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Cycle of Calamity #1
The Starlight Princess
She’s a princess in love with the king’s spymaster. He’s a cursed traitor plotting her abduction.
Adamanthea is a failure of a princess with a talent for matchmaking. But when her latest pairing falls afoul of the king’s schemes, he decides to finally dispose of her by marrying her off to a cruel young lord. Scrambling for a solution, she turns to the spymaster—a handsome older man she’s long yearned for.
Leandros is a spymaster with dark secrets. Cursed into compliance, he’s spent years waiting to kidnap Adamanthea as a hostage for an enemy queendom. When her wedding provides that opportunity, his masters promise him both his life and freedom if he delivers her into their hands. There’s only one problem—Leandros is in love with her.
Neither can imagine a life apart. But as they’re pursued by a fiancé determined to reclaim his prize, and murderous foes drain Leandros’ life with their curse, neither can picture a future together. Can their passion beat the odds, or is this the match that dooms them to misery and death?
The Starlight Princess is the exciting prequel to the Cycle of Calamity series. If you can’t get enough of age gap romances, forbidden love, and yearning, escape into The Starlight Princess!
Adamanthea is a failure of a princess with a talent for matchmaking. But when her latest pairing falls afoul of the king’s schemes, he decides to finally dispose of her by marrying her off to a cruel young lord. Scrambling for a solution, she turns to the spymaster—a handsome older man she’s long yearned for.
Leandros is a spymaster with dark secrets. Cursed into compliance, he’s spent years waiting to kidnap Adamanthea as a hostage for an enemy queendom. When her wedding provides that opportunity, his masters promise him both his life and freedom if he delivers her into their hands. There’s only one problem—Leandros is in love with her.
Neither can imagine a life apart. But as they’re pursued by a fiancé determined to reclaim his prize, and murderous foes drain Leandros’ life with their curse, neither can picture a future together. Can their passion beat the odds, or is this the match that dooms them to misery and death?
The Starlight Princess is the exciting prequel to the Cycle of Calamity series. If you can’t get enough of age gap romances, forbidden love, and yearning, escape into The Starlight Princess!
143 pages, ebook
Published November 26, 2025
About the author
Elyse Thomson
7 books43 followersElyse Thomson writes steamy fantasy full of court intrigue, daring heroines, magical mayhem, swoon-worthy romances and worlds inspired by ancient history.
Elyse graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelors in History and Classics and currently resides in Canada's capital where you can find her binding antiquarian books, playing Dragon Age or snuggling with her husband or her neurotic terrier.
To learn more, check out her website or join her newsletter at:
https://elyse-thomson.square.site/new...
Elyse graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelors in History and Classics and currently resides in Canada's capital where you can find her binding antiquarian books, playing Dragon Age or snuggling with her husband or her neurotic terrier.
To learn more, check out her website or join her newsletter at:
https://elyse-thomson.square.site/new...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 15, 2026
Tropes: Romantasy, Court Intrigue, Swoony Love Interests, Curses, Goddesses, Princess x Spymaster, Forbidden Romance, Silver Fox MMC, Abduction & Forced Proximity, Fated Mates
Review No Spoilers: A high stakes Romantasy that serves as the prequel to the Cycle of Calamity series. Princess Adamanthea is considered a royal failure but possesses an uncanny talent for matchmaking. Leandros is the handsome, older royal spymaster whom Adamanthea has long harbored feelings for. A Dark Secret plagues Leandros, who is under a curse forcing him to comply with an enemy queendom.
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Review No Spoilers: A high stakes Romantasy that serves as the prequel to the Cycle of Calamity series. Princess Adamanthea is considered a royal failure but possesses an uncanny talent for matchmaking. Leandros is the handsome, older royal spymaster whom Adamanthea has long harbored feelings for. A Dark Secret plagues Leandros, who is under a curse forcing him to comply with an enemy queendom.
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
December 7, 2025
A delightfully bite-sized age-gap romance between a princess and a spymaster set in ancient Trisia. With a curse, a possessive fiancé, betrayal, and swoon worthy spice, you don't want to miss this prequel to the Cycle of Calamity series. Thomson writes some of the most punchable villains I've ever read, and the yearning is top notch!
May 22, 2026
After Princess Adamanthea ruins a marriage match concocted by the King, he decides to marry her off to the son of one of his royal advisors. This novel follows Adamanthea as she is kidnapped from her fiancee by the King's spymaster, Leandros, and is forced to unpack her feelings for him as harrowing truths come to light.
Ultimately, I did not like this book. The novel as a whole was too short, and it really could've benefited from more exposition. The book feels like it began at the climax of the story, and I really think that seeing Princess Adamanthea and Leandros relationship prior to the meat of the novel would have helped readers feel more connected to the characters and become invested in their relationship.
Additionally, I really think Stephen King was on to something when he said that the road to hell is paved with adverbs. This novel really loves describing things, in a tell, not show, kind of way. For example:
"Exhaustion should have drained her of everything but her goal, and yet her traitor heart still fluttered for him like the detestable coquette it was."
Instead of actually describing anything, the author just uses descriptive words and hopes you can come up with a good enough picture in your head.
Overall, I do think that the concept of this book is good. While there is a king, and the monarchy seems to be centered around men, the religious traditions of the story seem to be matriarchal, and I find that fascinating.
Ultimately, I did not like this book. The novel as a whole was too short, and it really could've benefited from more exposition. The book feels like it began at the climax of the story, and I really think that seeing Princess Adamanthea and Leandros relationship prior to the meat of the novel would have helped readers feel more connected to the characters and become invested in their relationship.
Additionally, I really think Stephen King was on to something when he said that the road to hell is paved with adverbs. This novel really loves describing things, in a tell, not show, kind of way. For example:
"Exhaustion should have drained her of everything but her goal, and yet her traitor heart still fluttered for him like the detestable coquette it was."
Instead of actually describing anything, the author just uses descriptive words and hopes you can come up with a good enough picture in your head.
Overall, I do think that the concept of this book is good. While there is a king, and the monarchy seems to be centered around men, the religious traditions of the story seem to be matriarchal, and I find that fascinating.
May 5, 2026
If you loved watching the PrincessXKnight Vids on Tiktok this book is all that and more!
She’s a princess in love with the king’s spymaster. He’s a cursed traitor plotting her abduction. -Short Blurb by the Author
I love how we get a younger Theron and some more of the backstory of his family, but especially his beloved Aunt Thea. In all honesty this was on point with the Mages of Oblivion’s Prequel Story “The Firetongued Heir” you get just enough history of a minor character that reveals so much more about the main character and why they are the way they are. Another favorite added to my growing Elyse Thomson books list.
She’s a princess in love with the king’s spymaster. He’s a cursed traitor plotting her abduction. -Short Blurb by the Author
I love how we get a younger Theron and some more of the backstory of his family, but especially his beloved Aunt Thea. In all honesty this was on point with the Mages of Oblivion’s Prequel Story “The Firetongued Heir” you get just enough history of a minor character that reveals so much more about the main character and why they are the way they are. Another favorite added to my growing Elyse Thomson books list.
May 31, 2026
Love between two souls
Such a beautiful story. Thea is a beautiful girl with lots of love as a princess, her brother the king is a tyrant who tosses her at one of his cronies. Her true love comes and finds her to give her the freedom she always wanted
Such a beautiful story. Thea is a beautiful girl with lots of love as a princess, her brother the king is a tyrant who tosses her at one of his cronies. Her true love comes and finds her to give her the freedom she always wanted
May 22, 2026
Loved Thea, wasnt a big fan of Leandros, but whatever. Its a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews