Where North Meets South

by Elle Rhaeser

A forbidden royal love triangle with dire consequences

Where North Meets South is the first book in the Scarred By Feathers series of spicy fantasy romance books.

Ayla Marnoch waits at the edge of the world for Prince Thian to uphold his promise and marry her. So when the pegasus-mounted prince shows up already wed to another, Aylas dreams start to crumble before her. But Thian swears it is a marriage of alliance, not love, and that in three years when he is coronated, he will uphold his vow to her.

But the prince isn't all she remembers him to be, and there are other players in the game.

Where North Meets South is a deliciously slow burn, steamy fantasy romance, ideal for fans of Powerless and The Bridge Kingdom.

Genres: Fantasy

416 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2025

Reviews

[Susan (Purplegalaxyreads94) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for this opportunity as I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Here are my thoughts:

This book teleports you to such a fun, mythical world that has you not wanting to leave it! The FMC became one of my favorite characters due to her personality and how amazing she is. Plus the tropes in this book are ones that I personally love. A spicy, slow burn romantasy with a taste of forbidden love and “touch her and 💀” vibes. And let’s just say that a Pegasus is a mythical creature that I wish I could have or even see with my own eyes some day. I think many people will enjoy this book and the magical journey and adventure it has to offer!

[Ashley (AshleyReadsBooks614) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read. I was left guessing the entire book... Where is this going? What is going to happen? What will the FMC do now? On the edge of my seat wishing and hoping for the ending I wanted. But also wondering WHAT. IS. GOING. ON. -- BUT in a good way -- I absolutely loved this book. I haven't read a book by this Author before but would definitely pick up another book by Elle. Loved the book and writing.

[Ashley Hool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately captured by this book and the world that the author created. I am a huge sucker for the female lead having to choose between two brothers🤭 I love me some prince🫅rivalry.

📚The book brings you into Ayla’s life both present and past showing you a childhood of love, loss, grief, and hope. Ayla has been waiting to return to her real home ever since the death of her mother and she finally gets that chance and the chance to reconnect with her childhood love Prince Thian. Ayla returns to her friends and love to regain the life she always dreamed of….but can dreams change into a love she never knew existed?

And did I mention this book has pegasi and they have royal riders?? 🤩

Join the world of Ayla, Thian, Atlas, and the rest of the royal family as they fight for that forever love and watch the past and present collide.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC 🪽

Loved the world building in this book and the complex relationships between alllllllllll the different royals/nobles. I could so clearly picture the scenes that were being described and I loved the imagery of the different kingdoms we visited (we covered a lot of ground on our Pegasus). I’m actually worried for our main characters in book two after that cliff hanger.

I did find the writing a little hard to follow at times particularly around the third person POV and it was a little slow at times.

This book is for you if you enjoy:
- royal love triangle (think Powerless)
- touch her and get seriously hurt
- politics
- broody mmc
- childhood sweethearts
- mythical creatures
- lavender

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing this book it made me realise I should be giving more indie authors a chance & not just sticking to the standard what everyone else is reading.

I can tell you I knew what moment in this book I was hooked. Page 21! Elle had managed to in 21 pages get me so invested in the FMC that I knew this was going to be a must read for me.

For me the world building was fantastic without making it overly complicated which sometimes happens in fantasy books & to be honest a love triangle happens to be one of my favourites so this was well up my street.

I can’t wait for the second book to come out already.

[Nicola Frasier (nikswordsonpaper) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok this book was a grower not a shower. I am glad I persevered with this one! Received the ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review💙

🌟🌟🌟

Yes, it’s only 3 stars BUT that’s because the first 35% of the book was not very gripping. I am not a patient person and I look for drama off the bat, BUT I am impatient. This is completely character-focused, so it was nice to be around the other characters and be kept in the dark a little bit. If you are someone who loves character development and needs time to learn the backstory of the characters then you’d love it!

Slight spoiler on the characters here but I hated Thain. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he was being set-up to be the main MMC. But HOLY MOLY when we spend more time with Atlas?! Lord have MERCY. This was definitely a love triangle, and I felt like whilst the forbidden romance on BOTH sides was full of angst and yearning that all of a sudden it did go from zero to a hundred and I personally just like to suffer a bit more and have a slow burn. But that’s not to say it wasn’t good because their scenes were addicting. Once it started going I couldn’t put the book down! There was so much trauma - not yet fully revealed - but I felt so much emotion for them. Especially Niamh and Twyla, can we please protect them at all costs!!

The mythical creatures and family lineage was intense but I loved it had the family tree at beginning, and the map (always a good sign if there’s a map!). There is so much left unanswered, so much left to learn about the world and the cliffhanger will torture me for a while but all in all I did enjoy the book and I will definitely read the second - just to find out what happens hehe.

