Unrelenting Winds: A Lady of Darkness Novella

Lady of Darkness

by Melissa K. Roehrich

For centuries, the Great War that divided the realm has been over. The Fae Courts and mortal lands alike have been rebuilding, trying to move forward in a world they no longer recognize. When the Wind Princess requests a meeting with Prince Briar Drayce, ruler of the Water Court, he naturally accepts, intent on keeping good relations with the other rulers of the realm. But when the quirky and aloof princess makes an odd request of him, he starts to question just how much the winds have whispered to her. He’s always kept the peace, but he’s on the brink of breaking laws of old. Now he must decide if it’s worth the risk of angering the Fae Courts, the realm, the gods, and more.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Novella, Audiobook, Romance, Fae

Audible Audio

Published March 18, 2026

About the author

Melissa is a dark fantasy romance author who loves coffee, dragons, and constantly rearranging her bookshelves. She spends her time writing, reading, and homeschooling her three boys in the Middle-of-Nowhere, North Dakota, where she lives with her boys, husband, dogs, multiple barn cats, and chickens on a small farmstead. She is constantly trying to convince her husband they need to add goats and ducks to the mix, and one day, she'll succeed.

She's not here much, so if you're looking to connect, check out the following:

*Facebook Reader Group: Melissa's Dragon Cave
*Discord: https://discord.gg/GTY757MCXF
*Instagram: @melissa_k_roehrich
*TikTok: @authormelissakroehrich

Reviews

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need an entire book on these two, this novella was not enough!

[Sabra Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a novella supposed to hurt me emotionally this bad??
Ashtine and Briar tore my heart out as side characters in LoD, now it hurts worse.

“You will be content with stolen moments and secret meetings?” she asked. “I will steal whatever time I can from fate if it means being with you,” Briar replied, taking her hand in his and bringing her fingertips to his lips. “I will never regret a moment of it.”

As always, thank you for the trauma.

Sawyer; best little brother in the entire realm. 🌊

[Brooke Kathrene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Briar and Ashtine just became my favorite LOD couple

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐
Ця новелка стала класним доповнення до основної серії. Тут ми більше змогли поглинути в історію Браяра та Ештін. Де Браяр єдиний хто міг зрозуміти Принцесу Вітрів. Дуже гарно та мило почалися їхні стосунки, які переросли в невеличку сім'ю. Накоа та Соєр, важко було, коли вже знаєш що з ними сталося.
Мені дуже сподобалося, особливо що там ще був Двір Вогню 🥰

[Danielle Pulliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

**𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾** 𝑻𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑲. 𝑹𝒐𝒆𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉 (𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 #5.5)

Release Date: September 26, 2024

5⭐️3🌶

All these little novellas are just for the side characters and their HEAs, and I ADORE IT! I cannot wait to read more from Melisa K. Roehrich. These novellas are for Eliza and Razik, Azrael and Talwynn, Cyrus and Cassius, and Ashtine and Briar.

All the happily ever afters and explanation of what the characters are doing after the ending of the series.

Themes/Tropes:
🍁Political Machinations
🍁Fae/Vampires/Witches/Humans
🍁Enemies-to-Lovers
🍁Trained Female Assassin
🍁Revenge Plot
🍁Controlling Master of Assassins
🍁Throne of Glass vibes
🍁Older Fae Warrior as Teacher/Trainer/Lover?
🍁Hidden Powers/Potential

TW:
✨Violence
✨Training sequences
✨Biting
✨Betrayals
✨Secret keeping

[Cerah D 🐉 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want an ashtine & briar spin off series 🤍

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella. Ashtine and Briar are some of my favorites from this series so it was really fun to see where they started. I also loved seeing Sawyer again. God, I really liked him. It was also interesting to see what the winds were saying to her.

