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A Nest of All Kinds: Jewels of the House Divine — A Dark Historical Fantasy Novel
Empress Anastasia rules the uncontested hegemon known as the Rasnaian Imperium, but her gilded cage threatens to become a tomb after her infant son and lord-husband die mysteriously in quick succession. Broken by grief, she turns the terrifying might of the empire toward a singular vengeance against the conspirators hidden within her treacherous court and the insidious forces lurking beneath.
Made regent of her late husband's twin heirs, Anastasia battles to build a relationship with her royal stepchildren, even as these powerful courtiers seek to turn them against her. All the while, an old flame from a forbidden romance threatens her precarious hold on legitimacy. With everyone on her regency council a suspect, Ana looks to unconventional allies outside palace circles for an aging shieldmaiden gladiatrix, a smuggler prince, a divine oracle, and her imperial stepson—at odds with his own twin brother.
As her investigation pulls at the loose threads, she risks unraveling a dark mystery at the heart of the Empire's ancient foundations—a secret so explosive it could shatter the empire itself. But many in the shadows are willing to do anything to prevent her from exposing the truth, some far closer to her than she suspects. To avenge her loved ones and secure her throne, Anastasia must confront the growing darkness before it consumes everything she has left—and so much more—as this nest of imperial eagles proves itself a nest of all kinds.
A NEST OF ALL KINDS is an adult dark historical fantasy novel with mystery/thriller elements, inspired by Eastern European history and folklore, particularly that of the Byzantine Roman Empire. Imagine A GAME OF THRONES meets SAILING TO SARANTIUM.
For readers who enjoy novels that explore the challenges of women in power and feature expansive world-building reminiscent of Samantha Shannon's THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE, the grim political machinations of Joe Abercrombie's AGE OF MADNESS Trilogy, and the historically-inspired political plotlines, military involvement, and magic of R.F. Kuang's THE POPPY WAR, A NEST OF ALL KINDS offers a similarly dark and intricate world.
Made regent of her late husband's twin heirs, Anastasia battles to build a relationship with her royal stepchildren, even as these powerful courtiers seek to turn them against her. All the while, an old flame from a forbidden romance threatens her precarious hold on legitimacy. With everyone on her regency council a suspect, Ana looks to unconventional allies outside palace circles for an aging shieldmaiden gladiatrix, a smuggler prince, a divine oracle, and her imperial stepson—at odds with his own twin brother.
As her investigation pulls at the loose threads, she risks unraveling a dark mystery at the heart of the Empire's ancient foundations—a secret so explosive it could shatter the empire itself. But many in the shadows are willing to do anything to prevent her from exposing the truth, some far closer to her than she suspects. To avenge her loved ones and secure her throne, Anastasia must confront the growing darkness before it consumes everything she has left—and so much more—as this nest of imperial eagles proves itself a nest of all kinds.
A NEST OF ALL KINDS is an adult dark historical fantasy novel with mystery/thriller elements, inspired by Eastern European history and folklore, particularly that of the Byzantine Roman Empire. Imagine A GAME OF THRONES meets SAILING TO SARANTIUM.
For readers who enjoy novels that explore the challenges of women in power and feature expansive world-building reminiscent of Samantha Shannon's THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE, the grim political machinations of Joe Abercrombie's AGE OF MADNESS Trilogy, and the historically-inspired political plotlines, military involvement, and magic of R.F. Kuang's THE POPPY WAR, A NEST OF ALL KINDS offers a similarly dark and intricate world.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2025
5 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. Reid
2 books1 followerMichael C. Reid is a chef-turned-author and a native of Chicago, Illinois, excited to make his debut in the fantasy publishing space. As a long-time fan of dark fantasy and a lifelong student of history, he drafted short stories as a hobby in school before pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts and a career in the restaurant industry.
He spent twenty years working as a chef with many of the best names in the business and has opened many successful restaurants in that time. He now devotes that same creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and dedication to excellence to his first love of writing.
He spent twenty years working as a chef with many of the best names in the business and has opened many successful restaurants in that time. He now devotes that same creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and dedication to excellence to his first love of writing.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 3, 2025
Thank you to librarything.com and Michael C. Reid for this ARC.
My review is below. I enjoyed the book and after a few chapters the plot and intrigue soon drew me in!
The novel centers on Empress Anastasia, who ascends to power as regent of the Rasnaian Imperium after the mysterious deaths of her infant son and husband. Stricken by grief yet resolute, she vows revenge on the conspirators within her court. Amid power struggles, she forges uneasy alliances with a retired shieldmaiden-gladiatrix, a smuggler-prince, a divine oracle—and her stepchildren, who may themselves harbor ambitions against her. The tension-filled storyline delivers strong pacing and layered intrigue based on a believable historical-imperial backdrop.
