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'A Court of Thorns and Roses' meets 'Six of Crows' in this thrilling new fantasy romance.
A queen turned mercenary. A long-lost love. An ancient evil reborn.
With her home kingdom destroyed and her family considered dead, Aelia Springborn makes a living, using her abilities to break minds for anyone with enough coin. Content to live a life in the shadows, her world is turned upside down when her former lover, Caiden Stormweaver, tracks her down at the edge of the world with a proposition she can’t refuse…. help him thwart her former husband, King Gideon, from obtaining the deadly army of the Alder King.
With a chasm of hurt between them, the pair strikes a deal; once their mission is complete, Aelia will wipe his memories of their relationship, releasing them both from their tumultuous past.
Bound by magic and aided by friends, Caiden and Aelia set off on a journey to save the continent from ultimate destruction. However, as their mission progresses, Aelia and Caiden find themselves reigniting the flames of their past.
But in Moriana, breaking a bargain is deadly.
Things become even more complicated when Aelia meets Tharan Greenblade, a charming playboy whom she cannot help but fall for. With the threads of their fates entwining, the trio will be forced into a high-stakes game that will test their loyalties and raise the dead.
Don't miss this adult romantasy debut combining the dark fairytale atmosphere of Nettle and Bone with the heart-stopping romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses and the found family dynamics of Divine Rivals. With tension at every turn, this novel explores the sacrifices we make to save the ones we love.
TW: Violence, Addiction, PTSD, Suicide, Open Door Sex Scenes
About the Author
K.W. Foster is the author of deliciously haunting and spicy fantasy romances featuring morally grey women and the men (and women) who love them. Originally from the Midwest, she now resides in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband and two big fluffy dogs. Follow her on Instagram @authorkwfoster
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Map of moriana
A History of Moriana and the World of the Mind Breaker Series
Moriana is a diverse continent, home to many different races and cultures.
The Beginning
Before the Trinity culled the land and tamed the magic, the Gods of Old roamed freely, wreaking havoc. It was a brutal and bloody time. The people of Moriana called out for a hero, and they received three. Upon hearing their cries, the Trinity ascended from the heavens, smiting the Gods of Old and creating the three major races—the Elves, to which Eris gave her Breath and, with it, eternal life. They were meant to be the keepers of knowledge so that evil could not slink back into the world. Illya created the Slyph from her blood, instilling each of the founding families with a magical gift. The Sylph were created to protect the continent in case the evil ever arose again. With her golden apple, the goddess Ammena created the Humans to cultivate and care for the earth. She instilled in them a deep understanding of the importance of balance in nature and hoped that by making them mortal, they would value the time given to them.
War of Three Faces
Peace reigned over the land, but in secret, an orphan-turned-god was building a cult that would eventually consume the continent. His name was Crom Cruach. A half-elf, half-sylph magus (magic wielder) raised in a primitive sect of humans who feared magic. Once his magic was discovered, he was an outcast from the only family he’d ever known. Angry and alone, he made his way to the Rasa desert, where he unknowingly fulfilled an ancient prophecy of the Rasa Tribe. Made a living god, he used the Rasa to spread his influence by both diplomatic and violent means. When his powers had grown, as well as his influence, he left the desert, returning to his home in the mountains, where he took control of his old tribe and their fierce warriors. Crom used these warriors, combined with his political influence, to conquer the continent, wiping out all those who crossed him. Humans, Sylph, and Elves band together to fight Crom’s influence, resulting in a brutal war that lasted a hundred years. In the end, Crom was defeated, and his followers fled the continent. Crom’s body was burned and placed in an unmarked tomb. Only the Elven King, Arendir knows where he is entombed to this day.
Peace reigned once again, but many of the cities of the continent had been destroyed.
To celebrate their victory over Crom Cruach, the Elves invited the sylph and humans to a month-long victory celebration in the elven capital of Elohim. Jealous of the sylph’s gifts and inherent strength, they hatched a plan to take their powers for their own. After the sylph leaders had been thoroughly plied with enchanted wine, the elves slipped into the sylph leaders' chambers, slit their wrists, and drank their blood, gaining the gifts Illya had instilled in them. But the effects were only temporary. Now that the elves had gotten a taste for The Blood, their lust for power was insatiable. Using these new gifts and gaining allies across the continent, the elves enslaved the sylph for nearly five hundred years.
