PALACE OF SILVER

In a "Snow White"–inspired third outing, the heroes of Nissera deal with the fallout from Realm of Ruins (2018).

Glisette attempts to fix the damage her uncle and older sister did to the kingdom while in charge—dealing with the resulting starvation and poverty—and then (after a cryptic warning from Mercer) travels to Perispos to visit her sister Ambrosine, whose power was restricted as punishment and whose marriage with the king was arranged for her. But there’s something terribly wrong with vain Ambrosine and her dynamic with her beautiful stepdaughter. Meanwhile, Kadri deals with her own political crisis as Erdemese’s King Agmur, believing the monarchs and Realm Alliance left standing at the end of the last book to be unstable and possibly illegitimate, threatens to end diplomatic relations. She’s visited by fay love interest Rynna who brings from her people a dire warning regarding the power vacuum left by the Water. Various conspiracies and plots reveal different players and their wide variety of agendas (including yet another secret society and a “Bluebeard” homage) as Perispos’ (anti-elicromancer) religion comes into play. Though the main existential crisis is dealt with, much political unrest remains unresolved in an ending promising more magical threats. While most characters are white, the brown-skinned Erdemese with their eroticized and exoticized folk dances evoke Orientalist tropes.

Fans will enjoy seeing more of the world through complex, interwoven plots.