The lady of the Sorrows - Cecilia Dart-Thornton

Outstanding imaginative writing from a welcome new talent in fantasy fiction. Though her memory remains clouded by sorcery, Imrhien must take vital news directly to the King-Emperor of Caermelor. But, since no commoner may approach the royal court, she must assume a new identity as 'Rohain', a noble visitor from the distant Sorrow Isles. On arrival, she discovers that the King and his rangers have gone off to battle the Unseelie hordes which have suddenly declared war against mortals. Awaiting their return, the newcomer 'Rohain' is trapped by her own subterfuge, facing a court where treachery and deceit are as deadly as any eldritch peril.As always, changes of fate and fortune occur, and for a brief while it seems Rohain's dream of happiness may be achieved. But her joy is short-lived, for attacks by nightmare monsters of the Wild Hunt grow ever more frequent and brutal. And when evil forces lay siege to the royal sanctuary on a hidden mystic island, Rohain must accept a horrifying fact: she herself is the real target of these monstrous onslaughts. But she has no idea why.