Misprized

by Natalie S. Burford

In the Kingdom of Rye, humans are shielded from the otherworldly species lurking in the waters and skies. An illness called Violaceous Misery sweeps the land and turns its victims' skin purple before killing them.

Severine wants nothing more than to live a quiet and peaceful life with her grandmother. When Severine is traded to an upscale brothel, she strikes a deal with her new owners to find the cure for Violaceous Misery – which happens to be inside the palace of Rye and in the hands of King Wyndham.

Severine is chosen for the Inquest of the Betrothed, a competition that puts the goddesses' creations of land, sea and sky against one another to become Queen. But fighting against the gifted and powerful is the least of her worries.

The longer she stays in the game, the more secrets she unveils of the world that's been hidden from her. To survive and free the kingdom from death, Severine must overcome her frigid upbringing and trust not only herself, but species different from her own.

348 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2023