Elianna Bernstein, the Bibliophile Princess, is far from the safety of the royal capital in search of a cure for the Ashen Nightmare. After being betrayed by her trusted manservant who destroyed her only hope, Eli is left with nothing but despair until she unexpectedly encounters a familiar ally—Irvin Orlanza, a prince of Maldura. With renewed determination, she and her companions just might be able to discover the cure after all. If she can outrun the assassins relentlessly targeting her, that is. Meanwhile, in the royal capital, rumors of the prince’s new fiancée are flourishing, and Prince Christopher is cornered by forces trying to get rid of Elianna and take the kingdom for their own. Will the two lovers reunite and wake the kingdom from the Ashen Nightmare? Or will villainous schemes volumes in the making finally best the Bibliophile Princess?

Our Bibliophile Princess spent her days thinking her relationship with Crown Prince Christopher was merely a facade, but now Elianna knows their feelings are mutual. She was serving as his proxy at the Autumn Hunting Festival, but then another noble lady locked her inside an old castle where she was then assailed by foreign rabble-rousers. Fortunately, the prince swooped in with a timely rescue, but just who coordinated this attack to begin with?! There are ulterior motives at play here—ones that seem to involve the entire country.

The spectacle with Irene and her father concludes with the people in support of Elianna as the prince’s betrothed. Wanting to spend some private time with his fiancée, Prince Chris plans a special date at a traveling book market. Eli cannot contain her excitement, surrounded by books and with the man she loves. But soon their romantic outing is interrupted by an accusation and a child—a child claiming that Prince Chris is his father!

When book-loving Lady Elianna spots Prince Christopher—her betrothed in name only—consorting with another noble lady, she realizes the recent rumors must be true. The prince has someone he truly loves, which means the annulment of their engagement is both inevitable and fast-approaching. What she doesn’t realize is that this is merely a surface ripple—one of many where the truth runs deep, in a conspiracy surpassing her imagination!

Our Bibliophile Princess spent her days thinking her relationship with Crown Prince Christopher was merely a facade, but now Elianna knows their feelings are mutual. Unfortunately, not long after they confirm their love, His Highness has to leave for the Miseral Dukedom on official business. Elianna is left to attend the Autumn Hunting Festival as his proxy. She’s determined to live up to his expectations, but things don’t go to plan as she finds herself swept up in a brand new adventure!

Inept with a sword, unable to ride a horse, and apathetic toward the empire he serves, Regis Aurick is a hopeless soldier who spends his days buried in books. Banished to the borderlands, he encounters a stirring young woman with red hair and ruby eyes. She is Fourth Princess Marie Quatre Argentina de Belgaria, known simply to Regis as Altina. “…Do you want to become my tactician or not?” Having sought him for his rumored strategic prowess, she aspires to reform an empire led by self-seeking nobles and driven to pointless wars, the legendary blade of an emperor, the Grand Tonnerre Quatre, at her hip. Continuously underestimated by her regiment, including her would-be tactician, the princess resolves to prove her worth beyond a shadow of a doubt—no matter the risk. Here is a tale of war, love, and politics, woven by the bookworm and the sword princess.

The books that we choose to keep -- let alone read -- can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In My Ideal Bookshelf, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others. With colorful and endearingly hand-rendered images of book spines by Jane Mount, and first-person commentary from all the contributors, this is a perfect gift for avid readers, writers, and all who have known the influence of a great book.