Heir of Embers and Eventides

by M.W. Theodore

In the shadowed wilds of the Sauvern Forest, Faedi lives bound to the land she protects and to Lonan, her deadly Umbral companion.

When a summons draws them into the search for missing caravans, Faedi uncovers a far greater threat. The Order is known for being ruthless, and both her and Loan are marked to be slaughtered. The cult believes their deaths will stop a prophecy that could unmake the realms. Ancient powers are shifting, and now Faedi and Lonan are caught up in the fallout.

However, they are not alone in the fight.
Sophir—High Knight of Dewgate—has joined them, his heart housing questions his Lord cannot answer. Drawn to Faedi and Lonan despite everything he’s been taught, Sophir must decide where his loyalties truly lie.

What begins as survival sharpens into something sacred, dangerous, and forbidden.
Survival becomes rebellion.
And love becomes the most dangerous defiance of all.

Hunted by zealots and pursued by golden flames, they must face the truth of who they are—and the power they were never meant to wield.

All while the gods are watching, and the balance must be restored.

549 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2025

Reviews

[Katharina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heir of Embers and Eventides by M. W. Theodore is the first installation of the Crowns of the Eclipse series. We accompany Faedi, Lonan and Sophir on their journey to save themselves and the world from Ilos and his ruthless cult.
For me this is the best book I've read this year! It has all you can wish for in a fantasy novel - fantastic world building, an engaging storyline, interesting characters, suspenseful fights and steamy romance. I absolutely loved how queerness is normalized in this book and how the author plays with popular tropes. All in all this is a 5/5 for me and I can recommend this book to every fantasy reader out there!

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

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is a fantastic read that kept me on the edge of my seat. While it is a very long book, and everyone needs to sleep, each time I picked it up I was completely engrossed in the story of Faedi, Lonan, and Sophir. While there are many diverse and equally fascinating characters in these pages, and they are all well written, although those three are the main characters in this book. Faede is bound to Savern Forest where, with her magic, she protects the forest from any who would destroy it, and lives with Lonan her Umbral bonded. When caravans bound for the city of Dewgate fail to arrive, they are called to search for them and will uncover a threat that could destroy the entire realm. Sophir, the High Night of Dewgate will join them in their search and will quickly realize that he is drawn to the two of them in a way he can’t explain, even to himself. Together the three of them will have to battle The Order, a dangerous cult who believes that people like Faedi and Lonan, both born on the night of an eclipse, must be sacrificed to their god in order to save the realm.
An action-packed, magical fantasy adventure with some romance and many varied magical species as well as surprising and unexpected twists in the plot make this a must-read that I recommend to others.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Book Sirens.

[R.L. King · Rating 4 out of 5]

M.W. Theodore has an incredible gift for storytelling. Their prose flows so smoothly that you don’t even notice how much you’ve read until you’re suddenly deep into the story. The pacing and voice make it easy to lose track of time.

The world-building is expansive and deeply considered, with each detail adding to the feeling that this world really exists. The diverse cast of characters, from winged folk to shadow beings and everything in between, brings so much color and depth to the story. I also loved how the book explores prejudice and belonging through a fantasy lens, adding real-world feel to a fantastical tale.

The romance elements were a bit stronger than my usual preference, but that comes down to personal taste, not quality. Readers who enjoy emotionally charged relationships woven into epic fantasy will find plenty to love here.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted story from a talented author who knows how to build worlds and characters that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.

[Alexandria Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent first installment to what I'm confident is going to be a rich and gripping fantasy series.

I could not put this book down. It has a hefty wordcount, but I absolutely did not feel like this was a difficult book to get through. I believe I finished it in about four days.

The characters are all well developed and intriguing. The interactions and relationships are part of where this book absolutely shines.

It has beautiful worldbuilding that makes you feel immersed in the story without being overwhelming or confusing. The author leaves breadcrumbs along the way that may go unanswered for a few chapters, but the resolutions are always complete. Nothing is left dangling except for the plot threads that are clearly intended for sequel material.

The multiple perspectives in the book show strong character voices that never feel muddled.

All in all, highly recommend this book, and I'm excited for future installments.

[Mick Mamone-Peeples · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did have some issues with pacing and consistency, but I enjoyed the storyline a great deal. I adored the ending, and I was happy to read a book that displays the coziness of home while also action-packed.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong start to the Crowns of the Eclipse series, it had that dark fantasy element that I was looking for and enjoyed the bit of mystery for this. The plot was engaging and had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed getting into this world. The characters were so well written and enjoyed getting to know them in this world. M. W. Theodore was able to create something interesting and left me wanting to read more in this series.

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