The Gilded Crown

Marianne Gordon

Book cover for The Gilded Crown
Book cover for The Gilded Crown
Book cover for The Gilded Crown
Book cover for The Gilded Crown

The Gilded Crown

The Gilded Crown

Marianne Gordon

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Description

The Witch's Heart meets The Foxglove King in this debut novel about a woman who can bring people back from the dead, and the princess--and only heir to the throne--that she must protect, no matter the cost.

The first time Hellevir visited Death, she was ten years old...

Since she was a little girl, Hellevir has been able to raise the dead. Every creature can be saved for a price, a price demanded by the shrouded figure who rules the afterlife, who takes a little more from Hellevir with each soul she resurrects.

Such a gift can rarely remain a secret. When Princess Sullivain, sole heir to the kingdom's throne, is assassinated, the Queen summons Hellevir to demand she bring her granddaughter back to life. But once is not enough; the killers might strike again. The Princess's death would cause a civil war, so the Queen commands that Hellevir remain by her side.

But Sullivain is no easy woman to be bound to, even as Hellevir begins to fall in love with her. With the threat of war looming, Hellevir must trade more and more of herself to keep the Princess alive.

But Death will always take what he is owed.

Critical Reviews

"Fascinating and fantastic, The Gilded Crown is a heartwrenching exploration of the cost of power, featuring a compelling and unforgettable heroine who possesses a gift that is both wondrous and terrible. I couldn't put it down!" -- Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Queens of Renthia series

"The Gilded Crown has the feel of an ancient fairy tale freshly told. A rich and beautiful story of two women torn between impossible loyalties, this novel lures you effortlessly into a dark river of costly magic and difficult questions, and then refuses to deliver any easy answers. I can't wait to follow Hellevir and Sullivain wherever Death decides to lead them next." -- Freya Marske, award-winning author of A Marvellous Light

"Fantastic series opener . . . A richly imagined beginning that shouldn't be missed." -- Kirkus (starred review)

"A beautiful fantasy full of quests, court intrigue, and star-crossed lovers." -- Library Journal

"Fascinating dark fantasy . . . A study of kindness and humanity. This series is off to a promising start." -- Publishers Weekly

Publishing Information

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pub date: 2024-07-02
Length: 384 pages

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