Betrothed to the Blade

by C.M. Willows

One steely pirate. One bossy princess. Two very different ideas of where this ship ought to go.


For fans of Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, and The Princess Bride comes a witty, fast-paced fantasy adventure brimming with sword fights, sky battles, and a magical world you will not want to leave.


Princess Cordetta is many things: an inventor, a magic-seer, the elder daughter of a royal family in a kingdom where elder daughters must marry before their younger sisters can even be courted. But what she refuses to be is the wife of Fitzbarton Humphreys-Humphries, a man who requires seven forks to eat breakfast and has already told her there will be no reason for any wife of his to make anything other than babies.


And so, she makes a plan, steals a flying ship, and runs.


What she does not plan for is Heath, a sword-skilled pirate who has already stolen his way aboard with a sack of suspicious weapons and a burning vendetta he refuses to explain. He needs her ship. She needs his navigational skills. Together they must outrun the Seep, a spreading magical corruption that twists forests into thorned nightmares and births monsters from its depths.


The closer they sail to the truth about Heath’s past, the more Cordetta realizes that some hunts cannot end without a cost.


BETROTHED TO THE BLADE features:


A clever, fiercely independent heroine who builds her own weapons and dislikes being rescued but won’t turn it down



A brooding, battle-scarred hero whose sharp edges soften in all the right places



Epic monster fights, high-stakes aerial battles, and a glittering masquerade ball


A reluctant alliance that becomes something far more complicated



A lovable creature named Bones who steals every scene she appears in (or at least, tries to take a bite)



A richly imagined world of Moonjade magic, Seep-horrors, and sky-sailing adventure



Perfect for readers who love:

Perfect for readers who love pirates and princesses, ancient magic and new inventions, heroes who protect with their lives, and stories where the banter is as sharp as the swords and the stakes are as high as the sky.

Betrothed to the Blade is the first book in The Betrothed Saga.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adventure, Pirates

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2026

About the author

C.M. Willows is a team of three swashbuckling friends based in Michigan who share one name and one obsession: pirate fantasy that keeps readers awake past their bedtimes. When they aren't arguing over late-night texts about character arcs or brewing their tenth pot of coffee, they are plotting their next high-seas heist. Join the crew and read the first chapters of their newest Fantasy, Betrothed to the Blade, at cmwillows.com

Reviews

[TheAmyrlinSofaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Flying ships? Sky pirates? An inventor princess on the run to avoid marriage?
This book has all the things I love and enjoy.

The worldbuilding is very unique and the magic system is inventive. This was the best part of the book for me even though I would have liked more depth to it. I love the use of magical gadgets and I feel like this could have been utilized even more.

The romance and the banter swing between fun and annoying for me. There are moments of great chemistry and believable attraction but just as much moments where Cordetta and Heath are rather unlikeable. They never seem to have any respect for each other, their skills and their individual knowledge.

About halfway there is the sudden introduction of several side characters in an attempt at found family. I feel that those characters miss substance and could have had more backstory.

I had a fun time with this book but it needs some polishing.

(Bones/Lady Goggles is the best)

[Alyssa Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I have to give this book only 3 stars - it's sound, but it was a frustrating read.

The delivery on the premise is pretty good - guy tries to steal ship, girl also tries to steal ship, they get roped into an adventure together. Unfortunately, Cordetta's bossy attitude paired with her sheltered history made her a bit of a frustrating POV character, especially after some life-changing events that I would kind of expect to shake her out of her condescending attitude at least a little. Heath is a much more interesting character, though the most interesting part of his story isn't revealed until about halfway through the book. The last half is much stronger than the first, though I would say the whole book is splashed with purple prose that I could have done without.

The first half of the book tries to be funny, but in ways that I think would be delivered better in a visual production than textual. The comedy of the restaurant scene I thought was more confusing than hilarious, but on screen probably would have killed it. The second half of the book settles into a stronger, more adventure-focused story that was a more engaging read with good and quick pacing as the action picks up. The romance also is a little odd in the beginning - they're clearly physically attracted to each other, but their sniping back and forth doesn't feel like banter. That does shift more in the back half to something that feels more natural and reasonable, though the actual romantic moments are fewer and farther between (for plot reasons).

I think the world was interesting - the magic of individuals, the Seep, the Quiet One, and the Stoneman all had my attention, and I think Heath was an engaging character in the way he intersected with most of those things. The book has some good bones, and clearly comes from people who love storytelling - there were just some things where it felt a lot less organic of a story and a little forced, or things that were left out until later but had no foreshadowing that would make it feel like a natural reveal.

I do hope the authors continue to write - they've got good bones here to work with, and more in the world could get me interested again, and maybe Cordetta will even out a little in book 2.

[Keelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second half of the book really carried it, because while I found the premise of the book (Princess running away from an arranged marriage ends up on a flying ship with a pirate) interesting from the start, I didn't much care for either Cordetta and Heath. Both characters were rather annoying. I do believe this was intentional to some degree, to show how each character found the other annoying or simply couldn't understand them and they needed to find their equilibrum with their new association. Which is great, except since they were our view point characters and the only characters really of note, it was a struggle. Additionally, the characters' goals were either unclear or they weren't really doing anything to work toward their goals which made it hard to be interest in what they were doing.

