The False Serpent King by H. J. Nichols
Trust no one.
Betrayed, wounded, alone. When Mae said her vows, she lost everything. Not only was her new husband the one responsible for her family’s slaughter, but he is now the false king who sits on her throne, holding both the kingdom and Elle hostage. With an army of witches now poised to ravage her lands, Mae and her scattered allies must rally together to beat back the rising tide of black magic.
When Mae learns about Elle’s fate, she knows it is only a matter of time before Marik puts his malevolent plan into action. Unsure of whom to trust or how long they have, she works to build support from other Houses, treading a path fraught with even more danger and secrets, and finding friends in unexpected places. But forming a resistance to Marik’s reign of terror might prove harder than Mae ever imagined, especially while still picking up pieces of the heart he broke–a heart she desperately wants to give to the man who chose her above all else.
In order to survive the oncoming storm, Mae must fight back the shadows of self-doubt that have haunted her since the moment her world shattered. Can she summon the strength of a true queen, reclaim her throne, and protect those she loves before it is too late?
