The History of the First Queen tells the story of Nyssa, a young girl who has grown up in the foster care system. She is a girl who feels unloved, unwanted, and is desperately lonely. In an effort to escape her final, disastrous foster home, Nyssa runs through a door in a little curiosity shop, only to find herself in the fairy-tale world of Empyrean. The author, Mark Miller, draws the reader into a world that is old, new, magical, and adventurous. Nyssa has a destiny to follow in this new world. She is terrified, fascinated, and heartbroken as her path is forever changing with time. Will she be able to save Empyrean with the other Queens in this epic battle of good versus evil?

Mark Miller, in The History of the First Queen, has penned an incredible story that may at times seem very familiar to the reader. His main character Nyssa must fulfill her destiny, but first, she must endure the heartbreak of losing her first best friend, Aleria. The girls became separated during one of Nyssa’s switches in time that took her far from the place and time of Aleria. Miller has crafted an incredible page-turning book filled with magical, mythical, and mysterious people and creatures. The reader will be transported into Empyrean with Nyssa and will be exposed to her adventure, story, and the unusual epic battle she will face. I applaud Miller’s work and I look forward to reading more in The Empyrical Tales Series. Great book and very entertaining!

History of the First Queen is the fourth book in the Empyrical Tales by Mark Miller. Life hasn’t treated Nyssa kindly, but she isn’t letting that hold her back. A foster child who longs for a family and a place to call home, Nyssa is in search of an escape when she discovers the magical world of Empyrean. Before she knows it, she finds herself in a strange world with even stranger people. Suddenly Nyssa has magic, she has powers she never knew existed, and now she has to fight off more than just her personal demons. As Nyssa makes new friends and forms new bonds, she also makes enemies who will not quit until she is away from Empyrean lands for good. However, a devastating evil is ready to escape and wreak havoc on Empyrean. What will Nyssa do? Will she heed the warnings of her enemies and flee? Will she even be able to go back? Or will Nyssa stand her ground, fight, and stay there for the people who have become more than family?

Epic fantasies can either be too much or just enough to make you want to read more. However, this particular mix of adventure, action, and well-rounded characters makes History of the First Queen the perfect epic fantasy to cherish. Nyssa is a joy to read. Her development is slow and steady. Author Mark Miller doesn’t push it or rush anything to deter Nyssa from the path of greatness. Her journey from self-doubt to determination and then confidence is encouraging as well as adrenaline-inducing. The descriptions of the land, its people, and its customs are realistic yet fascinating. Nyssa’s reactions to her newfound magical ability are human and entertaining. You can tell that the author put a lot of time and energy into crafting this story and making it shine!