Of the Curse or the Crown — V.B. Lacey

Princess Diaries 2 meets King Midas in this swoon-worthy forbidden romance fantasy standalone. An heir. An Empress. A Queen. As a former rebel leader, Clarissa Aris is no stranger to power. She's ready to reclaim the throne of the Veridian Empire and is eager to guide her people out of a past of violence and into a better future. But when a mysterious king unexpectedly asks for her hand in marriage to restore peace between their two lands, she chooses to accept. Clarissa travels to meet him in Mysthelm, a realm they had been cut off from for centuries, and is thrust into a foreign kingdom with secrets around every corner, a betrothed she isn't sure she can trust, and brewing tension with his handsome best friend and advisor. Clarissa's search for answers uncovers the truth behind a deadly blight sweeping Mysthelm and a centuries-old curse threatening to destroy the people she's come to care for. When she learns her magic may be the only cure, she's determined to both rescue this kingdom from danger and keep the Veridian Empire safe from meddling forces. Time is running out. Which will fall first: the curse or the crown? Contains mature themes.