Book excerpt: Her world was turned to ashes and soot, now she’s out to return the favor. One knife to the heart at a time. War destroyed her lands and killed her parents. In the seven years since, Cinder forged herself into a killer at the behest of her brother, Duke Ash. Now, she acts as a highly trained assassin, dealing out justice on behalf of the Duke. The siblings dream of exacting the ultimate revenge upon King Tristan, the man they think is responsible for the death of their parents. When opportunity strikes, Duke Ash dispatches Cinder to King Tristan’s palace to masquerade as one of the King’s potential future brides. King Tristan would have never imagined that a Lady and a potential bride would arrive with a knife hidden in her dress and a heart full of cinders.