SONG OF THE FOREVER RAINS

A powerful young woman in possession of a destructive voice learns to channel her magic for good (and love) as she takes on a dark mission.

In the world of Aadilor, Larkyra Bassette and her sisters have been developing their unique powers all their lives—but within the hidden realm of the Thief Kingdom, where the enigmatic and terrifying Thief King controls and sees all, they are known as the Mousai, a trinity of magic-wielding women with the power to seduce or terrify. When the loathsome Duke of Lachlan, a man addicted to a potent and forbidden drug known as phorria, is revealed to be abusing the tenants on his land, Larkyra is given a mission to both stop him and uncover his supplier. Posing as the duke’s intended is all part of the plan, but she doesn’t account for his stepson, Lord Darius Mekenna, the rightful heir of Lachlan, who has been victimized by the duke for years. The closer Larkyra comes to uncovering the terrible duke’s secrets, the more she begins to understand that her true feelings lie with Darius, a man who literally wears the scars of his past. The first installment in this new fantasy series is a spellbinding read, with an instant sense of familial connection between the Bassette trio, although the heroine ultimately shines all the more once she leaves the safety of home and embarks on her operation. The romance element is more of a connective, underlying thread that weaves through the main story, but the achingly yearning slow burn between Larkyra and Darius culminates in an ultimately satisfying way. Meanwhile, the secondary narrative offers the promise of a sequel between an equally compelling couple to come.

A dark, lyrical fantasy that merges vast worldbuilding with the best of romance tropes.