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The War of Nine Kings #1
Gates of Thiros
No one is born with magic.
Only in the hour of breaking is it found—
and Waenia Wyvarian is about to shatter.
Waenia wears a borrowed name, crowned in borrowed blood, raised to serve a kingdom that fears her. She wears many faces to hide the one they dread—the one that surfaced once, before the court, when the power she didn’t understand came alive.
“She’d twisted herself into something they could use—then praised her for it. She’d even borrowed Nimara’s poise, her courtly grace, her effortless charm. Flirtation had become survival. A distraction. Hearts bruised, whispers spread. Let them talk. Better they saw a girl with a bleeding heart than something worse. Something unnameable. A queen couldn’t be a god. Couldn’t be a beast. She had to be human.”
But masks crack, and power never stays buried. When forbidden magic awakens in her hands, Waenia becomes Thiros’s greatest weapon… and its greatest threat. To end a rising war against Luvian Veskar, the warlord who calls himself a God-King, her father binds her to an enemy prince—hoping to secure peace and unite their forces against the armies gathering in the west. But Waenia’s heart already belongs to the prince’s commander, Darrion Rhoane—a man bound by duty, haunted by loyalty, and carrying secrets that could unmake them both.
“He is the blade sworn to ruin her. She is the fire fated to burn him.”
Yet love and loyalty mean little when gods begin to die, and the Gate of Light—once the world’s salvation—has been corrupted by shadows that feed on the remnants of creation. When Waenia uncovers the truth behind the name she bears—the lies she was raised on, and the secrets that could shatter her—she must decide how to go on. Torn between duty and defiance, she must choose whether to rule the world that broke her… or remake it.
“You want truth to be simple. It isn’t. You are both—broken and whole. That is the burden of being human.”
“Then what’s the point?”
“To face yourself. Not to be perfect, but to understand. Life isn’t blessing or curse. It’s a question. Every day, you choose—will you answer it, or run?”
Left alone on the throne, as her father and Darrion wage war on two fronts, Waenia sees the greater threat rising in the north. When Luvian’s deception is revealed, she journeys north to rally the warring tribes—fractured by betrayal, bound by old hate—to fight beneath one banner. But the path is perilous. Captivity, pain, and loss become her teachers. Every scar draws her closer to the truth she’s long feared: to heal the world, she must lay down her sword—and face the power that once terrified her.
Torn between love and faith, destiny and defiance, Waenia must decide how to stand when she comes face to face with the man who calls himself God-King.
Will she raise her blade… or let the light choose her?
and Waenia Wyvarian is about to shatter.
Waenia wears a borrowed name, crowned in borrowed blood, raised to serve a kingdom that fears her. She wears many faces to hide the one they dread—the one that surfaced once, before the court, when the power she didn’t understand came alive.
“She’d twisted herself into something they could use—then praised her for it. She’d even borrowed Nimara’s poise, her courtly grace, her effortless charm. Flirtation had become survival. A distraction. Hearts bruised, whispers spread. Let them talk. Better they saw a girl with a bleeding heart than something worse. Something unnameable. A queen couldn’t be a god. Couldn’t be a beast. She had to be human.”
But masks crack, and power never stays buried. When forbidden magic awakens in her hands, Waenia becomes Thiros’s greatest weapon… and its greatest threat. To end a rising war against Luvian Veskar, the warlord who calls himself a God-King, her father binds her to an enemy prince—hoping to secure peace and unite their forces against the armies gathering in the west. But Waenia’s heart already belongs to the prince’s commander, Darrion Rhoane—a man bound by duty, haunted by loyalty, and carrying secrets that could unmake them both.
“He is the blade sworn to ruin her. She is the fire fated to burn him.”
Yet love and loyalty mean little when gods begin to die, and the Gate of Light—once the world’s salvation—has been corrupted by shadows that feed on the remnants of creation. When Waenia uncovers the truth behind the name she bears—the lies she was raised on, and the secrets that could shatter her—she must decide how to go on. Torn between duty and defiance, she must choose whether to rule the world that broke her… or remake it.
