The Cracked Altar by Timothy J. R. Rains

Hinkle, a young peasant girl, is barely scraping by. But when she is taken into the service of Sir Gilkrist of Lothellae, things finally start looking up … until she finds herself drawn into an explosive conflict to decide the fate of the realm.

Trapped in a city under siege, and caught up in a deadly game of deceit, Hinkle must navigate treacherous alliances, and confront the darkest aspects of herself – and her new master – in order to survive …

Category: Dark Fantasy

Greatly diminished, Kerstin emerges from the shadows to entangle Sir Gilkrist in a perilous scheme, a quest that will take them across the realm, through the very midst of her enemies to regain the source of her power—and retrieve her idiot niece.

Meanwhile, deep in the mountains of Kodzir, Hinkle must brave perils of her own. She explores the dark halls of a nightmare castle, desperate to understand the mysterious enchantment which has taken hold of her—and which ultimately prevents her from leaving. But not everything is as it seems, and even the dungeons of Stel’ Calghād are haunted by Kerstin’s secrets. And as Hinkle discovers the true depths of her aunt’s treachery, she begins to realize how far Kerstin will go for the sake of power.

The question is … what will she do when she gets it back?