Aeloy Netheraven was born and raised in the Kingdom’s most dangerous prison. Three nights a week she bleeds and breaks in the Pits, an illegal fight club run by the warden.

One day, two strangers offer her a choice and a chance. In exchange for her freedom, all she has to do is guard a prince. But in a cursed land where a tyrant Queen rules from a stolen throne, guarding a prince isn’t as easy as Aeloy thought it would be. Someone keeps gifting her body parts, a kitchen maid goes missing and the Queen forces Aeloy to compete in a series of trials to prove her worth.

As Aeloy searches for the missing kitchen maid, and the culprit behind the grotesque gifts, she uncovers truths which shake the very foundation of her life and everyone around her. She finally found freedom, but at what cost?

Elle is from Johannesburg, South Africa. Most of her childhood was spent running around outside like a feral creature. When she wasn’t chasing fairies, or climbing trees, she would write little stories. After studying fashion design and marketing, she moved to London with her husband where they now live with their two cats and lots of plants.

Customer Reviews

5.0

11 reviews

A Hobson

I was sent this review copy by the publisher Aeloy Netheraven was born and raised in the most dangerous prison in the kingdom. Her mother died when she was still a child and she’s grown up fighting for her survival in the illegal fight club run by the warden in the Pits. She has never seen the world outside the prison. That all changes when 2 strangers visit her cell and offer her a choice and a chance. In exchange for guarding the Prince of the kingdom, she will be granted her freedom. This job isn’t as easy as she thought as she has to guard the Prince from assassins, mercenaries and a tyrant Queen. The Queen forces her to compete in a series of trials to prove her worth all while a kitchen maid is kidnapped and gruesome body parts are delivered to her after each trial. She has to investigate all these happenings while protecting the Prince and trying to survive the trials. She’s finally found freedom she craved all her life, but at what cost? Will she survive? I was sent this book to review and gosh it was brilliant. Another dark fantasy book with a damaged FMC struggling to heal. Elle wrote such a compelling story that really makes you root for the damaged soul to heal and recover. The way she describes a young woman finally experiencing the world around her after having known nothing else but a violent and dangerous prison was wonderful and she has such a way with words. I haven’t seen any news despite googling of a sequel but I really really hope there is one to help finish the story.
Rio L. Barney

I loved this book. I was hooked from page 1. I loved the characters, the world building, and the plot. Caldwell weaves a fantastic story from start to finish. I highly recommend this book.
One happy reader

Brilliant book! Would definitely recommend for any fans of a badass FMC with an engaging plot to boot. Magic, trials, badass characters, and action. I hope this book gets so much love because it deserves to be sat alongside the classic romantasy favs!