The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King

by Kayliani Shi

He saw salvation in her chains.
She saw damnation in his eyes.

Crown Prince Azriel Faundor has learned to live by cruelty. Groomed to inherit both a throne and his father’s ruthlessness, he hides his fractured humanity behind steel and ceremony—until he discovers Nadia, a forgotten elf queen hidden beneath his castle. Her sorrow stirs compassion in him, but soon that fragile pity curdles into something darker.

What begins as mercy festers into obsession, and his version of love becomes her prison.

Trapped by prophecy and his delusion, Nadia learns that the only thing keeping her alive aside from her blessed blood is fear. She dreams of escape, of silence, of death, of freedom—but fate has other designs, and her unwilling union will give rise to the curse that damns them both.

Bound by sin, betrayal, and a love twisted into horror, this is how a king was broken, a curse was seeded, and a queen bore its beginning.



The addictive prequel to The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince!

Genres: Fantasy

192 pages, ebook

First published July 21, 2026

About the author

Kayliani Shi is an avid reader, artist, and writer. Raised in northern Idaho, she now lives in Michigan with her husband, daughter, two cats, and dog. When not huddled in a blanket writing, Kayliani enjoys taking walks in the sun, visiting local cafés, and listening to her favorite J-ROCK band, Official Hige Dandism. You can find more about Kayliani at kaylianishipr.com.

Reviews

[ℓιѕєη · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author who kindly gave me a digital ARC-copy in exchange for an honest review

☆☆☆☆
While I read The Sinuous Bargain Of A Cowardly Prince on Wattpad, I couldn’t read this on there in it’s entirety, since Kayliani was announcing that she would be publishing these books. Instead, I had the opportunity to ARC-read this book. It’s a short novella revealing the backstory of King Azriel and the Elf Queen Nadia, as you know if you’ve read TSB—Ramiel’s parents.

Reading TSB, you got bits and pieces of what this book was going to be like. It was not promising, I must tell you, and reading this was just devastating knowing the outcome. However, I feel like this novella was necessary for the overall plot as well, it wasn’t just for the purpose of backstory. Some things we had yet to know were revealed and I believe it will cause intrigue in the books to come.

That said, I do think I enjoyed TSB a little more, but if it’s because it’s a full length novel, I do not know. This book made me hate Azriel even more than I originally did just from reading TSB, and you understand that he was just twisted and sick and power-hungry from birth that piece of sh*t.

Anyway, read this book, it’s really entertaining and quick and easy to read.

[Kayliani Shi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy pub day to The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King!! I’m super excited for readers to dig into this prequel. It has a lot of info that segues perfectly into book two… coming soon 👀

I hope to see you there!!

[ARIII ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

I am in emotional distressed because like the previous book, what did I just experience. For the first time, I have shed tears from words on a page and not due to not being able to handle the unforgiving actions of King Azriel, but because I liked his character. I fell for his charm, held onto the purity Queen Nadia seen when she first laid eyes on him and wanted so bad for a miscommunication trope (which I despise!) I was praying so hard that his cold heartiness was not of his own festering hatred but of someone else's doing.

This installment does have more darker, heavier themes while not necessarily depicted, even the mere thought is weighing. And depending on your imagination, you are left to fill in the blanks however your mind sees fit. Do take caution before reading.

Let's back track though, I'm getting ahead of myself. The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King gives us a little insight into the true story of the War of the Undying, how King Azriel came to be so cold-hearted and more context of this damning prophecy.

In Shi's first installment, The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince we learn of a war that has left humans in power and magical creatures handicapped with the elves and fairies at odds with each other based on a hazy retelling of events. The elves believe the Fairy King betrayed the Elven Queen and vice versa. History basically lost the true events which Qor does share his experience but we get the point of view directly from Queen Nadia herself. And it was truly a tragedy for both magical beings sides, especially for the Queen who had been taken and locked away to be used to curse her people; people she was not even sure still exist.

Due to her immortality, she was forced to live a life in the castle dungeons, used by future Kings to further punish her people; until, like history, she was forgotten. Thousands of years go by when a young prince Azriel seeks truth in the rumors of the existence of someone in the dungeons. Naturally, him and his aide, a young duke Viktor venture to the dungeons and come across her discovery. Instantly he is smitten with her beauty and curious of what crimes such beauty could have committed. He knows he will free her and must have her. But as fairy aides will have it, Viktor keeps the young prince away for seven years.

