by Penn Cole
Part of Kindred's Curse
First published 2025
Diem Bellator dreams of leaving her impoverished village behind. The gods colonized her world long ago, and now their offspring, the Descended, rule with iron fists. When Diem's mother vanishes without warning, she uncovers a perilous secret that changes everything she believed about her family's past. This revelation opens an unexpected door into the treacherous realm of Descended nobility, where she must unravel the mysteries her mother concealed. The dying King's enigmatic son monitors her closely while a merciless mortal faction seeks to recruit her for their brewing rebellion. Diem faces impossible choices as she learns the hidden laws governing romance, authority, and survival in this brutal hierarchy. Her family's fate hangs in the balance, along with the future of all mortals under divine rule.
Genres: romance, fantasy, young-adult, dark-fantasy, epic-fantasy, young-adult-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, gritty, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-romance, found-family, political-intrigue
Setting: Diem's village
405 pages · Paperback · Atria Books
Content warnings: colonialism, death, violence