ORSON SCOTT CARD
The city of Hart's Hope, ruled by gods both powerful and indifferent, is riddled with sorcery and revenge. The city is captured by a rebellious lord, Palicrovol, who ovethrows the king, Nasilee. Palicrovol, too, is cruel. He becomes king by forcing Asineth, now queen by her father's death, to marry him, and then sending her into exile. But he is not cruel enough to rule. The queen lives to bear a daughter, to return from exile and to retake the throne of Hart's Hope. But she, in turn, sends Palicrovol into exile where he has a son who will take back the kingdom from its cruel queen.
