A CROWN PRINCESS A SCANDALOUS SECRET CRUSH A KINGDOM ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father’s choice of suitor fills her with despair. When the palace guard captures an intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom’s greatest enemy — Alera is alarmed...and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands. In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won’t be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom. “A thoroughly entertaining read, Legacy shows a lot of promise, for Kluver and her princess.”—Miami Herald Legacy , the first installment of the planned Legacy Trilogy, won First Place in the Reader's Views 2008 Literary Awards, Bronze Medalist in Young Adult Fiction in the 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards; Finalist in Young Adult Fiction in the National Best Books Awards 2008, sponsored by USA Book News. In an award-winning YA fantasy debut (the first of a planned trilogy), novelist Cayla Kluver brings a magical touch to an unrelentingly suspenseful coming-of-age tale. Duty-bound to wed her father’s choice in successor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into the worst of all possible fates—a marriage to the arrogant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy from enemy Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what's appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. When Narian’s shocking past comes to light, Alera finds herself in a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, facing an uncertain future with dwindling options—and must learn to decide between right and wrong all alone. Marked by witty, rapid-fire dialogue and dramatic complexity that belie the writer’s age, Legacy brings a fresh, new sensibility to age-old questions of duty and inheritance and to a young heroine’s quest to find her true voice. Legacy , the first installment of the planned Legacy Trilogy, won First Place in the Reader's Views 2008 Literary Awards, Bronze Medalist in Young Adult Fiction in the 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards; Finalist in Young Adult Fiction in the National Best Books Awards 2008, sponsored by USA Book News. "The first in a trilogy, Legacy is simple but effective, succeeding largely on the author's ability to craft a sympathetic and human character in Alera. Few, if any, of the other characters are as fully realized, but the strong fairy-tale feel (think Grimm or Lang, not Disney) allows it to work. A thoroughly entertaining read, Legacy shows a lot of promise, for Kluver and her princess." -- Miami Herald “If you’re looking for a richly painted tapestry of words, a fantasy sort of book written as if Jane Austen were still alive and had decided to write fantasies involving princesses, then you’re sure to love Legacy .” --Curled Up With a Good Kid's Book (Five stars) “I enthusiastically encourage readers young and old alike to sample the nuanced richness of Cayla Kluver’s Legacy --it is both humbling and heartening for this reviewer to encounter tale-craft and youth blended so well in a debut novel.” --Bookideas, (Perfect 10 review) “This brilliant story by a young new author captured my heart and I am eager to read the tale's conclusion in the following book.” -- TeensReadToo.com, (Five stars) “With likeable characters and vivid details, this is an engrossing story for young adults....Kluver’s grasp of language, dialogue and character development shows that she is as promising as her heroine.” -- Renaissance Magazine , January/February 2009 Issue “ Legacy is the first novel written by a talented young writer I believe will have a long writing career. ...Cayla Kluver has created a fantasy adventure story that will appeal to readers of all ages.” --Bobbi Carducci for About Families , February 2009 Issue, Recommended Read “ Legacy by Cayla Kluver is an amazing book and I don't think I have enough adjectives to describe how much I loved it. ... You can't read it without wanting more.” -- Reader Views Kids (Child's Review Five stars) In an award-winning YA fantasy debut, 16-year-old novelist Cayla Kluver brings a magical touch to a suspenseful coming-of-age tale. Duty-bound to wed her father s choice in successor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into the worst of all possible fates a marriage to the arrogant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy named Narian from the enemy kingdom of Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what s appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to des