Skip to Main Content

Listen To An Excerpt

0:00 /

About The Book

“Absolutely unforgettable.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series
“A beautifully told story about justice, sisterhood, and warrior women.” —Shea Ernshaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep
“Epic in the truest sense.” —Quill and Quire

An Ember in the Ashes meets Three Dark Crowns in this lush debut fantasy novel about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to join a secret group of warriors that ride phoenixes into battle.

I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love’s incredible power to save—or to destroy. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister’s hands.

About The Author

Photograph by Jessi Rae Fournier

Nicki Pau Preto is a fantasy author living just outside Toronto—though her dislike of hockey, snow, and geese makes her the worst Canadian in the country. She studied art and art history in university and worked as a graphic designer before becoming a full-time writer. She is the author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy and the House of the Dead Duology, and you can find her online at NickiPauPreto.com.

About The Readers

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (February 12, 2019)
  • Length: 512 pages
  • Runtime: 17 hours and 20 minutes
  • ISBN13: 9781508276630
  • Ages: 12 - 99

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

"A skilled cast of narrators brings a compelling fantasy world to life in Niki Pau Preto's first novel. Joy Osmanski voices Veronyka, a war orphan whose betrayal by her sister, Val, spurs her to disguise herself as a boy in order to join the rebel phoenix riders. Sev, a war orphan on a different path, is voiced in a wary, rumbling tone by Jacques Roy, whose excellent narration enables Sev's adjacent storyline to hold its own against the main thread. The cast works together flawlessly, echoing each others' personalities and cadences to create a seamless image of each character. Drama and action are interspersed with a deeply woven history that will draw listeners into the politics and mythology of this richly developed world."

– Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, AudioFile Magazine

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Nicki Pau Preto

More books in this series: Crown of Feathers