“You want truth to be simple. It isn’t. You are both—broken and whole. That is the burden of being human.”
“Then what’s the point?”
“To face yourself. Not to be perfect, but to understand. Life isn’t blessing or curse. It’s a question. Every day, you choose—will you answer it, or run?”
Left alone on the throne, as her father and Darrion wage war on two fronts, Waenia sees the greater threat rising in the north. When Luvian’s deception is revealed, she journeys north to rally the warring tribes—fractured by betrayal, bound by old hate—to fight beneath one banner. But the path is perilous. Captivity, pain, and loss become her teachers. Every scar draws her closer to the truth she’s long feared: to heal the world, she must lay down her sword—and face the power that once terrified her.
Torn between love and faith, destiny and defiance, Waenia must decide how to stand when she comes face to face with the man who calls himself God-King.
Will she raise her blade… or let the light choose her?
520 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2025
55 people are currently reading
29382 people want to read
About the author
Lili K. Buckley
3 books114 followersLili K. Buckley was born in Armenia, where she grew up immersed in Armenian and Russian classics. She studied Child Psychology and English at the ASPU before earning her Master’s in Psychology from Harvard University, a background that gives her characters their emotional depth and complexity. Her debut fantasy series, The War of Nine Kings, blends epic battles with intimate struggles of identity, love, and destiny. She now divides her time between Massachusetts and Florida, where she lives with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 7, 2025
A Mesmerizing Start to an Outstanding New Series
Gates of Thiros may begin with a slow burn, but that deliberate pacing quickly reveals itself as a strength. The writing is breathtakingly poetic, painting vivid worlds and emotions with a lyrical touch that lingers long after each chapter. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, unexpected twists and turns pull you deeper into its spellbinding narrative.
By the midpoint, the book transforms into a gripping journey that balances beauty with suspense, and the finale leaves you both stunned and eager for more. This is not just the launch of a series; it’s the arrival of something truly special. Gates of Thiros sets a new standard for epic storytelling, and I cannot wait to see where the next installment takes us.
Thank you to Lili K. Buckley for a beautifully wrapped addition of Gates of Thiros through a Goodreads giveaway. It was Christmas that came early when the package arrived. Looking forward to hours of living in the world you created.
Gates of Thiros may begin with a slow burn, but that deliberate pacing quickly reveals itself as a strength. The writing is breathtakingly poetic, painting vivid worlds and emotions with a lyrical touch that lingers long after each chapter. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, unexpected twists and turns pull you deeper into its spellbinding narrative.
By the midpoint, the book transforms into a gripping journey that balances beauty with suspense, and the finale leaves you both stunned and eager for more. This is not just the launch of a series; it’s the arrival of something truly special. Gates of Thiros sets a new standard for epic storytelling, and I cannot wait to see where the next installment takes us.
Thank you to Lili K. Buckley for a beautifully wrapped addition of Gates of Thiros through a Goodreads giveaway. It was Christmas that came early when the package arrived. Looking forward to hours of living in the world you created.
October 11, 2025
A magical masterpiece!
I am surprised this book hasn’t blown up yet! All romantasy lovers please do your self a favor and read this. I love Waenia’s character she is the perfect bad*** FMC, the world building is soo good, the political system is complex yet easy to understand, and the authors writing is poetic and beautiful. The naughty scenes are implied and closed door. Even with the closed door, it didn’t take away from the romance and chemistry. It ends on a cliff hanger but has enough closure that rather than being mad you’re simply looking forward to the next book.
I am surprised this book hasn’t blown up yet! All romantasy lovers please do your self a favor and read this. I love Waenia’s character she is the perfect bad*** FMC, the world building is soo good, the political system is complex yet easy to understand, and the authors writing is poetic and beautiful. The naughty scenes are implied and closed door. Even with the closed door, it didn’t take away from the romance and chemistry. It ends on a cliff hanger but has enough closure that rather than being mad you’re simply looking forward to the next book.
December 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ (4.5 / 5)
I fear this series will ruin me emotionally—and I’m seated. (THE END was 🤯 💥 😭!!!)
