Harboring a secret obsession with magic, Leo studies for years, making little progress until fate knocks on her door—and Sebastian steps in. The wizard is more than happy to teach her, so long as she agrees to marry his cousin–Prince Dimitri Nathair.
But the prince has a secret as well.
Finding her fairy-tale cage quickly closing in, Leo escapes–right into the hands of a man whose intention she has yet to divine.
He never meant to become a living legend–Fael is just willing to do whatever it takes to protect his home. An aptitude for bloodshed and a simmering hatred for nobility means he is happy to investigate the rumors threatening Umbri–until he’s ordered to kill the princess in question. Fael is torn between duty and instinct. Then everything takes a turn even a scoutmaster can’t anticipate.
Battling monsters, bounty hunters, and unexpected feelings, Leo and Fael must choose if two kingdoms worth of lies and loyalty will keep them apart, or if they’ll accept the challenge to close the gap between who they are,
and who they want to be.
A sword and sorcery, slow burn, low/no spice romantic fantasy with monsters, wizards, poetry, and a tiny bit of possession.
I already miss these characters 🥺 this book reminded me of robin Hood, but with fae and dragons. I hope there's more romance in the next book. This book had everything fae,magic,dragons,giants and wizards. This is a perfect book for anyone her likes slow burn. i can't wait for book 2
The Wingbreaker has, simply put, blown my mind away. Megan Mossgrove has managed to write a fantasy novel that just oozes poetry and lyrical writing paired with the sweetest slow-burn romance and woven into an enthralling tale of light & dark magic, court intrigue, impending conflicts, and so so much more. This is the first book in her Sundered Stone series, and I am so happy I got to be a part of the ARC team. The Wingbreaker is being released on July 15th!
I did not want to part with the story and its characters; who needs sleep when it is so engrossing and encompassing? There were so many eerie, heart-wrenching moments that I just wanted to reach into the book and join the characters.
So, who or what is a wingbreaker? The title belongs to the MMC, Fael, giving him an idol-like background. But he is more than a title; he is a product of a brutal upbringing, yearning to prove his worth to his people and kingdom. However, when he is tasked with the unthinkable—to watch and ultimately kill the princess of another kingdom—his world is shattered. He is torn between his duty and his heart, a wounded soul needing healing and love. Little did he know, he might find that in Leo, the princess he was meant to kill.
And Leo... Oh, I loved her character. Living in a gilded cage, constantly under watch, but wanting to spread her wings and fly. Little did she know all it took for her to take that step finally was the possibility of an arranged marriage to a foreign prince with a secret and a dashing Fae with his own mission.
Their relationship, a slow-burn romance, was a joy to witness. Leo and Fael, in their own ways, were constantly saving and healing each other, often without even realizing it. Despite the dangers and the secrets that followed them, they were a perfect fit. Their love story, though slow in its progression, was a treasure worth waiting for.
Add to that some wonderful side characters, like Sebastian, a friend and a mentor to Leo, and her brother Callum, and you get a story you will never want to let go.
The Wingbreaker will gift you - a magical world filled with fae, wizards, and other races - lyrical writing style - light and dark magic - curses and curse-breaking - slow-burn romance - forced proximity - found family and so much more!
I was so grateful to have received an ARC for this beautiful story!
this book follows Leo, a princess betrothed to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. She runs away with a soldier to escape her pretty cage. Meeting all kinds of monsters along the way, she journeys to find the truth behind many secrets!
this was a great read! I loved the monsters and the action! the banter was perfect and I loved that he was her constant comfort even when she wouldn’t admit it!
if you liked the lyrical writing of When the Moon Hatched, you will love this! very very different story but the poetry & writing is similar to that vibe!
TROPES: ✨ forced proximity ✨ he bandages her wounds ✨ wizards & sorcery ✨ monsters ✨ light & dark magic ✨ only one bed but he sleeps on the floor
This book was SO good. I found myself sucked into the story from the very start and loved it the whole way though.
