Natalie Mae

In this heart-pounding conclusion to The Kinder Poison trilogy—which People magazine proclaimed a "delicious high-stakes adventure"—war looms over Orkena, but can Zahru save her people without losing herself?

War has come to Orkena.

Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country’s long-time enemy. Yet diplomacy proves to be futile, and when Zahru turns to Orkena’s allies for help, she finds that none are willing to come to her aid—not without Kasta ruling at her side.

As Wyrim advances on the capital, Zahru is desperate to protect her people, even if that means accepting Kasta’s help. But her enemy is merciless. And as ambushes and betrayals push Zahru to increasingly dark tactics, she wonders if perhaps Kasta had it right all along: maybe peace was never an option ... and maybe she was never meant to do this alone.

Can Zahru spare her enemy without sacrificing her kingdom? Or will Orkena’s salvation only come if Zahru becomes the monster her people need?

The Kinder Poison book #3

The Sweetest Betrayal

“You,” he says as we start off again, “are going to drive me mad.”

Lots of tags for Zahru being an icon of a royal

“I was feeling merciful last week,” I say. “This week I’m not. It’s one of those temperamental leader things, it’s in all the travelers’ stories. I’ll tell you all about them never.”

Thus I have fully embraced my blackmail phase.

Marcus exhales through his nose. “I would have to apologize for something, which I imagine now I must.”

Hen grabs a melon slice. “He insulted her 

“She used the wrong cheese,” Marcus growls. “It was not only a crime against all 

“This is good news,” I say, because apparently it needs to be clarified. “I’ve only ever wanted to figuratively strangle you, not literally.”

“It’s stress,” I yell, pointing at Jade when she raises her head from a velvet pillow. “Yes, that’s all it is, I’m stressed and exhausted and prone to kissing anyone at random, totally normal reaction and also irrelevant, because it’s never going to happen again.” My laugh comes out strangled. “Which, I realize, I’ve said two times before, but we’re not going to talk about that, because this time I mean it. He is the villain, and he would explode this war if he was still in power, and I am absolutely not attracted to him or how he’d literally go after the gods for me, because I am a sane person and have people to protect!”

I cover my face and think this is exactly how the rulers in the stories go mad.

“Yes.” I muffle a laugh. “Yes, sorry, I was just reenacting a scene from a play I really love called ‘Just Kill Me Now.’” I push to my feet. “I’m really tired. I’m going to bed.”

Numet, our primary sky goddess and the deity from which the Mestrahs are descended; Cybil, goddess of war, and the one I’ve been praying to desperately for mercy; Sabil, the god of magic, who I should probably start praying to; and Tyda, goddess of wisdom, who is probably praying for me.

A lesser-prepared royal might have cracked here. But I’m ready for this, and I snatch a stick of kohl from the central display with flair. 

I take the tray, plastering on another smile that I’m sure does not look natural.

And manage to make it through the rest of brunch without screaming.

The Sweetest Betrayal quotes

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