The Oracle of Dusk

Cycle of Calamity #2

by Elyse Thomson

An oracle should know better than to fall for a doomed king.

Aurora is a historian—not a prophesied hero. But the day she finds her first artefact, destiny pits her against the primordial monster that has repeatedly destroyed her world. Cornered by the beast, she escapes death when the artefact sends her to the ancient past and gifts her one chance to kill the monster before it’s unstoppable. Except it also lands her in the arms of King Theron, a handsome schemer infamous for his tragic fate.

Theron is a bad man but an excellent king. When a battlefield mishap sends him to an enemy queendom in chains, the last thing he expects to find is a beauty with the knowledge to save his kingdom and crush his foes. Tempted by Aurora’s uncanny foresight, Theron vows to possess her at any cost.

Aurora’s only hope to defeat the monster in the ancient past is Theron’s army. With her world’s future at stake, she knows better than to succumb to his seduction, yet finds herself hopelessly drawn to him. But as she awakens magic that torments her with visions of predestined tragedies, Aurora begins to fear her heart is as doomed as the man—and world—she’s trying to save.

Inspired by The Legend of Zelda, The Oracle of Dusk is the first epic fantasy romance novel in the Cycle of Calamity series. If you love height differences (understatement), time travel, and fated romance, escape into The Oracle of Dusk!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Time Travel, Ebooks, High Fantasy

437 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2025

About the author

Elyse Thomson writes steamy fantasy full of court intrigue, daring heroines, magical mayhem, swoon-worthy romances and worlds inspired by ancient history.

Elyse graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelors in History and Classics and currently resides in Canada's capital where you can find her binding antiquarian books, playing Dragon Age or snuggling with her husband or her neurotic terrier.

To learn more, check out her website or join her newsletter at:
https://elyse-thomson.square.site/new...

Reviews

[elizabeth rose]

The setup is rich—primordial monsters, time travel, fated romance, and a doomed king with a sharp tongue and political cunning. Aurora and Theron’s chemistry had potential, and the Zelda-inspired time-travel and ancient-ruins aesthetic brought a mythic, quest-like atmosphere that I found immediately compelling.

I was especially drawn to the opening chapter, where we meet Aurora mid-excavation. A fantasy romance that begins with a female archaeologist analysing history through artefacts? Yes, please. Her reflections on the past through material remains gave the story a fresh, intellectual edge I really appreciated.

However, I struggled with the pacing and emotional stakes. The story moves too fast to allow for meaningful character development or deeper exploration of its darker themes. As a result, key plot points feel rushed, and character motivations—especially Aurora’s selection for this divine quest—remain underdeveloped. The gods’ intervention felt arbitrary, which diluted some of the narrative tension and world logic.

Additionally, the book leans heavily on dramatic speech and high-conflict dialogue, with characters often shouting or arguing rather than communicating. This made emotional moments feel shallow and left little room for quieter character development or atmospheric worldbuilding. There was an overreliance on dialogue, which sometimes took the place of richer description or introspection.

While this one didn’t fully land for me, readers who prioritise fast-paced plots and a mythic setting over deep character work may still enjoy this one.

[Ágnes Malta-Lakó · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to thank the author for the complementary copy.

This book was interesting. I very much enjoyed the magic system and the whole cyclical destruction. I am very much a vibes reader who sometimes guesses the twists but this did leave me gaping at my e-reader sometimes.
The only thing that annoyed me was that some descriptions (e.g. how someone looked) repeated almost word for word.
The romance was very much front and center but the story also moved forward. I’m not much for insta-lust/love but it even the MMC says they didn’t have enough time.

Things I really liked
- the best friend (who was annoying but so loving!)
- the fact that I didn’t guess the MMC correctly in the beginning (I don’t read blurbs muhaha)
- the spice (yum… 8 times?!)

I’m definitely moving on to the sequel.

[ChipmunksandDandelion (Cinnamon&Pine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prophecy, time travel, and enough manipulation from all characters to make trust basically impossible.

Aurora — an initiate of Knowledge destined to help slay the Draco before the next calamity cycle — suddenly finds herself thousands of years in the past, injured, alone, and entirely unprepared. Theron, king of Aureum, justifies nearly every questionable action with being king, while attempting to seduce Aurora through carefully calculated kindness to gain access to her knowledge and oracle powers. Unsurprisingly, his refusal to come clean backfires.

The book thrives on deception: everyone manipulates everyone else, and at times I genuinely lost track of who knew what and which scheme was currently unfolding. I liked that the fated mates trope came with instant connection rather than instant love, and Theron’s sandalwood-and-musk scent profile was, naturally, noted.

I struggled with the concept of the divine interventions and avatars. The celestial motivations stayed too vague, which made the already tangled plot occasionally a bit confusing.

Overall, an intriguing romantasy with strong tension, time-travel, and characters who desperately need several honest conversations.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc.

[Melissa Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oracle of Dusk by Elyse Thomson
Cycle of Calamity #1
3.7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to 4)
Spice: 1.7/5
Cursing: min-
Format/Source: ebook ARC from author
Genres/Tropes: epic fantasy, romance, magic, time travel, fated mates, Legends of Zelda, touch her and die, slow burn, height difference, allies to enemies to lovers, morally grey MMC
Audience: Adult
Setting: Trisia
New words: mien, cuirass, prescient, himation
Characters: Aurora, Phaedra, Silvanus, Theron, Hyllus, Orithyia, Flora, Myrina, Epicasta
👍 multi POV, humor, book loving FMC, Aurora & Phaedra's friendship, time travel, magic, min- cursing
👎 med-long chapters, ending, too many tropes, height difference

Description:
Aurora is a historian—not a prophesied hero. But the day she finds her first artefact, destiny pits her against the primordial monster that has repeatedly destroyed her world. Cornered by the beast, she escapes death when the artefact sends her to the ancient past and gifts her one chance to kill the monster before it’s unstoppable. Except it also lands her in the arms of King Theron, a handsome schemer infamous for his tragic fate.
Theron is a bad man but an excellent king. When a battlefield mishap sends him to an enemy queendom in chains, the last thing he expects to find is a beauty with the knowledge to save his kingdom and crush his foes. Tempted by Aurora’s uncanny foresight, Theron vows to possess her at any cost.
Aurora’s only hope to defeat the monster in the ancient past is Theron’s army. With her world’s future at stake, she knows better than to succumb to his seduction, yet finds herself hopelessly drawn to him. But as she awakens magic that torments her with visions of predestined tragedies, Aurora begins to fear her heart is as doomed as the man—and world—she’s trying to save.