The Sylph and Elven War
What started as a small rebellion grew into a full-blown war, raging for nearly fifty years and tearing the continent apart again. Most humans allied with the sylph, but some allied with the elves. Eventually, the Treaty of Three Kings was signed, freeing the sylph from their bondage. Torn between the old and new, the sylph split into two sets of Courts: The Wild, which upheld the old traditions, and the Council Courts, who considered themselves more civilized.
An uneasy peace has existed on the continent since.
Character Cheat sheet
Aelia Springborn (AY-LEE-AH): Half-Human, Half-Sylph (turned by blood magic.) Born human, Aelia hails from the Midlands, where her father was King. At 25, Aelia married Gideon Ironheart, king of the Highlands, who turned her into a telepath by feeding her the blood of a sylph. He drank the same blood and connected their minds forever. They were separated after Gideon destroyed the Midlands.
Ammena (AH-MEN-NA): Human goddess of the Trinity who gifted humans with the ability to cultivate crops.
Amolie Hazelwood (AM-O-LEE): Witch. Aelia’s best friend. They met when Amolie was a trainer for the royal horses of the Highlands.
Arendir (AIR-REN-DEER): King of the Elves. Original. First elf to receive The Breath from Eris.
Baylis Springborn (BAY-LISS): Aelia’s sister, seer. Went missing during the Highland siege of Elyria—suspected captive of Gideon.
Briar Greenblade (BRY-YAR): Tharan’s half-sister. Full Sylph. Root rot took her magic and scarred her face.
Brutus Strong (BRU-TUS): Captain of the Highland Armies. Half Sylph, half giant. Honey tongue.
Caiden Stormweaver (CAY-DEN): Aelia’s first love. Hails from the Court of Storms (Stormlands). Gift of lightning.
Cassandra (CA-SAND-DRA): Caiden’s first wife, killed by Gideon.
Clotho (CLOW-THO): Elven Fate. Past.
Crom Cruach (CROM-CROO-AHH): Ancient god who tried to take over the continent, leading to the War of Three Faces.
Decuma (DECK-KEW-MA): Sylph Fate. Present.
Elrida (EL-REE-DA): Sylph weaver.
Eris (EYR-RIS): Elven goddess of the Trinity- gifted the elves with everlasting life through “The Breath.”
Erissa (ER-RIS-SA): Elven mage who was cast out of her order and has served the Ironhearts for thousands of years. Skilled in Necromancy. Scientist. Follower of Crom Cruach.
Ernie: Hobgoblin butler.
Gideon Ironheart (GID-DEE-YON): Aelia’s ex-husband who helped to turn her into a telepathic sylph.
Half-Breed: Any magus that isn’t full-blood sylph or elf.
Hopper (HOP-PER): Advisor to the Alder King.
Illya (ILL-YE-YA): Sylph, goddess of the Trinity, blessed the sylph with strength and the ability to heal quickly through her gift of “the blood.”
Isadora Springborn (IS-A-DOOR-A): Aelia and Baylis’s mother.
Lord Greaves: Steward of the Midlands. Owns the largest sellsword army on the continent.
Lucius Raventough (LOO-CIOUS): Master of the Shadow hunters-- The Stormlands elite spy division of the military. Caiden’s best friend. Half-wraith, half sylph.
Lyra (LIE-RA): Tharan’s first love, whom he killed after she double-crossed him during the war of three faces.
Morta (MORT-A): Human Fate. Future.
Queen Nysemia (NY-SEE-ME-A): Queen of the Court of the Sorrows. Controller of the Army of the Dead.
Roderick Bonecleaver (ROD-DER-RICK): Caiden’s best friend and leader of the Stormland armies.
Sumac (SOO-MAC): Sylph hails from the Woodlands and is Tharan’s best friend.
Tharan Greenblade (THARE-RAN): Bastard son of the Alder King. Mother was Elowen, daughter of the King of the Elves, Arendir. He is an infamous war hero who betrayed his people by falling in love with an elf.
The Alder King/ Eoghan (OW-WHEN): Original magus from before the time of the Trinity. Tharan’s father.
The Fates: The Trinity’s divine presence on the planet. Twist fate to meet the whims of their goddesses. Once incredibly powerful and influential. Have since fallen out of favor.
