Promo text

He can save her life—if he sacrifices those he swore to protect.

When outcast soldier Shianan’s only friend is trapped on the wrong side of an interdimensional rift in a magical war, she can return home only if he sacrifices the people he’s pledged to defend. Worse, Shianan knows the cheery young boy swept away with Ariana is really one of the monstrous enemy, disguised as a human.

State mage Ariana struggles as a prisoner of war in a world of unfamiliar customs and deadly magic. Her only ally is her former servant Tamaryl, once again a renowned warrior caught up in political machinations. To survive, he must renew the fight against Ariana’s world.

As their people’s wasted armies brace for fresh battle, bastard, mage, and monster must set aside prejudices and rivalries to find an end to centuries of conflict, before they die as traitors.

Tropes present

Slow Burn Ariana and Shianan. They seem to have a thing for each other, but alas, it’s only book one, so all they can do is yearn.

Formulaic Magic The mages in this book are really precise in what their magic can do.

Under the radar This being a clean book, you can’t really talk about the details of people “fooling around.” But there is this one wing massage for a Ryuven that gets really out of hand and oh my goodness.

Biblical prophet guest appearance The prophet Joseph makes an allegorical appearance in the form of Luca, who has to deal with his relatives who sold him into slavery.

Outcast solider Shianan. He’s a king’s bastard, and he’s tough as nails. But his half-siblings are quite determined to keep him in his place.

Parallel world The Ryuven seem to live in a parallel dimension where humans can’t go. So they phase in and out stealing things and sometimes attacking people until the mages are able to set up a barrier.