King of Battle and Blood

St. Clair (When Stars Come Out) breathes new life into an old trope as a princess and a vampire king wed to end a yearslong war in this outstanding series opener. Eager to avoid more bloodshed, King Henri de Lara forms a truce with the Blood King, Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev. Adrian agrees to peace, but he wants to take Isolde, Henri’s daughter, as his wife and future queen of Revekka, the Empire of the Vampire. Isolde reluctantly accepts, hoping to save her people. It helps that a quick encounter between Isolde and Adrian before the wedding sparked a palpable sexual tension between the born enemies. In the face of this intense chemistry, Isolde questions both her sanity and her loyalty to her homeland. Despite animosity from the townspeople who oppose their union, the sexual tension between the unlikely newlyweds only mounts, and readers are treated to a deliciously slow-building romance as Adrian and Isolde discover an evil power and work together to defeat a common enemy. St. Clair has a masterful hand with the couple’s slow burn, balancing banter, contention, and highly charged moments. Readers will be champing at the bit for the next installment. (Dec.)