In a world where the names of the royals are given by the gods, Arden is the son of a beloved queen with a true name that makes him anything but. I don't think this is a great hook. We don't know what her true name is, or what the implications are. It's also a little convoluted as to what he's "anything but." A royal? A god? I can take a stab and say maybe he's a bastard, but that's after some untangling. I'd go with something more straightforward for your hook, personally.

Following their mother’s death, his brother ascends to the throne and plots to bring the empire under his control.But if he's ascended the throne, isn't it already under his control? Is there some danger to Arden? What is their relationship like? At his side is Isabella, whose family wields a dark power the likes of which Colwraetia has never seen. After a disastrous attempt to help the children conscripted to the king’s army, a servant secrets Arden away to a village with a powerful secret of its own.You've got an echo here with "secret" (word repitition). Also - who made this attempt for the children - the servant, or Arden? It's not clear. There, he befriends a boy with dreams of revolution and a deep mistrust toward the royal family. When an attack destroys the town, he Which he? Arden or the boy? is forced on the run alongside his former friend,They're not friends now? who seems to hate him as much as Arden is drawn to his fire. Hates him because... he's royal? Was that hidden from him at first? How was it revealed to cause the change?

Yet the sanctuary he hoped to find in the east turns out to be a cesspool of scheming while an aging emperor sits upon the throne. As his brother closes in, Arden has to choose between fleeing and losing the city he has grown to love or taking a stand that would risk the lives of the children he swore to protect. A decision that could seal his fate toward the darkness the gods promised. The gods are in the first and last line, but odn't appear to have much real role in the plot. Also - why does he want to help the children so badly? What is at risk for them? If he fights for this new city he's going to war against the conscripted children... right? Again, this needs a lot of clarificaiton. You don't want an agent to have to pick through this and try to put things together. They've got hundreds of queries to get through, and some of them will me more straightforward.

Dewdrop Prince is a YA fantasy complete at 97,000 words. It will appeal to fans of Prince of Thorns and Forest of a Thousand Lanterns.

I am a student and freelance writer from Texas who has a love-hate relationship with her cowboy boots. My works have been recognized by the Geek Partnership Society and the Poetry Matters Project. I look forward to hearing from you.

Good comp titles! Good bio! I think the story here has a good resonance to it, you just need to make the plot points more clear. It's difficult when writing a query because as the author, everything is already obvious to you - so it seems that way on paper. But to fresh eyes, we're just confused and trying to mine the meaning.