Thorns and Shadows
Sandra Whitley
Twenty-five women. Five lethal trials. One prince who isn't what he seems.
As a gardener hiding in plain sight, I've spent five years concealing my forbidden verdant magic—the power to make things grow wild and strange. But when I'm chosen for the Crown Trials, I'm forced to compete for the hand of Prince Torian, son of the woman who slaughtered my entire family.
I should want revenge. I should want him dead.
Instead, I find myself drawn to the shadows he wears like armor and the unexpected gentleness he shows when no one's watching. Even more dangerous? He seems to see through my carefully crafted lies to the truth beneath.
Then I discover his By day, he's the perfect prince. By night, he's Shadowmere—the mysterious rebel who's been protecting people like me from his mother's purges.
Now I'm caught in an impossible web of desire and deception. Every trial pushes me closer to revealing my true identity. Every stolen moment with Torian makes me forget why I should hate him. And when our forbidden magic collides, the attraction between us threatens to expose us both.
But in a court where love is weakness and trust is deadly, our growing connection could destroy everything. Because the Queen has offered me a terrible Become her weapon, or watch everything burn.
Some thorns draw blood for a reason. Some shadows hide the brightest light. And some loves are worth burning for.
Content Note
This book contains themes of family loss, political violence, and persecution. Spice 2/5 (romantic tension, kissing, fade-to-black). Perfect for readers who love slow-burn romance with deep emotional connection.
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