Once Azriel returns to the castle, he immediately seeks Nadia and frees her. She is overwhelmed with the emotions of even seeing the moon that she gives into the false affections for the prince. She blames it on the yearning of physical affection, warmth, but I have to believe that she did feel something for him. That she believe he was different from previous kings and could maybe truly love her, but maybe she's just better than me and knew he was not intrigued with pure admiration, but knew his power over her. Maybe she knew she would be a mere object of his desires and not a person desired.

When Queen Nadia is first presented with the prophecy, she immediately wakes up from the façade and knows she must leave, her life is not meant concealing her true elven features in the castle, but to be with her people, freely. Although she hides some of herself from her people, she finds peace. And for a while (another seven years), a quiet life is her sanctuary but Azriel's cruel awakening.

One thing consistent with Kayliani Shi is she knows how to keep readers on their toes because as the story continues, nothing, AND I MEAN NOTHING, could have prepared me for the realization of who that "blonde baby" might be. Ugh! You'll have to read it to understand! The constant mention of features are so important because it relates to lost identities so be warned to pay attention to the repetition, it's there for a reason!

I'm filled with anticipation. I just know the ending to this story that has been well written is going to undo me in ways I'm not even sure how to prepare for. From the mated love story, to how Ramiel is going to over throw Xavelor, to this blonde baby secret reveal, etc, etc.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who hadn’t read the prequel before this, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 🖤✨ Instead of feeling lost, I found myself completely drawn into this dark and haunting world. By the time I reached the end, I knew I wanted to pick up the rest of the series.

This story follows the tragic downfall of Crown Prince Azriel and the heartbreaking journey of Nadia, the forgotten elf queen imprisoned beneath his castle. ⛓️👑 What began as an act of compassion slowly twisted into something terrifying. Azriel saw salvation in freeing her from loneliness, but his pity soon became obsession. His need to possess, control, and “protect” her transformed love into another kind of prison. 😢💔

Nadia’s story was equally devastating. 🌙🩸 She endured imprisonment, manipulation, and the crushing weight of a prophecy that seemed determined to steal every chance at freedom. Watching her cling to hope while surviving unimaginable cruelty made my heart ache. Every chapter carried a lingering sense of dread because you knew happiness was never truly within reach.

I especially loved how the novella explored the fine line between compassion and obsession. 🖤 The psychological descent felt unsettling in the best way. There were no easy heroes here—only deeply flawed characters making choices that spiraled into tragedy. Knowing this was the beginning of a curse made every moment feel heavier and more inevitable. ⚔️✨

Kayliani Shi created a beautifully dark atmosphere filled with sorrow, betrayal, and emotional tension. 🌑 The writing made it easy to picture every cold corridor, every painful encounter, and every desperate attempt to escape fate. Even though this was a shorter read, the emotional impact stayed with me long after I finished.

Perfect for readers who love: ✨
👑 Morally gray prince
🧝 Elf queen heroine
🖤 Obsession disguised as love
⛓️ Captive & captor dynamics
🔥 Psychological dark fantasy
📜 Cursed prophecy
💔 Tragic romance
⚔️ Corruption and descent into darkness
🌑 Gothic atmosphere
😭 Emotional angst

Overall, this was a compelling and emotional introduction to The Shadowed Throne Chronicles. 🖤 It left me disturbed, heartbroken, and incredibly curious about what happens next. If you enjoy dark fantasy that isn’t afraid to explore the ugly side of love and power, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you so much to Kayliani Shi and RR Book Tours for the ARC opportunity. 🖤📚

[Julia P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Kayliani Shi, for the opportunity to be an ARC-team member for the prequel to The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince!

This no-spice dark fantasy follows the downward spiral of a prince groomed for cruelty and the path of hope and suffering of an elf-queen as she resists the dungeons, the clutches of an obsessive relationship and the chains of a dark prophecy.
What starts as an act of compassion of the crown prince towards an imprisoned elf-queen, transforms over time into an obsession with her beauty and turns into a twisted need to own, manipulate and even hurt what he desires.

I don’t usually read dark fantasy. And I must say this novella had quite a dark tone, much darker than the first book in the duology.
But... I still found myself captured by the depth of the characters and their stories, the vivid world, as well as the immersive writing. I devoured the book in two days.

Warning:
Even though this is a prequel, don’t read this book before you’ve read The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince, as it contains spoilers that would destroy the twists and reveals in the Book 1 of The Shadowed Throne duology.

