The Darkly Dreaming Duet Series by Amarah Calderini

In a world devastated by plague, Willa has spent her life on the run: both from the mysterious illness that destroys the ability to dream and a secret that would get her imprisoned forever. But when an unknown power calls her to the top of a high rise one night, there is no outrunning it. Willa falls headfirst into a world shaped by dark dreams and wild magic, a once vibrant kingdom now held in the malevolent thrall of a man carved straight from nightmares—the Carrion King... moreIn a world devastated by plague, Willa has spent her life on the run: both from the mysterious illness that destroys the ability to dream and a secret that would get her imprisoned forever. But when an unknown power calls her to the top of a high rise one night, there is no outrunning it. Willa falls headfirst into a world shaped by dark dreams and wild magic, a once vibrant kingdom now held in the malevolent thrall of a man carved straight from nightmares—the Carrion King. To keep her secrets safe from the cruel and cunning king, Willa makes a dangerous bargain that will determine the fate of both their worlds. But as Willa is drawn deeper into the Carrion King’s seductive realm, she discovers far more than she expected beneath his lethal exterior. The line begins to blur between hate and love, the true and the imagined, and she soon realizes victory may cost not only her freedom, but her heart. In a fairytale land of dreams, where the fantastical is more tangible than reality, Willa must decide whether to sacrifice everything as a hero or become a villain to save herself. Author’s note: In the Darkly Dreaming universe, there are infinite worlds and realms. Somewhere, the stories of Peter Pan we were told as children are playing out alongside this one, a far darker tale. So, while Carrion is based in Neverland lore, the events and characters are different from those you’ve heard before. We’ve done exactly what Pan always feared we would—we grew up. And perhaps, our stories grow with us. Now we’re old enough to realize there was no hero in Neverland, and often times, nightmares are far more corporeal than the sweetness of dreams. Carrion is an adult fantasy romance, intended for mature audiences. Readers are encouraged to check content warnings, available on the author’s website. less

Long live the Queen of Dreams. As the new queen, Willa has more power than she ever dreamed. But those who hold power must risk everything to keep it, and the with the return of the Aeternalis, the fight for the kingdom grows more precarious by the day. And it isn’t just her position that demands a steep price. As her connection to the island grows deeper, Willa feels pieces of her own magic slipping away... moreLong live the Queen of Dreams. As the new queen, Willa has more power than she ever dreamed. But those who hold power must risk everything to keep it, and the with the return of the Aeternalis, the fight for the kingdom grows more precarious by the day. And it isn’t just her position that demands a steep price. As her connection to the island grows deeper, Willa feels pieces of her own magic slipping away. If she’s ever to be strong enough to defeat her enemies, she must discover the source of the shadow poisoning her thoughts and drawing her closer to the villain she always feared she would become. Exiled on the mainland, Niko has one goal: survive long enough to get back what’s his—even if it means returning to the island that nearly destroyed him, and the woman who banished him. With no magic and his brother on his trail, Niko must use every bit of his cunning to reclaim what he’s lost. Because everyone knows, once something belongs to death…death never lets it go. Heart-gripping romance and action ignite in this electric conclusion to the Darkly Dreaming Duet, where the line between dreams and nightmares become ever more blurred, and fairy tales are not the promise of a happy ending, but a grave warning. Because all magic has a cost in Letum, but the price of love may be even higher. **Adytum is book two of the Darkly Dreaming Duet. It is a dark fantasy romance, intended for mature audiences. Readers are encouraged to check content warnings, available on the author’s website. less