"And now the fate of the entire western hemisphere depends on my father's and my ability to negotiate with the enemy." 
 From the very beginning I was pulled into Serenity's world. War, pain, poverty, fear, hunger, death and so much more. This is what is normal for the western hemisphere now. Artificial light, clean water and even the suns rays are all but a memory. Radiation has been such an ever-present force that dying of cancer is expected. 
 Serenity has been a soldier from a very young age. The first four men she ever killed were all in one day, at 12 years old. Her past is full of unreal, yet not unexpected, events that creates the woman she is. 
 Serenity is next in line to be the emissary so her and her father head out to meet the King and try to resolve the seemingly unending war. 
 King Montes Lazuli is what Serenity refers to as "the boogyman". He is a nightmare dressed up in a beautiful body, a quick witted mind and a charming personality. 
 Being able to be in the kings mind for a bit really helps form the image of him. He is cruel, selfish and for some strange reason... he is drawn to Serenity. Unfortunately for her, that is. Not only does it give you a glimpse of the devil himself, it also shows you our heroine from another set of eyes. 
 "The world doesn't stop moving, the room doesn't go quiet, but I swear something inside me just broke and reformed the moment she turned her devilish eyes on me-and thats the only way to describe those eyes of hers. Devilish. She's a wicked soul, through and through. 
 Just like me." 
 "And the strangest thought pops into my mind: I don't want this intriguing woman to fear me." 
 After days of negotiation, the king comes to a final offer... Serenity for the peace of the entire country he is at war with. Peace with her country. 
 Horrible things happen following her fathers refusal. 
 People are betrayed... 
 "But I've come to learn that this is the king's style-to cut you up then kiss the wounds he inflicted." 
 Pure hatred is born... 
 "Perhaps Will is right and the king needs to be destroyed once and for all. I smile grimly. Perhaps I will he his Trojan horse." 
 Things heat up and Serenity finds herself in a church standing beside the one man she hates more than anyone else in the world. 
 "The priest announces us to the chapel, and I feel a tear drop down my cheek. I just married the monster under the bed." 
 She is betrayed once again by the people you least expect. 
 You don't know who to trust... 
 The king makes you question your hate for him. 
 "It doesn't take a genius to know I married up." 
 I love that line simply because I saw his pride in her. He was impressed by her yet again and he is totally open and willing to admit that his wife deserves better than even him. Will he make the sacrifice and be without her? Heck to the no... but he's in love with her and that's enough for me. 
 But the king still has secrets, he still has fear. 
 "You want to know what I fear most? Here it is: I fear I will always be alone. That no one who truly knows me will love me. Not even my wife." 
 [h.e.a.r.t...b.r.e.a.k.i.n.g.] 
 Ending in the cruelest cliffhanger I've ever read in my life, this book left me on the edge of my seat. Absolutely worth every bit of nails I bit off of my fingers. 
 Okay, two small things I want to add... 
 1. The flashbacks at the beginning of the book were, in my opinion, awesome. Laura Thalassa already gives us such a well painted, strongly structured image of what the world is like without them but they add so much. They add to Serenity and her reasoning for all actions she takes. They build her background and create such an amazing heroine that I can say she is my favorite heroine at this point and they give us an insight to her relationships with her mother, father and even Will. They show us how lonely she is and how vulnerable she can be at times and I just absolutely loved them. 
 2. I love romances between an older male and younger female. Usually my preferred age difference is about 10 years and sometimes 15 isn't awful for me. While Montes looked 30, his true age was over 60 and that totally put me off for a while since Serenity was only 19. Some might ask, "What about Twilight and A Shade of Vampire?" Yes, those men were well into the hundreds of years old but they were part of a paranormal world. This isn't paranormal. Yes, there is an explanation to his age and looks but it still took me a while to stop picturing an old man and remember that he looks 30. Even if I was a little grossed out with the age difference for a while, it all worked out in the end and I fell in love with the king.