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To Sway A Rival: A Standalone Romantasy
A low stakes rival to lovers, hybrid vampires, and friendly dragons fantasy romance
Two determined thieves, and a quest through a dragon filled forest.
If Morai Stoneheart loves anything, it’s besting a Heathrow. The rivalry between their thieving guilds started long before Morai and Luka, but if you ask her, they do it best. Their families live right next to one another, to keep the competition close. Neither is getting away with much unless they’re very clever.
So, when Morai falls for Luka, she doesn’t tell her family. In fact, she doesn’t even tell Luka. If she can just pull off one final job, she can establish her own guild, and live guilt free—with whomever she wants. But to pull off the heist, she’ll have to outwit her strongest rival—him.
Luka Heathrow is an excellent thief. But try as he might, he’s never quite been able to abscond with his true love’s heart. And it’s not just because she’s a Stoneheart. Luka has responsibilities. As the first born, he’s destined to take over the family guild. What’s more, if anyone discovers his healing magic, he’ll be carted off to the temple of Rapha, never to see the outside world again.
It feels impossible, but Luka can’t seem to let Morai go. So, when she tries to steal an elixir from the mage tower, he thwarts her plans. But thieving inside one’s own city is illegal. When they’re caught, as punishment, the head mage sends Morai and Luka on a wild quest.
Trekking through an enchanted forest filled with dragons and a plethora of magical creatures, Morai and Luka must work together to secure a rare ingredient for the mage. But the farther they stray into the woods, the more it becomes clear they need to be honest with one another. Because the forest isn’t as charming or innocuous as it seems. It’s breathing around them, literally.
To Sway A Rival is Book Nine in the Tempting Thieves Collection.
Tempting Thieves is a diverse multi-author romantasy collection featuring cunning thieves who outsmart relentless hunters, steal forbidden treasures, and find love along the way. With enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn longing, forced proximity, secret identities, only one bed, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, every story delivers an irresistible fantasy escape. Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, morally gray heroes, daring rogues, and clean yet sizzling chemistry. Each book in the collection is a standalone. Read in any order.
Two determined thieves, and a quest through a dragon filled forest.
If Morai Stoneheart loves anything, it’s besting a Heathrow. The rivalry between their thieving guilds started long before Morai and Luka, but if you ask her, they do it best. Their families live right next to one another, to keep the competition close. Neither is getting away with much unless they’re very clever.
So, when Morai falls for Luka, she doesn’t tell her family. In fact, she doesn’t even tell Luka. If she can just pull off one final job, she can establish her own guild, and live guilt free—with whomever she wants. But to pull off the heist, she’ll have to outwit her strongest rival—him.
Luka Heathrow is an excellent thief. But try as he might, he’s never quite been able to abscond with his true love’s heart. And it’s not just because she’s a Stoneheart. Luka has responsibilities. As the first born, he’s destined to take over the family guild. What’s more, if anyone discovers his healing magic, he’ll be carted off to the temple of Rapha, never to see the outside world again.
It feels impossible, but Luka can’t seem to let Morai go. So, when she tries to steal an elixir from the mage tower, he thwarts her plans. But thieving inside one’s own city is illegal. When they’re caught, as punishment, the head mage sends Morai and Luka on a wild quest.
Trekking through an enchanted forest filled with dragons and a plethora of magical creatures, Morai and Luka must work together to secure a rare ingredient for the mage. But the farther they stray into the woods, the more it becomes clear they need to be honest with one another. Because the forest isn’t as charming or innocuous as it seems. It’s breathing around them, literally.
To Sway A Rival is Book Nine in the Tempting Thieves Collection.
Tempting Thieves is a diverse multi-author romantasy collection featuring cunning thieves who outsmart relentless hunters, steal forbidden treasures, and find love along the way. With enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn longing, forced proximity, secret identities, only one bed, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, every story delivers an irresistible fantasy escape. Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, morally gray heroes, daring rogues, and clean yet sizzling chemistry. Each book in the collection is a standalone. Read in any order.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2025
2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 31, 2025
To Sway a Rival
A fun light hearted cozy romance. It was cute and entertaining. I enjoyed the overall story and it was full of awesome tropes like; rivals to allies to lovers, no spice, thieves, mutual pining, quest, animal companion, magic, adventure, and more!
A fun light hearted cozy romance. It was cute and entertaining. I enjoyed the overall story and it was full of awesome tropes like; rivals to allies to lovers, no spice, thieves, mutual pining, quest, animal companion, magic, adventure, and more!
May 31, 2025
I enjoyed this short, cosy romantasy read. It told the story of Moria and Luka, rival thieves from rival families. It gave me Romeo and Juliet vibes but with dragons and magic! What's not to love!
December 14, 2025
DNF-energy without the DNF.
To Sway a Rival had all the ingredients of a trope I usually love — tension, rivalry, emotional payoff — but it never came together in a satisfying way.
What didn’t work
The chemistry just never sparked. The rivalry stayed sharp but never evolved into believable romantic tension.
Too many manufactured misunderstandings. Instead of organic conflict, it felt like the story kept forcing drama to keep the plot moving.
Emotional moments didn’t land. Scenes meant to be meaningful came across rushed or hollow.
Pacing dragged. Several chapters felt like filler, stretching a story that didn’t have the depth to support the length.
Hoot needed way more main-character energy. Every time they were on the page, the book felt livelier — and then it was gone again. A waste of potential, honestly.
