SOLVED. YA/children's Fantasy? 1990s a usurper takes over kingdom, illustrated [s]

[Hayden]

I remember this book from my childhood, maybe the early to mid 90's. It was illustrated in a marvelous way, and was about a villain referred to as the "Usurper" who comes from the vale or something like that, and takes a kingdom over, killing the good king in a battle and there is a resistance, they sneak into the palace and toss someone into some honey vats or something. I believe the author wrote quite a bit of childrens books as the illustrative style was familiar. I believe it was a fantasy world, and there was a lot of snow. I remember kids being the protagonist, and the book having a bit of a dark tone for a YA book.

[Kris]

Hayden, do you recall the cover image? Can you describe the illustration(s) - e.g., simple or detailed, realistic or cartoon-like, painted watercolors or bold graphics, bright or dark colors, black & white? Do they remind you of a similar illustrator or picture book author?

I added "fantasy" to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Hayden]

I can't recall the cover, but one illustration I recall was a snowscape looking up on a dark figure coming over a sort of mountain pass with an army behind him.

The other was a vibrant inside of a palace with a lot of red and gold with prominenT golden vats and a walk way over them. the characters push a cook or something in their haste to escape

[Ayshe]

A City in Winter: The Queen's Tale maybe?

[Hayden]

Ayshe wrote: "A City in Winter: The Queen's Tale maybe?"

wow! that has to be it. been thinking about that book on and off for years, thank you!