Description:
Ruling harshly over the Kingdom of Galaris for 500 years, Queen Coren, now a monster of darkness and death, will be challenged by a rebellion, much like the one she fought as a young woman. Reflecting on her life as a young, naive mage, Coren remembers the fight for her life as her family and village threatened to burn her at the stake for a terrifying power beyond her control. Saved by the infamous Fire King, she was welcomed into his castle and trained to become the dark mage of her destiny. Just as Coren was finding her place within this new kingdom, a rebellion threatened everything young Coren thought she knew about herself and her future. That uncertainty rises again 500 years later as a new rebellion aims to strip her of her crown and kingdom.

Review:
I really enjoyed this dark fantasy and the realm of magic created within this story. The concept of mages and witches has been reinvented to tell an amazing story. The author's use of time as a point of view kept me suspended in a constant state of mystery as the story unfolded and held onto me tightly until the end. As you meet Coren and begin to fall in love with her young heart, you meet a different and darker Coren 500 years later as the dark queen. The tale of how she gave herself over to the darkness of her power is both suspenseful and full of sorrow.

At the conclusion, we have some insight into the struggles that book two will introduce us to, and I'm excited to continue the story of Coren.