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The Golden Citadel
Not yet published
Expected 28 Aug 26
We only bow to the God of War
In a citadel always at war, the strongest warriors rule. Ellie is nobody – a lowly apprentice with faded, half-useless magic. Survival is her only goal.
Until Astra, the citadel’s all-seeing governor, starts singling Ellie out for special secret training, a coveted ticket to the Commander’s Ball…and dangerous proximity to Mace Hardfield, the deadliest fighter alive.
But Astra’s interest isn’t about romance. There’s a secret in Ellie’s blood, one that could shatter their war-hungry world — and put Mace squarely in her path, whether as ally, rival, or something far more dangerous.
Ellie came here to survive. But she might just bring the whole world to its knees.
Until Astra, the citadel’s all-seeing governor, starts singling Ellie out for special secret training, a coveted ticket to the Commander’s Ball…and dangerous proximity to Mace Hardfield, the deadliest fighter alive.
But Astra’s interest isn’t about romance. There’s a secret in Ellie’s blood, one that could shatter their war-hungry world — and put Mace squarely in her path, whether as ally, rival, or something far more dangerous.
Ellie came here to survive. But she might just bring the whole world to its knees.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 28, 2026
About the author
Lilly Inkwood
7 books7 followersLilly Inkwood is a romantasy/fantasy writer. She’s the author of The Golden Citadel & The Red Kingdom Series.
Lilly always wanted to write books, ever since she penned (literally, with a pen) her dozen-page long ‘novel’ in fifth grade. It just took her much too long to realise that she loves fantasy, above all things, and especially romantasy.
She also writes historical fiction as Patricia Adrian. Her novel ‘The Bletchley Women’ is a USA Today Bestseller.
Books:
The Golden Citadel Series:
THE GOLDEN CITADEL
THE SILVER CROWN
The Red Kingdom Series:
The Kingdom Is a Golden Cage
Rise of the Fallen Court
The Three Kingdoms Series:
Huntress of the Hallowed Forest - Book 1
Lilly always wanted to write books, ever since she penned (literally, with a pen) her dozen-page long ‘novel’ in fifth grade. It just took her much too long to realise that she loves fantasy, above all things, and especially romantasy.
She also writes historical fiction as Patricia Adrian. Her novel ‘The Bletchley Women’ is a USA Today Bestseller.
Books:
The Golden Citadel Series:
THE GOLDEN CITADEL
THE SILVER CROWN
The Red Kingdom Series:
The Kingdom Is a Golden Cage
Rise of the Fallen Court
The Three Kingdoms Series:
Huntress of the Hallowed Forest - Book 1
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 17, 2026
3.75⭐️
This was cute! The world is really interesting, and I really like all of the characters. Maybe selfishly, I wish the side characters had more scenes, but I still really enjoyed the presence they did have. I was also pleasently surprised how much I liked Ellie. I was worried she was going to get the “super special Mary Sue“ treatment, but she was so relatable and very hardworking. Mace was great too, their relationship felt authentic to their characters rather than checking off tropes from a list.
My main (and really only) issue is that this book feels incomplete? It ended at a weird place, and I feel like it needed a few more chapters to properly wrap up. There's just a lot left unanswered, and not just as a cliffhanger. But overall, I was really into this and I'll definitely keep an eye out for the sequel.
This was cute! The world is really interesting, and I really like all of the characters. Maybe selfishly, I wish the side characters had more scenes, but I still really enjoyed the presence they did have. I was also pleasently surprised how much I liked Ellie. I was worried she was going to get the “super special Mary Sue“ treatment, but she was so relatable and very hardworking. Mace was great too, their relationship felt authentic to their characters rather than checking off tropes from a list.
My main (and really only) issue is that this book feels incomplete? It ended at a weird place, and I feel like it needed a few more chapters to properly wrap up. There's just a lot left unanswered, and not just as a cliffhanger. But overall, I was really into this and I'll definitely keep an eye out for the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Golden Citadel was an interesting read, with an intriguing balance of science-fiction, dystopian and romantasy elements. The society is ruled by a group of Commanders and an computer who has had some of her "memories" repressed. I did find the world building confusing at times, but overall, it was something new and I did find that incredibly fascinating. In particular, I enjoyed the way the society was grouped into factions based on their magical abilities, and the element of technology e.g. the healing through tablets.
I was also interested in the mate-pairing aspect; although I'm more a fan of slow-burn enemies to lovers, than love because of a soul bond, I liked the visualisation of magic interlinking. The political aspect to the society was intriguing, although left me confused at points, but I think that was intentional perhaps, considering Stella's "memory blocks"?
