"Dynamic characters fuel a rousing tale of magic, erotic longings, and faraway lands." - Kirkus Reviews
They may fall, but she will rise.
Cyra of Fernweh is perfectly content to spend her days making wine on her family’s vineyard after being left there as an infant twenty-two years earlier. Those in the outer lands are not especially hospitable to anyone with magic, so only her brothers know that Cyra uses her meager elemental gifts to light stove fires and water crops around the vineyard. When her life is threatened one day, however, Cyra draws on a much greater magic she didn’t know she possessed to save herself. In doing so, she accidentally lands herself in trouble with the Triumvirate Lords of Thasia.
Torn from her home and summoned before the lords, including the dangerous and feared Lord Bressen, Cyra learns that a seer’s vision predicted she will cause the downfall of the Triumvirate. With the help of Samhail, a huge warrior who gives new meaning to the idea of rock-hard muscles, Cyra is forced to navigate a world of power, passion, and political intrigue to discover how she’s involved in the coming crisis before the lords decide to remove her as a threat to their power and their lives.
As old enemies emerge to settle grudges and new ones prove willing to do anything for their ambition, what Cyra discovers about herself and her growing powers could put her in more danger than she ever dreamed possible. Fighting for her life, though, may prove easier than fighting her desires.
The Last Triumvirate is Book 1 of a six-book series.
“It is a FANTASTIC novel! I haven’t read such well-written fantasy in a while. Lots of humor and badassery.” - Advanced Reader
Content Advisory: This book includes mature (18+) subjects that may be upsetting to some readers. For a complete list of triggers and tropes, please see the book page on the author's website.
Karen C.P. McDermott grew up reading historical romance novels and had dreams of one day writing them. When she later discovered the fantasy romance genre and realized that making up worlds was more fun than doing historical research, a new calling was born. The Last Triumvirate is her debut novel. When not writing ‘smut,’ Karen makes wine, gardens, does pottery, and conducts scholarly research on ‘trash talk.’ She’s been cited as an expert on this topic by ESPN and the BBC.
This book came across my KU recommendations and I decided to give it a try based on the description. The story starts with a baby being left with mortal parents by a silver eyed stranger. The family is reluctant to take her because she's not fully mortal but in the end decides to keep her and raise her as their own. fast forward and Cyra is now 22 and running a vineyard with her brother. She has very rudimentary magic with fire and water elements and one day they come to her aid when she's attacked by a bear. A power she didn't know she had emerged and catches the radar of the Triumvirate lords because a seer claims Cyra will be the downfall of two of the three lords. She ends up being whisked away from her land by Samhail and thrown into a world of politics she wasn't prepared for but has to quickly learn if she wants to eventually go back home to her brothers.
I was hesitant about the story at first cause I couldn't tell what kind of world this was. It seemed very modern in phrasing but in practice it was very medieval with horseback riding and bucket baths. I didn't expect them to speak like it's the Victorian era but it was also giving 2025 at the same time. A lot of time there was info dumps so there is definitely a lot of telling versus showing. However when Cyra began to get involved with Bressen the dialogue became way more conversational.
The relationship between Cyra, Bressen and Samhail was an interesting one. The intimate scenes were incredibly hot (looking at you wine cellar). However, I definitely had a bit of a different expectation based on the build up and what actually occurred was different. I still liked it but I also wanted more. The ending wrapped up nicely despite a lot of tension points. There was a nice plot twist I didn't see coming with the villains. I probably won't continue with the series because I liked the way it ended and the teaser epilogue for the next book seems extra dark and not my cup of tea.
I was very intrigued when I started reading The Last Triumvirate. The story had a good flow and the characters and dialogue were so well written and flowed very effortlessly. The world and characters were very well thought out and grabbed my attention from the first page. But THE. SPICY. PARTS. PROTECTOR. HELP. ME.🌶🌶🌶 Let's just say I will never look at wine cellars the same way again 🥵🥵 I loved it from the first page and would recommend it to everyone that likes adventure, strong femme leads and a little spice in their life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Last Triumvirate has its strengths in terms of world-building and a compelling protagonist, but it also has its flaws in pacing and character development.
