The Light Between Them

by Elowen Daire

A slow-burn romantasy set in a kingdom of court politics and controlled magic, where choosing closeness comes at a cost.For readers who loved The Goblin Emperor for its quiet politics and moral growth, Daughter of No Worlds for its restrained magic and slow-burn bond, and Graceling for its coming-of-age within power and duty—this story weaves those themes into a romantasy where love becomes the central force.

Princess Alina has never fit the crown’s expectations.
She is curious where she should be composed, questioning where obedience is demanded, and far too alive for a court built on careful appearances, political order, and controlled tradition. As the kingdom begins to ask more of her, she must decide how much of that openly defiant, rule-breaking girl she can afford to keep—and whether growing into her role means losing herself in the process.

Court Mage Kairon did not rise from privilege, but from talent.
Once a war mage, he earned his place through discipline, study, and relentless control of his magic. In the royal court, restraint is safety, ambition is dangerous, and power must never slip. Standing beside Alina means stepping into a world that was never meant to include him—and proving he can rise without turning to a darker magic that would consume everything he is.

They are not meant for each other. One is bound to court politics and a future shaped by duty. The other is bound to a magic that demands control above all else. What begins as something light—shared mischief, whispered rule-breaking, quick-witted exchanges, restrained glances, unspoken understanding—soon asks more than curiosity. Playful arguments turn into charged silences, and stolen moments bring them closer than either intended.

As tensions rise within the kingdom and the Riftlight stirs beneath the court’s polished calm, loyalty, power, and duty pull in opposing directions. Alina must choose how much of herself she is willing to give to the crown—and how much she dares to keep. Kairon must decide whether restraint is true virtue—or the slow surrender of the life he could claim. Their choices may steady the realm, or allow a dangerous power to take hold.

Some bonds are not forged in defiance, but in the quiet choice to stay—no matter the cost.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

I write emotionally and morally grounded romantasy.
I don’t write smut, and I don’t really write what people usually label as “spice” either. At the same time, I don’t consider intimacy something shameful or something that must be erased from stories completely.
I see myself as an artist first, not someone trying to follow market trends. And because of that, if the natural emotional progression of a story reaches a point where a love scene truly belongs, then I write it. But I never write graphic scenes for shock value or include them simply for their own sake.
My stories often deal with difficult things, much like life does.
I never romanticize toxic relationships.

Reviews

[IllyrianShadowsinger]

Pre-Read:

So excited to start! I love romantasy (I started reading a lot more physical ones, so I've gone Goodreads under radar😏🥷), and this sounds like my Darkalina ship, but they ACTUALLY end up together.

Anyone who sides with Mal can go @&*#*&$*&^$*&





Heh.
Like I have the self-control to censor myself, or...
any maturity, actually.
I'm a child till the day I die.

They can go
SUCK
ALIEN
DICK,
and HOPEFULLY CHOKE ON IT BUT IN A BAD WAY.

Yeah.
That was a good insult.



I've read too many freaky books, it seems.

Welp, never too late for a cool palate cleanser!!

[Kathleen Solis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Light Between them is a pleasant read from cover to cover. The characters feel believable from their words and characteristics to even the smallest of gestures. Even in moments one might consider predictable, I was left leaning forward in my chair, excited for the next page. One of my favorite elements of the book is the writing itself. The wonderful, vivid descriptions place you right in the center of the action and fill you with a sense of wonder, framing the characters in a truly magical world!

THIS is the kind of book I would pour through in my young adult years, and in a way, I felt like I'd become young again while reading this story. Absolutely charming and worth the read for readers of fantasy and clean romance.

[Szasza0204 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I can't wait to read the sequel and see what other difficulties they might have to go through. The characters were very lovable, Kairon was my favorite in particular, I saw a bit of myself in him in terms of fighting. The black magic line and the complications with it were my favorite. I especially liked the royal line, and how everything was explained and how it works in this kingdom.

[lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

I enjoyed this it’s not something I’d normally read but it was very good and well written. I’d 100 percent recommend this book to someone who enjoys this genre. Thank you for the opportunity to read this before publishing.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Helena Rein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong debut from a new author. A YA fantasy romance that explores what can happen when love is forbidden by the people around us. The story is easy to read, moves quickly, and has a simple but engaging writing style. The final plot twist was genuinely unexpected and adds a lot to the story.

Personally, I would have loved more worldbuilding, a deeper exploration of the magic system, and more character backstory, but overall I found it an enjoyable read and an impressive debut novel.