Ellie, is your typical young adult protagonist - stubborn, wants to go against the grain, has something to prove (namely her lack of traditional magical abilities) and her "uniqueness" (her different magical abilities) - I think readers who enjoy their comfort reads, will feel a sense of familiarity with Ellie, and this may be an aspect that has them absolutely obsessing over this read. For me, I found it hard to relate to her, and didn't really emotionally connect, which was a shame as I found the plot refreshingly different. Ultimately, my lack of connection with the characters, has moved my rating, but I feel like this will be a big hit with those who like dystopian reads with fractions and political undertones e.g. hunger games, and divergent, but are perhaps more interested in the trope 'the chosen one' than 'deadly trials'.
Overall, I felt that there wasn't much tension, despite the fight scenes (I didn't fear for the characters' wellbeing) and romance scenes (I'm not a fan of love that has been developed prior to the story - I prefer to follow a relationship developing in real time, but that's a me preference!), so I think if you are wanting a nostalgic dystopian hit, but perhaps have moved onto soft romantasy - this might be the perfect combination and you should give it a go!
I received this early from netgalley, and I really appreciate the opportunity to try an author new to me, thank you!
I was also interested in the mate-pairing aspect; although I'm more a fan of slow-burn enemies to lovers, than love because of a soul bond, I liked the visualisation of magic interlinking. The political aspect to the society was intriguing, although left me confused at points, but I think that was intentional perhaps, considering Stella's "memory blocks"?
Ellie, is your typical young adult protagonist - stubborn, wants to go against the grain, has something to prove (namely her lack of traditional magical abilities) and her "uniqueness" (her different magical abilities) - I think readers who enjoy their comfort reads, will feel a sense of familiarity with Ellie, and this may be an aspect that has them absolutely obsessing over this read. For me, I found it hard to relate to her, and didn't really emotionally connect, which was a shame as I found the plot refreshingly different. Ultimately, my lack of connection with the characters, has moved my rating, but I feel like this will be a big hit with those who like dystopian reads with fractions and political undertones e.g. hunger games, and divergent, but are perhaps more interested in the trope 'the chosen one' than 'deadly trials'.
Overall, I felt that there wasn't much tension, despite the fight scenes (I didn't fear for the characters' wellbeing) and romance scenes (I'm not a fan of love that has been developed prior to the story - I prefer to follow a relationship developing in real time, but that's a me preference!), so I think if you are wanting a nostalgic dystopian hit, but perhaps have moved onto soft romantasy - this might be the perfect combination and you should give it a go!
I received this early from netgalley, and I really appreciate the opportunity to try an author new to me, thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The golden citadel is set in a dystopian maze of metal where the roads are so small you can't walk them and the leaders control everything. We explore the citadel through Ellie the MFC who's been bounced between different quarters as her magic doesn't seem to fit into any of them correctly making her a low apprentice who is continually playing catch up. Stella the city's AI system has befriended ellie and tries to help her catch up whilst teaching her basic skills from all quarters but even she doesn't understand what quarter she fits into. She does what she needs to to get by but is disrespected by most people and is seen as being the lowest of the low in all quarters which is why she's shocked when she receives an invitation to the commander's ball the party of the year and even more shocked when she's called to join the gold team the highest ranking apprentice warriors on the test mission which could land them a position as a central command leader in the future. On the team is mace a friend from Ellie's childhood who she was ripped apart from 9 years ago. He doesn't want her on the mission but the rest of the team votes for her to stay and as they advance through the tasks Ellie's worth to the team shines through and old sparks begin to fly. On the mission they accidentally stumble into a cave which unlocks secrets that have been kept from the citizens of the citadel for centuries and if they get out could change everything. I went into The golden citadel thinking it was going to be a YA good time but I was happily surprised. It's full of emotion, humour, fantastic world building, and an interesting dytopian world with a plot that I couldn't put down. There's slow burn and spice and a bond that's somehow withheld time against all odds. I'm excited to see where the next book takes me as the cliffhanger was brutal and I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a good dytopian world with romance, spice and a thrilling magical system.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I DNFed this book at around 70%. The main issues I had with the book were regarding character developments and plot pacing.
Character development:
Our main character, Ellie, is an extremely stale character. Throughout the first 70% most of her thoughts were just gushing over the MMC - who was also horrible to her... It just seemed very juvenile for the main character to just be focusing on the crush when the stakes of the plot are really high. We're also in first person POV, and the author tends to state Ellie's feelings instead of showing us, which became repetitive as the plot moved on. There were emotional scenes which fell flat because of the writing style stating the obvious regarding Ellie's feelings.
Mace, the MMC, was uncharacteristically mean to Ellie, and I don't understand the reason why. Knowing that he is from the "upper class" in this society and that Ellie isn't, I'd have expected him to have a character arc where he realizes the issues with the society and apologize. His character wasn't built out well, making him stale as well.
