by Kris Rose
First published 2026
Cecelia expects her twin brother to inherit the Shrouded Forest, not her. The unexpected appointment destroys everything she knows. The inheritance connects her to dangerous magic that even gods fear. Her father kills her mate in rage over the decision. Now Cecelia must survive instead of dying as she expected. Two warring realms want her dead. She needs to break her bond with the forest before the corrupted magic destroys her from within. Prince Myrad offers help, but his protection demands a price. His bloodsworn guards complicate the alliance further. Ancient divine powers hunt her across the realms. A scholar with hidden secrets draws her attention despite the chaos surrounding them. Cecelia falls for him while navigating the political nightmare. She must choose between her duties and her heart. The conflict spans centuries and threatens more than her survival alone. Cecelia decides what she will sacrifice to control her fate and seek revenge for her murdered mate.
Genres: romance, fantasy, dark-fantasy, epic-fantasy, fantasy-romance, dark-romance
Vibes: dark, emotionally-intense, epic, fast-paced, gritty, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, protective-love-interest, slow-burn-romance
Setting: Shrouded Forest
363 pages · Paperback · Kris Rose
Content warnings: death, murder, violence