Two rival heirs. One ancient trial. And a dragon whose truth could change everything.
Iona Quarrow has spent eleven years grading stone by scent, a strange gift that lets her notice faults long before anyone else can. She has always considered it useful for quarry work and nothing more.Then a rider from Basalthold arrives with news that changes everything. Iona's dead mother belonged to another bloodline, making Iona one of two rival claimants summoned to the mountain fortress for an ancient trial.
Her cousin Roslyn has been prepared for the Reckoning all her life. Iona has only eleven days to learn the rules of a court she was never expected to enter, while a chained dragon waits beneath the mountain for the next claimant.
But Iona's unusual gift tells her something is wrong. The trial does not feel like the ancient tradition everyone claims it is. Something beneath the mountain is suffering, and generations of Wardens have learned not to ask why.
Lord Selwyn Greaves, the fae Warden responsible for the Reckoning, has spent his life trusting the traditions handed down by his family. He never expected the unexpected claimant to make him question everything he has been taught.
As Iona uncovers the truth behind the trial, she must decide whether winning the crown matters more than exposing the secret beneath it. With a rival claimant, a fae Warden, and a dragon caught in the same ancient conflict, the only way forward may be to stop fighting for the throne and discover what it was built to protect.
Perfect for readers who love rival-heir fantasy romance, fae courts, dragon romance, hidden powers, slow-burn chemistry, and emotionally driven romantasy.
- Two rival heirs competing for a dangerous legacy
A heroine with a unique gift for sensing problems in stone
A fae Warden forced to question generations of tradition
A dragon connected to the secret beneath the mountain
Standalone romantasy with a complete happily-ever-after
Full-length standalone romantasy (59,000+ words). Intended for adult readers.
Genre: Fantasy
Used availability for Sasha Leone's Basalthold