Mirror, mirror, on the
wall, who’s the wickedest of them all? Snow White’s dark queen tells her side
of the story in the first book of a queer, witchy duology that reimagines the
classic fairy tale—from the author of Malice.
“An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to a
classic fairytale.”—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling
author of Immortal Longings
Legends tell of a witch who became a queen—the heartless villain in the story
of Snow White.
But now the wicked queen is stepping out of Snow White’s shadow to become the
heroine of her own legend.
Her real “once upon a time” begins when she is just Ayleth, a young witch who
lives in the forest with her coven. The witches practice their magic in secret,
hiding from the White King and his brutal war against witchcraft.
Ayleth, however, faces a war of her own. Her magical gifts have yet to reveal
themselves, and as the threat of the Royal Huntsmen intensifies, Ayleth fears
she will never become the witch her coven needs.
To prove herself, Ayleth sets out on a perilous quest that sends her to the
White Palace, a decadent world of drama and deceit. There, Ayleth encounters an
unlikely figure from her past: Jacquetta, a witch who once held Ayleth’s
heart—and betrayed her.
As events at the palace escalate, Ayleth finds herself caught in the web of the
White King, whose dark charisma is as dangerous as the sinister force that
seems to be haunting the palace—and perhaps even Ayleth herself. With the
threat of discovery looming, Ayleth and Jacquetta must set aside the wounds of
their past and work together to survive.
As she uncovers the secrets of the White Court—and those of her own
heart—Ayleth must find the strength to transform into someone she never
imagined she could be.
Pay the price of blood
and Snow White’s wicked queen
rises to her destiny in the second book of a queer, witchy
duology that's hailed as"an alluring, vengeful origin story that
brings tremendous dimension to the classic fairy tale" (Chloe Gong)— from
the author of Malice.
The wicked queen's story did not end with a happily ever after. And she
wouldn’t have it any other way.
With the king bound to her magic mirror and his daughter, the rightful heir,
hidden away in the countryside, Queen Ayleth has the kingdom entirely at her
command.
Despite her ultimate power, Ayleth finds herself With fears that the witches
from her former coven will return to depose her. With the dread that
someone at the palace will discover her secret. With her
own deepening dark magic.
And with thoughts of her lost love, Jacquetta—the witch whose betrayal still
haunts Ayleth as stubbornly as the lingering scent of juniper.
But Ayleth’s carefully-built world begins to unravel when Princess Blodwyn
returns from exile in the company of Margaret, the king's scheming sister, and
reveals a plan of her To invoke Braxos Trials, a contest of bravery, wisdom,
and justice that will allow Blodwyn to retake the throne. Ayleth suddenly
discovers herself in danger of losing the crown she sacrificed everything to win—and
she will do anything to retain control.
And Ayleth isn't the only one struggling with her altered
position. Blodwyn’s homecoming soon proves more difficult than she
imagined. Embroiled in Ayleth’s viperous court, Blodwyn is surrounded by
enemies and plagued by rumors of a long-buried curse come to life. As family
secrets resurface, the princess isn’t sure who—or what—she can trust.
Especially when she may be falling for one of her rivals in the trials.
As the battle for the realm intensifies, both Ayleth and Blodwyn find
themselves fighting not only for the throne, but for the truth of their own
souls. Soon, they must each What price are they willing to pay to wear the
crown?
