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Dark Bringer
Gavriel Morningstar is Sion’s chief archangel, a stern deliverer of justice whatever the cost. Known throughout the empire as Light Bringer, he is immune to mercy or lenience — and doubly so to human passions like love.
Cathrynne Rowan is half witch, half angel. Such unions are forbidden, and the offspring – called cyphers – are reviled as abominations. But Cathrynne’s powers are indisputable, so when Lord Morningstar is nearly killed by an assassin, she’s summoned to serve as his bodyguard.
In Sion, all magic derives from gems and metals. Cathrynne and Gavriel must hunt down a mysterious stone that’s left a trail of bodies in its wake. Along the way, they forge an unlikely kinship that threatens to blossom into something more. Something decidedly dangerous.
Then Cathrynne starts having visions of a fallen angel who will tear the empire from its moorings. It seems impossible that the upright and honorable Lord Morningstar could be this Dark Bringer. But if it is Gavriel… How far will she go to stop him?
Taking place a thousand years before the events of the award-winning Nightmarked series, Lord of Everfell is set on the sprawling continent of Sion, where witches, angels, and humans populate seven vibrant realms surrounding the Parnassian Sea. Get ready for epic intrigue, dragons, and a love affair for the ages!
Cathrynne Rowan is half witch, half angel. Such unions are forbidden, and the offspring – called cyphers – are reviled as abominations. But Cathrynne’s powers are indisputable, so when Lord Morningstar is nearly killed by an assassin, she’s summoned to serve as his bodyguard.
In Sion, all magic derives from gems and metals. Cathrynne and Gavriel must hunt down a mysterious stone that’s left a trail of bodies in its wake. Along the way, they forge an unlikely kinship that threatens to blossom into something more. Something decidedly dangerous.
Then Cathrynne starts having visions of a fallen angel who will tear the empire from its moorings. It seems impossible that the upright and honorable Lord Morningstar could be this Dark Bringer. But if it is Gavriel… How far will she go to stop him?
Taking place a thousand years before the events of the award-winning Nightmarked series, Lord of Everfell is set on the sprawling continent of Sion, where witches, angels, and humans populate seven vibrant realms surrounding the Parnassian Sea. Get ready for epic intrigue, dragons, and a love affair for the ages!
- GenresFantasy
408 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2025
About the author
Kat Ross
41 books816 followersKat Ross is an award-winning and bestselling fantasy author whose series range from the Persian-inspired Fourth Element to the cozy Ravencroft Hall books. She lives in Connecticut with her son and a gang (clowder?) of anarchist cats. When she’s not writing, you can find Kat wandering in the woods or poring over maps in the cartography turret. For more info, check out her website: www.katrossbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 28, 2026
Buckle up buttercups,
Whenever Kat Ross writes a book I have to go indepth with my review. (Squeals with delight)
So hold on, while I formulate my thoughts.(still in shock over the 🐝 🐝 cliffhanger.) Why? Why?
Review soon come..
Whenever Kat Ross writes a book I have to go indepth with my review. (Squeals with delight)
So hold on, while I formulate my thoughts.(still in shock over the 🐝 🐝 cliffhanger.) Why? Why?
Review soon come..
September 25, 2025
One of the best books I've ever read and a great first instalment.
I really loved every character in this one but I confess I have a soft spot for hot Gavriel and found Levi super charming. What can I say? I have a thing for attractive (and a bit brooding) fictional guys.
Aside from the male cast, Cathrynne is my favourite, I'm all for a strong female lead that kicks ass and looks cool doing it. The whole magic system based on magic casted thanks to precious stones and metals is a stroke of genius! Kal is my second favourite but I do prefer Cat (Sorry, Kal don’t take it personally).
On the romance side, I'm shipping Gavriel & Cat of course. Although, since this is just the beginning of the story the romance takes the form of restrained longing which I honestly adored. I like it when there is slow burn and the two fight their own feelings and try not to let them show...but, at some point, fail miserably (and it's then kiss time!).
