Part 1: Chapters 1-2 Summary

The Hero and the Crown is set in a mythical country called Damar where dragons still exist, although they are no larger than a dog. Damar's royal family is known to have magical powers that include the power to heal. Once Damar was kept safe from menace by a crown known as the Hero's crown, but the crown has been missing for generations. Out of respect for the lost crown, the king no longer wears a crown of his own.

In chapter one, Aerin knows that her mother is thought to have been a witch. Aerin's cousin, Galanna, has always used this information to imply that Aerin does not have royal blood and therefore does not belong in the house of Arlbeth, despite the fact that he is her father. For this reason, Aerin has always felt the need...