"Prepare your heart for the swooniest king in all the lands! With poignant prose and intricate world building, ONCE A KING casts its spell from the very first pages. Fly--don't walk--to sweep up this soaring tale." -Pintip Dunn, New York Times best-selling author and RITA award winner "Brain candy for fans of Summerill's worldbuilding."--Kirkus "Lirra is a fierce heroine...A lighter fantasy than Graceling, but for a similar audience."--Booklist "Timely...A satisfying mixture of political machination, mystery, magic, and romance, especially for fans of previous volumes."--School Library Journal "Clever banter, cloak-and-dagger derring-do, and tentative, sweet romance...Series fans and new readers will find much to love."--Publishers Weekly