by Julie Soto
First published 2025
The war has ended in defeat. Dark forces have triumphed, and the hero meant to save them is dead. Briony Rosewood finds herself captured as enemy forces overrun her castle, watching her world transform forever. Bomard's dark powers have won the war, leaving only slavery, dungeons, and death ahead for Briony's people, the Eversuns. Stripped of her Mind Magic and freedom, Briony faces auction to the highest Bomard bidder alongside other survivors. After fierce bidding, she becomes the property of Toven, heir to one of Bomard's most established families. He is the man she has secretly loved for years with unfortunate, impossible passion. Toven possesses ruthless ambition for power. Briony knows he will use her without hesitation for his own gain. Yet despite the darkness of this new order and the dangerous role forced upon her, everything is not finished for Briony. The help and hope she fears to nurture will arrive from the most unexpected source.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, fantasy, dark-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity
Setting: Castle, Bomard
Period: Post-War
444 pages · Hardcover · Forever
Content warnings: slavery, violence