A Court This Cruel & Lovely By Stacia Stark – Book One in the Kingdom of Lies Series

He haunted her dreams. Then he tried to kill her. Now he’s her only shot at survival.

In a world where the gods steal human magic at birth, anyone who keeps their power is hunted and burned as “corrupt.” So when Prisca has her forbidden magic exposed, she has no choice but to run—from her village, from the law, from everything she’s ever known.

Enter the mercenary with the cruel smile and those blazing green eyes—the one who’s been haunting her dreams for years. The one who left her for dead. The one who just might be her only hope.

To survive, she strikes a dangerous bargain: help him and his crew sneak into a city, and he’ll help her unlock the power she’s spent her life hiding. But he's hiding something too—secrets that could unravel kingdoms and tear her world apart.

🖤 Tropes: slow burn, enemies to reluctant allies, hidden powers, morally grey mercenary, found family
🖤 For fans of The Bridge Kingdom, ACOTAR, From Blood and Ash, and angsty banter with life-or-death consequences
🖤 Book one in the Kingdom of Lies series – the beginning of a romantasy that gets spicier with every page
🖤 A dash of danger, a swirl of secrets, and a slow-burn flame you won’t want to put out
⚠️ New adult fantasy romance with magic, murdery vibes, and a rising steam level

“For years, when I fell asleep, I dreamed of a man with blazing green eyes and a cruel smile.”