Sonya, an ambitious mercenary intent on commanding her own army, vowed nothing would stand in her way. But then she ran afoul of the most powerful woman in the empire. Humiliated and condemned, she now must struggle to survive. Kendryk has a vast kingdom to rule, though he isn't old enough to do it on his own. But when he learns his regent, Duke Desmond, wants to seize the throne, the stakes turn deadly. With no one he can turn to, young Kendryk is forced to rely on an outsider. Now their destinies have intertwined and the fate of the kingdom is at stake. Can Sonya and Kendryk overcome their pasts and mistrust to find a path to victory? Or will the forces arrayed against them triumph?In this prequel to The Desolate Empire Series, Christina Ochs delivers thrilling battles, devious political intrigue and compelling characters. The Forsaken Crown combines the excitement of the Three Musketeers with the sweeping imagery of fantasy. Readers are calling this powerful series "an all-ages Game of Thrones."