Part of The Stonewater Kingdom, book 2
First published 2026
Sybil Delling sits captive in the Stonewater Kingdom, drugged and forced into marriage with King Benji. Aisling Cathedral lies in ruins. Her allies Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew, and Maude Bauer are believed dead. The king announces tournaments across the hamlets to display his power and their union to the people of Traum. Sybil refuses to surrender. She plans to destroy Benji as she once defeated the Omens, even if bringing down his reign means shattering the kingdom's faith and herself along with it. Then a nameless knave begins winning tournament after tournament. This mysterious fighter remembers nothing of his past but may hold the key to toppling Benji's rule. In a realm where old stories echo through new events and kings wield godlike cruelty, Sybil discovers that destroying the kingdom's faith might require saving it first. Rachel Gillig continues her gothic romantasy series with darker stakes and deeper desires.
Genres: romance, fantasy, dark-fantasy, gothic
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Stonewater Kingdom, Aisling Cathedral, Traum
400 pages · Hardcover · Orbit
Content warnings: abuse, violence