If you enjoy books with magical elements and political intrigue, it might be worth giving it a read.
A must read romantacy!! Cyra, a strong independent young woman, gets swept away to stay at a citadel with 2 insanely hot men and 2 old creepy men who want her dead. Oh and she might destroy everything. Add in some very sexy smut, creative magic, and a unique world. My personal fave is Samhail, the male leads best friend, but the entire cast is amazing, right down to the villains.
This book was fantastic!!!! It was a great storyline with wonderful twists and quite a few surprises. This fantasy world is so fully and well developed that you can tell there is a whole plethora of details beneath the surface just waiting to be discovered or puzzled out. The prologue sucks you in at the beginning and makes you fall in love with a secondary character that ends up making you fall in love with the primary character. (who is a strong a** woman that stands up for herself and is snappy a heck!!!!) Last but not least: Here there be smut! And well written smut, I might add! This story covers the whole breath of a developing relationship with just the right amount of loving and bickering. The amount of love and care put into this story shines through throughout.
Overall. I adored this book and am looking forward to rereading it to see what details I can pick up that I missed.
Read this twice. Second time was even better than the first. The author wove a great tale of fantasy, romance, magic, and intrigue against a fantastic backdrop of a larger world. It's a good easy read that , despite having 500 pages, leaves you wanting more. With a strong female protagonist who has a wit that reminds you of earlier days of movies and television with the snappy banter, this book offers a lust to love romance that readers of Sarah J Maas will thoroughly enjoy. For those who enjoy reading political intrigue, the love triangle is set against a mysterious backdrop of magic as Cyra's powers awaken and an a seer's vision that threatens the Triumvirate Lords. The last chapter and epilogue promise for more to come. Can't wait for the next chapter
I’m always curious to read a book by a new author, and k.p. definitely peeked my curiosity! Though this is my first exposure to this genre of romance and fantasy intertwined, I finished the book in just 5 days and thoroughly enjoyed it! Very well written, very interesting & unexpected twists and turns, and I am left disappointed only due to the fact that I don’t have a second book in the series to read yet! Kudos…..The last triumvirate is a great start on what I hope to be the beginning of a great series!
I went into this book blind. I think I ran across it while looking for an mmf to read. To clarify, it is an MFM. I love it when I read a book for the smut, but the storytelling is so good that it makes me invested in the characters. I think Cyra had many unnecessary overthinking moments, but I enjoyed her being a strong FMC, and I loved the banter between her, Samhill, and Bresson. I’m definitely reading book 2. The epilogue in this one leads me to believe it may be a bit darker, and I’m all for that.
I didn’t know what to expect when this book was described to me as “medieval porn” but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved this book so much! The characters were amazing and just so enjoyable! The plot was so enticing I couldn’t wait to see what would come next! And the spice was amazing! I have never read anything like this, I love fantasy and romance and spice and this book had it all! my only qualm is that I have to wait for more books! :)
this took me ages to read because i forgot reading existed and spiralled into the void oops.
anyway this book had a great plot it was so unique and i loved it. but then like half way through the book the plot is completely gone and everyone’s just shagging all the time and then the whole plot is shagging everyone’s just freaking it left right and centre and that’s all that happens for a solid 200 pages. these characters are so horny
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that has completely sucked me into the story. I couldn’t put it down. An intriguing plot, well-developed characters, plenty of humor, several spicy scenes 🥵….when can I preorder book 2?!
When I first started this I thought I wasn't going to get into it. I quickly was proven wrong. The world building, characters, and the plot line were all so amazing. I can't wait to read what is next in this world of characters.
A must read fantasy/romantasy book! Such an enjoyable read, loved the plot, loved the characters, no frustrating miscommunication or non communication, spice was very nice and great world building! Can’t wait to read the next book!