So, there is some simmering attraction but do not expect anything too spicy (just yet?).No complaints here though, I'm a K-drama girl, I consider it lucky if we get one kiss after a 16 episodes run...
Setting the romance aside, political intrigues abound, there are twists and turns everywhere, the plot is fast paced and a wild, heart pounding exhilarating ride throughout.
I now have a list of bad guys and bitches I hope die (painfully) in the end.
All but a few things/threads get resolved, that is no surprise since it is a series and not a stand-alone. If Frodo had destroyed the ring in the first book we wouldn't have had the LOTR trilogy, would we?
Be warned...there is a cliffhanger (what doesn't have one these days?). But -and this is a big BUT- the ending is still awesome and dramatic; it really makes you look forward to the next book! (which I needed like yesterday...)
Dark bringer is a wonderful and captivating read, impossible to put down and extremely addictive!
I really loved every character in this one but I confess I have a soft spot for hot Gavriel and found Levi super charming. What can I say? I have a thing for attractive (and a bit brooding) fictional guys.
Aside from the male cast, Cathrynne is my favourite, I'm all for a strong female lead that kicks ass and looks cool doing it. The whole magic system based on magic casted thanks to precious stones and metals is a stroke of genius! Kal is my second favourite but I do prefer Cat (Sorry, Kal don’t take it personally).
On the romance side, I'm shipping Gavriel & Cat of course. Although, since this is just the beginning of the story the romance takes the form of restrained longing which I honestly adored. I like it when there is slow burn and the two fight their own feelings and try not to let them show...but, at some point, fail miserably (and it's then kiss time!).
So, there is some simmering attraction but do not expect anything too spicy (just yet?).No complaints here though, I'm a K-drama girl, I consider it lucky if we get one kiss after a 16 episodes run...
Setting the romance aside, political intrigues abound, there are twists and turns everywhere, the plot is fast paced and a wild, heart pounding exhilarating ride throughout.
I now have a list of bad guys and bitches I hope die (painfully) in the end.
All but a few things/threads get resolved, that is no surprise since it is a series and not a stand-alone. If Frodo had destroyed the ring in the first book we wouldn't have had the LOTR trilogy, would we?
Be warned...there is a cliffhanger (what doesn't have one these days?). But -and this is a big BUT- the ending is still awesome and dramatic; it really makes you look forward to the next book! (which I needed like yesterday...)
Dark bringer is a wonderful and captivating read, impossible to put down and extremely addictive!
November 1, 2025
Dang. A cliffhanger. Kat, we talked about this. Don’t pull a Martin/Rothfus and leave us waiting, please.
October 6, 2025
very enjoyable
only problem is that the next book isn't available yet!
only problem is that the next book isn't available yet!
November 25, 2025
I finished this in one day. I couldn't put it down. The story reads a bit more like a murder-mystery fantasy. With a little bit of slow-burn romance thrown in.
Since we start off with a murder, I didn't know whom to trust except for the main leads. Although I have to say, some of the whodunit aspects were predictable.
I loved how noble Gavriel's character is, and he has this sense of justice and fairness. I like that he was ultimately truthful towards Cathyrnne.
Cathyrnne is hiding some secrets, but I loved that she ultimately didn't accept the unfair attitude towards her and ultimately accepted and came into her power.
The other characters are very good, I definitely want to know more about them and their backstories. Though this book focused more on the main leads.
The world building and the whole magic system- was fascinating, so much so that I promptly started reading more of this author's works!
We do get some answers, but be warned there is a huge cliffhanger at the end..
Thankyou for providing me with a free copy on netgalley. All the views are my own.
Since we start off with a murder, I didn't know whom to trust except for the main leads. Although I have to say, some of the whodunit aspects were predictable.
I loved how noble Gavriel's character is, and he has this sense of justice and fairness. I like that he was ultimately truthful towards Cathyrnne.
Cathyrnne is hiding some secrets, but I loved that she ultimately didn't accept the unfair attitude towards her and ultimately accepted and came into her power.
The other characters are very good, I definitely want to know more about them and their backstories. Though this book focused more on the main leads.
The world building and the whole magic system- was fascinating, so much so that I promptly started reading more of this author's works!