The romantic aspect is truly slow burn but the story was still fast paced! The world building was great and I loved getting to know the characters as they worked to figure things out.
I really appreciated how some of the more familiar fantasy races weren’t overly explained, while some that could be less known to some had a little extra details given. It left no confusion while also keeping the story from dragging.
The poems every few chapters were also a really cool touch that I loved, I think I highlighted almost all of them.
So many elements of this world and its magics were truly unique and I loved some of the creatures we meet! This book does build up to the second (being written as of the day I’m writing this), and I can’t wait for the next! I’m so invested in this story and can’t wait to see what Megan comes up with next.
To sum up, if you’re looking for a minimal spice fantasy read, definitely give The Wingbreaker a try!
I was completely engrossed in this book! The story, the characters l, the setting! It was all so enchanting! Very fast paced and a slow burn at the same time loved it! Thank you, Megan, for the chance to ARC read this amazing book! Pround of you! P.S. Love the dedication to Mrs. Fuller! One of my fave teachers of all time!
It's quite a unique storyline that definitely kept me intrigued, but it's a slow, long journey. The characters grow on you over time, and it's a sweet love story, but the chemistry is somewhat lacking for me. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the next book.
This book pulled me in so fast, my head was spinning!! The Wingbreaker is a magical and romantic adventure, Book One in the Sundered Stone series. The FMC, who likes to be called Leo, is a princess who did not inherit her family’s magical talents – so she has spent years of her prolonged (fae) life researching magic and how to attain it. Our story begins as she meets not one but three men: a foreign prince, coming to woo her; his companion, a magician who can teach her; and a stranger on the street, with surprising impulses to protect her. I honestly wasn’t sure what her romantic leanings would be and that certainly kept the pages turning in the beginning!
Several of the characters in this story were fabulous, including both main characters, and I’m missing them already. I’m excited, too, that I’ll have a bit more time with at least some of them in a short story available from the author (website/newsletter). It was great to read a book where the FMC was older, yet because of her fae heritage, she still had the appeal of a young woman. But the fae’s enhanced life span wasn’t just a convenient plot device. It impacted the lives, and life paths, of many of the characters, providing a lot of their motivations. Leo was frequently impulsive, headstrong, and naïve, which I find is frequently overdone in books, but Leo’s approach made sense. She was working hard to fulfill her own goals, and while her actions frequently frustrated others, there was a consistent logic.
Many events and interactions in this book were quite thoughtful, including how characters’ loyalties and relationships shifted over time. The pace was excellent in the first half of the book, although I felt a couple transitions in the second half were a bit abrupt. I liked the dual point of view and the at times lyrical writing. Each chapter also began with a bit of poetry or an excerpt from a text.
I’m looking forward to Book 2, which doesn’t have a release date yet, although a companion short story will come out fairly soon. There are a lot of mysteries yet to be explored, in the history and in the current events, and I can’t wait to learn more about them.
I was honored to receive an ARC of this in order to write this review.
Who Do I Think Will Love This Book Teenage me would have gone feral for this story. So I'm calling this a book for fantasy lovers who are hungry for characters that crave each other with a poetic, carnal longing. A book for readers who adore intriguing characters, plots with high stakes, beautiful settings, and world-trekking adventures. There's family put to the test, character wounds to heal, giants and prophecies, and a delightfully deep connection to magic.
Well Then Why Didn't You Rate it Five Stars I think I'm just too damn old, to be honest.
The two characters whose POV we read are almost insufferably h0rny for each other. I feel crass and disrespectful saying that and I promise there isn't anything badly written about it. I went into this book thinking I was a slow-burn lover. But after this I think I'm too old and tired to listen to two people torture themselves about how good the other one smells and looks for forty-five chapters. The prose is beautiful, teenage me would have swooned over it. But it's so much of the story...
