November 1, 2024
Marriage, magic, and ancient prophecy intertwine deliciously in this heady new romantasy. When local blacksmith Suraya Saab receives an invitation to present herself at court as a potential bride for Prince Javed, she's certain there must be some mistake. While she can craft exquisite blades and deal easily with handsy locals, Suraya is the daughter of a widowed innkeeper and could never land a prince. But duty calls, and once she's firmly ensconced behind the palace walls, she discovers that all is not as it appears in the royal court. Prince Javed is a rake with nefarious intentions, the king's bastard son is constantly snooping around, and the queen is likely trying to kill them all. More dangerous by far is an ancient, untapped magic that Javed will stop at nothing to track down and unleash, even if it means destroying Suraya and all she loves in the process. While at times it relies far too heavily on well-known tropes, Howard's latest (after The Worst Duke in London, 2024) also offers exceptional world building, a tight, fast-moving narrative, and some truly delightful prose.

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November 15, 2024
A royal invitation turns a talented bladesmith's life upside down, forcing her to flee with an illegitimate prince. Suraya Saab's dealings with royalty usually come in the form of commissions to make weapons imbued with some of the world's last remaining slivers of magic. Now, however, a glittering envelope arrives with a different request: King Zarek wants her to travel to the capital city of Kaldari to meet the crown prince, along with many other women. In public, the palace has positioned this event as a grand search for Prince Javed's bride. In reality, the royal family is looking for a woman integral to an ancient prophecy, who's rumored to hold the power of the stars. There are two distinct parts to this romance, inspired by Persian and Indian mythology. First is the fish-out-of-water depiction of Suraya navigating the capital and royal court, which her forge and her background as a tradeswoman hardly prepared her for. Joining the throngs of other women competing for Prince Javed's hand, Suraya finds that it isn't the crown prince who captures her attention but his illegitimate half brother, Roshan. When the event is interrupted by a rebel militia and Prince Javed tips his hand about his true intentions, Suraya and Roshan plot an escape--and with no one to rely on but each other, something else begins to take root in their unlikely partnership. The romance starts strong, with Suraya questioning whether Roshan is someone she can trust, but fizzles out once they both confess their feelings. Howard also uses some language that feels out of place in her fantastical setting, such as when Suraya talks about "book boyfriends" with her friend Laleh: "Fictional men never disappoint." Overall, though, a lovely blend of worldbuilding, intrigue, and action keeps the momentum going. An exciting and romantic tale with high stakes and intricately detailed mythology.

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October 14, 2024
Howard (The Worst Duke in London) turns from Regency to romantasy in a propulsive outing that brims with action, betrayal, and plenty of spice. Twenty-four-year-old Suraya Saab lives a quietly comfortable life in the relatively poor desert city of Coban in the kingdom of Oryndhr, earning a living by forging weapons (for which she occasionally uses illegal pieces of crystallized magic) and helping out at her father’s tavern. Then she receives an invitation to join the pool of women from which the Crown Prince will choose a bride. After determining that this is not a prank, Suraya heads to the capital, where dangerous adventure awaits. The plot thickens with the introduction of a distractingly dashing castle gardener; attacks by the Dahaka, a rebel organization determined to be free of Imperial rule; and a series of trials designed to test each lovely candidate for the Prince’s hand. Intrigue abounds as Suraya navigates court politics, ancient prophecies, and mystical happenings that have her doubting her own mind at times. Sharp dialogue elevates the romance, while the rich worldbuilding, filled with Indian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean influences, provides an elegant framework to showcase a strong, determined, and capable female protagonist. Readers will eagerly await the sequel. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.

December 1, 2024

Suraya Saab, a blacksmith in a rural province, receives an invitation to the capital, Kaldari, as a prospective bride of the future king. Suraya reluctantly decides to attend, despite her family's misgivings. Once in Kaldari, she is put off by the coldness of Queen Morvarid and Crown Prince Javed and is shocked when the competition turns deadly. Suraya also meets Javed's half-brother, Roshan, whose humor and beauty have her falling for him. When the royal palace is attacked by rebel forces, Javed discovers Suraya has power he wants to control, but Roshan helps Suraya escape. Taking refuge in the rebels' home base, Suraya discovers what she is and what is at stake, and although Roshan continues to help her, she can see he isn't telling her everything, forcing her to question his intentions. Suraya is relatable as an ordinary blacksmith, desiring the normalcy of her life before discovering she has power beyond imagination granted by the stars and before the weight of saving a kingdom rests on her shoulders. VERDICT Howard's (The Worst Duke in London) latest stands out from other romantasy offerings, with a magical world based on Indian and Persian myths.--Eve Stano

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