The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima

The setting was amazing, the author kept the characters moving so that the reader never got too bored with one area.  One moment they were with the clans in the

The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima currently consists of The Demon King, The Exiled Queen, and The Gray Wolf Throne.

The series begins with former streetlord and friend of the clans Hanson Alister who strives to support his family by doing odd jobs.  However when members of the opposing gang begin to die, he is taking all the blame, matters get even worse when he discovers he's actually the heir to a powerful wizard and gets dragged into the problems of the Queendom.

In the meantime, Raisa Ana'Mariana the heir to the Queendom of Fellsmarch is beginning to feel trapped in court sorrounded by strange suitors vying for her hand in marraige and control of the Queendom.  She struggles against the constraints wanting with all her heart to be like her ancestor a warrior Queen.

Despite my terrible  summary, I found this series to be an amazing read.  A fantasy filled with the deviousness of court life, the action and adventure of fleeing princesses and strong willed guards, and mystery and allure of powerful wizards.

I found the characters to be really interesting, though Raisa was a Mary Sue at times, her name was cool enough to eclipse that fact.  Han Alister was by far the best character there.

mountains, the next in the home of Hanson in Ragmarket, and then to the castle then all the way to the academy in the south, and later back to the mountains again.

If you're interested, she's written a similar series called The Heir series beginning with The Warrior Heir.