Epic, emotionally charged, beautifully atmospheric, dense in lore, AND richly rewarding. Readers who love slow-burn romance + epic stakes. Who want fantasy that feels intimate, not just epic. Slow build (by design). Emotionally heavy. Not a “comfort fantasy”—this one cuts and lingers.
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Political intrigue, succession wars, hidden heirs, prophecy tension. Stakes escalate steadily rather than explode all at once. Slow-burn intensity → devastating payoff. Not chaotic spice, controlled, simmering heat. Perfect for readers who love tension that tightens chapter by chapter.
💔 Romance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (🌶️🌶️) 🫠🫠🫠
Closed door. Fade to black. Emotional damage remains.
Longing, restraint, forbidden desire. Touch-starved moments, charged proximity, emotional intimacy. “Say less, feel more” energy. Darrion and Waenia’s banter hooks you first—then duty barges in like an armed guard yelling “ABSOLUTELY NOT.” You will crave their reunion. You will suffer. Then the love happens… 🫠 Worth it. Illegal to feel this much.
AND THEN—Malvaris and Waenia. The hatred. The biting dialogue. The mutual loathing. The verbal sparring that feels like emotional knife-throwing. I felt every ounce of that malice.
FINALLY… Luvian. The villain, the problem, the reason Book 2 is now a personal necessity.
👑 Character Depth & Chemistry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters feel wounded, conflicted, and alive. No cardboard villains—everyone has motive. Identity, duty, love, power, and fear constantly collide. Chemistry is earned, not handed out. You will argue about these characters like they’re real people.
🌍 World-Building & Lore ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is not a skim book. This is a cancel-your-plans, sink-into-the-world book. The worldbuilding is lush, immersive, and mythic without being confusing or trying too hard. Light vs. shadow isn’t just aesthetic—it’s existential. Like, philosophical dread, but make it fantasy. You know there’s a Bigger Darkness lurking in the background. Not a jump scare, more of a “oh… this is definitely end-of-the-world coded” situation that’s clearly going to get worse as the series goes on.
The palace. The forests. The caves. The creatures. The magic. You’re not reading it—you’re there, emotionally and spiritually.
And nothing feels random. No lazy magic. No “because the plot needed it” twists. Everything clicks. Everything earns its place.
⚔️ Violence / Darkness ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brutal when it needs to be. Political cruelty, emotional violence, war trauma. Not gratuitous gore—impactful darkness.
I fear this series will ruin me emotionally—and I’m seated. (THE END was 🤯 💥 😭!!!)
Epic, emotionally charged, beautifully atmospheric, dense in lore, AND richly rewarding. Readers who love slow-burn romance + epic stakes. Who want fantasy that feels intimate, not just epic. Slow build (by design). Emotionally heavy. Not a “comfort fantasy”—this one cuts and lingers.
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Political intrigue, succession wars, hidden heirs, prophecy tension. Stakes escalate steadily rather than explode all at once. Slow-burn intensity → devastating payoff. Not chaotic spice, controlled, simmering heat. Perfect for readers who love tension that tightens chapter by chapter.
💔 Romance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (🌶️🌶️) 🫠🫠🫠
Closed door. Fade to black. Emotional damage remains.
Longing, restraint, forbidden desire. Touch-starved moments, charged proximity, emotional intimacy. “Say less, feel more” energy. Darrion and Waenia’s banter hooks you first—then duty barges in like an armed guard yelling “ABSOLUTELY NOT.” You will crave their reunion. You will suffer. Then the love happens… 🫠 Worth it. Illegal to feel this much.
AND THEN—Malvaris and Waenia. The hatred. The biting dialogue. The mutual loathing. The verbal sparring that feels like emotional knife-throwing. I felt every ounce of that malice.
FINALLY… Luvian. The villain, the problem, the reason Book 2 is now a personal necessity.
👑 Character Depth & Chemistry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters feel wounded, conflicted, and alive. No cardboard villains—everyone has motive. Identity, duty, love, power, and fear constantly collide. Chemistry is earned, not handed out. You will argue about these characters like they’re real people.
