From a multi-USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author comes this romantasy (romantic fantasy), the first in a 6-book series.
"This fantasy novel is simply the most captivating I remember reading in decades of fantasy books."
"It has been years and years since I have stayed up all night, literally, to read a book!"
"An exceptional story plot with characters who are written in a manner that makes them feel so real"
"How does Ms. Archer create pure magic so easily!? This is one of the best books that she has ever written!"
The king's magnificent palace was built in a matter of weeks. No one saw the builders, no villagers are allowed beyond the gilded gate, and only one servant has ever left. The haunted look in her eyes as she was recaptured by the palace guards is something Josie, daughter of the village healer, has never forgotten.
For Josie, the palace is a mystery that grows more intriguing after she meets the captain of the guards, a man known only as Hammer, as mysterious and captivating as the palace itself. Whispers of magic fuel Josie's desire to uncover the truth, but an ordinary girl like her can only dream of ever being invited inside.
When the king decides to take a wife from among the eligible daughters of the noble families, the palace gates are finally thrown open and the kingdom's elite pour in. In a court where old rivalries and new jealousies collide, the king's favorite is poisoned, and the healer is summoned. As her father's assistant, Josie finally sees inside the lavish walls, but she soon learns the palace won't surrender its secrets easily, for not a single resident, from the lowest servant to the king himself, has a memory from before the palace existed.
In her quest to help the servants, Josie becomes embroiled in courtly intrigues alongside the enigmatic captain. As their feelings for each other grow, the hopelessness of their situation becomes apparent. How can she love a man who doesn't know his own past?
To make matters worse, they discover that ending the enchantment will shake the very foundations of the kingdom, and destroy everything Josie holds dear.
