Courtships & Court Intrigue

Sunset at Dawn #0.5

by Jes Drew

He's the Sacred Prince.

She's his fated love—

And his promised destruction.



Otello has always been set apart in order to protect his purity, and thus the Empire's holiness. As the Sacred Prince, he accepts his role. Though he anticipates the day when his paths will cross with the woman his magic will imprint on as his future bride.

And then she's there, an elvish noblewoman sweeping him off his feet— quite literally. Otello knows she's his future empress, and is ready to promise her forever. There is just one problem, though.

He doesn't have a forever to promise.

Fate drew them together. Only magic can save him from its clutches.


The prequel short story of an epic closed-door romantic fantasy that's Robin Hood meets King Arthur as the fate of an empire is shaped by two stubborn lovers. Perfect for fans of Shari L. Tapscott, Alisha Klapheke, and Elise Kova. Please note that it is FREE to subscribers of the Jes Drew newsletter.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2024

About the author

Jes Drew is the author of 60+ books including the Cursed Fae of Orphydice Manor Series, the Sunset at Dawn trilogy, Love of Legends, and Bound by Death.

She has three degrees, including a Master of Arts in Behavioral Counseling. A gremlin that resembles a cat keeps her busy when she's not writing about hard-won happily ever afters.

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing prequel! I love Otello already, he’s so sweet yet smart and observant and clearly has better intuition about who he should trust then his father does, yet is clearly still young and therefore prone to mistakes and manipulation—ya know, he’s human and that’s why I already love him so much. And his friendship with Heinrich reeks of the Arthur and Merlin dynamic from BBC’s Merlin and I am SOOO here for it, as I love that type of friendship dynamic so much.

The worldbuilding is so rich here as well, which is impressive for such a short book without it becoming info dumpy, and even though I know quite a bit about this world through Jes’s other books set here she always puts new or different information in each one, making it feel very real and multi layered which I love to see in a vast world like this.

I really enjoyed this book and am excited (and nervous, not gonna lie) to read the main trilogy and see what happens next!


‼️Content‼️

Language: wench

Violence: a man is rumored to have executed his wife in the past (not detailed); a chandelier nearly falls on a character’s head; fighting with weapons (not detailed); lots of blood in a vision

Sexual: a character was born out of wedlock

Other: magic; magical abilities/powers; magical races/beings; a magical memory wipe is used on characters; a prophesy

[Magdalena Metzger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jes Drew's Prequel to the Sunset at Dawn series was an intriguing, magical glimpse into the life of Prince Otello, and his beloved to whom he will soon be betrothed, or so he thought. This was a real page turner, as I couldn't wait to see what happened next! Each unexpected twist and turn kept me compulsively reading, I couldn't put it down, eager to discover if they were truly going to begin their happily ever after, or if fate would stand in their way after drawing them together. This prequel ends on a cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to seeing how their love story plays out in the rest of the series. Jes Drew has a wonderfully poetic storytelling voice, and though this story was told through Prince Otello's point of view alone, she richly brings to life the secondary characters in such a way that you can't help but cheer for them too, and hope that they find their happy endings as well. This story was sweet, swoony and mysterious, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to start this series at the beginning of once upon a time.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was honored to receive a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[stephanie cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cover of Courtships & Court Intrigue by Jes Drew is absolutely breathtaking. I find myself endlessly fascinated by the intricate details that reflect key moments from the story.

As a prequel to an epic closed-door romantic fantasy, this book presents a captivating blend of Robin Hood and King Arthur. The fate of an empire hangs in the balance, driven by the intense dynamics between two headstrong lovers. The narrative is a genuine page-turner; each unexpected twist kept me hooked, unable to put the book down. I was on edge, eager to find out whether these characters would achieve their happily ever after or if destiny would conspire against them.

Ending on a cliffhanger, this prequel leaves me eagerly anticipating how their love story will unfold in the rest of the series.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read that sets up readers into the world of Sunset at Dawn, Courtships & Court Intrigue focuses on Prince Otello and his future with Elspeth. I always enjoy diving into stories that have elements from fairytales or legends, so reading that this will give readers some Robin Hood and King Arthur vibes was a big intrigue. While this may be a short read, I found it to be a well rounded read that really sets us up to more of this world and the characters. Focusing through the eyes of Otello was also a unique experience since we get more from Elspeth in the future books.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had everything that I was looking for from this world, it had that concept that I was hoping for and enjoyed this as a opening chapter. It was a great entry in the Sunset at Dawn series and left me wanting to read. Jes Drew wrote this perfectly and was engaged with the world.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Addison Michlig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel is lovely, and I wish I had read it sooner. It gives a little insight on what happens before Elspeth is thrown out of the palace and why he said he saved her. I loved hearing this from Otello's side because it shows how much he loves Elspeth before he even got to know her more. Can't wait to finish reading Betrayal and Bandatry so I can see more of these two.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jes Drew’s books so much, this was an addictive page turner with a great story, characters I could relate to and I need more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun fantasy romance story to serve as a prequel to the Sunset at Dawn series. I liked it and look forward to the series.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TaniaRina Valdespino]

Included in the "Of Storms and Stardust" charity anthology for victims of Hurricane Helene.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great prequel for the series! Romantic, mysterious, and interesting..

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 13k prequel short story to Betrayal & Banditry is FREE with any purchase of one of my books from The Signed Book Shop. That is the only way the ebook is available.