As such, the beginning of the book took a while to get through and there were times I considered putting it down and reading something else.

In the end though, I'm very glad I didn't, because the second half of the book was an absolute delight. Cordetta and Heath stopped annoying one another so much, so they became less annoying to me as the reader; plus, we got a few more characters on our ship and expanding the crew made things more enjoyable. Heath's character and motivations became clearer which made him a more compelling character. The plot got rolling and stakes got raised which made me much more invested in everything. We got plenty of learning experiences - Cordetta's realization about her sister with especially poignant.

And by the end of the story was more than ready to jump on another ship with these characters and see where they take me next. And I'd definitely encourage others to give it a read all the way through.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

📝 ARC Review: Overall I enjoyed this series starter. I think it’s cool that the author is actually three friends who are co-writers.

Princess Cordetta is running out on her fiancé. She steals aboard her sister’s flying ship and takes off with who she assumes is one of the crew. But Heath is also escaping and not at all who she assumes him to be.

I really liked Heath, although I wish he’d been more upfront and honest with Cordetta a lot sooner in the story. Cordetta… I still have very mixed feelings about her. She was a smart girl with the inventions she created, but rather naive about many things, and her prideful arrogance showed through quite often. As to be expected with royalty I guess, but it grew very frustrating that she still refused to listen to someone with more common sense, even after repeatedly being shown the errors of her uppity judgements. The found family vibe was attempted but fell kinda flat for me… I really wanted more depth and background for the characters overall.

This was definitely an adventurous read, loved the flying ship aspect! There were dark parts to the story and numerous graphic battle scenes, but it was still fun and didn’t really get angsty until the last quarter.

Genre: Romantasy
Series: The Betrothed Saga, Book 1
POV: Third Person; Dual
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ 1.5/5
Release Date: June 15, 2026

Vibes: Epic adventure with gory battles and a slow burn romance.

Tropes 👇

- Slow burn
- Opposites attract
- Forced proximity
- Nerdy/creative, Princess FMC
- Pirate/sailor MMC
- Flying ship
- Dark magic
- Good vs evil
- Rescue mission & various quests

CW’s 👇

- Killing of infected creatures
- Very graphic battle scenes
- Severe bodily injury in a sword fight
- Family turning on family
- Abduction/held captive

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Madison Belk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved fantasy books, especially when there’s romance- who doesn’t- but I need it to be a little realistic too like it’s not just obvious and easy. With this story I was hooked by the gut from the first half page I read. I don’t remember the last time I read a book where the author used such witty and hilariously sardonic language that just flowed off the tongue. The characters’ personality and thoughts were so easily entwined with the authors writing and I was SO intrigued!! I ate this story up in a week tops and just started re-reading it. The description of the scenario was also phenomenal- I could so easily picture the ship, the ball rooms, elegant restaurant, and mysterious “seep”. ALSO- the ingenuity of creating another world with concepts of “deep drinker engines”, various gadgets, and magical powers was so fresh and fun and lacked the desperation of over explanation— we are thrown into the action of the main plot, intimately introduced to the main character’s inner world and desires (and lack of desires regarding boring suitors) from the start. I HATED having responsibilities to get to during my day because I just wanted to stay in this world. One last thing- the romance development seemed raw, natural, and so warm. I got addicted to it and felt sooo emotionally involved too. The only time it frustrated me was BECAUSE I was so invested and hated, as a reader, seeing these characters’ own pride get in the way of their love together- which is GENIUS on the authors’ part. I absolutely suggest everyone gives this novel their time and potentially their tears. I am currently in withdrawals and am so invested for the rest of the saga!!

[Tracy Emro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Princess Cordetta’s father has decided that it is time for her to marry and has chosen Fitzbarton Humphreys-Humphries as her groom. Cordetta has a talent for inventing and knows that marriage to Fitzbarton will crush her, so after a lifetime of rules and expectations, she is taking matters into her own hands and will follow her own path. She decides to steal her sister’s flying ship to make her escape, but finds the ship already occupied. Heath is a pirate with his own secrets and is driven by revenge. He has a plan, but traveling with an entitled princess wasn’t part of it. They set off and pulled into the threat of the Seep, a magical corruption that twists the land and creates dangerous creatures.

