He Who Holds the Key

"Grace Majer's first young adult fantasy novel plays with the theme she will develop in all of her work--the idea that forcing individuals to marry their match is a path toward unhappiness. The book opens with Luella Deleon dreaming of running away from her reality. She explains why living in Allston is miserable and notes all of the cruel laws previous kings have put into place. However, the cruelest law is the one which forces individuals to marry their match. She details the history of how this law came into place. Ainsley, Luella's best friend, eventually has her brother beaten in public because he was in a relationship with a woman who was not his match. After the girls free him, Luella's mother passes away from a terminal illness. This event sends Luella running away from her problems, and into the arms of a stranger, Keyon"--Back cover