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Maelstra: An addictive dark romantasy of claws, crowns and forbidden desire.
She was raised to fear monsters. Then she discovered she was one. And so was the man she couldn't resist.
Nineteen-year-old duchess Yara has spent her life beneath her father’s control. When he orders her to kill a pirate, she accidentally kills her father instead...
Disinherited and hunted, she takes refuge among the people she was taught to despise. Beyond the palace, she discovers an empire built on cruelty—and a life she might finally choose for herself.
Then an attempted assault awakens something terrifying within lethal claws and a strength she cannot explain.
The monsters she grew up fearing suddenly feel much closer to home.
And then there is Toryn. Dangerous, mysterious and impossible to ignore, he draws her into a slow-burning attraction that makes her question more than everything she was taught.
As Yara searches for answers about what she is becoming, survival is no longer enough. She wants to challenge the system that stripped her of her future.
But first, she must decide what to do with the power that has made her a monster.
Maelstra begins the completed Tides of Ruin a dark romantasy of monstrous power, forbidden desire, found family and rebellion across storm-torn seas.
She was born a duchess.
The sea made her a pirate.
The curse made her a monster.
Contains graphic violence, attempted sexual assault and explicit sexual content. Please consult the content warnings at the beginning of the book.
Nineteen-year-old duchess Yara has spent her life beneath her father’s control. When he orders her to kill a pirate, she accidentally kills her father instead...
Disinherited and hunted, she takes refuge among the people she was taught to despise. Beyond the palace, she discovers an empire built on cruelty—and a life she might finally choose for herself.
Then an attempted assault awakens something terrifying within lethal claws and a strength she cannot explain.
The monsters she grew up fearing suddenly feel much closer to home.
And then there is Toryn. Dangerous, mysterious and impossible to ignore, he draws her into a slow-burning attraction that makes her question more than everything she was taught.
As Yara searches for answers about what she is becoming, survival is no longer enough. She wants to challenge the system that stripped her of her future.
But first, she must decide what to do with the power that has made her a monster.
Maelstra begins the completed Tides of Ruin a dark romantasy of monstrous power, forbidden desire, found family and rebellion across storm-torn seas.
She was born a duchess.
The sea made her a pirate.
The curse made her a monster.
Contains graphic violence, attempted sexual assault and explicit sexual content. Please consult the content warnings at the beginning of the book.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
March 4, 2026
* slight spoiler alerts
Ok I saw this online and knew I had to read it and I wasn’t wrong. I devoured this book in one sitting - it’s quite short and took an afternoon, plus I have KU. When I saw the first few pages with the hierarchy and the quote I knew there was going to be political undertones and this was more than just romance.
This book has quite a few typical fantasy tropes, powers and fated type mates (sort of, how did he know where she was?), secret identity/ myth, found family, very morally grey men after her, a badass FMC. If you enjoyed ACOTOR or Fourth Wing you’ll probably really enjoy this too. Yes, it felt familiar but honestly that was also why I liked it. It was addictive and easy to read and I couldn’t put it down - I LOVED Quillis and Afren and I’m so glad that the eleventh banner exists.
I really loved the political subplots of the border dwellers who aren’t allowed within the kingdoms, and the fact there’s a curse that Yara’s father must have known about. I thought this was a really fresh take and it was also refreshing to have a FMC who goes from being rich to poor, rather than the other way around! There were a lot of allegories for money and wealth which I enjoyed. Yara had a very cool vibe and put up with a LOT of stuff.
Toryn is my new favorite MMC. I’m literally obsessed with him. It’s clear he’s a feminist by how he treats Blackfin, and when he showed his slightly obsessive or jealous sides I was literally giggling out loud, or blushing! He was the best character hands down, even though I love his friends. I thought I liked Calix and I think he’ll be back in the next book, but then toryn landed and I was like WOAH. I’d 10/10 recommend reading it just for him.
The trigger warnings should NOT be ignored. This did remind me of Gild by Raven Kennedy and in the same way can be really dark and there are a few very graphic scenes. I also really wanted to see Calix again at the end, but I guess he’ll be in the next book!
This is an easy reading fantasy with a great romance, but the romance changes halfway. This works for the start in a series. If you’re looking for everything to happen in book 1 then you’re missing the point, this isn’t about crazy heavy world building, or being Brandon Sanderson. It’s exactly as promised, delicious pirates that I keep wanting to read more about.
Ok I saw this online and knew I had to read it and I wasn’t wrong. I devoured this book in one sitting - it’s quite short and took an afternoon, plus I have KU. When I saw the first few pages with the hierarchy and the quote I knew there was going to be political undertones and this was more than just romance.
This book has quite a few typical fantasy tropes, powers and fated type mates (sort of, how did he know where she was?), secret identity/ myth, found family, very morally grey men after her, a badass FMC. If you enjoyed ACOTOR or Fourth Wing you’ll probably really enjoy this too. Yes, it felt familiar but honestly that was also why I liked it. It was addictive and easy to read and I couldn’t put it down - I LOVED Quillis and Afren and I’m so glad that the eleventh banner exists.
I really loved the political subplots of the border dwellers who aren’t allowed within the kingdoms, and the fact there’s a curse that Yara’s father must have known about. I thought this was a really fresh take and it was also refreshing to have a FMC who goes from being rich to poor, rather than the other way around! There were a lot of allegories for money and wealth which I enjoyed. Yara had a very cool vibe and put up with a LOT of stuff.
Toryn is my new favorite MMC. I’m literally obsessed with him. It’s clear he’s a feminist by how he treats Blackfin, and when he showed his slightly obsessive or jealous sides I was literally giggling out loud, or blushing! He was the best character hands down, even though I love his friends. I thought I liked Calix and I think he’ll be back in the next book, but then toryn landed and I was like WOAH. I’d 10/10 recommend reading it just for him.
The trigger warnings should NOT be ignored. This did remind me of Gild by Raven Kennedy and in the same way can be really dark and there are a few very graphic scenes. I also really wanted to see Calix again at the end, but I guess he’ll be in the next book!
This is an easy reading fantasy with a great romance, but the romance changes halfway. This works for the start in a series. If you’re looking for everything to happen in book 1 then you’re missing the point, this isn’t about crazy heavy world building, or being Brandon Sanderson. It’s exactly as promised, delicious pirates that I keep wanting to read more about.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review