The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince

The Shadowed Throne Chronicles, #1

by Kayliani Shi

She was his chance for redemption.
He was her key to freedom.

Prince Ramiel Faundor is a bastard. His entire existence is the second best-kept secret in a kingdom built on blurred lines. But when his dragon-slaying brother dies in battle, Ramiel must stand in his place in the kingdom’s coronation duel. There’s just one problem: thanks to the king’s intimidation, no noble or soldier dares to train him.

Ether Malaphon is a cutthroat elven warrior. Her hatred for humanity is etched into her soul, second only to her resentment for the fairies who killed her parents. Her world unravels when she’s dragged from her village to be sacrificed to a long-dead monarch. But fate intervenes when a certain desperate prince strikes a bargain that might save her life. If he rescues her, she must agree to train him for his duel.

As time runs out and enemies close in, Ramiel and Ether must navigate dark curses, buried secrets, and a history determined to repeat itself. But in a kingdom shaped by betrayal, victory may come at the ultimate cost.

5 out of 5 fairies

 I absolutely LOVED this book. It starts off with a tense scene and vivid imagery, and Shi doesn’t let up until the last page. While this is no spice, it works so well for the story. The stakes are high, and everything moves at a good pace. Ramiel and Ether are both characters with a lot of depth, and I loved getting to know them. Ether is so different from Ramiel, and not in the ways you might expect. Fate certainly has an odd way of bringing even the most unlikely prophecies to bear, and unfortunately for Ramiel, he’s at the center of a major one. Shi does such an amazing job making you feel like you’re watching this play out in front of your eyes, and it’s easy to get caught up and lose track of time once you sit down to read. (Seriously, I was confused to realize how dark it had gotten while I was reading). Overall, if you enjoy no-spice fantasy with a side of enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, then you need to grab this! 

What’s Inside:
enemies to lovers
anti-chosen one
rejected fated mates
friends to lovers
he falls first
teacher/master x student
strong fmc
soft, kind mmc
high stakes
forbidden romance (between an elf and a human)
hero’s journey/the quest

“A classically original and deftly crafted epic of sword and sorcery. . . . that ably blends heroic fantasy and adventure with romance and suspense.” – Midwest Book Review

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Kayliani Shi is an avid reader, artist, and writer. Raised in northern Idaho, she now lives in Michigan with her husband, daughter, two cats, and dog. When not huddled in a blanket writing, Kayliani enjoys taking walks in the sun, visiting local cafés, and listening to her favorite J-ROCK band, Official Hige Dandism.

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