Shadow Crown

A spellbinding new series from international Amazon bestselling author of The Alpha Drive trilogy, Kristen Martin.Perfect for fans of Marie Lu and George R.R. Martin, this gripping action-packed first book in a new series is impossible to put down!
For most people, the act of killing is intangible.

Unfathomable.But not for seventeen-year-old Arden Eliri.Having been involved in Cruex assassination attempts as a mere child, killing is a natural disposition for her. Growing up without parents, in a castle ruled by an iron-fisted king, is the furthest thing from a fairy tale, as is being forced into the Cruex, the kings group of hand-selected assassins.

But with each passing year, she comes to enjoy the act of killing more and more.Kill or be killedshe chooses the former.A decade ago, King Darius Tymond banished The Caldarithose who practice illusi*, or old magickfrom Trendalath Kingdom, ensuring that no Caldari will ever step foot in his kingdom again.

But Arden discovers otherwise after a dual-assigned mission goes horribly awry. Even more startling, she discovers that she may have more in common with the Caldari than shes been led to believe.Arden wants to trust that King Tymonds intentions are pure, but as their pasts collide in unexpected ways, the quicker she realizes the consequences and dangers of his reign.

But Arden is also hiding somethingsomething that threatens her very existenceand shell have to face her inner darkness and conquer it before it destroys her . . . and the kingdom shes come to call her home.