🌍 World-Building & Lore ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is not a skim book. This is a cancel-your-plans, sink-into-the-world book. The worldbuilding is lush, immersive, and mythic without being confusing or trying too hard. Light vs. shadow isn’t just aesthetic—it’s existential. Like, philosophical dread, but make it fantasy. You know there’s a Bigger Darkness lurking in the background. Not a jump scare, more of a “oh… this is definitely end-of-the-world coded” situation that’s clearly going to get worse as the series goes on.
The palace. The forests. The caves. The creatures. The magic. You’re not reading it—you’re there, emotionally and spiritually.
And nothing feels random. No lazy magic. No “because the plot needed it” twists. Everything clicks. Everything earns its place.
⚔️ Violence / Darkness ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brutal when it needs to be. Political cruelty, emotional violence, war trauma. Not gratuitous gore—impactful darkness.
December 19, 2025
Wow!
Just, wow......My heart is still racing! Amazing novel! I loved every word! Great characters, vivid world building, intriguing magical and folk lore, multiple enemies, plot twists galore, AND your heart pounds at the suspense, for every page the whole novel through.
Just, wow......My heart is still racing! Amazing novel! I loved every word! Great characters, vivid world building, intriguing magical and folk lore, multiple enemies, plot twists galore, AND your heart pounds at the suspense, for every page the whole novel through.
Read
November 29, 2025I loved this fantasy book and read it without stopping, it was so good! I was happy to be back into reading fantasy and this book was the perfect book to get back into it!
February 8, 2026
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The package that was sent to me by the publisher was beautiful. It was wrapped in gold-lined paper and included several small, personalized and book-related trinkets. It is by far the most thoughtful book packaging that I have received to date. I wish I could give this book a better rating.
The cover illustration is beautiful. The book starts well with an interesting storyline and a heroine that you can root for. The "Before" section is the best part of the book. It is a solid 4 stars. The jump from before to the numbered chapters is not smooth. I expected a moment that would connect these chapters to the opening of the book but it never happened.
There are several fantasy tropes explored in this book. In one sentence: orphaned girl with daddy issues has hidden super powers that only she can wield; the fate of the universe depends on her. She is super strong except when she's not. Multiple people have literally witnessed her beating everyone in battle but they still question that a girl can do it at every turn. She can't be rattled until a mysterious warrior steals her heart. Somehow love turns an undefeated warrior into a nervous maiden that must be protected. Ugh.
This book could have easily been 200 pages shorter. The author draws out each chapter without going anywhere. You see the battle in the distance but you have to fight through pages of excessive dialogue that add nothing to the story to get there. The goal is to build suspense but it falls flat. You will find yourself skimming the pages, looking for the payoff and it just doesn't happen.
The cover illustration is beautiful. The book starts well with an interesting storyline and a heroine that you can root for. The "Before" section is the best part of the book. It is a solid 4 stars. The jump from before to the numbered chapters is not smooth. I expected a moment that would connect these chapters to the opening of the book but it never happened.
There are several fantasy tropes explored in this book. In one sentence: orphaned girl with daddy issues has hidden super powers that only she can wield; the fate of the universe depends on her. She is super strong except when she's not. Multiple people have literally witnessed her beating everyone in battle but they still question that a girl can do it at every turn. She can't be rattled until a mysterious warrior steals her heart. Somehow love turns an undefeated warrior into a nervous maiden that must be protected. Ugh.
This book could have easily been 200 pages shorter. The author draws out each chapter without going anywhere. You see the battle in the distance but you have to fight through pages of excessive dialogue that add nothing to the story to get there. The goal is to build suspense but it falls flat. You will find yourself skimming the pages, looking for the payoff and it just doesn't happen.
Read
December 8, 2025DNF at 53% just couldn’t quite stick with it
December 26, 2025
If you love epic fantasy, ancient secrets, and power struggles, Gates of Thiros is a must-read ✨💯
A rich world, intense conflicts, and a story that pulls you in from the first pages 🌠
Perfect for fans of dark and immersive fantasy.
