There are devils and there are devils.
A Star of Darkness
A.L. Knorr
Scented Court standalone
Kindle edition, 353 pages
Published September 30, 2024
ASIN B0D62LBH8T
A warrior's honor meets a fae’s secrets.
In the scented court, where every bloom is power, Vesper—a member of the elite fae retinue that entertains the aristocracy with rare flora magic—hides her true identity while saving for her future. But when she receives a threatening message, Vesper realizes she can't run from her past forever. How far will she go to protect herself—and the one creature she holds dear?
Regalis, with his fierce raptor familiar, stands as a pillar of honor among the elite Fahyli soldiers. Yet beneath the warrior’s exterior lies a yearning heart. In a foggy twist of a murder, a kidnapping, and a dark generational mystery, fate throws them together.
Vesper must decide if she can trust Regalis with the truth she’s buried deep, while Regalis faces the ultimate test—can he forgive the web of lies spun in fear? As past sins collide with present dangers, one question who will make the ultimate sacrifice?
A Star of Darkness is an unpredictable, pulse-pounding romantasy adventure of intrigue, deception, and passion. One reader has coined it "Wuthering Heights meets LOTR". Dive into this twisty, gothic, standalone story where love battles the shadows of the past, and magic weaves a fate neither of these star-crossed lovers saw coming. Set in the epic world of The Scented Court but can be read as a standalone. Not YA, but suitable for readers aged 14+.
I'm tempting the devil with this read because this is a pretty book. A very pretty sixty dollar book.
“I’m sorry, but my botanical is a cactus, Gardener. I don’t mean to be prickly, but it is my personality.”
Portia’s expression turned skeptical. “You’re not really using that as an excuse, are you?”
“Why not? Gardenia cries if her elixirs are too alkaline. Hydrangea faints if she doesn’t get enough water, and Rose gets fatigued if she has too much water too close to sundown. Why is it so hard to believe that I’m better off alone?”
Portia’s expression turned skeptical. “You’re not really using that as an excuse, are you?”
“Why not? Gardenia cries if her elixirs are too alkaline. Hydrangea faints if she doesn’t get enough water, and Rose gets fatigued if she has too much water too close to sundown. Why is it so hard to believe that I’m better off alone?”
I'm not much of a gardener. My favorite plants to collect are Alocasias and my favorite flower to see, but not grow, are Dahlias, but this book might actually teach me some things. If nothing else, the flora concept is intriguing.
Note: This post will contain spoilers.
While this is a standalone in the Scented Court world, we do miss out on Vesper first meeting Regalis. They are already aquainted when the story unfolds as Vesper, a young Calyx, is sent a message meant to lure her out of hiding.
Regalis is a Fahyli that lives by the code of his oath to the king. He is focused, practical, and resigned to his solitary life since ending his last romantic relationship years ago.
Their friendship begins innocently enough as Regalis senses her uneasiness at the ball and, as a member of the Calyx's guards, approaches her with a request for a dance.
They cross paths again when she's thrown from her horse while hunting near Regalis' routine security detail and in the comfortable silence during the journey back, Regalis feels inspired to get to know Vesper a bit better and inquires of her life. Soon enough, they make plans for dinner and tour they're favorite places inside the castle.
Before halfway of the book, they've shared their first kiss.
Then the bounty hunters come.
Vesper is threatened by the first. An act that warrants the response of Vesper's familiar, Morpho. The seemingly innocent luna moth is actually a shapeshifting assassin that puts Regalis's hawk familiar, Ferrugin, to shame.
The next group manage to abduct Vesper. And while Regalis' mind races with all of the possible outcomes of the dire situation, he does make it to her in time. She's drugged, completely out of it, as Regalis turns to the leader of the band.
And the leader spills everything. Vesper's real name is Elara Darkstar. She is of a prominent Archelian family. And she is wanted for murder.
And suddenly, our by the book Fyhali is punching a prisoner in the face. Her lies, her deception, eats at him as his bias wars with the truth as he's come to know it.
Vesper is arrested, sent to court, given a handful of depressing choices, and subsequently exiled and abandoned at the border.
And that is where my spoilers end.
Vengeance, thy name is Elara Darkstar. This story was so much more than I had anticipated. Not only were the main characters absolutely frickin adorable together but never, ever, have I read a fantasy book wherein the main character gets accused of murder and her response is to seek out a lawyer.
And with that, my two addictions-romantic fiction and true crime trials-merged.
But it was Morpho, sweet little Morpho, that was the most unexpected.
He made my heart hurt.
4 out of 5 stars. This book is promoted as a slow burn romance. To that, I disagree.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
