Defy by C.S Doraga

SPFBO10

The Eridian Empire is rife with discontent and animosity. Now, Imperial Princess Redrinna has a choice: stay trapped in a life that terrifies her or betray the trust of her parents-the two people she loves more than anything. Sheltered from most of the Empire's turmoil, Redrinna has spent her entire life preparing for her eighteenth birthday-the day she will inherit the throne of a country she has never seen with her own eyes. Her parents believe she is capable of greatness, but she believes she is doomed to fail. Then, her entire world is turned upside down by a betrayal she never thought possible, a betrayal that leaves her nearly dead. With the help of a creature long thought extinct-a dragon-Redrinna uses the situation to run, determined to finally be free. But earning her freedom isn't that simple. Somone knows she survived. To win her freedom for good, she may have to find a strength she's never had in order to fight an evil long forgotten but responsible for the Empire's dark creation and eager to do worse. And if Redrinna can't, then the little she has left-her friend, her homeland, and her freedom-might be lost forever. Defy is the first in a young adult epic fantasy series packed with unforgettable characters, mystery, and adventure. If you like reluctant heroes, dragons, and coming of age stories, then you'll love the first book in C.S. Doraga's Rise of the Empress series.