The conclusion to the Queen's Thief series, set several years after the previous books but definitely read them first - this references characters and events in all the previous ones. This book is told mainly from the perspective of Baron Erondites' heir, who is sent to the court of the High King as a young child in hopes that the Erondites heir can be raised loyal to the throne rather than to his grandfather. With the three kingdoms now united under the High King (the Annux), the united kingdoms face off against the final attack of the Mede Empire, while also dealing with more political machinations of Baron Erondites still out for power and revenge. An excellent conclusion to an excellent series which I will probably reread again at some point!