The Morrigan: Ancient Goddess of death and war.
Ursula (UR-SOO-LA): Mermaid assassin from the Court of the Undersea. Technically, a Sylph but worships Manannan.
Prologue
Aelia - Before
Tears stained my cheeks as Caiden pulled me in closer. Silver streaks of moon danced across his chiseled face. His golden hair, like a halo, illuminated piercing blue eyes.
“I don’t want to go,” I sniffled. “I don’t want to leave you.” I dug my fingers into his back, hoping to convince him somehow to take me away from here.
Music and laughter trickled in through the walls of the cabin—a reminder that this was to be a happy day. The people of Elyria hadn’t seen a Promised Day celebration in decades. This was a time for them to celebrate. To rejoice in the union of two kingdoms.
“I know, Aelia. I know.” He brushed an unruly piece of hair behind my ear. “But we knew our love was doomed before it began. A sylph and a human could never marry.”
A hot cry grew in my chest, working its way up my throat. I buried my face in Caiden’s neck, letting out a wail of pain. Primal and fierce. Our love died before it ever had a chance to live.
“I know, but I hoped—”
His finger pressed against my lips.
“Hope is a dangerous thing.”
Shaking, I nodded. How many times had I let hope get the better of me? I needed to grow up. I would be a queen soon, ruling over a kingdom on my own. I needed to give up these silly notions. Caiden and I were over.
“Gideon is an up-and-coming royal. He will treat you fairly. At least from the time I’ve spent in his court.”
“Promise me you’ll visit?” I asked, knowing the pain it would cause me.
Caiden kissed my forehead. “I’m not that strong, Aelia. I love you too much.”
My chest tightened. Words escaped me. There was nothing left to say besides goodbye. Tomorrow, I would be loaded into a golden carriage and whisked away to the Highlands, where my betrothed, Gideon Ironheart, waited for me. Tomorrow, I would no longer be a princess but a queen-in-waiting. Tomorrow, the life I’ve known for twenty-five years would be over.
“I don’t want to love anyone else but you.”
Caiden gently stroked my back with his callous hands. “You’ll always have a place in my heart.”
“I’m afraid you’ll forget me.”
Caiden’s chest swelled with a breath. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Pulling myself from his embrace, I met his gaze. “What is it?”
“I promised your mother I’d protect you with my life, and I mean that. If you are in danger, real danger, send a raven to me. I will come for you.” His hand was on my face and our eyes locked.
“I love you, Caiden.”
“I love you too, Aelia.”
Our lips locked, bodies entwining for one final union.
The ride to the Highlands took ages. Alone with my thoughts, I dreamt of Caiden rescuing me, but no rescue would ever come. The smell of wheat turned into the sweet smell of pine as we climbed farther into the Highlands. Even the air here was thinner, making my head light.
Cresting over the top of the trees, a castle came into view. Spindled towers rose high into the sky, each one capped in gold. A thriving city of brick splayed out before it. The Cheyne Mountains rose like a protective shield in the distance.
I swallowed hard at the sight of my new home. Ryft’s Edge, the jewel of the Highlands.
Gideon waited for me, dressed in his finest attire, a black velvet coat with the hawk of the Highlands embroidered onto the chest. A diadem of golden leaves encircled his dark hair.
Tall and broad-shouldered, with a muscular build that only came with time in the sparring ring. I’d heard tales of his prowess in battle, and his rigid stance confirmed it.
The carriage stopped in front of him. I tried not to stare at my future husband. A strong jaw and high cheekbones gave him the appearance of elegant masculinity, while his crooked nose added a bit of character.
I covered my face with the ceremonial veil, trying my best to calm my nerves. Visions of Caiden’s smiling face flashed before my eyes.
I took a deep breath.
The handle clicked open.
A jeweled hand extended toward me. Hesitantly, I took it.
Gideon smiled back at me.
“Princess Aelia, Springborn, I presume?” His voice was warm, like a loving caress.
My skin pricked at his touch.
“Prince Gideon, I presume?”
“Your presumption is correct.”
Fingers clasped around mine, he pulled me out of the carriage where a fleet of servants waited to attend to me.
Looking for support, I gripped his hand tighter.
Leaning in, he whispered, “It’s alright, I’ve got you now.”
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