The Black Queen

This epic fantasy plunges readers into the Fey Empire, a realm enjoying a fragile peace that is shattered by a psychological invasion from within. Queen Arianna, the monarch of the Black Throne, finds her rule and her very sanity threatened by a ruthless, mysterious presence awakening in her mind, a force intent on seizing power regardless of the cost. The novel masterfully builds a world of tumultuous conflict where the most dangerous battle is not fought with armies, but inside the consciousness of its divided ruler.

Rusch excels at weaving high-stakes political intrigue with profound internal struggle, creating a saga that is as much about a magical world and a powerful family as it is about a fractured psyche. Readers who appreciate complex, morally gray characters and fantasy that explores the weight of power and identity will find this a compelling and thought-provoking journey. The tension between external peace and internal war makes for a gripping read that lingers long after the final page.