Focus. Make the damn woman smile.
The Mercy of Dawn
Ashley Bresee
Fires of Carinae, book
ebook, 590 pages
Independently Published January 6, 2025
ASIN B0DHLRMSNV
ISBN 9781738216314
A woman desperate for freedom, an arrogant fae prince, and a bond neither of them asked for.
As a woman caged since birth, all Cyril Rhodea wants is her own damned contracts, freedom from her family’s guild, and to never fall prey to the same consuming love that killed her parents.
But when a blood-soaked cry for help draws her guild into the heart of a secluded fae court, two of her dreams come at a terrible cost.
Mikael is a reckless, arrogant spare heir who embodies everything Cyril swears to despise. The playboy prince provokes her at every turn, fueling an undeniable attraction neither of them understands. He also refuses to leave her side when tragedy decimates her guild—despite having every good reason to.
If Cyril can survive the deaths ravaging the fae court, she may finally see her freedom come to fruition… but the longer she spends steeped in the reclusive kingdom’s shadows, the more she realizes it was never just chance that brought her there.
It was fate bringing her home.
Perfect for fans of One Dark Window and A Court of Silver Flames, The Mercy of Dawn is the first book in the completed and heartbreaking Fires of Carinae romantasy series. Emotionally charged with heavy themes of trauma, grief, and self worth, make sure to grab the tissues before you start Cyril’s journey.
*The Mercy of Dawn is a dark, fantasy romance featuring themes that may be unsettling or triggering to some readers. In addition, not all relationships depicted in the story are healthy, and they should not be misconstrued as such. The themes explored include:
- graphic depictions of violence (on page)
- the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol (on page)
- xenophobia and racism in a fantasy setting (on page)
- explicit sexual content (on page)
- moments of dubious consent (on page)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (on page)
- trauma-related dissociation (on page)
- suicide ideation (on page)
- incidents of domestic violence (on page)
Raised by her paternal uncle, Dion, and his guild of rogues, Cyril is a snarky, foul-mouthed twenty-something-year-old, orphaned fae with a prejudice against her mother's people, the moon fae. She has also yet to experience her ascension and is therefore devastated by her lack of powers, whether it be the fire of her father's line, or the water of her mother's.
When Dion accepts a contract back in Reykr, the homeland of Cyr's mother, the quintet journey to the land of the bloodsucking, virgin-sacrificing lunatics, as Cyr has been led to believe by all but Dion, and she finally confronts the missing parts of herself. Her uncle's past is full of secrets and he has guarded them all. He's also becoming increasingly violent towards his blossoming niece and their relationship is floundering.
It's a slow start, but the banter carries it well.
No home training. No etiquette. If she doesn't like you, you're going to know it. Her filter is malfunctioning at best. Mikael? He makes her skin crawl. There's certainly no saving him from her abrasive tongue lashing when he attempts to make conversation at dinner.
Chick is wild. And I loved her for it.
Even as she made my eyes bug out of my head. Defective filter and no chill with this one. And though she may growl, it's Mikael whose jaw snaps back.
And it would have been perfect. If Mikael hadn't been such a whore. And if Cyril hadn't spent so much time in recovery. Physical pain. Mental pain. Emotional pain.
Heavy on the PTSD and mental health. Be in the best of headspace before taking this one on. It's depressing at times.
4 out of 5 stars.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback
Next in the series:
2026/32