Elizabeth Loupas returns with her most ambitious historical novel yet, a story of intrigue, passion, and murder in the Medici Court... April, 1574, Florence, Italy. Grand Duke Cosimo de’ Medici lies dying. The city is paralyzed with dread, for the next man to wear the red lily crown will be Prince Francesco: despotic, dangerous, and obsessed with alchemy. Chiara Nerini, the troubled daughter of an anti-Medici bookseller, sets out to save her starving family by selling her dead father’s rare alchemical equipment to the prince. Instead she is trapped in his household—imprisoned and forcibly initiated as a virgin acolyte in Francesco’s quest for power and immortality. Undaunted, she seizes her chance to pursue undreamed-of power of her own. Witness to sensuous intrigues and brutal murder plots, Chiara seeks a safe path through the labyrinth of Medici tyranny and deception. Beside her walks the prince’s mysterious English alchemist Ruanno, her friend and teacher, driven by his own dark goals. Can Chiara trust him to keep her secrets…even to love her…or will he prove to be her most treacherous enemy of all?

A compelling story of intrigue, passion, and murder in the Medici Court, from the author of The Flower Reader and The Second Duchess. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Sarah Dunant. Florence, 1574 Fighting for survival in the teeming city of Florence, Chiara Nerini sets out to sell her dead father's rare alchemical equipment. Instead she is imprisoned and forcibly initiated as a virgin acolyte by the alchemy-obsessed Prince Francesco, heir to the red lily crown of the Medici. Francesco believes her purity to be an essential element in his quest for eternal life. He will keep her in luxury, but his price is her freedom and a vow of celibacy that can be broken only by death. Chiara must seek a safe path through the labyrinth of Francesco's deadly court. But to do so means to cast her lot with the mysterious English alchemist who calls himself Ruanno. Can Chiara trust him with her secrets... even her love... or will he prove to be her most treacherous enemy of all?

A rich, compelling historical novel-and a mystery of royal intrigue. In a city-state known for magnificence, where love affairs and conspiracies play out amidst brilliant painters, poets and musicians, the powerful and ambitious Alfonso d'Este, duke of Ferrara, takes a new bride. Half of Europe is certain he murdered his first wife, Lucrezia, the luminous child of the Medici. But no one dares accuse him, and no one has proof-least of all his second duchess, the far less beautiful but delightfully clever Barbara of Austria. At first determined to ignore the rumors about her new husband, Barbara embraces the pleasures of the Ferrarese court. Yet wherever she turns she hears whispers of the first duchess's wayward life and mysterious death. Barbara asks questions-a dangerous mistake for a duchess of Ferrara. Suddenly, to save her own life, Barbara has no choice but to risk the duke's terrifying displeasure and discover the truth of Lucrezia's death-or she will share her fate.

Rinette Leslie of Granmuir has the ancient gift of divining the future in flowers, but her gift cannot prepare her for the turmoil that comes when the dying queen regent entrusts her with a casket full of Scotland's darkest secrets. On the very day she means to deliver it to newly crowned Mary, Queen of Scots, Rinette's husband is brutally assassinated. Devastated, Rinette demands justice before she will surrender the casket, but she is surrounded by ruthless men who will do anything to possess it. In the end, the flowers are all she can trust-and only the flowers will lead her safely home to Granmuir.

"The Crown" meets "Game of Thrones" in this dazzling tale of glamour, enchantment, and betrayal, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Melissa de la Cruz. Once, they were inseparable, just two little girls playing games in a formidable castle. Now Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the mightiest empire in the world, and Aelwyn Myrddyn, a bastard mage, face vastly different futures. As the annual London season begins—a whirlwind of wealth and magic marked by lavish parties and gorgeous girls vying for the attention of young royals—the talk of the town is Ronan Astor, a social-climbing American with only her beauty to recommend her. After falling for a handsome rogue on the voyage over, she must balance her desire for love with her duty to save her family's position. Meanwhile, Isabelle of Orleans finds herself cast aside by Leopold, heir to the Prussian crown, in favor of a political marriage to Marie-Victoria. Isabelle is bent on reclaiming what is hers, but Marie doesn't even want Leopold—she lost her heart long ago to a boy she will never be able to have. Desperate to escape a life without love, Marie turns to Aelwyn, and the girls form a perilous plan that endangers the fate of the monarchy. "Preening royalty, a touch of magic, and dramatic betrayal. What's not to love?" — Teen Vogue "This character-driven novel has fabulous balls, glitzy gowns, and plenty of drama and plot twists, making it hard to put down." — School Library Journal

Botanist Ari lives an isolated life on a space station, tending a lush garden in her quarters. When a woman is given to her as a slave, Ari's ordered life shatters. Her slave is smart, sexy, and seems to know an awful lot about tactics, star charts, and the pirate queen, Mir. A lesbian romance about daring to risk your heart.

The glamour and enchantment continues in the sequel to bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz's The Ring and the Crown.After a wild season of ballroom dances, magic, high treason, and wars abroad, Marie-Victoria Grace Eleanor Aquitane, Princess Dauphine of the Franco-British Empire, joins in matrimony with the Kronprinz of the Prussian Empire, Wolfgang Friedrich Joachim von Hohenzollern. "Wolf" for short. On the night of Wolf and Marie's wedding, her mother, Queen Eleanor, dies suddenly and ends a centuries long reign.Bound by blood magic, the Queen's mage, Merlin, gives up his own mortal form. His passing leaves daughter, Aelwynn Myrddyn, as the most powerful magician and new Morgaine of the Realm.Set to ascend the Lily Throne, Queen-Designate Marie needs all the help her magical confidant Aelwynn can provide, but malevolent forces seek to tear them apart. A spectral fog brings ships of war. Isabelle of Valois, Lady Orleans, fights for her own kingdom now stripped away. A mysterious first cousin twice removed, Henri de la Rouchefort, seeks the services of Ronan Astor a beautiful, American socialite and fine milliner, to make a new royal crown, but for whom?The fate of the empire and even the world is as stake in this dazzling sequel.About this Edition:This book is an unedited first draft of the previously unpublished sequel to The Ring and the Crown. Proceeds from the sale of this title will benefit the YALLWEST book festival and its school outreach programming, bringing books and authors to underserved communities.Praise for THE RING AND THE CROWN"Preening royalty, a touch of magic and dramatic betrayal. What's not to love?"--Teen Vogue"This character-driven novel has fabulous balls, glitzy gowns, and plenty of drama and plot twists, making it hard to put down."--School Library Journal