The sundering duet

NOVEMBER 3, 2026

  • Fantasy romance (adult)

    Takes place in an alternate world with magic

    3rd person limited narrative (she/her vs. I/me)

    Dual point of view

    • Enemies-to-lovers

    • Forced proximity

    • Found family

    • Alcohol & drug consumption

    • Anxiety & anxiety attacks

    • Arachnophobia

    • Blackmail

    • Blood & gore

    • Burial

    • Child abandonment

    • Classism

    • Claustrophobia & narrow spaces

    • Coercion (including sexual coercion)

    • Dead bodies & body parts

    • Death of a parent

    • Dysphoria (feelings of unease/unhappiness that result in depression/anxiety)

    • Emesis (vomiting)

    • Emotional abuse

    • Eugenics & breeding (for magic)

    • Explicit (consensual) sexual content

    • Explosions

    • Falling from heights

    • Fire & arson

    • Gun violence

    • Imprisonment of a parent

    • Involuntary confinement

    • Kidnapping

    • Knife & sword violence

    • Mentally ill parent

    • Merinthophobia (fear of bound or restrained)

    • Murder & attempted murder

    • Physical injuries

    • Physical assault

    • References child, spousal, parental, familial death

    • Torture and threats of torture

    • Profanity

    • Slavery & indentured servitude

    • Vehicular crashes

    • Violence

DEFY THE DUSK

In a world where darkness is certain death and the dawn brings survival, one woman will carve another path: defy the dusk. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom comes the first book of a gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy duology.

In the Sundered world, there are two options: ride the dawn, or face what rises in the night.

Twenty years ago, Lirien's magic fractured the world and unleashed nocturnal creatures that brought civilization to its knees. Amidst the carnage came salvation: The most powerful survivors were invited to board Dawnrider, a high-speed rig that would deliver those aboard into a new era.

The rest of humanity was left to die.

Instead, a king rose from the darkness to lead them.

In the years since, Lirien has dedicated her magic to Dawnrider while secretly plotting to overthrow the tyrant who rules the rig with an iron fist. Just as Lirien is ready to strike against him, she is violently abducted by Vox—the king of the feralists.

The mercurial Vox gives her two choices: Fight the creatures that hunt the night or be fed to them.

Joining Vox's war against the night, Lirien must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and how far she's willing to go for redemption.