Joyce’s debut novel blends fantasy and romance in a story about a princess, powerless among the powerful, trying to find purpose—and connection—in her life.

Although Adeline is an “Honorary Princess” in the Court of Gilded Iron—her mother is the queen and her stepfather is the king—she, like her mother, is Elarin: a “magicless soul,” a human in a world of powerful fae with almost godlike abilities. Always the outsider, Adeline’s life has been a “perpetual struggle to belong.” Her only solace, other than spending time in the royal library with her face buried in a book about dragons (which she loves), comes at night, where—in dreams—she encounters a shadow being, a mysterious entity that brings her peace, comfort, and unconditional love. When Adeline learns that envoys from the Court of Eternal Darkness—the most powerful and feared court in the realm—will be visiting the Court of Gilded Iron with their legendary dragons, the 30-year-old is shocked to discover the potential alliance between the two families revolves around her! Adeline’s stepfather directs her to accompany the Court of Eternal Darkness’ ambassador back to Shadowmere Isle, the court’s ancestral and storied homeland. Complications arise when the ambassador is revealed to be Cyris, the King of Eternal Darkness’s most feared warrior, a killer with an almost mythical reputation. The “monster,” however, is not quite as he seems—and neither is his behemoth of a dragon, Voidfire. But before Adeline can leave with Cyris and his other dragon riders, she must outsmart those in her own family who conspire against her.

Joyce’s writing is undeniably lyrical and adept, very much comparable to iconic fantasy writers like Patricia A. McKillip and Cecilia Dart-Thornton. Many lines flow like poetry, immersing readers in the dreamlike world: “Fae merchants peddled fruits plucked from dream-glades, their skins glistening like dew-wet gems” and “He materialized like a secret slipping from the dark, his voice brushing my ear in a breath laced with starlit night.” This focus on atmospherics and imagery sometimes verges on overwriting, which affects momentum. With so much going on—conspiratorial plots, magic-powered assaults, romantic dream sequences, etc.—the storyline should read much faster than it does. In numerous scenes, for example, the author goes into great (and unnecessary) detail describing every member of Cyris’ band during dialogue sequences. Here’s just one character: “Laziel leaned against the window, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the moonlit courtyard below,” “Laziel was seated near the hearth, his eyes, black with threads of silver,” “Laziel leaned against the far wall, his boots crossed at the ankles, a faint grin tugging at his mouth,” “Laziel lingered by the window,” etc. Lastly, there’s a dearth of significant action (for a sizable novel, very little happens). The novel is presumably the beginning of a series but serves more as a prelude to the action and adventure to come.

A lyrical—and languidly paced—novel that will appeal to romantic fantasy fans who enjoy unhurried reads.