In Summary I've waited a week to write this review because I wish I had more to say. There should be more for me to say. Throughout this book there's honestly an intriguing plot about attempted world destruction, magical forces, and tested family ties. But all I can remember is that Leo smells like almonds and Fael's chest is broad and muscly, and I think that means I'm just too old to properly appreciate this book. But if you're still a romantic whippersnapper, you'll swoon, and I do recommend giving it a try.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Genre: High Fantasy Tropes & Themes: Forced Proximity, Only One Bed, Multiple Love Interests, Dark Magic, Royal Politics, Slow Burn Spice: Very little to non Triggers: Yes: Anxiety rep
Review
The Wingbreaker is an immersive high fantasy tale following two unlikely strangers who meet in a dark ally when the handsome half-fae MMC saves the fiery half-fae princess FMC from a mugging. Our main characters have instant chemistry and their relationship changes both for the better and worse throughout the book, always keeping us wondering what will happen next. It was an absolute joy to see them grow together and overcome difficulties, both personal ones and issues between the two of themselves. With some of my favourite tropes, including forced proximity, slow burn, only one bed and duty vs want, I seriously loved the romance side of things in this book!
Their journey takes place in a vast, magic filled world that reminded me heavily of LOTR. Every city was written vividly and had it's own extensive cultural personality, making the reader feel like they had actually visited the place in real life. There was a vast amount of diverse races that all had different histories and ways to use magic. The world building in this book was beautifully written and interwoven with the characters plights and adventure so it didn't feel overwhelming and did not fall into the typical first-100-pages-of-world-building stereotype that many Fantasy books do in the first novel of a series.
The magic system is broad and intriguing. So much was set up in this book, including new places and people to meet and new plot points to unearth in the next novel, I seriously cannot wait until it comes out!
P.S I love Sebastian so much, his is such a cinnamon bun and if anything happens to him in book 2 I WILL RIOT!!
I read The Wingbreaker as an ARC read and so grateful I was able to have the opportunity!
Summary: Leo is a princess but one who loves her freedom and loves to bend the rules. She finds herself in a surprise arranged marriage with Prince Dimitri but he has a dark secret that shocks Leo. His cousin has been helping Leo with her magic in the meantime but he knows about his cousins secret. She escapes and Fael escapes with her and the two are in hiding. Fael’s intentions and identity aren’t clear to Leo and she finds herself feeling betrayed as she discovers who he really is. When Fael finds himself in trouble, Leo has to make a decision whether she chooses him or not.
Thoughts: This book was SOOO good! I am usually a romance reader with lots of spice but I do enjoy a fantasy here and there and this was perfect. It didn’t even need any spice (this is a low spice read). The tension and build up between Fael and Leo was perfect 👌🏽 The right amount of tension and slow burn between them hit the spot for me.
The plot was well built and I was hooked just after the first few chapters. The chemistry and connection between the characters was also well thought out and you could really be immersed in it and connect with the characters.
There is also the build up to the second book in the series and I cannot wait for it! It’s already on my TBR. If you’re looking for a fantasy read, I highly recommend this one ✨
Let me preface by saying I read this in under 48 hours… and if I didn’t need sleep or adulting, it likely would have been under 24 hours!
This high fantasy fiction pulls you in and doesn’t let go. You journey with Leo, the headstrong FMC, who escapes the castle, evades her guards, and has a love of magic. Leo’s determination and courage make her a captivating protagonist.
The two MMCs, Sebastian and Fael, are equally swoon-worthy and each play a pivotal role in Leo’s growth and journey. One teaches her magic while the other helps break down her barriers. The story is filled with secrets, monster battles, bounty hunters, and the classic duty vs. honor conflict. The anticipation builds perfectly, leading to the angst of will they or won’t they, and whether they will overcome everything thrown at them.
The supporting characters, Prince Dimitri (Sebastian’s brother and Leo’s betrothed) and Prince Callum (Leo’s brother), add depth to the storyline. The dynamic between them enriches the narrative.