We do get some answers, but be warned there is a huge cliffhanger at the end..
Thankyou for providing me with a free copy on netgalley. All the views are my own.
February 10, 2026
I absolutely loved it. Kat Ross writes mutiple storylines that always weave back together in the most delightful and satisfying ways. Excited for War Witch after that cliffhanger phew.
September 16, 2025
Ross delivers again. A unique world where three “races” (or maybe four) balance their government on an ancient structure. And there are power struggles on every side.
I read the beginning of this book on Kat’s Substack, and I was invested from the very first serial episode. She changed several things about those early chapters to fit the novel. One of them was escalating the attraction between Gavriel and Cathrynne. And I didn’t find it as believable. Both are very closed off individuals with zero interest in romantic entanglements. I think they would have fought the physical attraction much longer (as they in fact weren’t really attracted to each other in the Substack story -yet).
One star deducted because it basically ends in a cliffhanger, and I’m a stickler for a solid story resolution. Did they solve the mysteries? Yes, but they didn’t get justice for any of the victims. Where we’re left, it looks like Cathrynne is going to face a tribunal and Gavriel….well, I won’t give that away. It felt more like an introduction to a new world rather than a full, first installment.
I was thrilled to get an advance copy from the author. As one of her faithful fans, I’m always eager to delve into the worlds she creates. This series may be one that is best read when it’s fully complete. But now that I’m invested in the characters, I need book two to be written and released - yesterday.
I read the beginning of this book on Kat’s Substack, and I was invested from the very first serial episode. She changed several things about those early chapters to fit the novel. One of them was escalating the attraction between Gavriel and Cathrynne. And I didn’t find it as believable. Both are very closed off individuals with zero interest in romantic entanglements. I think they would have fought the physical attraction much longer (as they in fact weren’t really attracted to each other in the Substack story -yet).
One star deducted because it basically ends in a cliffhanger, and I’m a stickler for a solid story resolution. Did they solve the mysteries? Yes, but they didn’t get justice for any of the victims. Where we’re left, it looks like Cathrynne is going to face a tribunal and Gavriel….well, I won’t give that away. It felt more like an introduction to a new world rather than a full, first installment.
I was thrilled to get an advance copy from the author. As one of her faithful fans, I’m always eager to delve into the worlds she creates. This series may be one that is best read when it’s fully complete. But now that I’m invested in the characters, I need book two to be written and released - yesterday.
March 8, 2026
Dark Bringer, by Kat Ross, is a gaslamp-flavored epic fantasy that braids together a murder mystery, political intrigue, and forbidden divinity. In a world ruled by distant gods and policed by arrogant angels, we follow three main threads: Cathrynne Rowan, a hard-headed cypher cop with illegal seer gifts; Gavriel Morningstar, the severe archangel who once condemned an angel for loving a witch; and Kal, a miner’s daughter on the run after a gem-smuggling disaster. Their paths tangle around the spectacularly grisly murder of a corrupt consul in the city of Kota Gelangi, smuggled ley-gems, and the re-emergence of the draconic Sinn and the eerie Plain of Contemplation that swallows exiled angels.
I really love the world the author has created here. Author Kat Ross gives us a secondary world that feels halfway between an industrial empire and a late-Victorian university town: angel towers sharing horizons with observatories, student bars, and gossip rags; cyphers kicking down doors while White Fox witch-inquisitors swoop in to steal the glory; miners whispering prayers to monsters they also fear. The terminology, ley, liminal spaces, forcing, Sinn, never felt like a glossary dump; it arrives in the middle of chases, interrogations, and messy street scenes. I loved the way magic is both sacred and bureaucratic: archangels filing paperwork while traveling through liminal ley, witches arguing jurisdiction, cyphers grumbling about forms as they bleed all over a White Fox’s expensive car upholstery.