Plot pacing:
I found that the plot was very slow after 30%, and started picking up around 60%. We have a dystopian setting but exploring the history and the world building was done in small info dumps spaced over many pages, making the plot very slow. I really liked the history and looking at our characters' reaction to the untold stories, however the plot was too slow to build.
However, due to the interesting world building and the start of what could be a rebellion, I think that the second book might be interesting for readers who like dystopian stories.
I DNFed this book at around 70%. The main issues I had with the book were regarding character developments and plot pacing.
Character development:
Our main character, Ellie, is an extremely stale character. Throughout the first 70% most of her thoughts were just gushing over the MMC - who was also horrible to her... It just seemed very juvenile for the main character to just be focusing on the crush when the stakes of the plot are really high. We're also in first person POV, and the author tends to state Ellie's feelings instead of showing us, which became repetitive as the plot moved on. There were emotional scenes which fell flat because of the writing style stating the obvious regarding Ellie's feelings.
Mace, the MMC, was uncharacteristically mean to Ellie, and I don't understand the reason why. Knowing that he is from the "upper class" in this society and that Ellie isn't, I'd have expected him to have a character arc where he realizes the issues with the society and apologize. His character wasn't built out well, making him stale as well.
Plot pacing:
I found that the plot was very slow after 30%, and started picking up around 60%. We have a dystopian setting but exploring the history and the world building was done in small info dumps spaced over many pages, making the plot very slow. I really liked the history and looking at our characters' reaction to the untold stories, however the plot was too slow to build.
However, due to the interesting world building and the start of what could be a rebellion, I think that the second book might be interesting for readers who like dystopian stories.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ellie hasn't ever belonged anywhere. No matter where she's placed, her abilities never match up and never serve a purpose. She's thrust into one of the greatest competitions alongside the formidable Mace and other skilled warriors. Suddenly, her gravest challenge is to stay alive - and contribute to a team she is no match for.
The Golden Citadel is a futuristic, dystopian adventure in a world that worships violence. There are elements of romance, political meddling, and heaping doses of thrilling adventure as the team of highly skilled warriors attempt to win the competition and maintain control over their own destinies. There were times that it felt the magic system wasn't quite in sync with the futuristic and technological elements. And while there are some mature themes, it will lean toward a YA audience and those who enjoy non-traditional narrative styles and slow, atmospheric burns without needing an immediate, defined endgame.
The Golden Citadel is an exciting ride. It's perfect if you love atmospheric, slow-unraveling stories where the plot is a bit of a mystery and you get to piece the clues and theories together as you figure out the bigger picture. While it didn't align with my personal preferences, I think it will easily find its way into the hands of dystopian romance lovers! Thank you so much to AvonUK and Lily Inkwood for the opportunity to read and share an honest review.
The Golden Citadel is a futuristic, dystopian adventure in a world that worships violence. There are elements of romance, political meddling, and heaping doses of thrilling adventure as the team of highly skilled warriors attempt to win the competition and maintain control over their own destinies. There were times that it felt the magic system wasn't quite in sync with the futuristic and technological elements. And while there are some mature themes, it will lean toward a YA audience and those who enjoy non-traditional narrative styles and slow, atmospheric burns without needing an immediate, defined endgame.
The Golden Citadel is an exciting ride. It's perfect if you love atmospheric, slow-unraveling stories where the plot is a bit of a mystery and you get to piece the clues and theories together as you figure out the bigger picture. While it didn't align with my personal preferences, I think it will easily find its way into the hands of dystopian romance lovers! Thank you so much to AvonUK and Lily Inkwood for the opportunity to read and share an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
💜 Blurb -
We only bow to the God of War
In a citadel always at war, the strongest warriors rule. Ellie is nobody – a lowly apprentice with faded, half-useless magic. Survival is her only goal.
Until Stella, the citadel’s all-seeing governor, starts singling Ellie out for special attention: secret training, a coveted ticket to the Commander’s Ball…and dangerous proximity to Mace Hardfield, the deadliest fighter alive.
But Stella's interest isn’t about romance. There’s a secret in Ellie’s blood, one that could shatter their war-hungry world — and put Mace squarely in her path, whether as ally, rival, or something far more dangerous.
Ellie came here to survive. But she might just bring the whole world to its knees.
💙 Review -
This was such an enjoyable and action packed read. From the very first chapter I was drawn into the story and enjoyed following the characters on their journey. I loved the author's writing style and the pacing was just right. I loved the place settings in the story and there was a great cast of characters. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to One More Chapter, the author Lilly Inkwood and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
We only bow to the God of War
In a citadel always at war, the strongest warriors rule. Ellie is nobody – a lowly apprentice with faded, half-useless magic. Survival is her only goal.
