Realms of Ruin

by Nika McKinney

Lady of Darkness meets The Plated Prisoner in this seductively thrilling fantasy romance.Vengeance is the game. Betrayal sparks the truce. The one thing they didn't count Desire doesn't play by their rules.

Twenty-six-year-old Ruin Vespera was supposed to become one of the king’s elite dreki, a trade that guarantees untold power beyond the magic you were born with. In the realm where darkness spreads, she has honed herself to be Haluma’s deadliest spy in an effort to secure her place. Her desire to avenge her parents fuels her efforts.

But when you’re the last person in the King’s order to be offered the coveted dreki invite, death looms in every shadow. Because the King doesn’t waste magic. He drains it.

With her entire future at stake, she makes a drastic bargain with the one man she’s been hunting- the elusively dangerous rebellion general Dominus Zarek.

When shocking orders from her beloved king force Ruin to reexamine the world she thought she knew, she sees Dominus and his desperate cause with new eyes.

Maybe the key to avenging her parents is the exact opposite of everything she's been working for all along.
And the monsters she's uncovered won't let her go without a fight.

The hunter is now the hunted.

She should have been the general's executioner. Instead, she's his, and the realms', only hope. Yet with every day that passes, their alliance, like the veil over the land, deepens. But to choose each other, they'll have to betray everything they've ever fought for.

And falling in love might cost them both their realms.


Dive into realms of deadly adventure, lust-inducing tonics, and dangerous attraction with Realms of Ruin, the first in the captivating Astrals and Nokts Series. Meet the mysterious rebel general and his enthralling spy on Kindle Unlimited today!

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Cassandra K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Help, I can’t get this book out of my mind! Your next slow burn, high stakes romantasy obsession just entered the chat, and i’m so excited to gush to you about it.

Realms of Ruin by Nika McKinney was an epic fantasy romance adventure following 26 year old Ruin Vespera on her quest to become one of the King’s elite dreki. When she collides with Dominus Zarek, the leader of the rebellion, a bargain is made.

We join Ruin and Dom on their journey that features lust-inducing tonics, an epic magic system, wound tending, dangerous attraction, found family, mental health rep, and heaps of political intrigue!

The banter made me blush and swoon!
AHHH, so good. And this is a TRUE slow burn. A lot is going on outside of the relationship, so the way it blossoms feels so natural and un-rushed. We’re gifted so many beautiful & ridiculously romantic moments with these characters!

I am so flipping unwell after that ending, and my heart needs more!

I am such a fan and I can’t wait to see what Nika has in store for us next.

Tropes:

-MMC with metal AND shadow magic
-Water wielding fmc (who can't swim)
-She's a spy, he's the leader of the rebellion
-Only one cage
-Wound tending
-Forbidden
-Political intrigue

[Esther Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realms of ruin is an exciting journey centered around loss, growth, trauma and healing. If you enjoy witty banter and creative spins on the best tropes, you’ll love this book! I thoroughly enjoyed the magic system and fantastical world portrayed, as well as the quirky personality traits and relatable relationships. Side note: cherry candy will now always remind me of Ruin. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these characters in book 2!

[Hollie Schattel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling. I could not put it down. The author holds character development and plot development in perfect tandem. The themes of trauma and healing are so relatable and really do speak to the depths of a person.