A rich world, intense conflicts, and a story that pulls you in from the first pages 🌠
Perfect for fans of dark and immersive fantasy.
January 17, 2026
Excellent world, character and story build.The writing style is my only issue. Just like this. Short. Direct. In every page. This is not an enemies to lovers slow burn. No, this is an insta love, forbidden romance, longing, yeatning..done well. 🌶 chili pepper spice, perfect for those who like demure scenes. The FMC is not annoying and thats a plus one. Pure badass, but also not a Mary Sue. Will continue this series, despite the writing style lol.
February 2, 2026
I won this book in a book box from a Goodreads giveaway. I had never heard of it before, but I'm so glad it found its way to me.
Great start for a series! If you enjoy lyrically beautiful writing, a well placed plot with complex characters, you'll love this! I can't believe I haven't seen it talked about before!! Definitely worth giving it a try! 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Great start for a series! If you enjoy lyrically beautiful writing, a well placed plot with complex characters, you'll love this! I can't believe I haven't seen it talked about before!! Definitely worth giving it a try! 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 31, 2026
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. When I received the book, it came spectacularly packaged. I loved it! As for the book, I loved it as well. This book is a great mix of romance and fantasy. I found that this read had all the emotions. Plot twists and building tensions kept me hooked. The character development was great and the journey you take within the story continuously twists and turns. Read this book and take a trip through a political, romantic, and exciting journey!
December 19, 2025
This book was a very slow read for me. I enjoyed the world building, but it didn’t captivate me like I was expecting it to. The writing was very choppy which I found frustrating. Many sentences. Written. Like this. On every page. It made me not want to continue reading it at points. I’m unsure if I will continue the series.
February 25, 2026
I enjoyed this! I will say, I’m not used to poetic writing in books, so at times it felt like a choppy read. Overall, a great book! The storyline is intriguing, the writing is beautiful, and that cliffhanger! I’m excited for the next book to come out!
February 26, 2026
- Waenia is said to be charming throughout the book, but it’s never actually shown, so is she even charming? People shouldn’t have to say it for the readers to believe it. It’s said so much it sounds like it’s forcing you to believe that she’s charming without ever showing it
When I got this package, I was impressed! It came beautifully wrapped and with some gifts as well, which I was very pleased with! I will say that there's definitely AI art used, which displeases me. The writing on the cover of the book is also a bit blurry. Still, the packaging was beautiful and I want to acknowledge that.
However, this book was definitely a DNF for me at about 120 pages in. And it was almost entirely in part due to the main character. Waenia is incredibly annoying, and I'm not sure why no one seems to think the same way.
Throughout the book we are told that she is charming and kind, but her words and actions prove otherwise. She always has an attitude with others and acts bratty towards everyone. It's thrown at us quite a bit that she's charming, but it doesn't actually SHOW us until around 80 pages in, to which she immediately goes back to having an attitude. If you have to have other characters TELL us that she's kind but don't actually show us anything proving that, then your character is not kind, nor is she charming.
She also has no concept of duty. At all. It's always a concept that's thrown at her, but she doesn't care for it at all, and actively looks down on others, namely her father and Darrion, for wanting to follow it.
Malvaris, our villain, is also just evil for the sake of being evil. I guess. At least that's what I got from it.
I would also say that the book is far too wordsy. I get that it's poetic fiction, but there are far too many paragraphs of nothing but flowery words where nothing actually happens, or what's happening is too muddled in unnecessary words for you to really understand what's happening.
I do see others mentioning that the book is also a slow burn romance, but Waenia manages to bully Darrion into kissing her at about the 100 page mark. They openly admit to being in love with each other, the feelings of which had started the literal moment they met. The romance is there, but just because it takes 100 pages into a 500 page book to getting to them openly admitting their feelings to each other does not make for a slow burn romance. It's an immediate romance. Everyone is aware of their feelings for each other. They may not engage in more than that for the rest of the book (as far as I would know), but the romance is, very much, present from the beginning of the book.