✅ What Works — Strong Plot & Historical Foundation
The world-building feels grounded in a solid historical foundation: court politics, dynastic succession, and legal and cultural traditions of the empire lend credibility and depth to the narrative. The regal setting and mechanisms of power feel thoroughly researched and richly depicted.
⚖️ Downsides — Dense Language
One major drawback is the heavy use of complex and archaic-sounding terms. Many words are difficult to pronounce and unfamiliar to modern readers. This forces frequent reading breaks to consult the glossary. For some readers, this disruption may make it challenging to follow the story, especially in more dialogue-heavy or exposition-heavy passages.
Little or no magic system.
🧠 Overall Thoughts
Plot: Captivating and well-structured, with political intrigue, grief-driven motivation, and emotional stakes.
Historical Foundation: Credible, immersive, and thoughtfully constructed.
Language Complexity: A barrier at times; glossary consultation interrupts flow and may cause confusion
🌟 Final Verdict
A Nest of All Kinds: Jewels of the House Divine offers a compelling tale of power, loss, and loyalty set in a richly imagined imperial court. Its solid historical grounding and well-crafted plot will appeal to readers who enjoy political drama and regal intrigue. However, the dense and archaic vocabulary, while atmospherically fitting, may slow the reading experience for those not accustomed to frequent glossary use. Overall an enjoyable read that transports you to another world!
Suggested Rating (out of 5): 4.3
Plot & World‑building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Language / Accessibility: ⭐⭐️⭐
Despite its linguistic complexity, the book is rewarding for readers who appreciate detailed historical fantasy and aren’t deterred by occasional interruptions to decode the prose.
My review is below. I enjoyed the book and after a few chapters the plot and intrigue soon drew me in!
The novel centers on Empress Anastasia, who ascends to power as regent of the Rasnaian Imperium after the mysterious deaths of her infant son and husband. Stricken by grief yet resolute, she vows revenge on the conspirators within her court. Amid power struggles, she forges uneasy alliances with a retired shieldmaiden-gladiatrix, a smuggler-prince, a divine oracle—and her stepchildren, who may themselves harbor ambitions against her. The tension-filled storyline delivers strong pacing and layered intrigue based on a believable historical-imperial backdrop.
✅ What Works — Strong Plot & Historical Foundation
The world-building feels grounded in a solid historical foundation: court politics, dynastic succession, and legal and cultural traditions of the empire lend credibility and depth to the narrative. The regal setting and mechanisms of power feel thoroughly researched and richly depicted.
⚖️ Downsides — Dense Language
One major drawback is the heavy use of complex and archaic-sounding terms. Many words are difficult to pronounce and unfamiliar to modern readers. This forces frequent reading breaks to consult the glossary. For some readers, this disruption may make it challenging to follow the story, especially in more dialogue-heavy or exposition-heavy passages.
Little or no magic system.
🧠 Overall Thoughts
Plot: Captivating and well-structured, with political intrigue, grief-driven motivation, and emotional stakes.
Historical Foundation: Credible, immersive, and thoughtfully constructed.
Language Complexity: A barrier at times; glossary consultation interrupts flow and may cause confusion
🌟 Final Verdict
A Nest of All Kinds: Jewels of the House Divine offers a compelling tale of power, loss, and loyalty set in a richly imagined imperial court. Its solid historical grounding and well-crafted plot will appeal to readers who enjoy political drama and regal intrigue. However, the dense and archaic vocabulary, while atmospherically fitting, may slow the reading experience for those not accustomed to frequent glossary use. Overall an enjoyable read that transports you to another world!
Suggested Rating (out of 5): 4.3
Plot & World‑building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Language / Accessibility: ⭐⭐️⭐
Despite its linguistic complexity, the book is rewarding for readers who appreciate detailed historical fantasy and aren’t deterred by occasional interruptions to decode the prose.
October 27, 2025
Her life has changed when her husband and child die but she now needs to look after her husband twins. Their brother is at odds with them and everywhere she looks there is danger. She may get help from people outside her court. See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great fight for survival
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great fight for survival
August 11, 2025
An enjoyable and complicated epic fantasy. Plenty of intrigue, action and betrayal.
October 28, 2025
A beautifully written multi genre novel. Complicated politics. Forbidden love. Dangerous adventure. Suspense and mystery for days. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews