Smoke and Scar (Shattered Crown Book 1)

Smoke and Scar is the first book in the Shattered Crown trilogy, an epic romantasy following two protagonists through deadly trials and dark magic. In the kingdom of Arcanis, humans and magical races have been at odds for centuries due to an ancient grudge. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials occurring every 25 years, offers a chance for peace. Elyria Lightbreaker, a fae warrior once celebrated as a war hero, is now haunted by grief after losing the man she loved in the previous Crucible. She must rise again to prevent his sister from meeting the same fate. Cedric Thorne, hardened by loss and driven by hate, has spent his life working toward conquering the Crucible on humanity's behalf. His goal is finally within reach—except he must work with Elyria, the fae he blames for his parents' deaths. With fragile alliances and betrayal at every turn, the two must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic while grappling with increasingly complex feelings for each other. This enemies-to-lovers story features a slow burn romance, elemental magic, and a diverse cast of characters. The first book contains no explicit content, though later books in the trilogy do include open door sex scenes.