Swietoslawa is the youngest daughter of the great Duke Mieszko of Poland; "the bold one," the court calls her. Too bold, they whisper.
To her family, Swietoslawa represents a chance; a marriage on which to build an empire. While Swietoslawa dreams of ruling without the yoke of a husband, her father looks toward the Northern kingdoms, where unrest provides opportunity.
The Prince of Denmark, ambitious and hungry, plots his father's death.
The King of Sweden, mighty and beloved, has no heir to give his crown.
The exiled Norwegian prince, seeking vengeance for his father's murder and his throne.
Each needs a wife, a queen.
Swietoslawa will be that wife. But when her husband dies and she finds herself queen of a foreign land, she must reconcile her dreams with the harsh realities of an unforgiving world.