Overall, Waenia really killed the book for me. She is incredibly unlikeable, annoying, and manipulative. If she can't show any sign of getting better at the 120 page mark of the book, then I have no hope for her through the rest of it.
When I got this package, I was impressed! It came beautifully wrapped and with some gifts as well, which I was very pleased with! I will say that there's definitely AI art used, which displeases me. The writing on the cover of the book is also a bit blurry. Still, the packaging was beautiful and I want to acknowledge that.
However, this book was definitely a DNF for me at about 120 pages in. And it was almost entirely in part due to the main character. Waenia is incredibly annoying, and I'm not sure why no one seems to think the same way.
Throughout the book we are told that she is charming and kind, but her words and actions prove otherwise. She always has an attitude with others and acts bratty towards everyone. It's thrown at us quite a bit that she's charming, but it doesn't actually SHOW us until around 80 pages in, to which she immediately goes back to having an attitude. If you have to have other characters TELL us that she's kind but don't actually show us anything proving that, then your character is not kind, nor is she charming.
She also has no concept of duty. At all. It's always a concept that's thrown at her, but she doesn't care for it at all, and actively looks down on others, namely her father and Darrion, for wanting to follow it.
Malvaris, our villain, is also just evil for the sake of being evil. I guess. At least that's what I got from it.
I would also say that the book is far too wordsy. I get that it's poetic fiction, but there are far too many paragraphs of nothing but flowery words where nothing actually happens, or what's happening is too muddled in unnecessary words for you to really understand what's happening.
I do see others mentioning that the book is also a slow burn romance, but Waenia manages to bully Darrion into kissing her at about the 100 page mark. They openly admit to being in love with each other, the feelings of which had started the literal moment they met. The romance is there, but just because it takes 100 pages into a 500 page book to getting to them openly admitting their feelings to each other does not make for a slow burn romance. It's an immediate romance. Everyone is aware of their feelings for each other. They may not engage in more than that for the rest of the book (as far as I would know), but the romance is, very much, present from the beginning of the book.
Overall, Waenia really killed the book for me. She is incredibly unlikeable, annoying, and manipulative. If she can't show any sign of getting better at the 120 page mark of the book, then I have no hope for her through the rest of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2026
Gates of Thiros is an emotionally charged romantasy that blends political intrigue, forbidden magic, and slow burning romance into a sweeping epic of identity and power. Lili K. Buckley delivers a character driven fantasy where the true battleground is not only the war torn realm of Thiros but the fractured heart of its queen.
Waenia Wyvarian is a strikingly complex protagonist. Crowned in borrowed blood and raised beneath scrutiny, she survives through masks courtly charm, flirtation, diplomacy while hiding the volatile magic that threatens to expose her as something more than human. Her journey from self denial to self confrontation anchors the novel with emotional gravity. Every political maneuver and battlefield decision is filtered through her internal struggle between duty and defiance.
The romance at the heart of the story is equally compelling. The tension between Waenia and Darrion Rhoane duty bound commander, loyal yet conflicted carries a quiet ache that deepens as loyalties fracture and secrets surface. Their connection feels earned, forged in shared burden rather than fleeting attraction.
Buckley’s world building is expansive without sacrificing intimacy. The dying gods, the corrupted Gate of Light, tribal rivalries in the north, and the looming threat of the self proclaimed God King all contribute to a sense of mythic scale. Yet what resonates most is the philosophical thread woven throughout: the idea that breaking is not an end, but a revelation. Magic here is not inherited it is survived.
With sharp prose, emotional vulnerability, and a heroine forced to choose not just between love and war but between destruction and transformation, Gates of Thiros stands out as a strong entry in the romantasy space balancing sword clashing spectacle with introspective depth.
A sweeping tale of power, sacrifice, and becoming.
Waenia Wyvarian is a strikingly complex protagonist. Crowned in borrowed blood and raised beneath scrutiny, she survives through masks courtly charm, flirtation, diplomacy while hiding the volatile magic that threatens to expose her as something more than human. Her journey from self denial to self confrontation anchors the novel with emotional gravity. Every political maneuver and battlefield decision is filtered through her internal struggle between duty and defiance.