On the character side, the book felt like a conversation between cynicism and care. Cathrynne is wonderfully prickly. She has a brutal sense of justice, a horror of confinement, and this buried terror that her seer visions will get her entombed in a kloster for life. Watching her collide with Gavriel, who starts as the epitome of cold angelic law and gradually reveals a bone-deep loneliness, was deeply satisfying. Their dynamic shifts from mutual irritation to wary respect to something that definitely is not regulation-approved, and the last chapters lean harder into that tension. Kal’s storyline gives the book its raw, working-class heartbeat: a girl who knows the mines, who carries a wise-cracking ghost and a ship tattoo under her concealer, pulled into the same conspiracy from the opposite end of the empire. Her chapters add grit and grief to what could otherwise have stayed a high-altitude political thriller.
I’d hand Dark Bringer to readers who like epic fantasy, gaslamp fantasy, fantasy mystery, and angel-and-witch fantasy with a strong streak of character drama. If you enjoy the divine politics and flawed immortals of N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, but wish the world came with more cops-and-robbers chases, haunted miners, and draconic horror, this scratches a very similar itch while feeling distinctly its own. For me, Dark Bringer is sharp, moody, and unexpectedly tender. A murder mystery in a crumbling empire full of gods and ghosts.
I really love the world the author has created here. Author Kat Ross gives us a secondary world that feels halfway between an industrial empire and a late-Victorian university town: angel towers sharing horizons with observatories, student bars, and gossip rags; cyphers kicking down doors while White Fox witch-inquisitors swoop in to steal the glory; miners whispering prayers to monsters they also fear. The terminology, ley, liminal spaces, forcing, Sinn, never felt like a glossary dump; it arrives in the middle of chases, interrogations, and messy street scenes. I loved the way magic is both sacred and bureaucratic: archangels filing paperwork while traveling through liminal ley, witches arguing jurisdiction, cyphers grumbling about forms as they bleed all over a White Fox’s expensive car upholstery.
On the character side, the book felt like a conversation between cynicism and care. Cathrynne is wonderfully prickly. She has a brutal sense of justice, a horror of confinement, and this buried terror that her seer visions will get her entombed in a kloster for life. Watching her collide with Gavriel, who starts as the epitome of cold angelic law and gradually reveals a bone-deep loneliness, was deeply satisfying. Their dynamic shifts from mutual irritation to wary respect to something that definitely is not regulation-approved, and the last chapters lean harder into that tension. Kal’s storyline gives the book its raw, working-class heartbeat: a girl who knows the mines, who carries a wise-cracking ghost and a ship tattoo under her concealer, pulled into the same conspiracy from the opposite end of the empire. Her chapters add grit and grief to what could otherwise have stayed a high-altitude political thriller.
I’d hand Dark Bringer to readers who like epic fantasy, gaslamp fantasy, fantasy mystery, and angel-and-witch fantasy with a strong streak of character drama. If you enjoy the divine politics and flawed immortals of N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, but wish the world came with more cops-and-robbers chases, haunted miners, and draconic horror, this scratches a very similar itch while feeling distinctly its own. For me, Dark Bringer is sharp, moody, and unexpectedly tender. A murder mystery in a crumbling empire full of gods and ghosts.
April 24, 2026
This world hooked me.
Kat Ross really takes time to plot and develop her worlds, and it shows. The setting of Dark Bringer is so bright and promising compared to the world of Nightmarked, I almost forgot it is the same place, just an earlier time! There are pockets of darkness, though, because no world of Kat's could exist without corruption and devilry.
Even knowing the fate of Gavriel, from reading his later story in Kat's Nightmarked series, I felt an inexorable tension between his rigid standards and ethics and his relationships... he's in trouble! I can't wait for book 2 to see just how much 😆
Kat Ross really takes time to plot and develop her worlds, and it shows. The setting of Dark Bringer is so bright and promising compared to the world of Nightmarked, I almost forgot it is the same place, just an earlier time! There are pockets of darkness, though, because no world of Kat's could exist without corruption and devilry.
Even knowing the fate of Gavriel, from reading his later story in Kat's Nightmarked series, I felt an inexorable tension between his rigid standards and ethics and his relationships... he's in trouble! I can't wait for book 2 to see just how much 😆
June 2, 2026
I’m a huge fan of Kat Ross’s books, and Dark Bringer reminded me exactly why. She just knows how to tell a story that sucks you right in, with top tier world building and character development.
