Exodus is the Autumn Court's most lethal paradox: a prince gifted with the terrifying power of mental manipulation who craves nothing but the silence of a common life. Bound by duty and a father's cold expectations, he is prepared to marry for politics and suffer for the throne. That was the plan until he met Azalea. She was the Courtless assassin sent to end his life, yet she became the only heart he ever truly claimed. Then, without warning, he broke her. Six years of icy silence shatters when Azalea returns to the palace. Hired by the King himself for a suicide mission to eliminate a rival monarch, she must inhabit the same halls as the man who discarded her.
The price is too high to refuse; the proximity is a torture she didn't anticipate. Azalea came for blood and gold, but as buried secrets of the Autumn Court begin to surface, she realizes the mission is a trap, and her past is a lie. In a kingdom built on deception, the most dangerous thing isn't the contract she signed, it is the man she still craves.
Avery Timmons is an Illinois-based young adult author holding a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing with a focus in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. She has had numerous speculative fiction short stories and photographs published in literary magazines and anthologies.
She is the author of young adult fantasy novels THICKER THAN WATER (2025) and MAIMED (2026).
I really liked the dual POV and timeline so you found out what happened in the past to cause him to break her whilst also keeping up with the current going ons. Even though you were switching between the then and now it wasn’t confusing which made it a smoother read. I liked the magic system even though it was very minimal in the book and only appears a few times, would have been nice to see a bit more of this coming into play. Seemed like it was going to be a straight forward book…… until you get near the end, then it just twisted! Enjoyed the twist but at the same time it was not the ending I was expecting! Can’t say too much about the ending without giving anything away, both sad and happy at the same time about it! Overall really enjoyed the book, nice easy and quick read for me.
I loved reading this!! Duel POV with split timelines of past and present, twists and unexpected turns, heartbreak and love, this book has it all! I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole way through…. ish. Pick up this book asap for a fantasy book that holds heavy topics with levity and understanding.