A Casualty of Wildflowers: A Tragic Love Story

by Misty D. Waters

Before a prophecy swept him across the seas, Oskar Dahlin was a mortal among corrupt rulers. He lived with one mandate: protect the innocent. Be their sword, and if necessary, their vengeance. He was a Blade of the Assassin’s Guild, trained in body and mind. What the royals did behind their high walls was not his concern unless and until their actions spilled into his streets.

Or a young queen steals his heart.

Genres: Fantasy

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author MISTY D. WATERS is a multi-genre author who specializes in heart-wrenching romance, action, and the power of destiny.

She lives in Maryland with her two boys.

Her first novel, ARCHETYPE, was nominated for a RT Reviewers’ Choice award, on the Texas Library Association’s 2015 Lariat Reading List, listed on Popsugar.com’s The Best Books of 2014, and voted “Best Sex” by the A.V. Club’s Pages Most Likely to Succeed: Our Favorite Books of 2014 (so far). Her other works, ANTITYPE & PROTOTYPE, are available now.

TikTok: mistydwaters.author
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Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Casualty of Wildflowers is an absolutely stunning novella that grips your heart and refuses to let go. The tragic love story of Emanuella and Oskar is both beautiful and heartbreaking woven with such emotional depth that I found it impossible to put down. The author's lyrical prose and vivid descriptions make every moment come alive, immersing you fully in their world. This book is a testament to the power of love and loss and it left me breathless and tear stained. Must read for anyone who appreciates a masterfully told poignant love story

[Christina Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to your hats, ladies and gents…

Each time I read Misty’s work, I’m more and more impressed with the ease by which she makes you care about her characters.

This novella is in the same world as her previously released, A SEA OF ECHOES, but can be read as a stand-alone or as a lead in to ASoE. But I recommend picking this one up after ASoE as it will deeply enrich your understanding of the world and its characters. It features two of my favorite characters from that novel. Oskar, a Blade in the Assassin’s Guild, and Emanouella, a queen who is torn between the life she wants and the life she was born into.

At less than 200 pages, this novella packs quite a punch in the feels. The action and suspense are stellar and on par with what you’d expect from Waters. The romance, an emotional and touching journey. But it is Oskar and Emanouella’s deep and complex connection that really showcases Waters’ talent.

Fans of A SEA OF ECHOES will love getting a deeper view into this love story and witnessing all the pair had to endure to find one another. Being reintroduced to beloved characters from the full length novel was also a welcome treat. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of this heartbreaking love story, and even found myself tearing up at the end. It’s an emotional ride with two characters who couldn’t be more perfect for each other but are facing truly insurmountable odds.

Highly recommend if you enjoy stories that include a beautiful and hard-fought romance, assassins, kings who murder their rivals, and a prophecy about fated lovers.

[Amanda E Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misty is truly a remarkable writer. She put just enough detail without over explaining. You feel as if you're there with the characters. If you read A Sea of Echoes, you already love Oskar, so to read this and learn even more about him was perfect. Also, from A Sea of Echoes, you get that Emanouella was quite the gentle and loving queen, but learning more about her has blown my mind. I loved their intense life or death situation that brought them together and how no matter what seemed to come up, they couldn't change how much they deeply fell for one another. It definitely puts you in your feels up and down all over. Straight Brilliance! A story that definitely needed to be told.

[Kerri Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful addition to A Sea of Echoes. This story follows Oskar and Queen Emanouella’s stories of how they met and how they traversed through the prophecy, then ends inside the story of A Sea of Echoes.

These two had my heart hurting through the whole story.

[Oboeyoudidnt · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book even tho we know the ending for em it still gutted me to get the reasoning and reactions from everyone else. I feel like this book honestly is so crucial to the storyline u get a deep dive into just how important em was to the story and how much she really wanted to rewrite everyone's story. all that to say Im sad they couldn't get their happy ending 😭 the writing in this book did not fail its so poetic and their love THEIR LOVE i wanted it to live on so badly. honestly was shocked at some connections and some questions were answered so so excited to read book 2!!!

[Kristen Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to watch narrator Amelia Hugh record this audiobook live on TikTok and was completely blown away. It seems like Misty D. Waters writes so effortlessly. You can tell she enjoys reading her own books as much as (if not more than) writing them. This book was for the fans of A Sea of Echoes and really paints a backstory to what is happening. I wish I could listen to this for the first time again 🥹

[Alexia Muelle-Rushbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tragic yet beautiful story fills in the gaps from a Sea of Echoes perfectly.

Jumping time in clear frames, Oscar and the queen's love story sets a poignant framework as the prophecy which has hung over the king comes to fruition.

ASOE left the story ready for the sequel, yet this book prepares for it from another angle really cleverly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. 5 stars for both story and narration - the latter really is floorless.

[Summer Munroe {sum.mun.reads} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m wrecked. Misty weaves magic with her words and the narrator Amelia Hugh…I just love her. The audio book is top tier. Misty writes characters so well, you cannot help but love them…or hate them passionately. This book is a continuation of and a backstory for The Sea of Echoes and should be read after reading A Sea of Echoes. It hurts, but it is just so so good.
I can’t wait for the next installment in this story. Oh my gosh.

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book

O wow what a beautiful tragic love story. Must say Misty now how to pull on your heartstings. Please note if you are considering reading or listening to this book you need to start with A Sea of Echoes as there is spoilers in this book. Amy/Amelia did such a good job and I definitely can recommend both books in this series.

[Peggy Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful and enthralling

This writer takes us on a very special journey as the prologue for Sea of Echos. We have a beautiful tragic love story with an intelligent female protagonist. Emanuella survives to keep a promise that ensures a prophesy continues. You will find yourself in her corner all the way. Misty D Waters keeps you captivated hanging on every scene.

[Leviosaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great edition to the series and provides more context to the events leading up to book one. It is definitely tragic, as the title suggests, but highlights the strength and power of a deep and abiding love. 💕

[Alejandra Romero (lali_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complete and utter emotional destruction that is this novella.
It complemented and filled in the storyline of A Sea of Echoes beautifully. Amazing writing and storytelling. I'm super excited for the next book in this series

[Natalie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you didn’t read the main book this one wouldn’t make that much sense! But that being said if you did this was such a cute and tragic love story that add so much more back story and depth to the first novel !

[Kianna Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this knowing how tragically the love story ends and then learning it’s even more devastating than originally thought physically hurt

Misty’s writing is so poetic it’s impossible to not feel everything the characters feel

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this! Can’t wait for the next series. There are some misspelled spellings on the names but either way.. this is still so good!

[Emily Bernier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutted. But also, Oskar deserves to love again.

[Alan Womack · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautiful but I had really hard time with who the names were and the story kind of foreshadowed and I got lost some. Overall, great heartbreaking story. Definitely not a HEa