What you’ll find:
⚔️ Forbidden love
✨Childhood sweethearts
⚔️ Love Triangle
✨ One Bed at the Inn
⚔️ Forced Proximity
✨ Touch her and die

[Megthebookgoblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book was amazing! And I immediately need book 2 with that cliff hanger!!!

Imagine loving two princes, one is your childhood sweetheart, next in line for the throne he's everything you wanted since you were able to walk, until he isn't 👀

Then theres his brother who you haven't really looked at twice until you are both older and you start noticing his quiet caring and thoughtfulness 👀

What would you do?

Ayla is such a relatable character thinking back at being her age and first loves and thinking about what you want.

The world building and pacing of this book drags you into it, you can't help but feel part of the story.

Alongside these three characters, there's a besotted king, a mysterious queen, a princess who regularly zones out, a daughter who is the cutest thing and a sister who literally ran away to find her happy ever after.

The plot has so many tangents built in and some excellent foreshadowing and a great mystery. The romance and spice is there without it taking over the entire story but it's very much makes you want to pick a brother.

If you liked the love triangle in the powerless series, the court politics of rose in chains or the potential history built into throne of glass then you will like this book.

If you are a fan of dragons but want a new mystical creature to yearn for I give you... Pegasus' 🔥

I won this book in a giveaway and I'm so glad I did because it's absolutely brilliant

[Plot Twist Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ A strong romantasy debut from Elle Rhaeser that swept me away with rich worldbuilding, slow burn, tension, and just the right amount of spice. I was lucky to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I truly enjoyed this one!

From the opening pages, the setting hooked me: a seaside palace where I could practically taste the salt air. I loved the marine-inspired fashion and coastal court culture. The distinct regions in this book gave serious Game of Thrones vibes and made the world feel layered and alive.

As for the magical elements, this was my first time encountering a pegasus in romantasy, and I am obsessed. Possibly my new favorite mythical creature.

I did knock off a star because the pacing is a little slow at first — but once the story finds its rhythm, it launches into a high-stakes, tension-filled adventure. It’s a slow burn, but the spicy scenes are HOT.

The book ends on a jaw dropping cliffhanger, and I’m already impatient for book two.

Tropes to expect:
💔 Forbidden love
⚔️ Sibling rivalry
🔥 Slow burn
💘 Love triangle
🛏️ One bed at the inn

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

real rating: 4.25/5

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Ayla was a great FMC, and watching her character develop while the story progressed was fantastic! The emphasis on the dynamic between Ayla and Niamh was also appreciated, as their situation was definitely unique and certainly complicated. Both of the Kinghorn boys were compelling in their own right, but I'm definitely an Atlas girlie. Thian's impulsive nature really helps push the story forward, even though he STRESSED ME OUTTT.

Since it's the first book in the series, there were several elements that don't quite make sense just yet, but their mention does have me intrigued to pick up the next book. I also liked the inclusion of the family tree of sorts, it was really helpful as there are a lot of characters to follow and it could get a bit muddled at times.

A fun and unique fantasy read with a promising premise :)

Thank you to the author & Tales & Teacups PR for the ARC!

[Lydia Anslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly picked to be an ARC reader for this book, the first of the series, and I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. For it being Elle’s first book baby it’s definitely a good read.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Ayla (FMC) and Thain (MMC), the yearning, want and chemistry between them that soon changes into something else. And don’t get me started on Atlas (MMC), my goodness, an utterly tortured soul but one who knows where his heart truly lies…that moment when he defends Ayla is definitely one of my favourites.
The old world that the story is set in was really easy to imagine, with a few mystical creatures too, including a Pegasus - makes a change from my usual load of dragons.
As my first love triangle in a while I can honestly say I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read the next ones in the series.
- forced proximity: check
- love triangle: check
- touch her and get seriously hurt: check
- years of yearning: check
- forbidden love: check

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all thanks to Talesandteacups & Elle Rhaeser for the eARC of this book!

What a unique romantasy! It's entirely character-focused, and very well written. Every character is very fleshed-out, with complex thoughts and motivations. They all have their own frustrations, challenges, and cultures, driving their thoughts. I liked that the book's PoV was fluid - chapters would sometimes shift perspectives, which gave us crucial glimpses into other chatacters who wouldn't have had much page-time otherwise. It really helped give a sense of a wider world.

I do wish there was a little more plot. As I said, this is entirely romance-focused. There was a section of the book involving a kidnapping, but it felt very random to me and out of place.

This is a love triangle book, with amazing touch-her-and-die energy from BOTH love interests! I liked the spice scenes. I also liked the dynamic of the love triangle - truly a forbidden romance, perhaps a villain-origin story too?

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC 🥰

The idea of this book was great.

Star-crossed lovers, secrets, forbidden love, magical creatures. It had a lot to be desired.