[Amanda Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going deeper into their past and history of their relationship made my love for Briar and Ashtine reawaken, but also made some horribly sad memories rise back up (ifykyk) so I’m gonna go cry again now

[Amanda (A.NovelAdventure) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨B O O K R E V I E W ✨

📚 This was a sweet little novella to read after finishing the Lady Of Darkness series! It’s technically a prequel, because the timeline places us before the Lady of Darkness story - but you should read it after you finish the series to avoid spoilers! In comparison to the series it’s softer and lighter, making it a fun little read. Having some more background knowledge of Briar and Ashtine, two beloved side characters, was really enjoyable! AND there was so much foreshadowing weaved into this one short story that it was fascinating to draw all of the pieces together.

🌟 If you’ve read the Lady of Darkness series, you’ll want to read this as well! If you’re like me you don’t want to leave any information unread in a favorite series and world!

More about: Unrelenting Winds - Melissa K Roehrich

📖 This story follows Prince of the Water Court, Briar accepting an unexpected meeting with Princess Ashtine, and having to decide what to make of the request she has of him. Is her request worth risking the anger of the courts, the realm, the gods, and more?

If you want more trustworthy reviews be sure to give me a follow!

#BookReview #BookRecommendation #TBR #WhatToRead #LadyOfDarkness

|| Fantasy, Romantasy, Book Review, Book Recommendation, Fae ||

[Jae Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

The entire series wrapped up as a 5 star series. This book made my heart happy. Watching Prince Briar and Princess Ashtine come together was heartwarming. The balance and calm they brought to each other regardless of court politics was exactly as it should be.

[Melisa with 1 S · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I will steal whatever time I can from fate if it means being with you"

"The winds are calmer when I'm with you"

"Worrying about something that may not even come to pass steals joy from the present"

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do the best characters in this series get the smallest books, goddamn.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🌬️ A soft, intimate, and beautifully crafted novella that adds depth, heart, and quiet magic to an already extraordinary world. 🌬️✨

This novella is an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me. It’s recommended to read it after Lady of Starfire, and doing so made it feel like the perfect emotional exhale after the finale. While it doesn’t carry the same devastating weight as Rayner’s novella, Unrelenting Winds gave me something I didn’t even know I needed.

Following Briar and Ashtine, we get a tender, beautifully understated love story — the kind built on choice, trust, and quiet devotion. Their relationship blossoms gently, proving that a soft, steady love can be just as powerful as the fiery, chaotic ones. 💛

Despite every obstacle, they choose each other again and again, and watching that unfold felt healing after the emotional intensity of the main series.

We also get a glimpse into the world before the Lady of Darkness series — familiar faces, subtle connections, and moments that enrich the entire universe without overshadowing the main storyline. It adds depth, warmth, and context in a way that feels intentional and rewarding.

This novella is heartfelt, meaningful, and beautifully written. Melissa Roehrich continues to expand this world with such care and emotional intelligence — she’s absolutely gained a forever‑fan in me.

[anissa ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”worrying about something that may not even come to pass steals joy from the present.”

ashtine + briar my babies. seeing how ashtine came to be really broke my heart. but seeing how calm the winds were in her mind when briar was around was so utterly wholesome 🥺

to see where it all started before lady of darkness was such a beautiful way to completely finish the series.

”i will steal whatever time i can from fate if it means being with you.”

[saralouisereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

2🌶️ ugh i just love them so much. i loved all of the bonus chapters and this novella was a perfect way to end my time with the LoD series. im already looking forward to a reread in the future. my heart is full 🥹

[Jordan Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What does that mean?” “I suppose time will tell,” she answered. “Worrying about it now steals the joy from the moment.” His lips tilted up. “That is does, my dear.” “Be well, my heart,” she said, and then she was gone among the winds. 🥹

[andi [under construction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[ciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute, i love a good forbidden love moment

[Desiree Gilby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 i love the little backstory stories and i love ashtine and briar. wish we had more of them :(

[Ashley Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is gold and that includes the novellas. I freaking loved getting to see the backstory to these characters that you just don’t get in the series itself. These two in particular are so wholesome and loving regardless of their circumstances. I will be reading anything this author writes!!