The romance at the heart of the story is equally compelling. The tension between Waenia and Darrion Rhoane duty bound commander, loyal yet conflicted carries a quiet ache that deepens as loyalties fracture and secrets surface. Their connection feels earned, forged in shared burden rather than fleeting attraction.
Buckley’s world building is expansive without sacrificing intimacy. The dying gods, the corrupted Gate of Light, tribal rivalries in the north, and the looming threat of the self proclaimed God King all contribute to a sense of mythic scale. Yet what resonates most is the philosophical thread woven throughout: the idea that breaking is not an end, but a revelation. Magic here is not inherited it is survived.
With sharp prose, emotional vulnerability, and a heroine forced to choose not just between love and war but between destruction and transformation, Gates of Thiros stands out as a strong entry in the romantasy space balancing sword clashing spectacle with introspective depth.
A sweeping tale of power, sacrifice, and becoming.
December 14, 2025
This debut romantasy series started off well, and I look forward to continuing on with the next book.
There's good world-building here, however, I must admit to being thrown A LOT by a turning of that world that took place about midway through. That turning was a bit of a sci fi twist that I did not see coming...at all. But while it took me awhile to adjust to this new component (I'm still getting there), I think it will all come right in the end (actually I'm sure it shall as that is the definition of a good romantasy series).
The fantasy parts of the story are well done and include the interesting "power" of a very strong, determined and intelligent heroine. While at times I found myself feeling sympathy for her upbringing, she recognizes that it made her strong and was necessary as she moves forward in her leadership role. I'm still a bit murky on her original backstory (where she came from), but I'm sure as I move along, it will become clearer.
The romance here is pretty much an insta one and felt equally on both sides. Our hero is in a bit of a gray area as he is the military commander of a country that is on shaky ground with our heroine's. We also learn along the way that he has a big secret, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that secret will play out in future books. There's great banter, lots of angst and I loved our mains as a couple.
There're also some great action scenes on the battlefield and the promise of more to come. As the ending included a big cliffhanger, I hope I won't have long to wait to see how things pan out.
My only caveat (and it wasn't too much of an issue) was the pacing at times felt slow while the denouement felt a little rush toward the end. But all in all, a good start to a promising series.
There's good world-building here, however, I must admit to being thrown A LOT by a turning of that world that took place about midway through. That turning was a bit of a sci fi twist that I did not see coming...at all. But while it took me awhile to adjust to this new component (I'm still getting there), I think it will all come right in the end (actually I'm sure it shall as that is the definition of a good romantasy series).
The fantasy parts of the story are well done and include the interesting "power" of a very strong, determined and intelligent heroine. While at times I found myself feeling sympathy for her upbringing, she recognizes that it made her strong and was necessary as she moves forward in her leadership role. I'm still a bit murky on her original backstory (where she came from), but I'm sure as I move along, it will become clearer.
The romance here is pretty much an insta one and felt equally on both sides. Our hero is in a bit of a gray area as he is the military commander of a country that is on shaky ground with our heroine's. We also learn along the way that he has a big secret, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that secret will play out in future books. There's great banter, lots of angst and I loved our mains as a couple.
There're also some great action scenes on the battlefield and the promise of more to come. As the ending included a big cliffhanger, I hope I won't have long to wait to see how things pan out.
My only caveat (and it wasn't too much of an issue) was the pacing at times felt slow while the denouement felt a little rush toward the end. But all in all, a good start to a promising series.
April 12, 2026
I gave this book 3.5 stars but I rounded it up to 4. There was a lot I liked about it but there was also quite a bit I didn’t. I loved Waenia as a female main character; she was very bad ass and it was awesome seeing everyone follow her lead. This is a first book of a series, so naturally there was quite a lot of world building involved. That part itself was entertaining. I loved the humor of it too, some of the characters were quite witty.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about “insta-love” but I do enjoy these two characters as individuals and as a couple. It was just a bit off-putting reading about how they can’t imagine life without each other when I was only 33% done with the book. I enjoyed their meeting for the first time and I loved the banter. I wish it had felt more like that for a while.