If you enjoy fantasy, minimal/slow burn romance, sword and sorcery, and poetry…oh, and my fave, One Tent, I HIGHLY recommend The Wingbreaker - available on KU.
**The Wingbreaker, a NA romantic fantasy:** 🗡️High Fantasy 🖤Sword and Sorcery 🗡️SLOW slow Burn Romance 🖤Reluctance to Lovers 🗡️No/Low Spice 🖤Poetry 🗡️Monsters 🖤Secret Cinnamon Roll MC 🗡️Mostly Indignant Wizard Princess FMC
-The world this story was set in was so beautiful and I really fell into it perfectly. I like the mix of humans, fae and the magical aspect. The little seances between Leo and Sebastian were really nice to read with the learning of magic and I also really loved the quest aspect of the whole story. The journey was really great and I loved the development of the storyline.
-The characters were great to read about. I really liked the relationship between Fael and Leo. At first I wasn’t sure who the love interest would be since I felt like she had quite nice chemistry with Sebastian and then was engaged to Dimitri but once she had embarked on her journey with Fael, I knew it had to be him. They had really fun banter and the development from reluctant allies to slowly falling in love, it was so sweet.
-I feel like this could be read as a standalone, the last few lines do give off the feeling that there will be a sequel but as a whole, the main story itself had the closure that I felt like it needed. The last sentence does keep me curious as to what it means and what will happen during the aftermath of everything.
I received an ARC of this book and I am so happy I did. It was a fun read. Very sweet, slow-burn fantasy romance with characters that I enjoyed reading about! I like the FMC and her journey throughout the book (both literally and figuratively). I like that she had to come into herself, that she had to admit her flaws and weaknesses in order to grow stronger (much like we all have to do throughout our lives). It made her character relatable and loveable honestly.
I love the transitional poetry that is used throughout the book. I want to go back to the beginning and read them all again now that I know whose perspective they are written from :) The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger and I will absolutely be ready for book 2 when it is released.
Though I enjoyed the world-building, I feel like the author can go so much deeper with it and hope that she will in the next book. There were so many questions at the end of this one, but I am invested to find out how things end!
i was lucky enough to receive an arc of this book and im so grateful for it!!! this is an NA romantic fantasy with monsters, wizards and the slowest of slow burns 😮💨
i thoroughly enjoyed this book! the world building was done super well- and the characters were built up in such a nice way; especially Fael, I loved his build up and arc of who he was! 💙 I also loved the determination of our fmc Leo. she knew who she wanted to be and what she wanted to do and she wasn’t going to let anyone stop her & she shows so many empowering traits & values that we loveeeeee to see in women!!!!
i was truly hooked throughout this whole book- wanting to know where the adventure was going to go next & it truly delivered!!! the ending left me wanting to know so much more and left it open for book 2 incredibly well! super excited for more of these characters & the romance in the future❤️
Leo is Arnell’s princess and though she doesn’t have the Blood of Kings she finds a way to use magic. Fael is Umbri’s hero, the slayer of the Griffin and an assassin. When these two feel a pull towards one another will they choose love or the duty of their kingdoms?
“Is it worth the war between our kingdoms? The love of the Wingbreaker?”
This book contains magic, fae, monsters, and other fantasy creatures and beings. It has some of my favorite tropes being a secret cinnamon roll mmc, one bed, and duty vs love. This book is a slow burn and you find yourself falling in love with these characters as the book goes on. I’m a sucker for “the corners of his mouth twitched” moments. It just feels so sweet, so flirty you know what I mean? I also loved Sebastian as a character, he comes a little later but is so good. And his nickname for Leo is “Cub” are you kidding??! So good.
I am very grateful for the ARC copy and the paperback I won from the author's newsletter. First off, the cover is beautiful! Second, I greatly enjoyed this book. I didn't know what to expect, given it being a new published author, but I was pleased. This slow burn adventure kept me intrigued and asking, "what next!?" I loved the characters as well as the continuous plot points and movement. One character I hope to read more about in the next book is Tor. I was taken back by the cursing, and believe it could do without the language, but it did not overpower the story. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one!
