The Serpentine Throne

by Susan Stradiotto

Tradition. Temptation. Treachery.

The emperor and empress of Nantai are gone. Their youngest daughter and the chosen heir, Mairynne, is trapped between her duty to the country and the desire to find her father. The people need a new imperial leader, but Mairynne never wished for the role she inherited. She carries two soul stones, one cold and the other hot. They came to her with the loss of each parent. They now call to her, beckoning her to leave home. They reinforce her convictions . . . Her father lives. He will return to his seat upon the Serpentine Throne.

She flees from Arashi and the Serpentine Throne. For the first time, she faces the hardship of those without the comforts of the elite Storm Sorcerer caste. The city's first guard, Gensui Thalaj Northerngale travels at her side, her only companion and protector. Through the forests, across the grasslands, into trading towns, and beyond, the stones she wears around her neck draw her into new adventures. The people she meets guide her, prophecies are revealed, and she makes unlikely friends.

When the soul stones call for Mairynne to leave the shores of Nantai and journey across the dreaded Syrensea, she takes one step then another, and another still. Onward, until her travels turn into far more than the simple quest to find her father.

If you enjoy epic fantasy somewhere between N.K. Jemisin, Jacqueline Carey, and a little Sarah J. Maas, this is the series for you.

Audible Audio

Published January 9, 2025

About the author

Susan Stradiotto is passionate about the written word, whether it is in her own writing or her editing practice. She is a fan of well-told stories. Susan is always searching for unique voices and stories that tell a truth. As Neil Gaiman said in his master class, “Write the truest story you can.” She believes that is what makes a story sing.

Susan is an author of fantasy and romance and has professional editorial experience with genres such as romance, memoir, mystery/thriller, cozy mystery, fantasy, and women’s fiction. She attended Capella University for her BS in Information Technology and the University of Chicago’s Graham School for her professional editing certification. She lives in Eden Prairie with her husband, a hoard of Bernese Mountain Dogs, and one Miniature Dachshund.

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Write-In-Progress
A serial novel based on George MacDonald’s 𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠: 𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛.