The Poison Throne (Moorehawke Trilogy #1) by Celine Kiernan

A FRIEND.   A FATHER.   A KINGDOM.
WHICH WOULD YOU SACRIFICE?

MEET FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD WYNTER Moorehawke - Protector Lady, qualified apprentice in a man's trade, former King's Cat Keeper, and feisty heroine of The Moorehawke Trilogy.
   Set in a fantastical medieval Europe, The Poison Throne is a compelling tale of court intrigue, romance and adventure, which draws the reader in from the very first sentence and doesn't loosen its grip until the last.