Driven to avenge the murder of her royal parents and reclaim their lost kingdom, the daring young heroine and would-be queen journeys to the besieged city on the plain to seek out its evil conqueror, the Usurper. Mark Helprin's spellbinding tale reveals a city veiled in snow, at once divine and deadly. Van Allsburg's stunning illustrations supply a palpable richness which captures all the exhilarating expanse of the story. 13 color illustrations.