The Empire of Dreams

"Action, adventure, betrayal, and poison add up to a winner." -BooklistNew York Times-bestsellingauthor Rae Carson makes a triumphant return to the world of her award-winningGirl of Fire and Thorns trilogy in this extraordinary stand-alone novel. Fans ofLeigh Bardugo, Kendare Blake, and Tomi Adeyemi won't want to put this bookdown. Red SparkleStone is a foundling orphan with an odd name, a veiled past, and a mark ofmagic in her hair.
But finally-after years and years of running, offighting-she is about to be adopted into the royal family by Empress Elisaherself. She'll have a home, a family. Sixteen-year-old Red can hardly believeher luck. Then, in a stunning political masterstroke, the empress's greatestrival blocks the adoption, and everything Red has worked for crumbles beforeher eyes. But Redis not about to let herself or the empress become a target again.
Determined toprove her worth and protect her chosen family, she joins the Royal Guard, theworld's most elite fighting force. It's no coincidence that someone wanted herto fail as a princess, though. Someone whose shadowy agenda puts everything-andeveryone-she loves at risk. As dangercloses in, it will be up to Red to save the empire. If she can surviverecruitment year-something no woman has ever done before.
NewYork Times-bestselling author Rae Carsonreturns to the world of The Girl of Fire and Thorns in thisaction-packed fantasy-adventure starring an iconic heroine who fights for herfamily and her friends, and for a place where she will belong.