Daughter of the Empire - Janny Wurts and Raymond Feist
Mara of the Acoma, a 17 year old would-be temple initiate, inherits the ruling position of her House after her father and older brother are killed--the victims of a sworn blood-feud. With powerful enemies, no family, little leadership training and limited resources just staying alive could be considered "victory".
(BTW This is my second time through the series.)
If you are at all familiar with the Raymond Feist's excellent 6 novel Riftwar series, this novel is set on the Tsuranni side of the rift. The two series do not depend on each other, though, and the Empire series could be read on its own.
Based on the style, the shared authorship seems more due to Janny Wurts writing in his world than Feist's contribution. Feist's saga has more than a dozen main characters, more subplots than I could count and the POV shifts between groups of them as they quest to save Midkemia from the Tsuranni invaders.
In contrast, the "Empire" novels are more straightforward in their construction and only focus on 2-3 main characters with a much simpler plot. ("Simpler" in comparison to Feist's anyways.) Janny Wurts introduces the Tsuranni culture in depth while telling an engaging story. The story does continue in the sequels but this is a standalone novel.
