Book One in the "Year of the Cardinal" Series.
It is believed that almost every octennial year, the Year of the Cardinal, events that would alter the course of history would occur. It could affect one Kingdom or all seven at once. It could be a minor event or one so significant that the lives of everyone will be altered forever. It is during one of these years that such an event would come to pass within the Hylantian Kingdom, and it is this event that snowballs into fruition as a result of seven individuals.
One individual is Cecilia, the current ruling monarch of the Hylantian Kingdom. Being the youngest ruler in the land of Cardinalis, Cecilia vowed to spend her days becoming the biggest, most prominent superpower in the land. Arrogant and unfeeling for those who refused to do her bidding, she swore never to bow down to anyone and to show the land that she was not a force to be reckoned with.
Her pride in building her Kingdom up to new heights, however, will ultimately result in not only her downfall but the downfall of the Hylantian Kingdom entirely.
Noor, a dancer in the Royal Court of the Al-Yauzhan Empire wants nothing more than to pay off her debts and lead a nice, simple life-but a chance encounter with the crown prince and his brother brings her into the dangerous world of court politics. As Noor and the princes investigate their uncle and cousin's possible treason, she grows closer to the crown prince, but in order to save the kingdom and the person she loves, Noor will have to risk everything...
A romantic adventure set in an imagined Arabic kingdom, THE DANCING GIRL is a story of court intrigues, romantic entanglements, and secret meetings as Noor and her best friend Amir try to help the princes they're falling for expose corrupt court officials with plans to seize the throne. Noor and Amir are close to having everything they've ever dreamed of...now all they need to do is survive.