My opinion:
Thomson writes an action-packed, time traveling epic fantasy with some unexpexted, shocking twists! The multiple POV made for an enjoyable read and assisted in understanding what the characters were experiencing and thinking. I always appreciate reading novels with book loving characters and Aurora does not disappoint. I admired Aurora and Phaedra's friendship. Elyse's humor was interspersed throughout the book and added to the pleasure of reading it. I truly enjoyed the minimal cursing. The different magics, world building, and political intrigue definitely strengthened the storyline. I found the extreme height difference ("giant" vs small human) to be distracting and a little unbelievable...I guess that's why it is fantasy. The over-abundance of tropes/subtropes was also diverting. I'm not quite sure what has made authors decide to make shocking cliffhanger endings that are so very different from entire novel, but I do not like it. The ending could have still had a cliffhanger to make me want to read the sequel without making me want to tear the book apart. This book would have been 5⭐️ without the ending and the innumerable tropes. Overall, I was entertained by this story, am looking forward to sequel, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys epic fantasies with loads of tropes and a doozy of a cliffhanger ending.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #fantasybooks #booktok #timetravel #magic #fatedmates
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Ashley(burntedgesandbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me when I first picked it up. I didn't know what I was getting into and I am so glad I did! It was everything I wanted in a book and it came at the perfect time! I needed a book that was different from all my other current reads!
High Stakes, high fantasy everything you want in a book and the romance, the build up, everything was perfection!
I adore world building. It is one of the main things I always love when reading a book! Elyse Thomson wove this world so good, it was ever changing and becoming even more grand. It was all made even better when we time traveled, because why would it not?
The story starts with Aurora, who is studying to become apart of the Knowledge Temple, she is uncovering artifacts for said temple. She is called upon by the Priestess of Knowledge, letting her know that she is being called upon to fulfill a prophecy. And So Aurora's world is quite turned upside down and into a whole new world that she doesn't completely understand.
She is tossed into a time she could only dream of and there she meets King Theron, a man that she has only read about in fragments of her world. She is trying to save her world she doesn't expect Theron to become a big part of her new world. Together they race to figure out how to save the world and themselves from where they find themselves.
I love that Aurora knows the city inside and out, but she doesn't say how she knows. She is always finding an away outside of the palace they are keeping her in. The Banter between Theron and Aurora is perfection, I loved every minute of it. I love their height difference and how they interact with each other.
The adventure is this book is perfect, every moment of the book is exciting and addicting. Again the tapestry that Elyse Thomson is weaving is wonderful!

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

I was SO EXCITED to read this, because LEGEND OF ZELDA INSPIRED?? LET"S GO!!

I could definitely see the inspiration, and I really enjoyed (most of) the takes on the lore of the games and the new spin that was thrown onto it. Definitely fun if you're a Zelda fan--of any of the games, really.

But so much of it just also didn't really work for me, and I'm super bummed about it. The relationship development (between everyone, honestly--including Aurora and Phaedra) just seemed so forced and random. What's supposed to be enemies to lovers definitely was more "insta love" to the point of whiplash, and Aurora and Phaedra's friendship felt ridiculous and forced. And there's a random time jump that almost makes this feel like two separate books--and maybe I would have preferred it more if that had been the case? It just felt so disjointed and rushed to me, that I really think the story would have benefited from the first book being an expanded upon series of events pre jump, then post jump being book two.

And of course, one of my biggest pet peeves--POV changes without delineation of change. I wouldn't call it head hopping, as the POV shifts at the chapter, but there's no distinction as to whose POV you're in--you need to read a few paragraphs before you figure it out, and it drives me insane. It definitely messes with the flow of the story, especially when I'm not convinced all of the POVs were necessary in the first place.

Overall it was fine, and I really enjoyed some of the lore and world building! But the story felt so rushed and the characters felt flat to me--I'm not sure I'll pick up the next one, unfortunately.

[xXTomeRaiderXx · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Richly imagined and brimming with tension, this book delivers a high fantasy experience with compelling characters and unforgettable dynamics.

The world-building is absolutely top-tier —vivid, immersive, and beautifully layered. I felt genuinely drawn into the universe the author created, and the emotional depth of the FMC’s relationship with her best friend stood out. Their bond, and the heartbreak that followed its unraveling, was written with sincerity and weight.

The deliciously slow-burning tension between the FMC and the MMC: this back-and-forth had me kicking my feet on more than one occasion. Their chemistry is sharp, witty, and full of that addicting kind of push and pull that makes you unable to look away. Alongside a villainous show-stealer of a Queen. If you’re a fan of Red Queen-esque flair, she’ll absolutely captivate you (her verbal sparring with the MMC was a highlight all its own 🤭).

Thomson’s writing in this novel leans into the classic high fantasy style, which I adored. There’s something so rich and elegant about the prose that perfectly matches the epic scope of the story. While I didn't get to enjoy it as leisurely as I’d hoped (ARC life is real), I still appreciated the story’s depth and style.

A heads-up: this is a very slow burn. Things don’t heat up until about 70% in, but when they do… whew. We’re talking will it fit moment and some unexpected spice (with toys 🫣). It was a fun surprise!

I do wish the romantic development between the leads had been explored more emotionally and physically (not full on habanero but maybe some sparring type tension). And the ending felt a bit too easy— like the FMC was a little too quick to accept the major twist.

