The Pretender's Crown

Inheritors' Cycle, Book 2

By: C. E. Murphy

Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick

Seduction and stealth are Belinda Primrose's skills - weapons befitting the queen's bastard daughter, a pawn of espionage conceived by Lorraine, ruler of Aulun, and her lover and spymaster, Belinda's father. Now an accomplished assassin, Belinda uncovers the true game her father never intended for her to play. For Belinda has found her witchpower, a legacy born from something not of this Earth.

In a treacherous world where religion and rebellion rule, Lorraine is now in a position to sweep over the countries of Echon and to back her chosen successor to the throne: Belinda.

But Belinda is no longer anyone's pawn. Lured by the sensual dark magic of Dmitri, envoy to a neighboring throne, yet still drawn to the witchlord embrace of her former lover, Javier, Belinda knows she has entered a realm where power and control go to those who can master and manipulate their fiercest desires. For the witchpower depends on the skill its wielder holds.

©2009 C. E. Murphy (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Battles, marriages, assassinations, changes of allegiance, and political intrigue strip the protagonists down to their cores as they lose everything and gain something else." ( Booklist)

Incredibly twisted! In a good way

I don’t really love “period piece” books, but this story is SO good! Really unexpected turns that kept me hooked for days! Well done!