Ever since the Queen mysteriously disappeared and the King went mad five years ago, Princess Charlie has lived a wild and mostly unsupervised life in the country of Quale—until now. With the discovery of a letter in the Queen's handwriting, Charlie embarks on a quest to find her mother and save the kingdom from a revolution. However, her journey pulls Charlie deeper into an entangling web of lies and secrets—as twisted as the dark castle—where nothing is as it seems. "Renner's plot is both complex and compelling."  —Booklist "Smart writing that combines mystery, historical fantasy and a touch of steampunk...Readers will also delight in Charlie's transformation from hotheaded victim to shrewd leader--and friend."  —Kirkus "Charlie's transformation from scullery to rightful heir is an adventure not to be missed. Well written, well plotted, well done."  —School Library Journal, starred review "The shadowy passageways of a castle in ruin and an urban populace steeped in poverty and rebellion make for an ideal backdrop to the plot's many twists and turns."  —Bulletin