vocazione tra Arte, Musica, Teatro, Eloquenza e Sapienza. Ma alla cerimonia finale il peggior timore della ragazza diventa realtà e Brianna rimane l'unica senza un patrono. Ancora non sa che dietro allo spiacevole imprevisto si cela la sua più grande fortuna. Lo scoprirà solo quando un misterioso nobile, troppo esperto con la spada per essere un semplice protettore, la sceglierà. Brianna si troverà allora dentro un vortice di intrighi e piani segreti per rovesciare il re e ripristinare sul trono l'antica legittima monarchia, tutta femminile. Perché ci fu un tempo in cui sul Nord regnavano le regine. Ed è ora che quel tempo ritorni.