Lady of Steel and Straw

<b>Star-crossed lovers grapple with forbidden attraction and a growing army of ghostly dead in this swashbuckling YA fantasy debut.</b><br> <br> After ten years of exile, following regicide in the House of Tristain, an alarming royal edict is delivered to the immortal scarecrow Guardians who once defended the crown: surrender themselves to the church of the Silent Gods, or stand accused of further treason. But with a puppet prince set to take the throne and vengeful wraiths appearing with alarming frequency, something foul and sinister is at work in the kingdom of Niveaux.<br> <br> Lady Charlotte Sand was born to calm the restless dead. A headstrong heroine, she refuses to relinquish her family's lavender Guardian to the Cardinal's Watch--a rash misstep that costs her brother his life and sets her on a path for revenge.<br> <br> For pious and handsome Captain Luc de Montaigne, it's an excruciating predicament. His long-lost, childhood love has triggered a faction war that could tear the realm asunder. Now Charlotte and Luc must choose between killing one another and stepping closer to victory--or yielding to the electricity between them.<br> <br> Heartily inspired by <i>The Three Musketeers</i>, this multiple-perspective narrative features a unique system of bone and herbal magic, sultry banter, and a feisty cast of well-rounded supporting characters. This rousing first entry in the Waking Hearts fantasy duology is a gorgeous read and an excellent pick for fans of Rin Chupeco and Margaret Rogerson.