In The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Greg Keyes has crafted a brilliant saga of magic, adventure, and love set against a backdrop of clashing empires and an ancient, reawakened evil. Now, with The Born Queen, Keyes brings his epic to a masterly close, gathering the strands of plot and character into a stunning climax that both completes and transcends all that has gone before. The Briar King is dead, and the world itself follows him to ruin. Aspar White, wounded and tired, must embark on one last quest to save the forest and the people he loves, but he has little hope of success. Anne Dare at last sits on the throne of Crotheny, but for how long? The Church, now led by the corrupt and powerful Marché Hespero, has declared a holy war against her, giving the king of Hansa the pretext he needs to unleash his vast might on the young queen and her unready army. But Hansa is the least of Anne’s worries. The Hellrune, war seer of Hansa, strikes at her through vision and prophecy. The Kept–last of the elder Skasloi lords–weaves his own dark webs. Anne’s teacher and ally in the sedos world might also be her worst enemy, and Anne’s own mounting strength compels her toward madness. Surviving these dangers and mastering her eldritch abilities are merely prelude to the real struggle. There are many–some with power matching or even exceeding Anne’s own–who are willing to kill in order to seize control. For whoever sits upon the throne will have the ultimate command to bring about the world’s salvation–or its apocalypse.

"New York Times"-bestselling author Keyes delivers the fourth and final volume of his award-winning Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone. The Briar King is dead, and with her empire engulfed in war, Anne Dare struggles to exert her control, facing opposition--both material and magical--on all sides.

Examines the woman who became Queen Noor, a woman whose efforts improved the quality of life in Jordan.

A dark mafia romance suspense novel by International Bestselling Author, Nikita Slater. Born to the mafia and gifted to a mobster. Two years ago, Raina found out that she was the daughter of a very powerful family. She was introduced to a dark new world, a mother she’d never met and an admirer who stalked her every move. She was forced into a life so foreign to her own carefree country childhood that she simply couldn’t comprehend living that way. So she ran. Away from her new and dangerous reality. Away from him. From the moment Mateo touched her he knew she was his. He was consumed with the desire to protect her, even from herself. He wasn’t a particularly good man, but he would be the best man for her. There was no other choice; he couldn’t live without her. Mateo would to do whatever it took to stop her from running again. He would take her captive. Treat her like a queen. His woman, his wife, his everything. His obsession with the Raina was a consuming emotion not to be tested. Any who tried would face Miami’s brutal new boss and the powerful mafia family at his back. Born a Queen is the third book in The Queens series. Each book features a different couple and can be read as standalone in any order. Please note that this is a sizzling dark mafia romance with sexual and violent themes that some readers might find disturbing. Keywords: possessive alpha male, dark romance, jealous possessive, gothic romance, seductive romance, alpha hero, feisty heroine, antihero romance, antihero dark romance, adopted heroine, obsessive hero, abduction to love, brutal hero, passionate lovers, virgin heroine, sexually romantic books, romantic suspense, capture fantasy, standalone, thriller, crime, mafia romance, enforcer, kidnap, happily ever after, love books, love stories, contemporary mafia romance, forger, enemies to lovers, mobster, guaranteed HEA, no cliffhangers, dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, Miami, possessive alpha romance, bad boy, age gap, no cheating, kidnapping, protective, steamy, dominance submission, caged, marriage, captive romance, mob boss

Whether you were born in the poorest home or were an unwanted child, whether you were abandoned or rejected or lost both parents at your birth, you were born a princess. However, all women are not born queens. We choose to become one. It’s not easy becoming a queen; it comes with a need of transformation, a need of change, a need of molding, and a need of building. It’s a painful process, and it’s a process that takes time. In The Making of a Queen, author Danielle Kamdeu defines the role of a queen and discusses a queen’s positive traits. Using Biblical examples, she offers insight into queens and their character, asserting that the making of a queen is about love and royalty. Being a queen comes with many responsibilities, including decision-making and disciple-building. It requires a strong woman. The Making of a Queen reminds us that a queen lives inside all of us. We belong to a loving, faithful, and powerful king who made us after his own image and likeness. Danielle shares how to journey through the challenges of this life as you successfully clothe yourself with royalty when you discover who you truly are and when you find true love.

The race to the crown -- The birth of "pocket Hercules"--The lonely, naughty princess -- An impossible, strange madness -- "Awful scenes in the house"--Becoming queen: "I shall not fail" -- The coronation: "a dream out of the Arabian nights" -- Learning to rule -- A scandal in the palace -- Virago in love -- The bride: "I never, never spent such an evening" -- Only the husband, not the master -- The palace intruders -- King to all intents: "like a vulture into his prey" -- Perfect, awful, spotless prosperity -- Annus Mirabilis: the revolutionary year -- What Albert did: the Great Exhibition of 1851 -- The Crimea: 'This unsatisfactory war' -- London boils over -- Royal parents: "everything passes so quickly!" -- "Who will call me Victoria now?" -- "The whole house seems like Pompeii." -- Resuscitating the widow at Windsor -- The queen's stallion -- The faery queen awakes -- Enough to kill any man -- Two ironclads colliding: the queen and Mr. Gladstone -- The monarch in a bonnet -- The "poor munshi" -- The diamond empire -- The end of the Victorian Age - "The streets were indeed a strange sight

Julia Gelardi's Born to Rule is an historical tour de force that weaves together the powerful and moving stories of the five royal granddaughters of Queen Victoria. These five women were all married to reigning European monarchs during the early part of the 20th century, and it was their reaction to the First World War that shaped the fate of a continent and the future of the modern world. Here are the stories of Alexandra, whose enduring love story, controversial faith in Rasputin, and tragic end have become the stuff of legend; Marie, the flamboyant and eccentric queen who battled her way through a life of intrigues and was also the mother of two Balkan queens and of the scandalous Carol II of Romania; Victoria Eugenie, Spain's very English queen who, like Alexandra, introduced hemophilia into her husband's family-with devastating consequences for her marriage; Maud, King Edward VII's daughter, who was independent Norway's reluctant queen; and Sophie, Kaiser Wilhelm II's much maligned sister, daughter of an Emperor and herself the mother of no less than three kings and a queen, who ended her days in bitter exile. Born to Rule evokes a world of luxury, wealth, and power in a bygone era, while also recounting the ordeals suffered by a unique group of royal women who at times faced poverty, exile, and death. Praised in their lifetimes for their legendary beauty, many of these women were also lauded-and reviled-for their political influence. Using never before published letters, memoirs, diplomatic documents, secondary sources, and interviews with descendents of the subjects, Julia Gelardi's Born to Rule is an astonishing and memorable work of popular history.