[bella rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

we need an entire book of these 2!!!

[Randee Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh I love themmmm, briar and ashtine are so wholesome and sweet 🥹 and the little Easter eggs for the main story and cameos, filled my heart for a moment on on LOD hangover 😭

[Savannah Bowne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 stars. While I enjoyed the dynamic between briar and ashtine throughout the main series, I wasn’t itching for more from them. I enjoyed the backstory of how their union originated, and I do quite enjoy the quirks surrounding Ashtine, but this was just okay for me. I know this novella is recommended to be read after the series is completed (per author recs), but this reads a prequel to me. It was cute and was a nice spin off, but that’s all it was.

“I find you clever. I find you captivating. Alluring in a way I have never experienced. I find you so incredibly enthralling that my thoughts wander to you multiple times a day. But I find you anything but vexing, Ashtine Evermorn.”

“remember you are more than your titles and duties, expectations and responsibilities. You deserve joy and happiness, even if it’s in something you keep just for you.”

[Natasha Vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect novella 🥹 I love their love 🫶🏻

[Malessa Danner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just knew Briar and Ashtine were going to be absolutely PRECIOUS!!!!!

Ugh, I love this entire universe SO much! Also, do I spot Easter eggs hinting at a future series for their twins?? 🤭🤭

Briar is definition he fell first and harder!

“I find you clever. I find you captivating. Alluring in a way I have never experienced. I find you so incredibly enthralling that my thoughts wander to you multiple times a day. But I find you anything but vexing, Ashtine Evermorn.”

“You came here.” It wasn’t a question, and gods, she sounded so incredibly tired. “I told you I would always be here for you, my dear,” he answered.

-lady of darkness novella!!! of briar and Ashtine
-I read this after the entire darkness series and would recommend that reading order 😊

[peppers.library · Rating 4 out of 5]

i ate this up 💫 this was so sweet! it also completely reaffirmed my belief that sawyer is, without question, the absolute best 🥹 i was dying to learn how ashtine & briar’s forbidden love developed, this novella not only delivered on them, but also answered a few lingering questions i had about the plotlines in earlier books, which was incredibly satisfying! i did find myself wanting more out of this, even after i finished it.. but honestly, I would graciously read a 5 book series dedicated to each of these characters 🤭 this entire series deserves so much more hype! so grateful there are additional bonus chapters to read 🖤✨ i highly recommend reading this AFTER you finish lady of starfire!

[Bryaune Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need an entire book of Ashtine & Briar! They rival Scarlett & Sorin for my favorite couple of the LOD series. We knew how forbidden their love was from LOD but to see how it started and how they had to be content for years with stolen moments, just broke my heart! I am so glad they got to have their happy ending in the end, these two deserve the world.

And Sawyer…no words needed there 🫶🏾

“You will be content with stolen moments and secret meetings?” she asked. “I will steal whatever time I can from fate if it means being with you,” Briar replied, taking her hand in his and bringing her fingertips to his lips. “I will never regret a moment of it.”

[Caitlin Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so precious. It was really nice to get to see Briar and Ashtine's origin story and how their relationship came to be. Melissa has become an auto buy author for me. Even within this tiny story it is so captivating and we get some easter eggs regarding the rest of the universe she has built. I hope we get more of Ashtine. I love her dialogue and her peculiar traits that she has developed as a result of the winds.

I did want more from that ending (I mean we all want more from these two!!) but I wish this had taken us closer to the LOD start line.

[Sarah J Stebbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the other novella in this series I thoroughly enjoyed this story and only wish it had been just a little longer. I went with the author’s suggested reading order, and thus read it last. While I think it technically could have been read within the series, after a certain point, I also think it definitely flowed better reading it after.

[Kali Balducci · Rating 4 out of 5]

They are the absolute sweetest and my only complaint is that it ended too abruptly, I needed at least one more chapter for better closure. Ashtine needs to be protected at all costs because she is positively precious.