Tyrant

by Wren Nightingale

Laelynn has only known a life of oppression, confined within Veridia's royal palace since the age of ten, with no memory of her past. When Prince Draxton's cruel intent to make her his consort comes to light, she chooses a desperate escape.

Fleeing the palace alongside a group of enslaved companions, Laelynn begins a perilous journey across Karthus to make it to Aethelgard, known as the Realm of Monsters. After many trials and encounters, their journey is wrought with challenges, grief, difficult choices, and unfortunate events. To damper their journey to escape, they're being chased by the infamous Commander Sterling. Will the group make it to the new realm or end up in demise?

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2026

Reviews

[Serenity Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun read. I have never read a book with beings like satyr’s, or kitsune (which are totally bad ___) or even half of the other beings featured in Tyrant but I’m so happy that I did. I think I found a new niche to like!

This book made me smile, get mad, teary and all of the feels. The characters were all really well written. The author made you easily like the main characters and quickly hate the horrid ones. Seriously there were some really evil people in here that I kept wishing would just die.

The characters have all been dealt a cruddy hand in life so when the opportunity arises to escape, there is no hesitation. While they are running or anytime they seem to be stuck in a corner with their backs against the wall you’re right there with them nervous and hoping it works out. I really liked learning bits and pieces of the world they live in and the realm they are trying to escape to. I loved learning about each characters backstory even if some of them were tragic.

I adored Sage (a mossling… you’ve gotta read the book to understand) and I have no doubt anyone that reads this book will fall in love with Sage as quickly and hard as I did.

If you enjoy books with colorful characters, realms, danger, magic, and hope then I highly recommend this book!

I received an ARC copy.

[Rane Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyrant by Wren Nightingale is a masterfully crafted dark fantasy that plunges readers into the harrowing life of Laelynn, a "traitor’s daughter" enduring unthinkable systemic cruelty within the walls of Veridia. Nightingale’s prose is unflinching as it navigates the visceral trauma of Laelynn’s past—from the haunting memories of the fire that claimed her mother to the cold, clinical brutality of King Valerius’s decrees. The author excels at building a world where hope feels like a dangerous luxury, yet the complex dynamics between Laelynn and those in her orbit—the protective but conflicted Axel, the surprisingly compassionate Princess Elara, and the enigmatic Commander Sterling—add layers of profound emotional depth. This isn't just a story of survival; it’s a searing critique of power and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit as Laelynn finally breaks her chains to seek the truth of her heritage. Tyrant is a bold, transformative read that lingers in the mind long after the final page, marking Nightingale as a formidable voice in the genre.