Content warning:
If you are tender-hearted, this book contains violence, including a not-on-page-reference to a sexual assault. A lot of the violence is psychological rather than physical.
In my opinion, this is a book for adults. It is not suitable for teens.

Some of my highlights:
* beautiful, immersive writing
* intriguing and complex characters with all their flaws and struggles
* deeper insight into the world and backstory of the Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince

Do I recommend this book?
Yes, if you’ve read The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince, as it will give you a broader understanding of what hides behind that story.

Will I read the second book in the duology?
Yes, I will and I’m very curious, where the story will take me!

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something so satisfying about watching a cold-hearted character slowly reveal the person beneath the icy exterior, and The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King delivered a story full of charm, emotion, and plenty of memorable moments.

From the very first chapter, Kayliani Shi drew me into a captivating world filled with courtly intrigue, magic, and characters I couldn't help but root for. The story balanced romance, humor, and emotional depth in a way that kept me eagerly turning the pages. 📖✨

One of my favorite parts of the book was the character development. 💙 Watching the walls come down, relationships evolve, and trust slowly build made every emotional moment feel well earned. The chemistry between the characters felt natural, and I loved seeing how each challenge brought out new layers of their personalities.

The world-building was engaging without ever feeling overwhelming, and I enjoyed discovering more about the kingdom as the story unfolded. While there were a few moments where I wished certain scenes had been explored in a little more depth, particularly some of the quieter emotional beats, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. Instead, it left me wanting even more from these wonderful characters.

By the time I reached the final page, I wasn't ready to say goodbye and found myself hoping to return to this world again soon. 🥹👑

💌 A huge thank you to Kayliani Shi for trusting me with an advance copy of The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to experience this story before its release and to share my honest thoughts. As always, these opinions are entirely my own. 🤍

[blush_and_bookmarks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel isn’t a happy story-quite the opposite-but it does exactly what it sets out to do. It adds so much depth and context to The Sinuous Bargain of the Cowardly Prince, helping you better understand the characters and the events that shaped them.

Even though this is a prequel, I personally recommend reading it after the first book. I think it would spoil some reveals if read first, and I appreciated uncovering Nadia’s story after already knowing where things were headed. It made me value the first book even more.

Nadia’s life is heartbreaking. Once the king discovers who she is, she endures unimaginable trauma and loss. Despite everything, one of the most beautiful parts of her story is seeing her become a mother. Knowing what happens in the following book, it’s clear she would do absolutely anything for her son, and this novella gives that love so much more weight and meaning.

This isn’t my typical read because of how heavy it is, but I really appreciated the additional backstory and character development. It left me even more invested in the series and excited to continue with book two.

Content notes: This book contains a scene of sexual assault and is written non-explicitly without graphic detail (closed door). There is also another intimate scene that is fade to black. Language is mild, with only a couple of instances of “d***.” Otherwise, it remains a clean read.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella revealing the backstory of King Azriel and the Elf Queen Nadia, Ramiel’s parents. This is meant to be read after the first book The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince, otherwise you might get some spoilers.

Due to her a war between humans and people with magical powers, elves and fairies, Nadia gets captured and because of her immortality she spends thousands of years in a dungeon in the human's castle, where she and their history is forgotten.

She's found by Prince Azriel, who is smitten with her beauty and would do anything to make her his. He manages to free her and she's thankful to be out of that place where she was forgotten for so long.

Things change afterwards and she realizes she needs to run far away from Azriel. She manages to escape and live a quiet and happy life with her new family, until he finds her.

Kayliani does a really good job of making Azriel seem compassionate for Nadia, to later have it lead to obsession. I kind of liked him at the beginning, but he turned into a complete different man, where I understand why Nadia had to keep away from him. 🥹

Thank you so much to Kayliani Shi and RR Book Tours for the e-ARC.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. While it carries a darker tone than the first installment, it is beautifully written, fast-paced, and incredibly immersive. Even though this is fantasy, the world feels lived in and real, like it existed long before the reader arrived. Every detail, relationship, and piece of history feels intentional. I honestly wish it had been a full-length novel because I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind.

The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince (Book 1 in this series) remains one of my all-time favorite reads, and this story seamlessly expands that world while adding so much depth and emotional weight to the characters.

