Daughter of the Empire (The Empire Trilogy Book 1) by Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts

Mara of the Acoma is about to dedicate herself to the goddess Lashima but this is not to happen as her families enemies have caused the deaths of her father and brother making her the Lady of the Acoma. Mara finds herself with virtually no soldiers and open to an attack from her enemies that will wipe out her family completely. Mara must strengthen the Acoma while holding off here enemies for now she plays the brutal and cruel great game of the council where she can not expect no aid unless her enemies fail to observe the proper forms when killing her. So inexperienced in life and the great game Mara bends her societies traditions as far as she can and manipulates her enemies as she raises the Acoma’s power and defeats her enemies.

This in my opinion is one of the best series I have ever read. Mara’s manipulation of Bunto is quite vicious and her manipulation of Bruli is so funny. The way she beds traditions to her advantage is entertaining.