But complicating matters is the stubborn Andvarian king, who wants to punish Evie for the deaths of his countrymen during the Seven Spire massacre.ĭark forces are also at work inside the Andvarian palace, and Evie soon realizes that no one is safe. As if that wasn’t bad enough, an assassin tries to kill Evie in her own throne room.ĭespite the dangers, Evie goes ahead with a scheduled trip to the neighboring kingdom of Andvari in order to secure a desperately needed alliance. Magic, murder, adventure, and romance combine in this second novel in the exciting Crown of Shards saga from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep.Įverleigh Blair might be the new gladiator queen of Bellona, but her problems are far from over.įirst, Evie has to deal with a court full of arrogant, demanding nobles, all of whom want to get their greedy hands on her crown. Uncertain of her future-or if she even has one-Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.īut as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own.

Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.įorced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.īut dark forces are at work inside the palace. In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series-an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

Jennifer estep crown of shards