A magical, groundbreaking reimagining of an iconic queen, from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author. 'Enchanting, smart, and subversive – this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece' R. F. Kuang 'Lush world-building and lyrical prose burn brightly on every page' JENNIFER SAINT 'An extraordinary achievement’ SAMANTHA SHANNON YOU KNOW MY NAME. BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME. Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall. Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves. Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children. How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, divinely blessed to rule. Death will silence me no longer. This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived. From one of the most remarkable and acclaimed storytellers of her generation, the #1 bestselling author of FAEBOUND and THE FINAL STRIFE, this epic and groundbreaking new novel shows us Cleopatra on her own terms.

She was born in the shadow of a tyrant. Now she must rise into the light – or be consumed by it… Cyra is a gifted healer with an addiction to using her own dangerous magic. When her mother vanishes and a royal summons drags her into the militant court of House Mars, she’s forced to confront the truth she’s spent her entire life hiding – about her power, her bloodline, and the legacy she was born to inherit. Lord Zevran, the brooding and battle-worn ruler of House Mars, suffers from a mysterious affliction only Cyra can soothe. Their nightly healing sessions begin to blur the line between duty and desire, binding them in ways neither of them expects. But when a masked stranger made of darkness itself saves her life, Cyra is drawn into a web of secrets, seduction, and betrayal. With a Conclave looming and the solar system teetering on the edge of destruction, Cyra must decide who to trust, who to love – and whether to embrace or destroy the monsters she’s heir to.

Beast has been lost in the dark for two hundred years…Claire is desperate to prove she belongs in the light…But the shadow of ancient crimes might just swallow them both.Beast has been locked away in his manor for two centuries to pay for the crimes of his past. Haunted by his failures, he is cursed by the fae mage he wronged to spend all of his days lonely and unloved. When a beautiful quester named Claire arrives at the manor, insisting she’s there to help him, he’s confused—he’s not supposed to be helped, after all. But like a moth to a flame he can’t stay away, even if he knows he’ll only wind up hurting her.Claire is the youngest daughter, the unwanted child. Determined to live her own life, she defies her father’s expectations and takes up a life of adventure with the illustrious Questing Guild of Cillure. Right away, she’s drawn to a strange quest that has been long-neglected, determined to help in any way she can...assuming she can even figure out what on earth is going on. As she gets closer to the manor’s somber inhabitant her professional interest shifts to something more. She’s never felt attraction like this to anyone else, but even as she grows certain she’ll never be able to live without him she worries what she’ll do if she ruins her blooming career and winds up on the streets.CONTENT suicidal ideation, sexual assault attempt, sexual assault (implied but off page), misogyny, some foul language, explicit sex scenes between a human woman and a non-human man, discussion of depression, depiction of depression, self-harm, anxiety, toxic family dynamics, bullying, death of a parent (not shown). virgin MMC, hurt/comfort, MMC with praise kink, dude in distress (FMC saves MMC), forced proximity/isolation, fated mates (lite), dark secret, redemption, age gap (216 vs 26).

What do you do when you're ordered to kill the only man you've ever loved? Follow through, of course…The princesses of House Sun are not known by name or face. They are known only as vipers. Nine assassins who serve The Serpent, ruler of Solaria. Celeste is the last viper to be dispatched. Her mission is infiltrate the Lunar kingdom and kill The Demon Prince. Simple. There's only one problem. Apollo Alceline of House Luna is a mark unlike any other.Apollo knows all too well how fatal The Serpent's bite can be. It cost him his mother, his hearing, and his father his sanity. That's why when the Lunar king suddenly passes, and Apollo takes his place, he knows he must uphold his dying wish—to see The Serpent burn. So when a beautiful viper, dangerous and cunning, with skin blessed by the light, is thrust into his lap, he knows he cannot let her linger. But as Celeste spends more time in the shadows, Apollo finds himself desperate to taste the sun.The fight for the celestial planes has reached a fever pitch. Apollo and Celeste stand at the center, orbiting the inevitable collapse. But before the sun eclipses the moon, they must decide where their loyalties lie—to their houses or each other.This high-stakes fantasy romance offers a unique take on star-crossed lovers amidst a one-of-a-kind magic system with a diverse cast of characters, including a Black heroine and a deaf male love interest.Please This book contains explicit content and mature elements, including language, violence, and on-page sex. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.