One thing I didn’t really care for was the writing style itself at times. The writing could be quite choppy and used a lot of sentence fragments. If it was done in moderation, it would’ve been fine.
Overall, it ends on a cliffhanger and I know the second book comes out soon. If it’s also on KU, I will definitely be picking it up!
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about “insta-love” but I do enjoy these two characters as individuals and as a couple. It was just a bit off-putting reading about how they can’t imagine life without each other when I was only 33% done with the book. I enjoyed their meeting for the first time and I loved the banter. I wish it had felt more like that for a while.
One thing I didn’t really care for was the writing style itself at times. The writing could be quite choppy and used a lot of sentence fragments. If it was done in moderation, it would’ve been fine.
Overall, it ends on a cliffhanger and I know the second book comes out soon. If it’s also on KU, I will definitely be picking it up!
October 17, 2025
A friend recommended this book, and I honestly didn’t expect to get so pulled in. The writing is beautiful and the world is so vivid you can almost feel the wind on your skin. The politics are layered but easy enough to follow once you’re in, and the characters are really well developed. The creatures, though—wow. The crestlings are absolutely captivating, and the parvins… I’d love to see a tiny people take flight for real.
January 15, 2026
This novel reminded me why I fell in love with fantasy in the first place. It has scope, consequence, and restraint. The characters are allowed to fail, suffer, and grow without modern shortcuts, and the world feels lived-in rather than constructed for convenience. The emotional weight sneaks up on you quietly—and stays. A thoughtful, mature fantasy that respects its reader.
January 16, 2026
Worldbuilding nerds, this one’s for you. The magic system has rules and consequences. The politics are layered and believable. Power isn’t flashy—it’s costly. I loved how mythology, governance, and personal sacrifice all intersect. This feels like the first book of a serious epic, not a throwaway trilogy starter. I’m fully invested.
January 17, 2026
Some stories shout. This one listens. It unfolds patiently, trusting the reader to notice the weight beneath each decision. The themes of memory, duty, and love are handled with grace. By the end, I felt like I had lived inside this world rather than simply read about it. A rare and beautiful fantasy.
January 27, 2026
A sweeping fantasy with a strong emotional core. The story really shines in the way it explores identity, duty, and inner conflict through its heroine. The romance builds slowly but feels meaningful, and the political tension adds weight to every choice the characters make. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with high stakes and heartfelt moments, this kind of story delivers.
September 25, 2025
Well written, the plot moves fast, and at the same time very engaging and well constructed. The end is captivating, Waenia’s struggles feel humane, and her powers not overwhelming. The chemistry between her and Darrion… I could feel every emotion. Can’t wait for book 2.
October 2, 2025
Waenia is the kind of heroine I’ve been waiting for—fierce, flawed, and done playing nice. The politics are sharp, the magic feels earned, and the writing? Gorgeous. If you like your fantasy emotional, mythic, and just a little brutal, Gates of Thiros is it. Can’t wait for the next one.
January 15, 2026
Okay but WHY is no one talking about this book?? The main character is strong without being annoying, the romance made me scream into my pillow, and the twists actually surprised me. I loved how it felt epic but still super emotional.
February 14, 2026
Gates of Thiros blends political intrigue, magic, and romance beautifully. The heroine’s journey feels raw and powerful, and the tension between characters keeps you turning pages. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming. A solid start to a promising series.
February 15, 2026
I appreciated how the author focused on character development rather than rushing the action. The pacing builds steadily, and when the conflict explodes, it feels earned. The romance is layered with tension and trust issues, making it feel realistic within a fantasy setting.
January 11, 2026
DNF at 29% 🥲 i just couldn’t do the insta love 🤦🏽♀️ the fmc had a LOT of potential to be a badass, independent fmc, but insta love just ruined it for me 😖
January 18, 2026
Classic-feeling fantasy with modern emotional depth. Quietly powerful, mature, and deeply satisfying.
January 18, 2026
I didn’t expect to care this much—and then I really, really did.
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