Ratings50
Average rating3.7
In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman's secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court. When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she's lived by one rule: don't let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city. Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore's job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore's power is revealed, she's taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what's happening and who in the King's court is responsible, or die. Lore is thrust into the Sainted King's glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August's ne'er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society. But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.
Featured Series
1 primary bookThe Nightshade Kingdom is a 1-book series first released in 2023 with contributions by Hannah F. Whitten.
Reviews with the most likes.
I didn't like this one as much as For The Wolf or its sequel. The main character didn't have very much agency, and it took her too long to figure out what was going on, which is no surprise, since the twist, turns and shifting allegiances gave me whiplash.
3.5 stars
This one was hard for me to rate.
Lore can sense and control Mortem (death magic). She was born in the catacombs below the city where the tomb of a dead Goddess is. Mortem leaks from the tomb and has to be controlled by the Church to keep it from destroying everything and everyone.
When entire towns start dying overnight, Lore is brought in to help. Apparently she's been being watched for years by the King and the Church. They all know about her power even if she doesn't completely understand it herself.
I liked a lot of things about this book, but the love triangle really annoyed me. It annoyed me enough that I didn't really want to finish it. However, I liked Bastian and Gabe enough to carry on. The ending was intriguing enough that I will probably continue the series.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.