DROWN THE BONES

Royals from enemy kingdoms discover a deep connection when they team up to find a murderer.

All 18-year-old Merridan wants is to dedicate herself to serving the Goddess, assisting spirits along their passage to the Afterworld, but she exists to be the “spare” heir in case anything happens to her older twin brother, Von, who’s meant to take the Rothian throne. Von would like to see peace with Nova, their neighboring kingdom, even though the Novians use the magic from their shared lake to resurrect the dead, making them heathens as far as the Rothians are concerned. But when Von is murdered, the Novians are blamed, putting the nations on the brink of war. Deeply grieving and questioning her faith in the Goddess, Merridan performs forbidden Novian magic, intending to summon her brother, but finds herself Bound to the spirit of Phoenix Darragon, the crown prince of Nova, instead. Phoenix was murdered on the same night as Von, and now Merridan must work with him to uncover the truth behind these assassinations. As she starts to question everything she’s been taught about the Novians and their deity of mercy, Merridan finds herself falling for Phoenix and imagining a different future for the two of them. The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance in this lush, queer-normative fantasy is full of delicious yearning and relatable uncertainty. Merridan’s approachable narrative voice propels the story forward as the intricate and compelling worldbuilding is deftly woven in. As important as the tender, budding romance are Merridan’s critical examinations of her faith and upbringing, which gives the story a coming-of-age quality that will make it extra appealing for New Adult readers.

This introspective, evocative romantasy is brimming with heartachey emotions of grief and desire.