Legends of Ansu (Crystal Crown Trilogy)

In a world about to be destroyed, star-crossed lovers Lissane and Erun will do whatever it takes to escape the destiny in store for them - and the families sworn to keep them apart. When a vengeful sorcerer unleashes a Fire Demon to destroy his rivals he sets off a chain of events that will eventually destroy Gol, a war-ravaged continent at the other side of the world. Unaware that time is running out Gol's scheming barons overthrow their king and strive to seize control, unleashing a bloody civil war.

A fiery young queen and a cynical mercenary are thrown together when a sorcerer usurps their high king's throne. Queen Ariane dreams of her goddess who warns that the high king has been murdered and his enchanted crown broken, the remnants stolen by a renegade prince. Despairing she rides deep into her overlord's realm - a land now ruled by the scheming usurper, Caswallon, the sorcerer. Corin and his queen must learn to trust each other before the enemy arrives. That's not going to be easy - she has a foul temper, and he's not fond of royalty.

Queen Ariane and Corin an Fol unite with an enigmatic warlock, a hard-drinking sailor, and his gang of desperados. This mismatched team must find the renegade prince Tarin who has disappeared with the broken remnants of the high king's crown. They need to get those shards back and then make them whole again.

Corin and his friends enter the realms of winter, riding north to join the war against Caswallon. But the traps laid for their arrival will test their loyalty to extremes. Corin must face a dangerous path through the mountains in his quest to reunite with his love and find his true father, fulfilling the witch's prophecy at the ford. Meanwhile, Queen Ariane fights for survival in increasing desperation, by launching guerilla tactics against her enemy.