The Wingbreaker was a fun fantasy book. Filled with magic, political intrigue, creatures, giants, and a sloooow burn romance, this book makes for an entertaining read.
As for the content, it’s action packed, entertaining, and unique. The writing was good, characters were well developed, and the world building really well done.
I really enjoyed Leo and Fael’s story, though the back and forth between love and hate was almost enough to give me whiplash! Just get on with it already. Ha. Otherwise, this was a really fun read.
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On the fantasy side of things...this was great! The magic system was unique while being simple enough to follow the different levels of magic users. We didn't encounter too many magical beings beyond Fae, an Orc, and a Giant, but the scary mythical creatures sure made up for it!
This is a slow burn, it was intended to be. It has no spice to low level spice. The slow burn aspect had me wanting to screech for something to happen because the tension between characters was perfection.
The chapters flowed, and one thing lead to another in a very organic way that had me not trying to guess at what was going to come next!
This was an excellent read. The Wingbreaker follows the story revolving Leo, our FMC, a strong-willed princess of the kingdom of Arnell, who encounters Fael, our MMC and main romantic interest, a famous soldier from a neighboring kingdom of Umbri that is given the task to collect intel and interfere with the rumored alliance between Arnell and Corsair, consummated by the marriage of the princess with the prince of Corsair. Leo is oblivious to this. Events unfold with Leo taking center stage and showing an amazing amount of growth with new development of magic. So if you are into Romantasies, with half-faes, giants, humans, wizards, evil powers and monsters that will leave you clamoring for more at the end? Then read this book! A stunning debut. I could not stop reading the last 140-150 pages because the action was so intense. The writing is superb and I cannot stop thinking about these characters.
What a phenomenal book!! Fae, sorcery, hidden pockets of magic, giants... The Wingbreaker is an amazing book to escape into.
Princess Madeline Leonora Galentya, aka Leo, wants to be more than an ordinary princess. Leo dreams of serving her kingdom in ways that make it into history book, but as the saying goes... be careful what you wish for.
Fael, on the other hand, wishes only to defend weak without breaking orders.
Together, Leo and Fael, could not be a more unsuitable pair if they tried.
I was lucky enough to be selected as an Arc reader for this book, but suffice to say I’ll be purchasing a copy when it’s officially released as well. I love Leo and Fael, but the characters and the story are hard not to fall in love with. As a lover of romantasy, the idea of no to low spice worried me at first, but the tension and build up of the relationship is beautifully written.
The ending sets you up for another book, but I wouldn’t call it a cliff hanger by any means. I cannot wait for the next book and am both excited and fearful for what’s next. In the best way of course.
The Wingbreaker sparkled for me. It had that extra something that I couldn’t quite place, but set me ambling down through the marketplace and the forest right alongside the dwarves and giants—and ORCS!!!! Satyr, you have my whole heart.
The pacing meandered and flit very much like a hummingbirds wings, in a way that was both honest and spelling for the story. I loved Seb—and loved Fael… I honestly can’t quite place a favorite right now. And Leo was totally relatable, while also being true to herself.
This book is absolutely phenomenal, my new Roman Empire, and I will not stop recommending it. I don't think I have adequate words to describe the way Megan drew me in, kept me enthralled, broke me, put me back together, and then dropped a bombshell....I loved every second of it. I wish I could read this book again for the first time, even though I just finished it three seconds ago. I hope everyone reads this book and has the chance to fall in love with Leo's world and her people. Easily one of top five books is 2024; I'm calling it now, even though it's only July.
This lovely romantasy was filled with so many beautiful, magical, eerie, and heart filled moments!