All in all, this is a fantasy romance I’d absolutely recommend— especially for fans of The Legend of Zelda. If you’ve ever wanted to see a Ganondorf/Zelda dynamic brought to life in a dark, magical world, this odd couple will not disappoint.

[Megan Witsche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early ARC Read from Netgalley

Tropes: Epic Romantasy, Legend of Zelda Meets Outlander, Divine Quests, Enemies to Lovers to….., Time Travel, Fated Mates, Morally Grey & Doomed King MMC, Betrayal & Marriage of Convenience, Awakening Time Magic, Height Difference (Understatement), Will it fit?

Quotes: "You overestimate your dubious charms, Your Majesty.""You've never experienced my charms, dubious or otherwise, Aurora."

Review No Spoilers: Aurora, a historian, discovers an ancient artifact just as a primordial beast attacks her world. Instead of dying, the artifact catapults her thousands of years into the ancient past. There, she lands in the hands of King Theron a brilliant but ruthless king infamous for his tragic fate. Aurora needs Theron's army to defeat the primordial beast, while Theron needs Aurora's uncanny, prophetic knowledge to conquer his enemies and save his kingdom. The story features vivid world building based on deities, time travel, and predestined tragedy. Aurora must master time magic while fighting against her attraction to a man she knows is fated to die.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

[Ingríð Älva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book as always 😍

[WenDeeDeeDee36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!! I honestly requested the ARC because it is Zelda inspired and expected to at least be amused….I did not, however, expected to be completely floored by how caught I I got in the story.
Let’s start with the obvious first: you can absolutely tell this was inspired by legend of Zelda and it was amazing. I don’t picture things in my mind at all (yes I am on of those people). Having that hint of Zelda in there let me visualize at least scenery and items a little better than I normally do, which was a novel experience for me. That’s said, this story feels very unique and I simply have ideas on where things might go later on. This is the case with most retellings.
The characters are amazing! I loved all of them. Even the villains so far are top notch. Aurora is really fun because she’s feisty and nerdy but also completely unprepared for what she falls into. I like her snark. Phaedra and Silvanus are a great combination. They give strong hate💥 vibes and I have a feeling that will be absolute fire when the tension finally breaks for real. Phaedra is a hothead and I like how it balances out with Aurora. Theron is straight up yummy 🥵 He’s a total cocky asshole but he’s also super invested it making his people’s lives the best he can. I like that he says he’s a good king, not a good man. It’s an interesting take but accurate. And holy spice Batman! I was not expected that take on their sexcapades (did I mention a 3ft height difference?) but I am certainly not mad about it! It was HOT 🔥 TOOD doesn’t have many intimate scenes but we got quality instead of quantity 👌🏻
As for that ending? GAH! I want to throw things. We are hitting up on miscommunication and I am not happy with Aurora or Theron! 😫😭 That ish better be resolved quickly in book two (the ARC for which I am already signing up for, because NEED).

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who absolutely loves fantasy romances that are rich in lore, impossible choices, and characters who keep you questioning their motives, The Oracle of Dusk checked so many boxes for me.

Aurora was such a refreshing heroine. She's a historian not a warrior which made her journey feel incredibly relatable. She's thrown into circumstances she never asked for, forced to rely on her intelligence instead of brute strength, and watching her slowly grow into someone capable of challenging fate itself was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Then there's Theron...
Whew. 😮‍💨
Theron proudly admits he's not a good man he's a good king and that perfectly sums up his character. He's manipulative, calculating, frustrating, and fiercely protective. Every decision he makes is driven by his desire to protect his kingdom even when those choices blur the line between right and wrong.

If you're a fan of The Legend of Zelda, morally gray kings, fated romance, political fantasy, time travel, and stories where destiny constantly battles free will, I highly recommend adding The Oracle of Dusk to your TBR.

This is an incredibly strong start to what I know is going to be an unforgettable fantasy series.

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Oracle of Dusk is the first epic fantasy romance in the Cycle of Calamity Series that is inspired by The Legend of Zelda.

To be completely candid I remember liking The Legend of Zelda when I was younger, but I don’t exactly remember much of what it was about, so I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing here. In any case, I really liked this book! I haven’t read many about oracles yet, so I thought the plot was really unique and creative. I loved the beginning, and the friendship shared between Aurora and Phaedra and then getting to experience the relationship between Aurora and Theron unfold. I thought the dialogue was funny, the world-building was immersive, and the magic system was complex and unique. Overall, I thought it all tied together really well and was really enjoyable. There is a big cliffhanger at the end, so I am really looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Oracle of Dusk presents an ambitious blend of time-travel fantasy and romance, with richly evocative imagery in its opening chapters. The initial third offers a vivid and immersive experience, showcasing a talent for setting and atmosphere.
However, as the narrative goes on, a significant time jump introduces a new cast and setting, creating a disconnect from the story and the characters from the beginning. The frequent shifts in point of view, sometimes without clear indicators, can lead to confusion and disrupt the narrative flow.
The morally grey male lead, King Theron, embodies the enigmatic anti-hero archetype, yet his motivations remain vague, making it difficult to understand his character arc.
While the novel's premise is intriguing and the world-building shows promise, the execution may pose challenges for some readers. Those who appreciate complex narratives and are drawn to morally ambiguous characters might find this story rewarding.

[Viktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5✨️
Okay, I will be brutally honest here. It took me soooo long to get into the story because the chapters are sooo long, and not much was happening at first, but once I got used to the long chapters, it was so worth it! I loved reading about Aurora exploring the world of her ancient times and finding unexpected love in it. I don't know if this will be an unpopular opinion, but I loved Epicasta's character! She's been through a lot and standing tall through it all, and she deserves her happy ending (which I hope she got). The book ended on an excited note, leaving me desperately wanting more of Theron, of Aurora, and how they thread the world around them, especially with what happened near the end 👀

I received this book as an ARC to read and review. All opinions are honest and my own.

[RosieRitesReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oracle of Dusk by Elyse Thomson is slow burn, time-travel, fated mates epic fantasy adventure. Although the chapters are very long and filled to the brim with complex information- there was still so much to love in this epic adventure! I enjoyed the witty banter, how Aurora really just wanted to be a librarian and now has the whole save the world complex, and as an added hurdle she finds that she needs the help of a sexy King Theron. I wanted to love the story more- but the pacing was just off, and the time jump made it a little confusing. Also, then ending could have used a little more work. I gave this book a 3.5 but rounded up as goodreads does not round their stars.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oracle of Dusk expands the world introduced in Starlight Princess in ways I wasn’t expecting, delivering a larger story with higher stakes, deeper lore, and a fascinating timeline that kept me eager to uncover how everything fit together.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the way Elyse Thomson weaves together interconnected timelines and histories. The story reveals just enough information to keep readers theorizing without immediately providing every answer. Some twists I anticipated thanks to the breadcrumbs left along the way, while others still have me waiting to see how the pieces ultimately connect. It’s the kind of fantasy that rewards paying attention.

The romance was another highlight. Theron quickly became one of my favorite characters. As our morally gray MMC with his own motivations and secrets, he brings complexity to every scene he’s in. I only wish we had gotten even more time with him. The relationship between Theron and Aurora develops under difficult circumstances, creating a compelling blend of forced proximity, tension, and conflicting goals. Neither character can fully trust the other, yet they continually find themselves relying on one another.

I also particularly enjoyed Phaedra, whose loud, rough-around-the-edges personality made her stand out immediately. I’m hoping she plays a larger role in future installments.

While Aurora wasn’t always my favorite type of heroine, her softer nature fits the story and the role she is meant to play. It occasionally kept me from becoming completely obsessed with the book, but it never diminished my enjoyment of the overall story.

What impressed me most was the scope of the world being built. Between the calamity cycles, fated connections, political tensions between kingdoms, ancient history, and looming threats, there is clearly a much larger story unfolding beneath the surface. Oracle of Dusk answers some questions while raising many more, leaving me excited to see where the series goes next.

If you enjoy romantasy with interconnected timelines, morally gray heroes, and mysteries that unfold across multiple books, this is a series worth picking up.

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Overall Rating: 4 Stars

✨ The Vibe
Epic fantasy romance with time travel, political intrigue, ancient monsters, fated romance, and a morally questionable king who is both infuriating and extremely attractive. Very rich fantasy atmosphere with strong “destined tragedy” energy throughout the story.

📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Aurora is a historian, not a warrior or chosen hero. But when she discovers a mysterious artefact during an excavation, she’s suddenly thrown into the ancient past and tasked with stopping a primordial monster before it destroys the world.

Unfortunately for her, saving the future means working together with King Theron — a cunning ruler infamous for his tragic fate, sharp tongue, and dangerous reputation.

As Aurora becomes entangled in politics, prophecy, magic, and growing feelings for Theron, she realizes fate may be far more cruel than she expected.

🖤 My Reading Experience
One of my favorite things about this book was honestly the setup itself. A fantasy romance beginning with a female archaeologist analysing history through artefacts? Immediately yes. I loved that aspect so much.

The overall concept felt rich and layered from the start: primordial monsters, time travel, political scheming, prophecy, magic, and a doomed king with the emotional intelligence of a brick wall but enough charisma to somehow get away with it.

The worldbuilding was genuinely enjoyable and immersive for me. There’s a lot of detail woven into the environments, kingdoms, history, and magic systems, and while the descriptions occasionally became a little too extensive for my personal taste, I still appreciated how fleshed-out the world felt overall.

The time travel aspect was also such a fun addition and gave the story an extra layer of tension and tragedy.

That said, the beginning took me a little while to fully settle into. The book is written in third-person POV, which is purely a personal preference thing for me, but it usually makes me feel a little more emotionally distant from the characters. The writing style also leans slightly formal at times, which initially made it harder for me to connect emotionally, though I did get used to it as the story progressed.

Theron was absolutely one of the highlights of this book for me. He’s cocky, manipulative, morally questionable, and honestly kind of an asshole… but he’s also deeply invested in protecting his people and being a strong king. The moment Aurora enters his life, he becomes intensely protective of her, and I fear I am simply weak for that dynamic every single time.

His communication skills, however? Absolutely terrible. But honestly, Aurora isn’t exactly thriving in that department either.

Aurora herself was a character I liked overall, though I did struggle with how naive and dependent she could sometimes feel, especially early on in the story. She often clung heavily to Phaedra’s protection despite being an adult woman in her mid-twenties, which occasionally made her feel younger than she actually was. However, I do think she grows over the course of the story, even if she immediately gravitates toward Theron the moment he starts protecting her. To be fair, though… if a giant, dangerous king looked at me like that, I’d probably do the same.

The romance development was genuinely enjoyable. The slow burn is definitely slow-burning at first, but once things finally ignite between them, it turns into a full wildfire. And yes — the spice was very good.

One thing that occasionally confused me, though, was the POV switching. The story changes POV between chapters, but there’s no immediate indication whose perspective you’re reading from, so it sometimes took a few paragraphs to fully orient myself.

Overall, though, the pacing, storyline, and worldbuilding were all very enjoyable for me and kept me fully invested throughout most of the book.

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Time Travel
- Fated Romance
- Morally Grey King
- Political Fantasy
- Prophecy & Visions
- Slow Burn Romance
- Ancient Monsters
- Protective MMC
- Height Difference (a LOT)
- “Touch Her and Die” Energy

👀 Who Should Read This?
If you enjoy fantasy romance with rich worldbuilding, political tension, morally grey rulers, time travel, prophecy, and a slow-burn romance that eventually becomes very much not slow-burn anymore, I’d definitely recommend this.

Especially if you love emotionally doomed romance dynamics and protective MMCs with questionable communication skills.

🫶 Final Thoughts
Despite some personal struggles with the writing style, POV structure, and an ending that frustrated me deeply, I still had a really good time with this book overall.

