The Wolf of Oberhame Series by Auryn Hadley

Born a princess, Leyli never expected to find herself in a gladiatorial arena. Her cousin's plot to secure himself as heir means she got thrown in with the criminals and debtors, sentenced to fight until she either wins her freedom or dies. But Leyli comes from a line of warriors. Raised to be demure and gentle, she might not know how to fight – but she knows how to not give up. That spirit draws the attention of the Lion of Lenlochlien, one of the best gladiators in the arena... moreBorn a princess, Leyli never expected to find herself in a gladiatorial arena. Her cousin's plot to secure himself as heir means she got thrown in with the criminals and debtors, sentenced to fight until she either wins her freedom or dies. But Leyli comes from a line of warriors. Raised to be demure and gentle, she might not know how to fight – but she knows how to not give up. That spirit draws the attention of the Lion of Lenlochlien, one of the best gladiators in the arena. Becoming his partner is the opportunity she needs to survive this nightmare. Chained at his side, they will live - or die - together. She is his shield. He is her sword. Yet, around every corner is a threat. Their opponents want to kill them. The wrong people are looking for her. Her owner wants to make a profit above all else. Hidden in a mess of forged papers and secrets is Leyli's past; it's the only thing she refuses to share with her partner. As far as the world knows, the Princess is dead. He named her the Wolf of Oberhame, and she's willing to embrace it. Each day they're locked together, they grow closer, until his life matters as much as her own. When their owner changes the rules, the Princess must risk everything. She was put on the sands to die, but it may be the Lion who pays the ultimate price. The Wolf of Oberhame Trilogy: WHEN WE WERE KINGS (The Wolf of Oberhame, Book 1) Released September 24, 2015 WHEN WE WERE DANCING (The Wolf of Oberhame, Book 2) Due out October 30, 2015 WHEN WE WERE CROWNED (The Wolf of Oberhame, Book 3) Due out November 30, 2015 less

They called her the Gladiator Queen, the first female heir to the throne of Norihame. Leyli never wanted this, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe. On the sands of the arena, death was honest... moreThey called her the Gladiator Queen, the first female heir to the throne of Norihame. Leyli never wanted this, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe. On the sands of the arena, death was honest. Men fought for their lives and nothing else. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. Once, she thought this was normal. But no longer can she care about petty scandals, not when her citizens - her friends - are dying because of laws her family made. To win this game, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. She needs a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard. She never expected Tristan to become a weapon that could be used against her. How much of her own happiness will she give up for Norihame? The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated. less

Long Live the Gladiator Queen! With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for? Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it... moreLong Live the Gladiator Queen! With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for? Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain. If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great. But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion? When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared. Only one thing can save her country now, but that means putting herself - and her unborn child - in harms way. Thankfully, she's got one thing going for her that Rhia will never expect. She's a gladiator. That means she doesn't fight fair. less

In this epic low fantasy trilogy, one pampered little princess will discover that coming of age means a lot more than simply growing up. Fighting against the temptation of forbidden love, striving to survive the horrors of combat, and determined to save her country, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress will become more than anyone expected. She is the Gladiator Queen... moreIn this epic low fantasy trilogy, one pampered little princess will discover that coming of age means a lot more than simply growing up. Fighting against the temptation of forbidden love, striving to survive the horrors of combat, and determined to save her country, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress will become more than anyone expected. She is the Gladiator Queen. When We Were Kings: Tossed into the gladiator arena, everyone expected the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress to be the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second. In the cell beside her, the Lion of Lenlochlien was impressed. The first day, they all cried. But this one was different. Her tears didn't slow her down, they just made her stronger, and when he looked in her eyes, he saw it. Her desperation was feral. This girl might be cornered, but the bitch was the kind that would bite. He had no idea that he was about to become her best weapon. Leyli didn't just want to live through the games, she wanted to protect her father's throne, but to do that, she had to become someone else. She couldn't be the Princess of Norihame. The Lion had to make her a Wolf. Chained side by side, he'll show her how to be a killer. She'll give him a reason to keep fighting. Together, they'll learn that it takes a friend to survive. When We Were Dancing: Leyli never wanted power, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe. On the sands of the arena, death was honest. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. To win, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. That means a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard. The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated. When We Were Crowned: With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for? Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain. If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great. But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion? When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared. less