[Eliza Bogdán · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well writen fantasy book. I realy loved the character development in it. The magical word was realy fun, and exiting to read. I recomend this book to anyone who wants to laugh while reading a great book

[Gabriella Fekete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! If you love romance and fantasy then that's the perfect mix for you. The guy is so cute. Really.

[Lizze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book to read and review!

This was a sweet love story between two people who were never meant to love each other based on their social standings. It was a very easy going story for the most part, most of the outside conflict was concentrated in the final chapters. The story mostly revolved around how the characters started to get to know each other and evolve to better themselves to be worthy of each other. I wish there was a bit more about the hermit and what he was about and what he did to Kairon.
This was an enjoyable read.

[Kathleen Solis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Light Between them is a pleasant read from cover to cover. The characters feel believable from their words and characteristics to even the smallest of gestures. Even in moments one might consider predictable, I was left leaning forward in my chair, excited for the next page. One of my favorite elements of the book is the writing itself. The wonderful, vivid descriptions place you right in the center of the action and fill you with a sense of wonder, framing the characters in a truly magical world!

THIS is the kind of book I would pour through in my young adult years, and in a way, I felt like I'd become young again while reading this story. Absolutely charming and worth the read for readers of fantasy and clean romance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Viki reads books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this is a fantasy book, it feels very light and easy to read. The English was fairly simple overall, though there were a few moments where I got a bit confused and needed to look up translations. I didn’t expect the twist at the end, which made the story more enjoyable, and overall it was a really fun read. I also really enjoy slow-burn romances, which added to my experience. I don’t usually read books like this, but I ended up enjoying this one.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the beginning it was clear this would be more of a love story than an adventure in fantasy. Unlike other Romantasy books I have read, it felt like it lacked a clear purpose or direction. I personally think part of what makes a great fantasy read is that they are fighting for something from the beginning. They have purpose outside of their partner. I feel like the book had two vibes and I liked the second one much more. That was the vibe that carries a series through to the next book. The “oh my god, are they going to succeed”, the “will good conquer evil” vibes. Overall I think the book was okay. I liked that it was short, the characters were likeable and that there was a satisfying conclusion. I just wish it had of dug a bit deeper.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Viki reads books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book follows Princess Alina, who has never quite fit into the rules and expectations of the kingdom, and Kairon — a powerful court mage who tries to maintain complete control over himself and his magic. Between royal politics, secrets, and dangerous magic, an forbidden, slow-burning connection develops between them that deepens as the tension in the kingdom rises. It is a romantasy novel with a slow-burn romance, a lot of emotional tension, and a magical, mysterious atmosphere.

[H.D. Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book.

It's engaging, with immersive sensory detail and some genuinely beautiful prose. The chapter openings in particular were vivid and atmospheric, and I read the whole book in one sitting. The plot and lore were easy to follow, and I never felt overwhelmed by the worldbuilding.

Without going into spoilers, there were a couple of twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, which added intrigue and kept the momentum going.

This book would suit readers who enjoy romantic fantasy with political tension, fast‑paced action, and romance stories woven with magical elements.

I'm keen to see where the author takes this next.

[Leah Warnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a ARC read and i’m so happy to have gotten the chance to read!

i really liked the aspect of the book it felt like something i had watched in a film before. i did feel like the book was a bit rushed!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of The Eryndale Series. And a wonderful start it is! Look forward to more from this world.

'Their choices may steady the realm, or allow a dangerous power to take hold.
Some bonds are not forged in defiance, but in the quiet choice to stay—no matter the cost.'

The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra (KayeKaye) Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a 3.5 star. I enjoyed the story and for the amount of pages this book was it had a good story. Keep writing and thank you for the chance to read it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KatsLostInPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance this book feels quite predictable.

A royal mage falling in love with a princess, an obviously impossible union that sets the stage for a slow-burn romance. And yes, the story follows that familiar path. But that doesn't necessarily take away from the experience.

The book weaves in classic fantasy elements, like political tension, a brewing revolution, the hunger for power, and even betrayal from those close to the characters. These themes add enough depth to keep the story engaging, even if the overal direction feels somewhat expected.

The romance develops gradually, which fits the tone of the story well, though readers looking for something more unpredictable might find it a bit conventional at times.
However, just when it seems like everything is heading exactly where you expect, the story introduces twist near the ned that adds a fresh layer to the conclusion.

It still delivers a satisfying (and ultimately happy) ending, but with enough of a surprise to make it feel more memorable.
Overall, it's an enjoyable and easy read, perfect as an in-between book when you're not quite ready to dive into something heavier.

[Kornelia Kiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The atmosphere of the book captivated me; though its opening felt somewhat slow to me, from the middle onward I found it impossible to put down.