The writing itself is gorgeous and descriptive without slowing the pace, and the characters are wonderfully flawed, wounded, and easy to root for. I would absolutely recommend this series to anyone who loves richly built fantasy worlds, emotionally layered characters, and stories that stay with you long after you finish reading.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to sum this up in just one word: WOW. I read book one in the series, but even that couldn’t fully prepare me for the absolute roller coaster this was. Even knowing what the end result will be (thanks to book one), it’s really difficult to not see how charming Azriel once was. I loved getting to see things from Nadia’s POV, and watch as things unfold, as it’s hard to understand how she could have ever fallen for Azriel with the way we’re introduced to them in book one. This is quite dark (although there’s nothing gratuitous about the way the darker things are presented). Yet even knowing where the story ultimately ends, there were some twists and surprises thrown in as well. While I will say put your mental health first, this is a dark fantasy you absolutely do not want to miss! (But also read book one first, or this may spoil some things).

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

[Elle Clove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫Let me tell you.... I devoured this book. It is a short one, worthy of a re-read and a perfect taste between books.
I expected devastation, maybe a pinch of clarity and I got all that I wanted and more.
It was great to see the characters so integral to Ramiel's story though the eyes of one another and other powerful players around them. I so enjoyed watching them be shaped by events unfolding around them, and the changes happening both internally and externally.
Overall a wonderful addition that weaves into the series wonderfully and leaves me with more answers to be revealed in Book 2. Can't wait 💫

[Hayley Lopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review⭐️

This story was the perfect prequel to book 1 in this series. While darker than the first book, it was such a beautifully written story and world building was next level. The world feels real, and the characters are real and lovable.

I loved seeing how the events shaped the characters both internally and externally, especially through the grief, family drama, and power struggles. The writing was fast-paced and draws you in from the very beginning.

Overall, this was an incredible addition to the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Diamanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, people!
Continuing with the second book in the series, The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King, the protagonists are Queen Nadia and King Ariel. Their relationship has it all. It starts with compassion and turns into obsession. That's when the paranoia and the dark background of the story begin.
Through the story, the reader will experience various emotions, such as anger, sadness, rage, disappointment, etc. In essence, they will see how dark, vulnerable and tragic love can become and how far someone can go for power.
I urgently want the sequel!

Thank you very much to the author, Hidden Hollow Book Tours and BookSirens for the eARC!

This is my honest review!

[Kimberley C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for this ARC copy…I really enjoyed this prequel, The Egregious Affair of a Cold-Hearted King, though it was definitely a darker, more somber ride compared to the first book in the series. While I gave The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince a 4.5, this one tugged at my heart in a different way. The exploration of loss, family fractures, and a king’s ruthless ambition was haunting. The writing is still sharp and immersive, and even though the tone left me a bit heavy, it deepened my understanding of these characters. I definitely can’t wait for the next installment.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadia suffers, captured, imprisoned for hundreds of years, used for her power. Then forgotten. Then found, given hope, and used again.

I felt so bad for her - 'she was a corpse with breath in her lungs'.

I enjoyed this prequel novella. It added context to book one, but still needs to be read second.

It is less than 200 pages so does skip a lot to give an overall picture. I did get a bit confused by the time progression. At the start I understood, but there are other frequent jumps.

(ARC provided by BookSirens)

[Angie Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advance Copy Received from Author.

I literally sped through this book. This is book 1.5 in the series. I had a difficult time making it through book 1 until I was half way through it. I leapt immediately into this book and its was sooooo good! It gave a good deal of some of Book 1’s characters’ backstory (The Sinuous Bargain of a Cowardly Prince). Oh, sweet Nadia. I want more of her time with Ramiel. I also want more backstory for Xavelor. Eagerly awaiting Book 2!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

This prequel novella is sickening in its darkness, but I couldn’t put it down. Azriel’s obsession blinded him to all else and ultimately spelled Nadia’s doom, and Nadia herself was a tragedy brought to life. We heard about her in the first book, but watching her story unfold in real time was devastating. Shi has a gift with storytelling, and this bite-sized look into the Faundor family’s past just made me even more excited for book two.

[anidayneow · Rating 5 out of 5]

King was a piece of work but I didn't need that information. I already felt bad for Nadia after reading book 1 but the events of this prequel made me think King got off too easy in the end. He was worried about the wrong son and was wrong in general with the way things worked out. In the end, his paranoia about one child made him ignore the possibility of the other being his downfall.

[Rebecca Bourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't think this is a light-hearted romance, or a romance at all!

This is the story of two women, kept under control of a cold-hearted king. One wants to escape him. One wants his power.