by Keri Lake
First published 2026
Ancient magic has awakened across the mortal lands, bringing darkness, cold, and hunger that spreads like plague. Maevyth and Zevander find themselves trapped in this corrupted realm, where monsters roam freely and a sinister curse infects everything it touches. Their only escape lies through the Devouring Forest, but crossing back into Etiria proves far more difficult than before. Time works against Zevander with each passing moment. Cut off from the vivicanto he needs to halt his own curse, he slides deeper toward madness. The longer he remains in Mortasia, the more the shadows consume him. Fate has woven a complex web around them both, making their journey treacherous at every turn. Maevyth watches helplessly as the man she loves battles forces beyond her control. This time, even her devotion may not be enough to pull him back from the brink.
Genres: romance, fantasy, horror, dark-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, time-against-them
Setting: Devouring Forest, Etiria, Mortasia
Period: Ancient
760 pages · Hardcover · Plaza & Janés
Content warnings: anxiety, violence