The Worst Deceit (Paperback or Softback)

She knows how to save the Elven Realms. Yet Annie may destroy everything trying to save one male elf.

Annie Harper has finally found something she never expected: a place to belong.

The friends who once distrusted her have become family. The prince who changed her life has become the man she cannot bear to lose. And the Dying Realms are running out of time.

The only hope of saving them lies hidden in the Human Realm: the legendary Labradorite Amulet.

But Annie is carrying a secret so dangerous it could destroy every alliance they've fought to build. A bargain made with the Shadow Elf King has left her trapped between loyalty and love, forcing her to choose which promise she is willing to break.

As ancient enemies close in, kingdoms edge towards war, and the cost of trust becomes almost unbearable, Annie discovers that the worst deceit isn't always the lie you tell others.

Sometimes it's the one you tell yourself.

Perfect for readers who loved the emotional intensity of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and the political intrigue, sacrifice and richly layered fantasy of Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree.

The Worst Deceit is Book Two of the Golden Fleck Series—a character-driven epic fantasy of dangerous magic, forbidden love, found family, betrayal and impossible moral choices.

Hil (author of The Golden Fleck Series) is a Lancashire Lass with a most dubious claim to fame-she almost killed Stephen Hawking while furiously pedalling to a university lecture she was woefully late for. Born in Preston, in the land of Wallace and Gromit, Hil's love for her northern roots often surprises and amuses her husband.Originally a teacher by trade, Hil spent years creating impromptu stories for her students and sketching cartoons of her cheeky spaniels, all while weaving tales of adventure. It was during a long recovery from a herniated disc that the Golden Fleck series unexpectedly took root. Frustratingly confined to rest, Hil took her mind on daily virtual runs with her spaniels through the nearby woodland-and in that tranquil space, she imagined portals, a key element in her stories.Her curiosity about a young homeless girl named Annie, and what made her choose that life, led to the development of Annie's character, who would become the heart of The Golden Fleck Series.When she's not writing, you can find Hil practicing yoga, reading, attempting classical guitar, or dancing around to her favourite songs with no one watching. She's a believer in the power of stories, the joy of running her dogs (no longer virtually!), and the importance of always staying curious.