The dynamic between the angels, witches, and humans felt so unique and immersive! The other day, I actually started telling my husband about this new show we needed to watch—only to stop mid-sentence and realize I was accidentally describing the book 😅. Her world-building is so incredibly thorough and vivid that it literally plays out like a movie in your head.
If you are a sucker for the "who did this to you?" trope, you will be absolutely obsessed
The dynamic between the angels, witches, and humans felt so unique and immersive! The other day, I actually started telling my husband about this new show we needed to watch—only to stop mid-sentence and realize I was accidentally describing the book 😅. Her world-building is so incredibly thorough and vivid that it literally plays out like a movie in your head.
If you are a sucker for the "who did this to you?" trope, you will be absolutely obsessed
December 26, 2025
Kat Ross hits it out of the park again! I'm already jonesing for the next book in this new series, but War Witch won't be available for a while.
I'm super happy Dark Bringer offers a nod to the Night Marked universe. That's my all time favorite fantasy series, so getting to live in this amazing world again was a real treat.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, complex plot, a fully developed world, and layered characters with enough flaws to keep them interesting from page one until the end. A gem of a book!
I'm super happy Dark Bringer offers a nod to the Night Marked universe. That's my all time favorite fantasy series, so getting to live in this amazing world again was a real treat.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, complex plot, a fully developed world, and layered characters with enough flaws to keep them interesting from page one until the end. A gem of a book!
October 22, 2025
Dark Bringer by Kat Ross was an enjoyable read overall. I really liked the female lead and Kal, both were engaging and easy to root for. The political intrigue throughout the story kept me invested, and the magic system is unique, which I genuinely liked.
However, I struggled to connect with Gaveriel. Even during his moments of self-reflection and doubt, I found it difficult to warm to him, which made it harder to fully engage with the emotional beats of the story.
That said, a few key revelations toward the end definitely spiced things up — and they’ve set up book two to be quite promising. I’m curious to see where it goes next!
However, I struggled to connect with Gaveriel. Even during his moments of self-reflection and doubt, I found it difficult to warm to him, which made it harder to fully engage with the emotional beats of the story.
That said, a few key revelations toward the end definitely spiced things up — and they’ve set up book two to be quite promising. I’m curious to see where it goes next!
November 6, 2025
holy cliffhanger!
Pun intended! My gosh do I wish I could go with Gavriel on that journey now. Kat Ross is easily one of my favorite authors, her books are always a sure thing, I always enjoy them immensely.
I won’t give away spoilers but if you like tense moments, a little side romance, lots of action in a fantasy world- Kat’s your girl!
I will warn, this one took some time to warm though.
Pun intended! My gosh do I wish I could go with Gavriel on that journey now. Kat Ross is easily one of my favorite authors, her books are always a sure thing, I always enjoy them immensely.
I won’t give away spoilers but if you like tense moments, a little side romance, lots of action in a fantasy world- Kat’s your girl!
I will warn, this one took some time to warm though.
December 18, 2025
I really like when genres meld together so naturally and purposefully. This ‘who dunnit’ murder mystery with a doomed lovers storyline, set in a time of angels, witches and mortals is set up and executed beautifully. As with the Nightmarked series it is the prequel to, there are nods to European cities and cultures with fantastic world building. A highly engaging start to the series - can’t wait for book 2!
February 21, 2026
I really enjoyed the first volume of this new series and I can't wait to read the next one to know what happens next, especially to Gavriel.
SPOILER: The only thing that felt a little bit out of tune was the love story as I don't think it got enough space on page to effectively grow and mature, so I hope to see it better developed in the next book.
SPOILER: The only thing that felt a little bit out of tune was the love story as I don't think it got enough space on page to effectively grow and mature, so I hope to see it better developed in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
The world building is fantastic - familiar elements with twists so it’s a very unique magic system and setting. The warmup between the main characters was well paced and though I think the twist is fairly obvious you want the book to be longer before you get to the end!
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