Until Stella, the citadel’s all-seeing governor, starts singling Ellie out for special attention: secret training, a coveted ticket to the Commander’s Ball…and dangerous proximity to Mace Hardfield, the deadliest fighter alive.
But Stella's interest isn’t about romance. There’s a secret in Ellie’s blood, one that could shatter their war-hungry world — and put Mace squarely in her path, whether as ally, rival, or something far more dangerous.
Ellie came here to survive. But she might just bring the whole world to its knees.
💙 Review -
This was such an enjoyable and action packed read. From the very first chapter I was drawn into the story and enjoyed following the characters on their journey. I loved the author's writing style and the pacing was just right. I loved the place settings in the story and there was a great cast of characters. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to One More Chapter, the author Lilly Inkwood and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh, yikes... I thought this would be a really cool romantasy dystopian romance and maybe it would be... except for the fact that the "all-governing" body of their town is an actual AI. Her name is Stella and yes, she governs the town, and yes, she is AI. Why are we just ever so casually writing about AI running a town and governing it now? And the FMC asking the AI for reading materials, and advice, and referring to Stella as wise? I think not. Another character literally mentions that Ellie, the FMC, speaks with Stella like she is a human friend and how peculiar it is. I don't know, maybe this is meant in some way to be a cautionary tale about AI, but it didn't read that way to me - to me, it was an attempt to humanize AI and paint a picture of AI being this wonderful thing that we can integrate into society and be happy all getting along in harmony, but I don't even WANT that implication in my romance books, or any books at all for that matter. This had the potential, even with modernization, but I draw the line at AI being spun as a positive entity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I have no words to tell you how you make me feel. Like I'm finally myself. I could never be indifferent to you."
This book jumps right into the action, so for those that need more of a backstory before jumping in, keep that in mind! The magic isn't entirely unique, but it's not completely typical, either. Ellie thrust into the competition & trying to understand why and how she can be of use was a central focus. The romance also jumped from resentment/banter/flirting into a full fledged entanglement. The pacing was very fast, and I enjoyed the story overall, especially as secrets were revealed. I do think things could have possibly been a bit more fleshed out, though.
This book jumps right into the action, so for those that need more of a backstory before jumping in, keep that in mind! The magic isn't entirely unique, but it's not completely typical, either. Ellie thrust into the competition & trying to understand why and how she can be of use was a central focus. The romance also jumped from resentment/banter/flirting into a full fledged entanglement. The pacing was very fast, and I enjoyed the story overall, especially as secrets were revealed. I do think things could have possibly been a bit more fleshed out, though.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has been on my radar since I first saw it on Amazon in a random Dystopian Romance search months ago. I had desperately been trying to get a copy to read, so when One More Chapter sent out the invite to read it, I was super excited.
Unfortunately, it fell flat quickly. I couldn't connect with the characters. The story felt a tad boring, and it was so slow, only to get a random bunch of info for the characters to do nothing with.
It really felt like there were a list of features or tropes the author wanted to achieve, but none of them were well fleshed out and missed their marks.
I won't be reading book 2.
Unfortunately, it fell flat quickly. I couldn't connect with the characters. The story felt a tad boring, and it was so slow, only to get a random bunch of info for the characters to do nothing with.
It really felt like there were a list of features or tropes the author wanted to achieve, but none of them were well fleshed out and missed their marks.
I won't be reading book 2.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4✨this was such a fun book! It was a very easy read that had me entertained until the very end!
Ellie who’s been sent into a competition without any knowledge of what she’s up against. Lucky Stella a friend of Ellie has been helping her in secret train to fight. Mace was Ellie childhood friend who she’s not seen since the age of 9 he’s very much changed and yet not at all. Mace is very protective of her even though they aren’t as close as they used to be, but Ellie is determined to fight even if Mace is against it. They both have to put a lot of trust in each other as well as those on the same team in order to survive.
Thank you NetGalley & One More Chapter for the are! 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I reread the description and it didnt seem quite like what I read, like some of the details are incorrect BUT Great world building war torn dystopian setting including AI and magic where the elite Warrior class of magic reigns above all others. Its easy to get confused in fantasy worlds but found this to be easy to follow. Enjoyed the ai and hologram aspect and side quests to find more information. I definitely get the feeling there is more to the warring countries and seems like that could expand the world even more. This book ends on a big cliffhanger and I will keep an eye out for book 2.
Thank you to netgalley for this advanced copy.
Thank you to netgalley for this advanced copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of, The Golden Citadel. by Lilly Inkwood, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I dont usually read sci-fi dystopian reads, I did not realize the bad language in them. I thought this book was ok. Ellie was ok.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I kind of liked it it took me awhile to get through it but I did if u like distopion tropes then you might enjoy this
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