The Knucker King

by Alicia Dingley

Call for me, I will hear it and come to you...

The church has deemed healer Avice Gardener an outcast from her village — her strange herbs and ancient knowledge mean she is too witchy for comfort. But when a baby is born “wrong” and a second birthed with the mark of magic, Avice knows human remedies will not suffice. Instead, she takes the infants to Knucker Hill, at the entrance to the Underneath.

The dragonesque Knucker, King Trewoofe, has long watched Avice’s healing abilities from afar. For years, he has yearned for her gentle hands and kind eyes to rest on him a little longer. But when he agrees to help care for the suffering children she brings him, the church turns on them both, pouring poison into the Underneath.

Desperate to save the noble, wounded king, Avice takes Trewoofe into her home, riddled with darkness and barely clinging to life. And as the frost deepens, two hearts seek solace in one another… even as the outside world threatens to divide them forever.

Paperback

Expected publication August 14, 2026

About the author

Alicia is the single parent to one offspring.
They live together in the beautiful South West of Western Australia.
Alicia's day job is being a Laboratory Technician. When she is not working, she enjoys reading and writing fantasy.
Her other hobbies include, with offspring in tow, karate, archery, walks in the woods, and going to the beach.
She finds great inspiration in the the natural world around her.
Alicia loves myths, legends, and fairy tales, which is strongly represented in the stories she writes. Her main goal with her debut book and series is to tell stories about relatable characters – be it a 30-something plus-sized mother, a teenage girl who struggles to fit in, or a Merman who worries that he is not enough. Alicia's main hope for her readers is that they will see themselves in the characters she writes.
If you would like to support Alicia, please consider following her on social media and leaving a review for her debut novel Fae Tithe.
Instagram: @authoraliciadingley
Tiktok: @authoraliciadingley
Threads: @authoraliciadingley

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite micro trope: "You came....You called"

The Knucker King by @authoraliciadingley is a magical and whimsical dark-ish fantasy romance. The story follows Avice, a midwife, herbalist and witch. She has the sight and is able to see and speak to the "Good Neighbors" or faeries. She has a snarky familiar, Bramble, and an adorable fire sprite, Ashling. When she delivers a baby who won't survive in the above world she takes her to Trewoofe, the Knucker King, and asks him to find the baby a place in the underneath. He takes the baby and through the magic of the Underneath she is given a second chance at life. Avice and Trewoofe begin to experience romantic feelings, despite their differences. There are darker themes and elements woven throughout, but it still maintains the whimsical fantasy of a fairytale. There is lots of yearning and angst, which is my absolute favorite thing. The Knucker King is a standalone with a very satisfying HEA, I even shed a few tears. It is the first book in the Song of the Sidhe Kings series and will continue with another couple and I'm so glad I won't have to say goodbye to this world and characters, it was an amazing escape from reality

[Johnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Review of advanced copy received by author✨


The Knucker King is the first book I’ve read by Alicia Dingley and I loved it. It was fun and cozy with a spicy pay off. I loved getting to know Avice and Trewoolfe and all of the other faeries and familiars of Lamorna. The story is about trust and love, both Avice and Trewoolfe am have been through a lot and have to learn and grow to trust each other so they can finally fall in love. I really love how much Trewoolfe loves Avice cause she really deserves it and I love a man who would do anything for the woman he loves. I also love how much Avice grows throughout the whole story and how the villagers treat her through the story and how she deals with them and her own insecurities that come from that. With a

I would highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a cozy book that still has risks and stakes with a hot and spicy but also very sweet pay off then this is the book for you.

Thank you again Alicia for allowing me to have this ARC and review it 💕💕💕

[Arlo Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers and hits just right in so many ways.

Cozy vibes but with a solid bite and compelling plot, The Knucker King brings you the romance between witch Avice and Knucker (a dragon shifter river guardian) Trewoofe. Yes, the book is delightfully spiced with plenty of open-door romps, but the spice is earned, loving, and sweet. There is a catharsis to these two falling in love. Both have weathered trials and their romance is built upon trust and healing rather than hurt.

The world Dingley creates is lush and lived in. While character driven, the world around the characters is fleshed out and lovely in its imagining.

This is my first read that balances spice and cozy and I cannot recommend it highly enough. A true binge worthy delight. I cannot wait for more from this author.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this as an arc. It was such a beautiful story! The amount of knowledge and passion that has gone into it pours from the pages. At first I was intimidated a little by the length of the book at 600+ pages, but once I started reading, I didn't want it to end, and forgot about the length entirely. The discerning way Alicia has weaved some darker elements into such a whimsical, cosy and lush fairytale has you completely immersed in the depth of all the emotions, and the stakes throughout the plot feel all the more personal for each affected character. The found family element is incredibly heart-warming. Our FMC is a badass and stands on business! And our MMC is, for lack of better words, adorably smitten. I laughed, I cried, I giggled and blushed. I will be thinking about these characters for days to come.

[Lara _alittlemountainsread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alicia has done it again! This book was amazing from start to finish. Avice the midwife is such a beautiful and complex character that undergoes challenges and hardships but always does best for her community. King Treewolfe is wonderful and oh so smutty. Their relationship blooms into found family as they take on her village. Bramble and Ashling are absolute stand out characters and I spent the entire book being absolutely obsessed with them all. It’s smutty, it’s romantic, it’s beautifully written and you must read this book as it hits all the right Romantasy notes.

So grateful for receiving an ARC, thank you Alicia!

Releases 14th August so pre - order now!

Ps. I can hardly wait for book two!

[Book Club Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED!
I have never read a book and wanted to stay in it, I never wanted to leave the beautiful world that Alicia has created here. Once again Alicia smashes the world and character building in her second published novel! As a new author on the block, I highly recommend you all to do yourself a favour and read The Knucker King, because Alicia is an absolute artist! I know I've used so many exclamation marks, but it's so fitting because this story is just soooooo good and am already excited for more 😍

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read. It is a cosy, spicy romantasy with a fantastic story line, and 2 very, very good familiars!

Avice, a witch midwife, and Trewoofe, a Sidh King, jump into an investigation when 2 babies are born that are... not quite human. Alongside this Avice is also navigating her village turning more towards the "Cross God" and beginning to shun her although when they call for help she always comes. When Avice visits the Well King and asks him to take the babies so that they may have a chance at life he does so willingly, and from here their friendly relationship blossoms into something more.

Trewoofe is definitely a green flag male, and he takes "touch her and die" veery seriously. When the healing waters of the underneath become poisoned and Trewoofe absorbs it all to protect his community, Avice gives him blood so he can change into a human form so she can try to heal him. Which is also quite helpful for them a bit later on in the story 😉 🌶.

[Sami Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I have waited for you without even knowing. The piece of me that was always missing."