The worldbuilding was immersive, the premise felt unique, the romance became genuinely addictive once it took off, and Theron was exactly the kind of morally complicated disaster man I tend to enjoy reading about.

I will absolutely be reading book two because I need to see where this chaos goes next.

⚠️ SPOILER SECTION — ENDING THOUGHTS (Seriously… stop here if you don’t want spoilers.)

That ending absolutely ripped away my fifth star.

After spending the entire book slowly building toward Aurora and Theron finally getting together — emotionally and literally getting married — the ending suddenly exploded into one giant misunderstanding-fest that honestly frustrated me more than emotionally devastated me.

The moment Theron’s secrets are exposed by the high priestess, Aurora immediately turns against him without even attempting an actual conversation first. Yes, he lied. Absolutely. But the speed at which she trusted the people who had consistently mistreated, doubted, and manipulated her over the man who had repeatedly shown genuine care for her just drove me insane.

The high priestess was horrible to her from the start. Queen Flora clearly wanted to use and humiliate her for political gain. Yet suddenly, Aurora is fully trusting them because Theron kept secrets? Girl PLEASE.

At least let the man explain himself before accepting the world’s worst political adoption deal imaginable.

And then on Theron’s side, he immediately assumes Aurora betrayed him and was spying on him all along instead of… talking to his wife.

You are both adults. USE YOUR WORDS.

That said… I am unfortunately invested now.

I’m not usually the biggest fan of lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers-again dynamics, but the ending definitely succeeded in making me want book two because now I need to know whether these two idiots fix their relationship.

Also, respectfully:
I hope that the high priestess gets absolutely humbled in book two, and Queen Flora can catch these hands as well. Thanks xoxo.


📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Elyse Thomson for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Randi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Final rating: 2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Elyse Thomson, and Two Laurels Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was presented to me as being inspired by The Legend of Zelda, which was one of my favourite game series growing up, so I was pretty excited going into it.

We follow Aurora, an archaeologist who discovers an ancient artefact and, in the next second, finds herself in the middle of a millennia-long war of repeated calamities and a beast that repeatedly returns to destroy her world. Her destiny comes as a shock when the High Priestess reveals that both Aurora and an avatar, chosen by the priestess herself, must set out on a journey to stop the beast. Aurora’s friend, the princess of the kingdom, joins them on their journey. During their flight, something catastrophic happens, and Aurora gets sent thousands of years back in time to prevent everything from happening. There, she meets Theron, a king who has been put in chains after a tragic mishap on the battlefield.

As a Zelda fan, I was delighted to find all these breadcrumbs from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time throughout the story, some more obvious than others. We have the Triforce, the marks on the hand, fairies, and magical springs. The Master Sword and the Hero of Time are also referenced. Even those damn chickens from Kakariko Village were mentioned! To me, this story is basically a love story between Zelda and Ganondorf when looking at the characteristics and dynamics between the characters.

The story had a lot of potential, but unfortunately there were a lot of things that didn’t work. Even though the story is set in a giant world, the world-building never really came through, and most of the book takes place in one location. The pacing is also way too fast, and the story never gives itself time to breathe or grow naturally. There are also several weird time jumps that don’t make much sense, and at times it reads as though the story is impatient to get to the ending.

The characters are also very underdeveloped. I didn’t connect to them at all, and Aurora was by far the most annoying. Even though she is supposed to be in her late twenties, her behaviour and actions come across as extremely juvenile. The same goes for her best friend, the princess. The banter between the characters is immature, and some of their actions exist purely to move the plot forward.

There is also a recurring point about the people in the past being much larger than modern humans, to the point where Aurora is viewed almost as a child. They even give her children’s clothes to wear. Unfortunately, this becomes very strange once the romantic elements are introduced.

I also think the story reveals far too much too early. There is constant talk about bonds, fate, and souls destined to find each other again through rebirth. The story makes everything so obvious from early on, except apparently to Aurora herself, who remains completely blind to it all. That honestly became frustrating after a while.

My final rating is 2.5 stars, simply because it was fun seeing how the author incorporated elements and inspiration from The Legend of Zelda into the story.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 / 5 Stars
Another fantasy book devoured! What a treat. Okay, a quick layperson synopsis: Aurora is living a very nice life. She is a historian; her best friend is the Princess; and she just found her first artifact. Except that it turns out that she is tied by fate to a giant, serpent demon who will destroy their world unless they can defeat him, which, you know, is not ideal. Our girl just wants to be a history nerd, not some hero. She doesn’t even have magic like her best friend! As she tries to avoid the demon and dying, her newly found artifact sends her back in time to the very first time this demon appeared. She is determined to defeat him in this world so that he doesn’t destroy her world. She needs help and she finds an ally in King Theron. King Theron is tall, hot, and politically motivated. He sees Aurora and thinks she is an oracle fairy– she is literally half his size because people in the olden times were HUGE, she has pointy ears, and she seems to be able to predict the future, so honestly a logical conclusion. And an oracle would be VERY handy for a king. Theron and Aurora must navigate politics, death, and figuring out how to defeat a demon while also ruthlessly flirting with one another.

I enjoyed this book! The first 100+ pages were all about Aurora and her best friend and because that was barely even mentioned in the plot summary, I was a tad confused and antsy, but my recommendation is to know it takes 100 pages until we time travel and to just enjoy the ride. Also, I know absolutely nothing about Legend of Zelda (except that I think Zelda has pointy ears?) and I didn’t need that connection to enjoy this. So if that is making you hesitant to read this, know that you can thoroughly enjoy this book regardless.

I usually don’t love verbal sparring as foreplay but I could read Aurora and Theron going at it for another 200 pages. It just worked for me. I could also read Theron winding up other royals for another 200 pages. It was such a fun chess match to read. Aurora and Theron’s chemistry was spicy and fun. Is their height difference kind of crazy? Sure. But this is fantasy so we are going with it.

