The King Betrayed
 
Seven years into his reign, King Faldain of Nether is tricked into leaving his kingdom. When he returns, he finds that his family was attacked in his absence. Grief-stricken by the tragedy, he sets out on a trail of vengeance that leads him right into the jaws of a trap … and mortal danger.
DC: I found it incredibly difficult to put Dain and Alexeika through so much grief and pain. They’re no longer the fiery youngsters of the first three novels. Instead, they’re settling into marriage and family life while trying to cope with the overwhelming political quagmire around them. Nether is never easy to govern, and Dain feels far more comfortable in the saddle with a sword in his hand than battling sly, slippery court intrigue.

I wanted to show him a bit out of his depth, rather burned out by a job that he’s still learning how to do and doesn’t particularly like. He came pretty naively to the throne, but has learned that being king isn’t much fun. I also wanted to put his marriage through a crisis, in order to test and strengthen the bond between him and Alexeika.

This is not a story where Alexeika shines. Going through transition, just like Dain, she’s having to grow up and be a parent, having to cope with immense tragedy, having to adjust to a role at court with which she’s not entirely comfortable.

They both make mistakes and deal with the consequences. Yet although the story gets a bit grim at times, I did enjoy introducing the children characters.
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