[QCrit] THE TREE AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, Adult Fantasy (88k, Attempt #2)

Hi all! I really appreciated the feedback I got last time. I took a step back to make a marketability pivot, but it means I had to start my query from scratch. I'm hoping I learned something from the previous feedback and was able to apply it better in this version.

Attempt #1: https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1p373jb/qcrit_adult_fantasy_the_conquerors_daughter_89k/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Query

Dear [agent],

Anne Boleyn meets the Green Knight in THE TREE AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, an adult fantasy at 88,000 words. It will appeal to readers of Alix E. Harrow’s The Everlasting for its medieval lady knights and Antonia Hodgson’s The Raven Scholar for its unlikely protagonist who can build friendships out of enemies*.*

Ceci is supposed to be a maid of honor competing to marry the prince, not imprisoned on made-up crimes. She just wanted to have fun, flirt with the prince, and above all, never impress the queen. Acting frivolous should have been a good plan to get sent home and never attend court again. Except her father’s many enemies conjured “witnesses” to prove Ceci (who has no drop of magic) enchanted Prince Sesere to fall in love with her.

Ceci appeals her case to the heart tree, the godlike being who gives power to kings. If she can succeed at a quest of its choosing, she can restore her position. Suddenly, Sesere fears she might use her favor to usurp his crown, and others will go to any lengths to earn his. With her father taken hostage, old friends betraying her, and her fellow maids of honor challenging her to duels, what starts as the wish for a simple favor becomes a struggle for the survival of her family.

While defending against an attempt on her life, Ceci uses magic and realizes the queen sealed away her power. Embracing hers will either delegate her to Sesere’s worthy bride or his rival. So, Ceci makes a new plan. Succeed at the quest without her magic (and ignore the growing awareness of her power), win allies by humiliating her enemies (when the only thing she has ever humiliated is herself), and finally resume her irresponsible life far away from court.

[Bio]

Thanks for your consideration,