309 pages
English language
Published Nov. 27, 1993 by Ace Books.
From the award-winning author of Sunshine comes a novel that "will involve readers from the first to the last page with its sheer beauty, its anguish, agony, horror, despair, and, ultimately, its joy" (Kliatt).
As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen. But this seeming blessing forces her to flee for safety from her father's lust and madness. With her loyal dog Ash at her side, Lissar will unlock a door to a world of magic, where she will find the key to her survival-and an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.
Content warning Sexual abuse
This is the most well written fairy tale centered on how a violent rape causes severe trauma to the heroines mind. The magic bits thrown in feel raw, emotional, and powerful as they should for such a dark tale. It is a beautiful story. I wish I had read this many years ago.
