by Kate Golden
Part of The Sacred Stones Trilogy by Kate Golden
First published 2022
Arwen Valondale sacrifices herself to save her brother's life. The Onyx King captures her and drags her to his fortress. He forces Arwen to use her magical healing abilities on his wounded soldiers. The ancient woods surrounding the castle make escape nearly impossible. Arwen must work with another prisoner who delights in exploiting her fears. She cannot trust anyone in this kingdom where betrayal runs deep. Backstabbing royals plot around her while dark magic and deadly creatures threaten her survival. Arwen discovers she possesses dormant power that could change everything. She must learn to control this ability while navigating the treacherous court. Her life depends on mastering forces she barely understands. Freedom seems impossible, but Arwen refuses to surrender without a fight.
Genres: romance, adventure, fantasy, young-adult, dark-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, gritty, intense, suspenseful
Tropes: captive-romance, chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, slow-burn
Setting: Onyx King's Fortress, Ancient Woods
417 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: abuse, kidnapping, violence