What did work
A few sharp lines here and there.
A premise that could have been great with stronger character arcs.
Overall
This just wasn’t my book. The spark wasn’t there, the romance didn’t feel earned, and the emotional beats never hit. Not awful — just not enjoyable.
To Sway a Rival had all the ingredients of a trope I usually love — tension, rivalry, emotional payoff — but it never came together in a satisfying way.
What didn’t work
The chemistry just never sparked. The rivalry stayed sharp but never evolved into believable romantic tension.
Too many manufactured misunderstandings. Instead of organic conflict, it felt like the story kept forcing drama to keep the plot moving.
Emotional moments didn’t land. Scenes meant to be meaningful came across rushed or hollow.
Pacing dragged. Several chapters felt like filler, stretching a story that didn’t have the depth to support the length.
Hoot needed way more main-character energy. Every time they were on the page, the book felt livelier — and then it was gone again. A waste of potential, honestly.
What did work
A few sharp lines here and there.
A premise that could have been great with stronger character arcs.
Overall
This just wasn’t my book. The spark wasn’t there, the romance didn’t feel earned, and the emotional beats never hit. Not awful — just not enjoyable.
February 14, 2026
Take Romeo and Juliet, add magic, change them into thieves instead of nobles, and you’ve got this cozy romantasy. The characters are rivals, and while I wouldn’t say a lot of tension builds between them in the traditional sense, they reminded me of two teens who really like each other, but don’t want to admit it outright. It was nice to see characters in a world suffused with magic, who couldn’t use it themselves. We get a good idea of who they are within the first few chapters, and the story moves along pretty smoothly. I do wish the tension had been a little higher between the two MCs, but overall it was an enjoyable story.
June 4, 2025
A cozy fast paced adventure filled with magic and witty banter.
My favorite part of this was that the main couple already knew each other before the start of the book. Which was great because with a book this short it’s very hard to have a good romance if they’re just meeting.
My favorite part of this was that the main couple already knew each other before the start of the book. Which was great because with a book this short it’s very hard to have a good romance if they’re just meeting.
January 28, 2026
2.5*
I was enjoying this till the end when the thieving characters show no trace of a conscience and BOTH set up a thieving guild of their own after leaving their families' ones.
The problem this leaves the readers with is that the main characters don't have a noble aim. Morai want to move away from their thieving families, yes to be with Luka, but also to set up her own thieving guild. We don't get any character development over the ethics of stealing and making a business off of stealing from others. She's shown as being a great entrepreneur and business woman, making it on her own, by STEALING! And her sister is her receptionist. Why not keep the thieving going in the family, ey!?
And then he becomes a part-time healer and then a thief the other half of his time.
This story was ripe for a great conversation on the morality of stealing and raising your children up to steal, which the mcs went through. They wanted to reject the family rivalry that would separate them, but it would have been even better for them to reject their way of life too, and find a higher, more noble calling. We nearly got that with Luka as a part-time healer, but it got rather ruined by his thieving guild business. Can you imagine a part-time doctor who also owns this company that publicly steals from people and is proud of such a thing?! I don't want my heroes to be criminals, thanks.
(If you think that's me being a judgemental goody-two-shoes, then you've clearly never had anything stolen from you.)
Apart from the ending, there was lots I did enjoy. The tone was light and world-building fantastical. There was a nice amount of banter and good side characters.
What a shame the characters ended up essentially back where they started, just running things instead.
CW:
- Lang - r*tard
- reference to a woman's ovaries drying up
- main characters are thieves and stay that way till the end, with no remorse or guilt that they profit off of stealing from others
- characters plan to live together at the end of the book, with no indication that they'll get married
I was enjoying this till the end when the thieving characters show no trace of a conscience and BOTH set up a thieving guild of their own after leaving their families' ones.
The problem this leaves the readers with is that the main characters don't have a noble aim. Morai want to move away from their thieving families, yes to be with Luka, but also to set up her own thieving guild. We don't get any character development over the ethics of stealing and making a business off of stealing from others. She's shown as being a great entrepreneur and business woman, making it on her own, by STEALING! And her sister is her receptionist. Why not keep the thieving going in the family, ey!?
And then he becomes a part-time healer and then a thief the other half of his time.
This story was ripe for a great conversation on the morality of stealing and raising your children up to steal, which the mcs went through. They wanted to reject the family rivalry that would separate them, but it would have been even better for them to reject their way of life too, and find a higher, more noble calling. We nearly got that with Luka as a part-time healer, but it got rather ruined by his thieving guild business. Can you imagine a part-time doctor who also owns this company that publicly steals from people and is proud of such a thing?! I don't want my heroes to be criminals, thanks.
(If you think that's me being a judgemental goody-two-shoes, then you've clearly never had anything stolen from you.)
Apart from the ending, there was lots I did enjoy. The tone was light and world-building fantastical. There was a nice amount of banter and good side characters.
What a shame the characters ended up essentially back where they started, just running things instead.
CW:
- Lang - r*tard
- reference to a woman's ovaries drying up
- main characters are thieves and stay that way till the end, with no remorse or guilt that they profit off of stealing from others
- characters plan to live together at the end of the book, with no indication that they'll get married
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2025
3.5*
la verdad que para ser 140 páginas está buenísimo, estaré leyendo los otros libros
la verdad que para ser 140 páginas está buenísimo, estaré leyendo los otros libros
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews