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Talyn Dynan was once an elite warrior until a catastrophic failure broke her spirit. Assigned to a covert mission in the winged realm of Mithranar, she must train a ragtag unit of criminals while navigating deadly court intrigue and the rise of a masked rebel.

You'll like it if you enjoy

  • A grieving, disciplined warrior heroine
  • Misfits bonding into a found family
  • Deep political intrigue and secrets
  • A very slow-burn romance

Good to know

  • A slow, slightly clunky start in book one
  • Brutal character losses and emotional trauma
  • Repetitive inner monologues in middle books

Tags

  • Female Lead
  • Smart MC
  • Found Family
  • Slow Romance
  • Dark
  • Emotional
  • Slow Burn
  • Heavy Worldbuilding
  • Political Intrigue

Reading order

  1. Cover for A Tale of Stars and Shadow

    Book 1: A Tale of Stars and Shadow

    513 pages16.5h audio2019

    A Tale of Stars and Shadow opens with Talyn Dynan arriving in Mithranar on a covert assignment, immediately sensing that the glittering winged court hides a web of carefully maintained violence and inequality.

    As she trains the royal guard and encounters the masked Shadowhawk, she must navigate loyalties that were never supposed to include the oppressed human folk of Dock City — who are starting to look a great deal like her responsibility.

    A gripping fantasy debut with political intrigue, a mystery at the heart of the court, and found-family bonds forged in the most unlikely circumstances.

  2. Cover for A Prince of Song and Shade (A Tale of Stars and Shadow Book 2)

    Book 2: A Prince of Song and Shade

    562 pages19h audio2019

    Back in the Twin Thrones, warrior Talyn Dynan wants nothing more than to rebuild her shattered life. But when she is tasked with a perilous assignment tied to Mithranar, she is forced to choose between loyalty to her homeland and the masked vigilante known as the Shadowhawk. As a string of brutal murders shakes Dock City and a shadowy faction prepares to strike, A Prince of Song and Shade delivers a gripping tale of political intrigue, found family, and the perilous price of trust across divided kingdoms.

  3. Cover for A King of Masks and Magic (A Tale of Stars and Shadow Book 3)

    Book 3: A King of Masks and Magic

    580 pages19.5h audio2020

    With war looming on the horizon, the fragile peace between empires is on the verge of collapse. Recovering from a near-fatal ambush, Cuinn Acondor strives to reclaim his strength, while Talyn Dynan vows to dismantle the hidden conspirators tearing Mithranar apart from within. As deadly enemies close in on every front, A King of Masks and Magic raises the stakes with breathtaking twists, high-stakes battles, and the fierce loyalty of a found family fighting for survival against impossible odds.

  4. Cover for A Duet of Sword and Song (A Tale of Stars and Shadow Book 4)

    Book 4: A Duet of Sword and Song

    583 pages20h audio2020

    A Duet of Sword and Song brings the series to its pivotal conclusion as the political tensions of Mithranar explode into open conflict and Talyn must fight for the people she has come to call family.

    With the choices she made across the series coming due, Talyn faces her most dangerous challenge yet — and must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for a kingdom that was never supposed to be hers.

    A high-stakes series finale with earned emotional payoffs, brutal political consequences, and a resolution that honors everything built across the four-book arc.

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