However, I kinda struggled with this. A lot of the first half was confusing and I found myself losing track quite often. I absolutely loved the magical creature aspect of this book, but wished there was more involvement of said magical creatures.

The cliffhanger of an ending was definitely a major plot twist, but it was also mildly frustrating 😆 If Ayla had told Thian her secret earlier, this "mad king" could have been avoided, but I guess that's the hallmark of some writing, right? It provokes emotions, and this book definitely did that.

[Barbara Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where North Meets South by Elle Rhaser
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Where North Meets South is a spicy fantasy romance exploring loss, family and the blurred lines between relationships through a forbidden royal love triangle with dire consequences.”

I enjoyed this read. It started off slow, and I wasn’t enjoying the Thian character. But once Atlas came more into play, it became more fun to read and I was curious how the book would end.. I loved the friendship to lovers relationship Ayla and Atlas have. Ayla is such a sweet girl and I loved her character.

I’ll be looking for book 2! Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC.

[Kris10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about ending on a cliffhanger!

**SPOILERS**
As the end of the story was approaching I wasn’t sure how it was going to end, as it felt like not a lot had actually happened, other than Ayla falling for Atlas, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this ending. I’m not sure if maybe Thian has lost his mind or what. Very slow plot, the world building is cool. The bit with Ayla’s mom being part royal threw me off, but it was a nice surprise. I’m excited to see where the story goes for the next book.

[Rhianna Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the fact she’s got a family tree drawing in the book, it really helped understand how the characters are related. “His kiss was a brand. An everlasting mark that she would never forget.” This book made you feel like you was along side Ayla, or even inside her head. I love the trope “touch her and you 💀” and also the love triangle aspect. The dynamic between ayla and Nimah was appreciated, as there situation was unique and very complicated. The kinghorn boys were compelling in their own ways, thian definitely stressed me out with his impulsive behaviour, but atlas is a sweetheart.

[Veronica C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and quick read, and I really enjoyed the forbidden-love, love-triangle aspect of the story. I am excited to read book 2 because there are so many threads still to unravel! I need to know more about Niamh, the incident with the Pegasus, Ayla’s mom, and obviously that cliffhanger! It’s not the most polished story, but it holds a lot of promise and I will definitely be reading book 2.

[Geri • GardensandGrimoires · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced fantasy adventure with rich, diverse worldbuilding, this story sweeps you across many corners of The Continent and introduces an array of fascinating locations and characters. At the heart of it all is Ayla, a wonderfully sweet and caring heroine whose fierce loyalty and quiet strength make her instantly endearing. I especially loved the rare inclusion of a Pegasus, which added a touch of magic I haven’t encountered often in fantasy.

The plot weaves together a complicated royal love triangle full of tension and longing, balanced by themes of devotion, secrets, and betrayal. There’s a definite Powerless Trilogy vibe here, especially with the “touch her and die” undertones that heighten the stakes around Ayla’s relationships.

After a dramatic change of location and an unexpected kidnapping, the story races toward a killer cliffhanger that could send both the plot and the romance spinning in any direction. I honestly can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Thank you to the author and Tales & Teacups for the eARC!

[Sigrid Fang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Elle for sending me an advanced copy of this wonderful book ahead of its release on July 11, 2025!

Where North meets South is a romantasy tale that follows Ayla as she navigates through life. While the story had a slow and slightly confusing start, with many characters introduced early on, it definitely picked up around a third of the way in. It was definitely engaging once the plot picked up.

Although I didn’t fully connect with Ayla, I really enjoyed reading about her relationships with other characters, especially the MMCs, Thian and Atlas. Her relationship with each of them is so distinct that it adds an emotional depth to the story. The love triangle in this book is complicated and definitely one of the highlights for me.

Also, the cliffhanger was intense that I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds in the second book! Overall it was a great and enjoyable read! If you love romantasy with complicated relationship dynamics, definitely check this one out! 💙

[Brittany Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨

Yalllll, this was so good. I’m normally not a 3rd person POV girlie, but it was written and engaged me to the point I barely noticed. I was getting Pride and Prejudice meets fantasy vibes - which is right up my alley. Along with slow burn, forbidden love, angst, banter, suspense & more. I loved the FMC, Ayla - her character growth and resilience. The love triangle was well played out & written. Both MMC different in many ways but both know what they want- Ayla. I definitely know which one I’m rooting for, but not giving no spoilers 🙊 you’ll have to read it for yourself! 😘😉

The ending though…. I was not ready for it to end like that. I need answers now!! lol I can’t wait to devour book 2! There is so many questions I have that I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. I’ll be impatiently waiting 🤪

[Leanne (Queen_and_the_wolf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good grief what an ending!!! 🤯😱🤩

It took me ages to finish this book because life just got in the way of reading 😤

I won a copy of this book pre release in a competition by the author.