I liked that Aurora could be really feisty, but I felt like her other emotion was crying – ranging from being on the verge of tears to actively crying to actively weeping to actively sobbing. She did that a lot. And while I, too, would probably be crying as much as she did, I wished that occasionally she would have a different reaction to a difficult situation. Maybe she would be numb or resigned? Or maybe she would grow increasingly more angry? Either way, I wanted to see her grow a bit more and I am excited to see where she heads in the next book!

Thank you to Two Laurels Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

[Satviki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oracle** of Dusk was a complex, lovely tale. The characters were particularly lovely, especially Aurora and Silvanus. I loved how sweet Silvanus was, though some of his decisions were...questionable at best. Aurora was also a lovely lead character, but she acted immature at times, which was a bit off putting. Her gift (curse more like) was also interesting to see. I liked how deeply she felt emotion, because it made her seem real and vibrant. It also added a new depth to her pov* because she was always feeling something. Theron was also immature at times, which was even more off putting because isn't he supposed to be a king? But aside from that occasional immaturity, he was a very interesting character. Even though he could be incredibly manipulative at times, he genuinely loves [redacted]. The moral conflict within him also fleshed out his character, making his pov* interesting as well. Oh, that's right! As if the story wasn't compelling enough (more on that later), The Oracle of Dusk is actually told from multiple povs*! The best part is that these multiple povs* fleshed out the story rather than being confusing. Now, back to the compelling story.

The premise of an oracle** travelling back in time and falling for a man she knows is doomed sounds interesting, doesn't it? But an interesting premise means nothing if the author cannot flesh out the story well enough. This can be seen with so many wonderful story ideas, that were crippled because of poor execution. But The Oracle of Dusk is certainly not one of these stories. The author promised an amazing story and definitely delivered! With complex characters and rich worldbuilding (I really, really loved the religion of the main characters, and the author managed to build a beautiful world without info dumping), The Oracle of Dusk is must read for fantasy romance lovers.

*pov, or povs stands for point of view or point of views
**oracles are beings able to see the future, and are featured in a wide variety of tales of which the tales of oracles in Greek Mythology are the most famous.

Thank you to Booksprout and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed are my own.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

For readers who are sensitive to depictions of rape, sexual assault, and torture, this will not be the book for you. While it’s never gratuitous, it is present and often explicit.

The book started out stronger than it finished. In the beginning Aurora, a young initiate of the Goddess of Knowledge, is whisked away by an avatar and a group of paladins with her best friend, Princess Phaedra tagging along. We’re told about a great evil threatening the world — as happens every so often — and Aurora and Silvanus have to deal with it. Silvanus and Phaedra bicker and flirt, Aurora puts up with them, and there’s a fair amount of world building and action as the great evil, in the form of a giant dragon, comes chasing after them.

Then Aurora ends up back in time in a palace ruled by an evil queen and flirts with a captive king. It’s mentioned that Aurora has pointed ears, but since no one cares, I can’t help but wonder why it was brought up at all. Chapters go by with Aurora and Theron flirting, Theron being protective, Theron being angry that people have touched Aurora … and these scenes include moments of physical assault as Aurora is beaten, manhandled by guards, forcibly stripped and threatened with rape.

This is one of the few romantasies where there is sexual incompatibility between the couple. Aurora, though willing and eager to have sex with Theron, finds herself uncomfortable and uncertain at the idea of rougher sex than she’s accustomed to, and Theron instantly pulls back and offers her choices: to stop for the night (she’s already come several times with toys and his tongue), to continue slower, or anything else that would make her comfortable. All too often it feels like rough sex is a given with no warm up — and here there is plenty of foreplay and preparation before Theron’s romantasy sized cock is put to use — let alone lube, so it’s nice to see a scene that involves consent, care, and choice.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m moderately curious to see where it goes, to see if Aurora is truly so gullible and so changeable as to accept what she’s told by people she has no reason to trust. But that’ll all have to wait for a sequel.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Avarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love Elyse Thomson's work and, as usual, have to leave a review as I think she really deserves to get more attention.

Oracle of Dusk is the first book in a new trilogy. Unlike her previous novels this series follows the same characters and this first book ends on a painful - in the best possible way - cliffhanger that leaves me incredibly excited for what comes next.

The book has all of Thomson's hallmarks, snappy and witty dialogue, a slow-burn but VERY spicy romance, and a nice dose of heartfelt female friendship.

The book follows Aurora, a passionate, if naive, young archaeologist who is ripped away from her life and thrown into the center of world and indeed time-itself defining prophecy. Cast adrift outside her own time, away from her friends and the world she knows, Aurora must use all her wits and her recently awakened magic to survive in the past and fulfill - or alter - her destiny. That destiny inevitably entwines her with an ambitious - but emotionally scarred - and heroic king, Theron. Their chemistry while slow burning eventually explodes into some incredibly spicy passion as the book progresses.

I very much enjoyed Thomson's use of Aurora's archaeological background and how she uses her knowledge of the past to help her navigate in an unfamiliar time. This is a book that pays very close attention to worldbuilding and especially its depiction and conception of history - which I am convinced will only get deeper as the trilogy progresses.

The time travel aspect was itself very well done, which is difficult to achieve in any fictional work. While the time jump is itself initially jarring it helps the reader to feel the incredible displacement that Aurora is herself feeling. We then grow into this new time with her, while still feeling the pain of her missing her own time and loved ones.

I enjoyed every minute of this book and can't wait to see where the story goes next, especially after such a cliffhanger!

*I received a copy of this book for free and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

**I will also add that while I noticed other reviewers mentioning a Legend of Zelda connection, I was unaware of such, never played those games and thought it absolutely excelled entirely on its own merits.

[Meg Kamikaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book freely and I have left my honest thoughts below voluntarily.


Book: The Oracle of Dusk
Pages: 435
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Standalone or Series: Series

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were likeable but not perfect marysue's. They felt real, complex, and flawed.

One thing I really appreciated was how characters actually reflected on criticism instead of brushing it off. Too often, books gloss over this, and suddenly, a character changes without any real self-awareness. Here, it felt natural and earned. There might not have been a perfect conclusion to the reflection, but the fact that they did reflect was nice.

