From the author of the USA Today bestselling GLASS AND STEELE series comes this captivating new fantasy.The king’s magnificent palace was built in a matter of weeks. No one saw the builders, no villagers are allowed beyond the gilded gate, and only one servant has ever left. The haunted look in her eyes as she was recaptured by the palace guards is something Josie, daughter of the village doctor, … the village doctor, has never forgotten.
For Josie, the palace is a mystery that grows more intriguing after she meets the captain of the guards, a man known only as Hammer, as mysterious and captivating as the palace itself. Whispers of magic fuel Josie’s desire to uncover the truth, but an ordinary girl like her can only dream of ever being invited inside.
When the king decides to take a wife from among the eligible daughters of the noble families, the palace gates are finally thrown open and the kingdom’s elite pour in. In a court where old rivalries and new jealousies collide, the king’s favorite is poisoned and the doctor is summoned. As her father’s assistant, Josie finally sees inside the lavish walls, but she soon learns the palace won’t surrender its secrets easily, for not a single resident, from the lowest servant to the king himself, has a memory from before the palace existed.
In the search for the truth, Josie is drawn deeper into danger, and the answers she seeks might shake the very foundations of the kingdom.
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Very entertaining book….and….FREE!
A new author for me and worth the shot. This is an interesting story and has likeable characters and some intriguing twists. One thing….like a lot of self published stories, it is short and while it completes a story arc, it spends much in setting up the reader’s curiousity for the next one. One way this is done is with the title… The Palace of Lost Memories… we finish this book with no further insight about the lost memories than we had when we start it. We have taken a fun journey and met a number of interesting people and learned some about the different countries/cultures of this world, but the fundamental question gets very little playing time. Still, I enjoyed it so much that I bought the next book to follow the breadcrumbs and see where they lead!
I loved the story line!! Only down side, you will need to purchase the rest of the series to find out what happens!!
A decent read for a long winters night.
Great characters! An unusual place with mystery and magic. A captivating story.
Another world to conquer, plot twists and well written characters.
I really liked the book. As I was reading I wasn’t sure how the story would end.
the long term mystery of the palace and it’s origins is so much fun to follow. I enjoy the immediate mystery and the characters. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun book to read. empowering women and the blend of cultures.
Left me hoping there is another in this series.
Didn’t realize it was just a first episode so was mad that it resolved nothing. Not really good enough that I want to keep going to find out though.
This was a very interesting book.
Josie was a midwife but she could have been a doctor like her father except females were not allowed to be doctors. Josie helps her father tend to the king’s favorite after she has been poisoned. Because he knows the suspected poisoner, Josie’s father is killed and Josie is on her own—taking care of the villagers and the nobles who live in the palace. And what a strange lot they are; none of them has any memory of life before they appeared in a castle that was built seemingly overnight.
the plot is strong as are the characters; this is the first book in a 3 book series.
This is the second series I have read from CJ Archer and I have really enjoyed both so far. I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future. I particularly appreciate the fact that she seems to understand that romance does not include endless, graphic sex scenes. There is just the right amount of sexual tension without resorting to graphic play by play accounts. The story itself has a chance to shine through.
Wow! What a wonderful book. The author expertly builds a whole new world and draws you into it with amazing characters, mystery, secrets, surprises and great writing. I really enjoyed this book and can not wait until I find out more about these engaging and personable characters and the world in which they live in. This is the first book in the After the Rift series and what a great series it promises to be.
FUN READ.
I love the plot and the concept- very creative. However, there are at least 5 books and the story could easily be told in three if the author could get over having the heroine constantly cornered, threatened, harassed and followed by the same people in the same way- it got redundant, boring. Couldn’t get interested in finishing the series because of it- also, the heroine just does not flesh out as well as some of the lesser characters. I can’t like her. I can’t give a rip what happens to her. She seems shallow.
Archer is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. Like all her tales, the books of the After the Rift series are filled with interesting characters and a tantalizing story line. If there is a downside, I do find her female leads sometimes vacillate between strength and bravery and inexplicable levels of fear. Still, no deal killer. I thoroughly enjoy all her series thus far.
I liked the characters and writing sty, but it was very very slow and seemed to drag out to create another book.
I really enjoyed this book and would love to read the sequel
Slightly mind-bending premise held my attention-a wonderful capability when one craves escape.
Slow read.