The Curse of Saints

A queen’s lethal spy discovers dark magic in Dramis’s dense and befuddling romantasy debut and series launch. Aya’s sharp operative skills and devotion to her kingdom, Tala, has earned her the rank of the Queen’s Third, a role she loves even though it means she must fight alongside her archrival, Will. Then Kakos, the continent’s “ostracized southern kingdom,” invades Tala, and in the ensuing skirmish Aya reacts instinctively in a moment of desperation, unleashing dangerous magic she didn’t know she possessed. When the queen learns of her power, she sends Aya and Will to the Western Kingdom, Trahir, to hone Aya’s skills and become Tala’s greatest weapon. War is still brewing and relations with Trahir are shaky at best, so Aya and Will must tread carefully if they are going to make it out alive. Dramis’s expansive world is challenging to grasp, with both a byzantine magic system and intricate political scheming to untangle. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Will and Aya, meanwhile, suffers from a lack of chemistry, making it difficult to believe both their animosity and their eventual love. Readers will hope for more cohesion in book two. Agent: Jessica Killingley, BKS Agency. (July)