I loved all the characters in this book. And I enjoyed the story premise. It wasn't too complicated and kept me wanting to read more. It didn't take long, like 30 pages, to get into the story, which I liked. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
I loved the world created in these pages and I loved the strong feminist FMC. The attention to detail by the author pays off big time for the reader. Oh and the sex is hot.
The plot: a relatively unremarkable girl with hidden potential and little romantic experience gets whisked away to a fae- er, magical land where there's a high lord- sorry, triumvirate lord, with a very dark reputation involving his ability to invade and manipulate or destroy minds, and who turns out to be the ideal male- generous lover, considerate and empowering, with a ridiculously large wingspan. Which is all highly familiar, but if the plot works in ACOTAR, it works just as well here.
Spice: I was expecting far more kink after reading the trigger warning about "non traditional" proclivities but considering two love interests are hinted at in the book summary and the two males in question are very close friends, you can easily guess in exactly what way the heat level turns up. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of graphic sex scenes, but nothing shocking. Although, my expectations might be skewed after Feathers So Vicious and Haunting Adeline.
All in all, not a bad book. A good palate cleanser between series. Honestly, my biggest complaint (and I realize it's silly) is that at least twice the author uses the word peaked instead of peeked. It wouldn't bother me as much if she didn't also use the word peak correctly, so she must know they're two distinct words. Again, I know it's a ridiculous thing to get hung up on, but I found it distracting.
Wow - this book is legitimately on of the best, most engaging books I've read in a while. It hooked me nearly immediately, and I haven't been able to put it down since.
The characters are fully fleshed out and really interesting, I'd fallen in love with a number of then when I was barely a tenth of the way through the book. The humor is sassy, sly, sarcastic, dry, and unexpected in turns, but it's been making me laugh throughout. The fantasy world is complex and interesting, and avoids the trap of a brick wall of exposition you can find in some fantasy stories.
The author really knows how to build tension, hooking the reader in, ramping up the tension, the excitement, knowing when to lessen it at the right times with some humor or romance, then go straight back to keeping you on the edge of your seat. She has a gift for really making you invest in the characters, seeing this from her main character Cyra's point of view, and subverting your expectations and avoiding the easy or the expedient response in favor of a richer, more complex one.
I really can't wait to see what happens, where we go from here. I haven't traditionally been big into fantasy romance fiction, but this book has HOOKED me, and can't let me go. A splendid first outing from the author, and I hope her writing career flourishes so I can keep reading her books for many years to come.
Fast-paced and engaging, it captures a fantasy world complete with compelling characters and conflicts.
We get Cyra, a winemaker who is also an untrained elemental whose full magical talents are unknown. Samhail, a forbidding (and hot!) warrior representative of the Lords of the Triumvirate whose physical and magical talents are substantial. Bressen, one of the three Lords of the Triumvirate whose mind-control prowess is terrifying (and often hot!).
I love prophecy novels, and this one doesn't disappoint. The set-up is great, with a prophecy that a winemaking perimortal from the outer lands will cause the death of two of the three Lords of the Triumvirate. Like most prophecies, it lacks detail. Which two? How will their deaths occur? Deliberately or accidentally? By what means?
The characters are great (and some of them have wings!). The story is well-plotted. The sex is steamy. The fight scenes are clearly described and innovative. The wine and food are almost tasteable.
For me, there's also a lot of pleasure here in the metafictional elements. There's nothing that slows down the story, but if you're looking, you'll notice homages to other fantasy novels alongside sometimes tongue-in-cheek transgressions of some of the more tired conventions of fantasy-romance.
I loved this novel and I'm looking forward to Book 2!
I wanted to love this book and was into it through the first half when I felt like things screeched to a halt and things I’d given grace to in the beginning became bigger flaws. It’s was almost like the author forgot about the great characters she started to develop and dropped them flat in favor of copious amounts of mediocre sex. These characters could have been clever and complex but after a bit just accepted their circumstances as default instead of pursuing a resolution or even just more information. FMC was told she couldn’t go certain places and proceeded to continually frolic to all of those locations without consequences or suspicion. Even the end, which I thought was otherwise great failed on the details, seeming to forget details of main characters. Send Cyra to the Priory during her initial weeks of boredom and even if she fails it would at least make more sense.
