Uncaring Fae meddle with the lives of two human women, in this psychological dark fantasy by the author of The Night Inside. Generations ago, a dying empire made a deal with the Faerie Queen for their survival. Each year, the Sidiana, the ruler of the mountain city of Lushan, must travel to the high plateau to pay her people’s tribute and maintain their safety. But one year, the price is not paid. To satisfy the debt, Teresine, a former refugee slave turned advisor to the Sidiana, is forced to serve in the Faerie Queen’s court, a treacherous realm where mortals like Teresine are mere pawns in an eternal struggle for power. Years later, Teresine’s great-niece Lilit is eager to attend the trading fair that has sprung up around the tribute. She discovers that nothing at the fair—or with the fey—is what it seems, and what began as an adventure leads to unexpected consequences. Now she must delve into the secret of her great aunt’s past in the Faerie Court . . . in order to save her own future. “A very smart fantasy that does not draw the reader into the world of the fantastic but rather makes the fantastic real. . . . Cold Hillside is sure to please fans of fantasy but I would dare anyone to pick up this book and not enjoy it.” —Examiner.com

“Baker takes the fantasy genre and turns it on its ear . . . political and familial intrigue that fans of Game of Thrones have come to love.” —Examiner.com From the acclaimed author of The Night Inside and A Terrible Beauty comes a new novel about the price of safety and the cost of power . . . “With them, there are no happy endings.” In the remote city of Lushan, they know that the Fey are not fireside tales but a dangerous reality. Generations ago, the last remnants of a dying empire bargained with the Faerie Queen for a place of safety in the mountains and each year the ruler of Lushan must travel to the high plateau to pay the city’s tribute. When an unexpected misfortune means that the traditional price is not met, the Queen demands the services of Teresine, once a refugee slave and now advisor to the Sidiana. Teresine must navigate the treacherous politics of the Faerie Court, where the Queen’s will determines reality and mortals are merely pawns in an eternal struggle for power. Years later, another young woman faces an unexpected decision that forces her to discover the truth of what happened to Teresine in the Faerie Court, a truth that could threaten everything she loves. “Baker writes scenes of extreme beauty and extreme horror and I can’t tell you how well the cover captures the feeling of the novel . . . If you love fantasy, you should really pick up Cold Hillside.” —The Mad Reviewer “Baker eases us into a lovely, culturally rich, but sometimes harsh world.” —ReadingTrance