I also loved the fights between Aurora and Theron—they weren’t perfectly crafted arguments but raw, emotional, and messy, just like real conflicts. It made their dynamic feel authentic.

That said, some characterization felt inconsistent. Confidence, naivety, and conviction seemed to fluctuate oddly at times. I get that characters are complex, but some shifts felt contradictory. For example, Aurora would be hesitant one moment and outspoken the next. Maybe I missed something, but it stood out to me.

Overall, this was an entertaining and enjoyable read, and I can't wait for the next book!

⭐ Spoilers Below ⭐
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I found it odd that Aurora’s petite frame and pointed ears only became notable once she traveled back in time. Theron brings it up often, so I wonder if it’ll be significant later or just a fun nod to Zelda and the Zelda/Ganondorf dynamic (Theron's towering, brawny, red-haired look totally gives it away).

Also, I was so disappointed in Aurora’s final decision. After everything she went through, she just believes Orithyia over Theron? The same people who abused and tortured her? I get that the "proof" is damning, but it wasnt EXACT. I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope personally. I understand why its here, but I still dont get why Aurora was just like yup okay I'll just go with yall who treated me terribly over someone who literally sacrificed himself for me. I hope it gets cleared up decently fast in the next book

[HfbR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Cycle of Calamity series set in the world of Trisia where the Goddesses of Knowledge, Passion and Justice make up the Divine Triad responsible for protecting Trisia. There’s also the Sinister Triad, Lies, Death and Vengeance, the goddesses held responsible for the cycles of chaos and calamity. Aurora is an initiate at the temple of Knowledge and there are also temples to Passion and Justice. Only dualists worship both the Divine and Sinister Triad, but the temple considers them to be heretics responsible for instigating chaos and calamity.

When Silvanus, the Avatar of Justice, comes with paladins to tell Aurora that she’s fated as the prey of Drakon, the Beast of Old she can’t believe it. She thinks she has no magic and she has no warrior training, so how can she help seal the serpent away? Princess Phaedra is Aurora’s best friend who would do anything to protect her, and she demands to be included on the quest. They set out with an aim to unlock Aurora’s magic, but it’s not long before Drakon catches up with them…….

I really enjoyed this book, fantasy romance is one of my favourite genres and this book hit the spot for me. Aurora and Phaedra have a really strong friendship and they bring out the best in each other. There’s a good love / hate relationship starting between Phaedra and Silvanus too with some great banter. However, the story for me really begins to get good when Aurora meets Theron, and from that point on I couldn’t put the book down. Both characters are well written and you can’t help but hope everything turns out right for them in the end. Theron is ‘a bad man but an excellent king’ and he struggles at times to do what’s right. Aurora is a bit naive, she trusts the wrong people at times and misses having Phaedra to lean on. They’re just beginning to learn to trust each other when events occur to shatter that trust and they’re back to square one. This book ends with a real cliffhanger, so hopefully book two is close to being released…….

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

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oracle of the Dusk is an epic fantasy inspired by the Legend of Zelda, a well loved Nintendo game released in 1986.
The story includes key elements that mirror Zeldas; a ‘hero’s journey’, three core virtues and time and cycles, among others. AAlthough I haven't played any of the games I don't think that was important to be able to read this book.

The MC’s of this book focused on Aurora and Theron both of which had their own POV’s which I felt were so important to the telling of the story. Aurora’s journey throughout was intense and tricky as she has experienced the future. I’m very curious to see the world that Aurora left behind and how her actions or inaction have changed her world. I feel there may be some things that weren’t fully solved but I think that will all come back in the next book.

Theron is a complicated, morally grey character who despite his actions I love. The banter and chemistry between him and Aurora is brilliant. I love that he’s experiencing someone who isn't treating him as a king and seeing how he responds. I could see them developing a romantic relationship, but I found the bond a little out of nowhere, however I could see that coming right before it did. It did make sense especially considering the end of the book.

One of the main things I found a little too easy was the very ending where Aurora agreed to Orithyia’s deal. Mainly because Orithyia has never done anything without an ulterior motive and Aurora knew thats what she does. But also why didn't she think about it or talk to Theron about it before running off. I think she was too blinded with anger to think it through but it’ll cost her.
I think these too are going to struggle to get back to a happy place and although I agree that Theron has to think like a king, I don't think he needed to keep the secret of the snakes hidden from Aurora, even if his cousin is their creator. As he says he’s a bad man, but a good king.

I’m really excited to see how this book develops and how questions are then answered.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Oracle of Dusk was such a fun start to this series and immediately hooked me with its blend of time travel, prophecy, political intrigue, and a romance that feels doomed from the very beginning.

Aurora is a historian, not a warrior, which made her a refreshing fantasy heroine. When an ancient artifact sends her into the distant past with the chance to stop a world-ending calamity before it begins, she finds herself caught between destiny, dangerous magic, and King Theron—a ruler whose future is as tragic as it is legendary.

The Zelda inspiration was one of the things that drew me to this book, and you can definitely feel those influences throughout the story. Ancient ruins, cyclical destruction, mysterious artifacts, and a world shaped by repeating history all gave the story a mythic, adventure-filled atmosphere that I really enjoyed.

Theron was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. He's morally gray, politically savvy, frustrating, and impossible not to root for. The chemistry between him and Aurora develops quickly, but I found myself invested in their relationship because of the constant tension between what they want and what fate seems determined to take from them.

The pacing moves fast, which kept me turning pages, though at times I wished certain relationships and character moments had been given a little more room to breathe. Some of the emotional beats and plot developments happen quickly, but the larger mysteries surrounding the gods, the calamity, and Aurora's role in the story kept me engaged throughout.

What to Expect:
• Time Travel Fantasy
• Morally Gray King
• Fated Romance
• Ancient Artifacts
• Political Intrigue
• Prophecies & Visions
• Dual POV
• Zelda-Inspired Worldbuilding
• Touch Her and Die Energy

The ending left me immediately reaching for book two. Between the twists, revelations, and unanswered questions, I couldn't wait to see where Aurora and Theron's story would go next.

