The Kingless Crown by Sarah Cradit

 

Fans of epic fantasy rejoice!  This series by Sarah Cradit is the first that I've loved the way I loved The Game Of Thrones series, but there are only three books and it comes to a finish.  In this Kingdom of the White Sea, there are four reaches and a huge area just called The Wastelands.  The reaches used to fight among themselves until the king called the oldest son and daughter of each house together for a royal ball.  But at the ball, he announced his command: he chooses a husband and wife for each reach, regardless of whether there were existing agreements in place.  Now twenty years later, the reaches no longer battle each other but the king now has just sent for the eldest daughter of each reach.  He plans to marry them all and the resulting children will bring everyone even closer.  This king, Eoghan Rhiagain, is called The Pretender King, as it is thought he got his crown by murder of his siblings.

But the daughters of today are not without resources.  Without consulting, each decides to run away and does, some taking siblings, some accompanied only by trusted servants.  There is a school of magicians and that is one destination.  Some even choose the Wasteland, where there are said to be fairy like inhabitants along with the biggest prison of the kingdom, one that is a death sentence to those sent there.  Along the way, some fall in love, some find they are warriors, and some worry about what will happen to the parents they have left to face the king's wrath.  There are shapeshifters and secrets that slowly become revealed.  

Sarah Cradit has written over forty books of epic fantasy.  I'm so excited to have discovered this author and I've already bought the remaining books in this series and look forward to her others.  The world building is intricate and believable and the cast of characters is huge, each with their own story, history and often secrets.  I listened to this novel and the narrator did an excellent job.  I can't wait to finish this story of the Kingdom of the White Sea and recommend this opening novel to epic fantasy readers.