The cover seems to say it all--intrigue, love, lust, corruption and goodness fighting for a realm. The darkness foreshadowed with the Regal crest show there is a royal battle of some sort mixed with love and death in this story. My first impression was, "Well written and I want more!". Sharp dialogue mixed with what seem to be fascinating characters one desires to know better shine thru and beginning the book with the birth of a queen hooks the reader into palace intrigue and all the trappings of royal birth with a commoner's heartstrings. My kind of read!!