THE RIVERSET TRILOGY • BOOK ONE

Uncrowned Heir Title

She just inherited a seat at the most powerful court in the realm.

Now she has to prove she deserves it.

Six Trials. One season. Every noble house in Riverset is watching. Including the one she was warned to stay away from.

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THE STORY

Nineteen-year-old Kaia Noctryn always knew she would inherit her House.

She just never expected it so soon.

To lead House Noctryn, Kaia must pass six Trials alongside the heirs of the Great Houses. Their final rankings will determine who will one day wear the crown. Noctryn is first in line.

The other heirs have spent their lives preparing. Kaia hasn't.

She's also bound to Riven Vael, the kingdom's most formidable heir, by an alliance she never agreed to. The growing attraction between them is one complication she never saw coming.

With every Trial, Kaia draws more attention from a court still deciding whether she belongs. Every victory earns her new allies, new enemies, and a larger target on her back. She's learning which rules to follow and which ones to break. But someone at the Riverset Court doesn't just want her to fail.

They want her dead.

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Surviving the Trials is only the beginning.
In Riverset, the hardest lesson isn't how to win.
It's learning who to trust.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

  • Kaia of House Noctryn arrived at Court this morning. Underestimated by everyone present. Their mistake. The pins in her hair looked painful. She never flinched. Watch closely.

    —From Geneva's dossier, Trial Season — Week One

  • Riven has not stopped watching her since she walked through the door. Thinks I haven't noticed. I've noticed.

    —Gregor's notebook margin, undated

  • Sasha's been three steps ahead of me since we were children, and she has never once made me feel it.

    —Kaia's words, probably said at least once out loud

  • Emory Noctryn is nine. She looked at me once and I apologized. I'm still not sure what for. The cat has also never forgiven me for something. I don't know what that is either. They're working together. I'm certain of it.

    —Gregor's notebook. Different ink. Possibly written immediately after the incident.

  • Emilia knows things she shouldn't. Shares them when it suits her. Has never once, in my observation, been surprised by anything. Useful. Possibly essential. Do not tell her I wrote that.

    —Sasha's notepad. Unofficial one.

  • Geneva has a color-coded filing system for political intelligence and somehow makes that the most attractive thing I've ever encountered in my life. I'm not writing any more about this.

    —Gregor's notebook. Crossed out twice, rewritten, crossed out again.

  • Lord Gregor. Competent. Warm. Disarmingly unbothered by things that should bother him. Mentioned my name in a carriage without noticing. Note to self: determine if this is significant. (It is significant.)

    —Geneva's dossier. Filed under: House Vael — associated personnel.

  • Lady Grantham knows more than she says. Says more than most people hear. Has been the cleverest person in every room she's entered across two reigns, and made it look like good manners.

    —Emilia's intelligence file. Marked: handle with care.

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