First published 2026
Niamh flees her village in the rain-soaked Kingdom of Lyonesse after her forbidden witchcraft is discovered. Magic carries a death sentence in this realm, so she cuts her hair and binds her chest to pass as a man. A case of mistaken identity lands her in the king's army, fighting a war against a sorceress who wants to reclaim the throne. Now Niamh guards two dangerous secrets: her magical abilities and her true gender. She serves under Prince Fitzroy, the king's illegitimate son who commands troops to destroy all magic users. The prince is sharp-tongued and handsome, everything she should hate but finds herself drawn to. At camp, she grows close to Bash, a fellow soldier whose friendship awakens feelings that threaten her disguise. As the war intensifies, Niamh faces an impossible choice. She can obey the prince who might expose her, trust the soldier who could love her, or unleash the forbidden magic that might save everyone.
Genres: romance, adventure, fantasy, young-adult, historical-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-romance, forced-proximity, friends-to-lovers, secret-identity
Setting: Kingdom of Lyonesse
496 pages · Hardcover · Cosmo Reads
Content warnings: death, violence