This book is chefs kiss and gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me no question

The characters were well written and beautifully created. The world building was just enough to create provocative images in the mind.

Never shall I think of Lavender as an old lady scent again💜😍

The slow burn is exquisite even more so as it’s a love triangle so we’re burning from two different sides 😉

I cannot wait for book 2 in the “Scarred by feathers” series

[Catrina Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it started a little slow, I really enjoyed this book. There were some twists and turns in this novel and very excited to see what happens in book 2. I love me a good forbidden romance and love triangle. This book was fun and I have no idea where it’s heading but I’ll be long for the ride!

[booksthatbleed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful treasure full of world-building at its finest, Where North meets South is an epic tale of slow-burn and yearning. I thoroughly enjoyed how each character was written (especially Ayla), and the cliff-hanger at the end was very well-done!

[Chloe Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this.Ayla and atlas. The story development was amazing.

[anavilelareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book so very much! It started slowly but got me completely gripped after a few chapters (got me thinking of it even when not reading). A great love story and what a cliff hanger! Already looking forward to reading book 2
A wonderful Romantasy book with amazing world building, made me feel like I was living in each page.

"she bid his command and peeked past the wings of Ivelle to behold the landscape of this beautiful land where North met South."

Thank you Elle for allowing me to read an ARC of your amazing debut novel, can't wait to read more of your books! ✨️

[Krista Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW! that ending gah! What a cliff to jump off of! Also I would like my own pet Pegasus to ride now please!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down once I started! If you’re looking for a romantasy featuring magical creatures, a royal love triangle (and not the one your first expect) and found family, this book is for you! Our FMC Ayla’s development from a teen who thinks she knows what love is after loving a prince her whole life to an adult who fills the position of governess and loves that princess child with another women who finds joy in others and slowly unravels that what she felt wasn’t real love was a beautiful journey to go on. Watching her realize she deserved someone who loved her fully and cared for her more than just an object or toy and seeing her find that in an unexpected place was refreshing, but now I need the next book to find out what happens with the twist at the end! I’m also so glad she got to learn more about her own history and that she does have more family in the world with her mother gone and father missing! My rating 4.7/5!

Thank you so much to the author and tales & teacups pr for the gifted arc of this book, all opinions given are my own!

[Felicity Berkenbusch · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
This book has good ideas but I felt it lacked a single focus and was sometimes hard to understand (that could just be me) and felt clunky and not the best pacing. There were some scenes that felt unrelated to the plot, but I also don't know the plot much either.
I enjoyed the characters but would have loved to learn more about some of the main people.
I understand this is the first book in a series but I just wanted a little more base to the characters to make me want to read the second book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Firstly thank you so much for allowing me to read this arc. I loved the idea of this book based on the description and here are my thoughts:

✨Forbidden love
✨Forced proximity
✨Childhood sweethearts
✨Love triangle
✨One bed
✨Trauma bond

At first I found it slow and thought there were a lot of characters that appeared out of nowhere making it hard to keep up with.
It had some time jumps which I found confusing to follow the storyline at times.
HOWEVER
I liked the mystical/mythical aspect that this book made me feel but I wanted MORE
The yearning between Atlas & Ayla, I just want them to have a happy ending.
The worldbuilding was good and I could picture the scenes
Overall, not the most well written but I did end up really enjoying this book and fell for the main characters, I’m excited to continue the series and find out more about what happens. I need to know more about Niamh, Aylas heritage, the Pegasus and WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!

“His kiss was a brand. An everlasting mark that she would never forget.”

“He looked at her as if she were the stars in the sky or a god at an alter.”

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where North Meets South by Elle Rhaeser ★★★½

Where North Meets South has such a strong vibe and I found myself thinking about the world when I wasn’t reading. Rhaeser’s atmospheric writing is beautiful and really pulls you into the setting. I loved the wild, almost unhinged energy of the MMC, he totally stole the show and was absolutely feral.

That said, I was pretty confused by the plot at times and wasn’t always sure where the story was going or what it was building toward. It felt like there wasn’t a goal for most of the story, which made it hard to stay fully invested and felt more like a mostly romance book set in a fantastical setting versus a “fantasy.” Still, there’s something really captivating about the characters that kept me reading. Not perfect, but there’s a lot to appreciate here!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a spicy romantasy set in a magical world with a royal family that ride pegasus. The FMC is Ayla, whilst she can be somewhat naive she is a likable strong character.

I struggled a bit with the book to start with, I didn't particularly like Thian or get what Ayla saw in him but I loved her relationship with Atlas. The book has a great ending and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Thank you to the author and talesnteacups for providing me with the ARC.

[Angela Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must have the 2nd book now!! The cliffhanger this ends on has me shooketh, and I need more! Thank you, @talesandteacupspr and @ellerhaeserofficial, for the opportunity to read this amazing book!!