"Rae Carson has proved she's a master and has shaken up the YA genre."—[...]

Three companion novellas set within the world of Rae Carson's epic New York Times-bestselling Girl of Fire and Thorns series are available in print for the first time! Originally published digitally, The Shadow Cats, The Shattered Mountain, and The King's Guard each center around a character vital to Elisa, the heroine of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. It's a must-have collection of prequel stories for every fan of the stunning fantasy trilogy.

Before Hector became commander of the Royal Guard and Elisa's true love, he was a young new recruit. In The King's Guard, he must prove himself—and he discovers a secret that he must keep forever.

In The Shadow Cats, discover how Elisa and her older sister's rivalry looks from Alodia's point of view, and find out why Alodia agrees to marry her sister off to King Alejandro.

In The Shattered Mountain, find out what happened to Mara in a tale of adventure and survival before she becomes Elisa's best friend and handmaiden. When her village is destroyed, she must lead the few young survivors to the safety of a hidden rebel camp.

Don’t miss The Empire of Dreams, Rae Carson’s action-packed return to the world of The Girl of Fire and Thorns!

This must-have collection for fans of epic YA fantasy delivers:

• Essential Backstory: Go behind the scenes of the New York Times-bestselling Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy and witness the events that shaped Hector, Alodia, and Mara before Elisa's story began.
• A Royal Guard's Secret: In The King's Guard, follow a young Hector as a new recruit who uncovers a secret that will change the course of his life forever.
• Sisterly Rivalry & Political Intrigue: See the world through Alodia's eyes in The Shadow Cats and finally understand her complicated relationship with Elisa and the reasons behind a world-changing marriage.
• A Heroine's Origin: Before she was Elisa's handmaiden, Mara was a leader. The Shattered Mountain tells her harrowing story of guiding young survivors from her destroyed village to the safety of a rebel camp.