Originally Posted on Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek 
 So I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I first started reading this. All I knew going in was that there would be a twist that would blow my mind. For most of May I had been on a high fantasy kick, and this has been on my Nook for awhile so I figured this was a great time to read it. I made a great decision. And yes, my mind was blown. 
 The youngest of four children and the only daughter, as the First Daughter of her house Lia has been promised to the prince of Dalbreck, who believe her to have "the gift," even though she doesn't. Fiercely independent and a bit of a tomboy, Lia runs away on the morning of her wedding because she doesn't want to be married off to an old man. She wants to live a quiet life away from the responsibilities of being a princess, and with Pauline's help she does just that. When Lia and Pauline arrive in Terravin they head to an inn run by Berdi, Pauline's auntie. Both girls are led to a cottage to stay in and work at the inn. Already, I could tell I was going to like Lia because of her determination to follow her heart and work hard to earn her keep. She's not a spoiled princess, she was prepared to work just as much as Pauline, and she does with Gwyneth's help, one of the inn's maids. 
 The book is written in an interesting way. Asides from Lia's narrative, there is also The Prince, The Assassin, Kaden, and Rafe. The Prince is the prince from Dalbreck who Lia was supposed to marry, and decided to track her to see just what kind of princess Lia is. The Assassin is a killer sent from Venda, the barbarian country near Morrighan and Dalbreck, to kill Lia. Both men arrive at the inn at the same time and become acquaintances with each other, even sharing a room. One gives the false name of Kaden and the other Rafe. Each chapter alternates with a different narrative, but you don't know which one is the prince and which one is the assassin. I spent most of the book trying to figure out who was who. I enjoyed the alternating narratives, it kept me invested because I wanted to keep seeing who would be next and kept me guessing. 
 Kaden and Rafe are both incredibly attractive and are interested in Lia. Upon meeting her, they're both fascinated by how she isn't spoiled and works hard at the inn knowing that she's a runaway princess. Kaden seems a little nicer and friendlier, whereas Rafe is colder and quiet. Lia notices that he seems to have a problem with her and can't understand why. Despite that, she gets close to both boys, and throughout the novel you're just not sure who to root for. I was personally rooting for Rafe. Even though there is a love triangle, the romance wasn't cheesy and took a backseat to the political intrigue and war. 
 Before she left Civica, Lia took documents from the Chancellor in an old language she's trying to translate for its secrets. She works hard at the inn and is genuinely happy in Terravin. However, as the book continues it's clear that Lia can't run from her birthright forever. Relations between Morrighan and Dalbreck are getting worse and Lia is still connected, no matter how much she doesn't want to be. I love Lia, her brothers taught her well and she's strong, independent, smart, stubborn, and true to herself. She knew what kind of life she wanted and she went for it. I respect her. Not many people can throw away a life of comfort and luxury and run and live a new life. 
 I also enjoyed Pauline, Berdi, and Gwyneth. Pauline is the girl-next-door type, sweet, loyal, and very smitten with her soldier boyfriend Mikael. Berdi has a harsh exterior, but she cares very much for Pauline, Gwyneth, and Lia. Gwyneth is my favorite out of the three ladies. She's sly, cunning, flirtatious, and loves teasing Lia about Kaden and Rafe. 
 Yes, there is a part in the book that's mind blowing. My mind was blown. I was not expecting it at all and basically right after this twist the book really gets going. There isn't much else I can say without spoiling anything, but overall I really enjoyed the book, even with that killer cliffhanger, and I can't wait for the next book, The Heart of Betrayal! 
 Recommended for fans of The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima, The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkowski, and YA high fantasy in general.