Thank you to Elyse Thomson and NetGalley for the ARC

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel for an open and honest review.

Unfortunately, I decided to DNF this book at around 20%. This may simply be a case of personal preference, but I wasn’t able to get invested in the story.

One of the first things that threw me off was the lack of POV headers. I’m not sure if this was intentional, but when the perspective first changed, it caught me completely off guard. Personally, I find it essential to know whose perspective I’m reading before each chapter, so the transitions felt jarring.

Another issue for me was the pacing of some of the early reveals, particularly the Thread of Fate and Phaedra’s conversation with Silvanus in the mountains. These revelations happened so quickly within the first few chapters that they didn’t have the emotional impact I think they were intended to have.

I also struggled with Phaedra and Aurora’s relationship. Before I had a chance to understand their history or emotional connection, Phaedra had already adopted a “touch her and die” level of protectiveness. While I enjoy that trope, it didn’t feel earned here because I didn’t yet know enough about their bond. Their interactions also raised questions for me. As a princess and a merchant’s daughter, their openly close upbringing felt difficult to reconcile with the world’s social structure, and Aurora punching the princess without any apparent consequences made it even harder for me to suspend my disbelief.

Finally, I found the world-building difficult to follow. I understand I was still early in the story, but the magic system felt underdeveloped. The artifacts were introduced without much explanation, and the political landscape was also presented with very little context. While there were hints of a larger calamity unfolding, I never felt grounded enough in the world’s rules to fully understand its significance.

This ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me, but I can still see it appealing to readers who enjoy diving into fantasy worlds who don’t mind piecing together the lore as they go.

[ghostlypeach_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly thank you so much to the author for a copy of this eARC!

When I saw that this story was fantasy heavily inspired by the Legend of Zelda game series, I knew I was in for a journey.

The book starts off building the backstory of FMC Aurora who is a temple academic. Immediately the vibes are pure Zelda, and as someone who has played the games a lot over the years, I could easily imagine the world that the author was describing. The descriptions really blew me away and made me feel so immersed.

Two of my favourite characters, Phaedra and Silvanus, truly stole the show for me. Their banter and bickering and fast paced romance had me going ‘okay? I’ll just go with this’ in the best way. I did find it strange how they were made to seem like MCs for the first quarter of the book and then were never seen again due to a time jump.

Whilst the descriptions were truly standouts in this book, the other aspects of the books just did not hit the mark for me.

For starters, there’s a lot of POV changes mid chapter with no indication at all which made the story really confusing and hard to follow at points.

The pacing also felt very strange? The first 25% felt very very quick and fast paced and then the rest of the book was sort of like a roller coaster - sometimes it went really fast and other times really slow without much build up.

The characters also felt very hard to get attached to. The MMC Theron is one where I truly didn’t know whether he was good or evil and whilst sometimes that’s great for a book, it just didn’t land here. His relationship with Aurora felt very undeveloped and they spent a lot of the end of the book in bed… and it didn’t feel very necessary? Just sort of to tick the spice box?

Overall, I felt disappointed because there is so much potential with this book especially when the imagery and lore seem so fleshed out. However the characters as well as a confusing plot with uneven pacing just made this very difficult to read.

[Charlotte Darby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently had the opportunity to read an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Oracle of Dusk by Elyse Thomson, and it was an enthralling experience. This epic fantasy romance masterfully intertwines themes of destiny, power, and forbidden love within a richly constructed world.

The story follows Aurora, a dedicated historian whose discovery of an ancient artifact propels her back in time to an era teetering on the brink of calamity. In this past, she encounters King Theron, a ruler renowned for his cunning strategies and the ominous prophecy surrounding his downfall. Aurora’s unexpected journey places her at the heart of a mission to thwart a primordial monster poised to annihilate civilization. Thomson’s portrayal of Aurora is compelling, capturing her internal struggles and resilience with depth and authenticity. King Theron is depicted as a complex character—both a formidable leader and a man grappling with his fated demise. The chemistry between Aurora and Theron is palpable, their interactions filled with tension and allure.

Thomson’s world-building is immersive, drawing inspiration from ancient history to create a setting that feels both familiar and fantastical. The narrative’s pacing is well-balanced, seamlessly blending action-packed sequences with moments of introspection. The prose is evocative, painting vivid images of the landscapes and societies Aurora traverses. The plot twists are unpredictable, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover what lies ahead.

In summary, The Oracle of Dusk is a standout addition to the epic fantasy romance genre. Its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and richly imagined world make it a must-read. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of epic fantasy and those seeking a story that will linger in their thoughts long after the final page.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my reading and writings goals is to read and review at least one ARC from NetGalley per week. This is to help keep me from falling into continuous dives into backlists as well as helping me avoid my bookclub's propensity for all historical fiction all-the-time. This book was a pleasant surprise in an ARC - an actual fantasy book with romance slowly built through the writing. Magic systems and ancient monsters and gods and likely a civilization predating the ones they know about - sign me up!

This book combines good writing and world building with great characters before finally bringing the romance spice to cap off the tale.

Aurora is a historian above all, so when she's catapulted into an epic monster-slaying tale that needs her unrealized magic power, she's very overwhelmed and unprepared; fate aligns to send her to the past, the WAY WAY past of her world where the overwhelming big bad in her time was about to manifest for the first time.

Her path twines with Theron, an ancient king whose death at the time of the first big monster manifestation is one of the most historically memorable tales from that time. They are both imprisoned in the Viridian palace complex, and sparks fly between them - romance maybe, but also a desire for each to stay safe and succeed in their goals. When they finally have their sexy times, it's extra super spicy and made me wonder if our dear author dabbles in erotica for funsies.

The magic in the world is interesting - they have a fate of thread system that rare people can see, so the reader can see ties between present and past characters in the book. I'm sure there's much more to the magic and religious system to explore in the rest of the series - I can't wait to see where the story goes!

Thank you Two Laurels Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.