"The Last Triumvirate" by Karen is an enchanting journey into a captivating fantasy realm. I was completely and utterly drawn into the story that unfolds with a perfect blend of intrigue and magic, accompanied by meticulous character development. It was advised that the novel is rather lengthy, but it grips the reader from the first page with its compelling plot and leaves a lasting impression with its well-crafted characters. The main protagonist, a strong and humorous girl, is absolutely amazing; and the male heroes and their interactions with Cyra add a refreshing dynamic to the narrative. PS. And Samhail is my favorite.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Okay so I don’t like the fmc she’s annoying, bratty, constantly getting herself in dumb situations and she don’t act like a 22 year old she act 17-18 the book was good up until everything start becoming about her and bressen after they slept together everything was bressen bressen bressen like the plot was forgotten for far to long she also lacks accountability the amount of times she blamed her stupidity on someone else is insane the characters lack emotional dept idk the story just wasn’t all that in the beginning the plot was really good but honestly it got flat after a while tbh I didn’t read any “ spicy scenes “ because she seemed like a literally child so yeah.
The story is about a young woman named Cyra who is given to a family that owns a vineyard as a baby and comes into some strong and unsuspecting powers in her early 20s. Her power surge does not go unnoticed and she is suddenly swept up in a world of magic, politics, and power. This book is very well written and sweeps you into this world with abandon. The story features a strong female lead, love triangle, intrigue, and several spicy scenes! Great blend of romance, main plot, and sub plots. And that epilogue!! Can't wait for book two!!
If you love fantasy or paranormal romance and some spicy scenes, this book and series is for you!!
I rarely write reviews and never purchase books. I am in the same Facebook group as the author and she posted her book and I decided to take a chance and purchase the book. I am so glad that I did!!
I read this book in 2 days and it was fantastic.
From the very first page, readers are drawn into a world brimming with lush landscapes, and creatures both wondrous and terrifying. The world-building is nothing short of spectacular, with every detail meticulously crafted to create a setting that feels both immersive and utterly captivating.
I am looking forward to reading more by Karen C.P. McDermott
4/5 stars 2/5 spice Wow this book really took me on a journey! From the unique magical powers to the hierarchy to just the insane plot I was so hooked. Much like fantasy books the world building is a little heavy but once things got going it did not stop. This book had some absolutely delicious spice and more than generous sharing of the FMC. Along with the amazing action there was such sweet moments peppered in. I fell in love with the characters! They were relatable and made the story that much more enjoyable. If you are a fantasy lover this is a great book to pick up. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
I am not usually a fantasy reader but The Last Triumvirate had me hooked from the first chapter! It had some of my favorite things…strong female main character, badass male main characters, and touch her and die vibes. The world building and character development were amazing. I absolutely loved all the little banter between the main characters. The story kept me interested and guessing throughout the entire book and I couldn’t seem to put it down. Bressen definitely grew on me throughout the book but Samhail will always have my heart!
4.5⭐ I genuinely love this book I was hooked since the first page however I didn't know that there was going to be a love triangle and I didn't know that she wasn't going to end up with both of them and I really really wanted her to end up with Samhail but then I really wanted her to at least be a throuple with him and Bressen the ending broke my heart it's clear that they care for each other deeply I'm just sad the aren't together together yk. The ending was so abrupt and disturbing because of the context girl I was shocked......But I can't wait to read the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book has good story building and a little suspense with mystery to keep you engaged while the author builds the world for you. The characters are well developed and the relationships with the characters are thought out. The book does get spicy. The build to the final part of the book is done very well but the way things play out for resolution just seems to happen to quickly. All in all I enjoyed this read and plan to read the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. It caught my interest right from the beginning and kept it throughout. I've read a lot in the fantasy genre, but this was my first fantasy romance. I'll be back for more in the sequel to this book, and this time I won't make the mistake of read some of the spicier parts while out in public!