Looking for a fantasy book with a fight for the throne

[schneefink]

Edit: I found it! It's "Bloodrights" by N. Lee Wood ("Erbin des Lichts" in German.)

I read this book probably around 15 years ago. I read it in German, and I think the title had "Licht" (light) in it but that might be wrong. The cover was mostly in red, and I think there was a castle on it. I'm pretty sure it was translated from English, because almost all books in that corner of the library were.

It was a stand-alone (afaik) low-magic fantasy novel. The main character is a young woman who claims to be the rightful heir to the kingdom, either through blood ties or because of a prophecy or both. She hires on older man to accompany her and tries to convince him of her rightful claim. At some point an assassin named Morgan (?) comes after her but I think eventually switches over to her side? And he might have been seriously injured? The woman gathers followers and eventually iirc an army.
The official heir to the kingdom (I think the king/queen died or something) is a young man who is obsessed with being pure enough to fulfill a certain prophecy. When the woman arrives he tries to prove his claim by undergoing some kind of magical/divine test, but he fails and burns and the set-up for the test is damaged. The woman then re-interprets the prophecy and says it applies to her, I think it involved putting a golden circlet over her head.
In the epilogue the woman rules over the kingdom, which has prospered. The man she hired first comes to her and tells her that his research has shown that it's impossible that she's actually the proper heir to the kingdom. She says she knew all along but didn't care, and isn't the kingdom better off now?

I've been wondering which book that was for years now, I'd be very happy if someone could help :)

Comments

[melannen]

I was like "Oh, I remember somebody reccing me that book in an old entry of mine!"

...I looked it up. It was you reccing it, you couldn't remember the title then either. :P My comment about wanting to read it if you ever remember the title still stands, though!

[schneefink]

Reccing something without a title, good job, me ^^
I will definitely let you know if I ever find it.

Found it! "Bloodrights" by N. Lee Woods :)

[skygiants]

This sounds like a remix of DWJ's Crown of Dalemark, which has many similar elements but a different ending!

[schneefink]

Huh, I might check that out then :)

[soundofsunlight]

I haven't read that one, but I've liked everything else I've read by DWJ, so even if it's not the right book, I'm sure it will be good. Of course, I may be biased. :D

[soundofsunlight]

I don't know the book, but it sounds very interesting!

[schneefink]

It's been so long, maybe I won't even like it on re-reading it, but I do want to try :)

ETA: In case you're interested, it's "Bloodrights" by N. Lee Woods :) I read it a long time ago so I have no idea if it's actually good, but I look forward to finding out.

[soundofsunlight]

Thanks! I will definitely check it out! :)

[lone_lilly]

This book sounds really interesting. I'm glad you found the title! :)