Princess Madeline Leonora, also known as Leo, wants to spend days hidden in her kingdom’s library studying magic, but finds the expectations of royal life driving her mad. When a chance encounter with a dashing stranger named Fael leaves Leo feeling intrigued, she later finds herself seeking out his help after discovering her father’s plans of marrying her off to the human prince, Dimitri. But Dimitri and his mysterious cousin Sebastian have motives and secrets of their own, that could either help or destroy Leo and those she loves and cares for. Fael finds himself battling against the secret and conflicting task at hand-he was sent to spy on the princess but must now kill her, to prevent the human-fae alliance from happening. However, falling in love with his target was never the plan.
This story was so fun, dark, mystical, and the magic! I love reading stories where wizards and folklore play a huge role in the story. Leo is such a relatable character! And I truly enjoyed seeing her dynamic with Fael and how they both battle against their growing feelings at play in the midst of keeping their own political alliances.
Someone else commented how this story had Robin Hood vibes and I totally agree!
I cannot wait to read book 2!
Romantic Content: Low Spice in Last Chapter, Some Mild Innuendos, Discussions About Taking a Lover/Extramarital Affairs Within Arranged Marriages
TW: Fantasy Violence, Dark Magic, Murder, Sorcery, Mind Control, Poisioning
I got the absolute joy of getting to read this in advance thanks to Megan. What can I say what can I say! I loved everything about this book, it was cozy but fast paced the romance was not too slow but slow enough to make me yell at the kindle for them to hurry and get together! (Fael is now my new book boyfriend) lf you like magic, and banter this is the read for you, the last 15-20% had me ANXIOUS. The tension was so real. Great job on this debut and I can’t wait for more.
3.5 ⭐️ Very intriguing storyline with well rounded characters. There were areas that were on the slower end, not a lot happening. I was in love with Sebastian! He was definitely my favorite—so fun and had a lot of spunk. Our main character had a lot of internal conflicts that added to the inner turmoil of the story. If you like a good one bed trope and lots of banter, this is for you. A slow burn, no spicy spice so it’s a good book even for younger ages in my opinion.
They say a thousand words and more could pass in the silence of two people and Mossgrove has turned those words into beautiful description and exquisite story as Feal and Leo flee across the country. Mossgrove has brilliant instincts when it comes to writing that becomes evident in the subtle descriptions and word choices. As Romantacy continues to climb keep an eye out for Mossgrove and the rest of the Sundered stone series.
I absolutely loved every page of this story. It was an epic adventure where we learned so much about the magic system and lore…. and got to witness the most delicious slow burn. There are so many little pieces and tidbits of information that the author snuck in throughout the story that I KNOW are going to come back and play a much LARGER role. This story was an epic journey that I cannot wait to continue - ESPECIALLY after that ending. I’ll be thinking about Leo & Fael for days to come!
*Magic *Fae, Wizards, Giants *Princess FMC *Light and Dark Magic *Mythical creatures *Court Intrigue *Slow-burn Romance
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it kept my attention the whole time. I enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and MMC. Their slow-burn romance was balanced well with the light vs dark plot. I am excitedly waiting for the second book.
Summary: Leo is a princess who loves to bend the rules and is perfectly content being on her own and her freedom. When a neighboring kingdom comes to visit she finds out that her father has been planning an arranged marriage between Leo and Prince Dimitri from said kingdom. Leo decides to run away after discovering something is terribly wrong with the Prince. With the help of Fael, a man she met on one of her secret escapes outside the castle, she manages to flee her kingdom. Upon their travels, Leo discovers Fael's true identity and feels betrayed. Soon after she has to make a decision to choose Fael or leave his life in the fate of others.
The poems every few chapters gave an added touch to the story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Age level: Teen and up I do not know the series' planned spice level for future books.
High fantasy is BACK! Megan is an incredible story teller. Her world building is unmatched, the character arcs are DENSE and full of emotion. Her verbal imagery is subpar to none. You can picture every single thing that's happening like a movie playing out in your mind. Mark my words, Megan will absolutely be the next big name in Fantasy!