I was so excited for this book, but sadly this story just didn’t work for me. The writing felt wordy, and the slow pace made it hard for me to stay interested in the book and I found myself skimming just to finish. I also think the world building could have been better, there were interesting aspects to the story, but unfortunately, it never felt fully developed, additionally, the magic system and the “Seep” really needed more explanation, and the romance was lacking. Overall, the story had promise, but in the end, it just didn’t deliver the story I was hoping for. This is the first book in a series, but it is not a book I would read again or a series I am interested in continuing.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Stephanie Toedter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betrothed to the Blade was creatively written fantasy. The dark magic of the Seep makes its way in to the beauty of the towns and brings in creepy creatures to take over. Heath vows to bring vengeance to the Stoneman and steals a flying ship to start the conquest. Princess Cordetta is running away from a Royal life that her parents have planned out for her, and jumps on the flying ship thinking she is getting away with a Royal Pilot, but quickly finds out that Heath is a thief and not at all what she thought.
I felt the start of the story spent a lot of time explaining really small details, and it wasn’t until after the first 100 pages we got to learning what was next after stealing the ship to start the war against the Seep and the Stoneman. The story focused a lot on Cordetta, and she was a hard character to like as she wanted to still be treated like a royal, and yet she just ran away from that life. I immediately liked Heath and his sarcastic and funny comments.
Once the story picked up and you learned that Heath stole the flying boat to stop the Stoneman, it became a page turner. I was hooked to read what happened next. While the end of the book had a “ending” you also know there will be next step in Heath and Cordetta’s adventure. I look forward to the next in the saga, and I really hope we learn more about the magic of the Seep and what the plan is to try and stop it from spreading.

[Emma Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, I love the cover and the illustrations/doodles at the start of each chapter.

Plot wise, everything moved at a good pace, and I was reasonably hooked from the start, the action of the book was very good, and I really enjoyed the flying ship and Arial battles aspects of the book, the seep was quite an original concept as well, especially with the seep stone, creating a creepy, magical atmosphere, however I would have loved to hear more about the magic system of the book.

I did struggle at times with the romance, Cordetta and Heath both had moments that were very arrogant sprinkled through the book and could be a bit grating, at times, making it a bit hard to root for them as I couldn't really see when they started liking each other. However they were also hilariously frank at times, and the banter is genuinely hilarious, there was a scene I loved when Heath buys a pladdy, which is a small animal found in the seep, Cordetta asks don't they need to buy it food and Heath says it will be feeding them, implying he will kill it, outraged Cordetta refuses saying she like the pladdy. She dies win the argument, keeping Bones/Lady Goggles, as a pet.

Overall this was a solid read, 3.5 stars, fast paced plot, funny moments and intruiging idea

[Bashby 🥀 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A solid 2 star romantasy.

First and foremost, love the cover and the chapter doodles, they're so cute and I found myself looking forward to them.

As for the story, it took a while to grasp my attention. I struggled to get into the book and really love to read it. Although, when the side characters got introduced, I found that I actually began to enjoy it more.

As for the action/fight scenes, I did not like them. They were confusing and felt completely random. Overall, I found myself waiting for them to be over to continue on with the story.

The small amount of romance was okay, the best thing was Heath showing up in her classroom at the end Overall felt like Heath and Cordetta should have had more depth into their relationship and falling for each other.

It was an okay book. I can see the appeal, unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

[Sonnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.*

Princess Cordetta is not your usual princess. She's actually determined to be an inventor, and so, to avoid a marriage of inconvenience (for her), she makes a run for it in her sister's flying ship. Of course, she doesn't realize that Heath, a recently escaped pirate, is already in the middle of stealing the ship when she boards. Between her engine skills and his experience as a pilot, they must work together to reach their goals. Soon they discover they need each other for more than just practical reasons.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a light romantasy with intrigue and adventure and a healthy dose of humor. The characters are likeable and interesting. While the characters could have a little more depth (particularly the side characters), this is likely something that will be expanded on in the sequel(s). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. A fantasy quest story with humour and inventive magical engineering.

Princess Cordetta can see how magic works, and from this makes magical gadgets galore. Her parents don’t see this as a good thing. They want her married off, to an oaf. Cordetta rebels and escapes, runs off stealing her sister’s airship and collecting Heath.

Pirate, sword wielding Heath is on the other hand running towards something from his past.

Together they have of finding what they are each searching for. That is, if they can get past their bickering and maybe find the time for kiss, or maybe two.

This is a whole story but there are more instalments to come.

Thank you to Sequoia and Oak LLC and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Aja Morissey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is sadly a DNF. I won this book thanks to GoodReads, and I really wanted to like it, however I just couldn't make myself continue.

The writing is weirdly stilted. It felt like I was simultaneously in the characters minds and outside of them? I don't quite know how to put it, but it made it hard to become invested in the story. The characters themselves felt flat and deeply unlikeable without having much chemistry, in my opinion. They hated each other and then it felt like suddenly, we are cool with each other and making out. The premise was so interesting and had so much potential, but this one just couldn't keep me interested enough to finish the book. I got about halfway through and gave it up for something way more interesting.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really glad I won this as a Goodreads Giveaway, because the worldbuilding here is genuinely unique. The author’s magical system is clever, well‑structured, and immediately intriguing — the kind of foundation that makes you want to keep reading just to see how it all unfolds.

The first half of the book is full of sharp humor and lively banter, and those moments were easily my favorite. I did find myself wishing the second half carried the same depth and emotional weight. The story’s potential is strong, but the character development and thematic layers didn’t quite match the energy of the opening chapters.

Still, this is an imaginative fantasy with a fresh magic system, and I’m glad I had the chance to read it.

[Agatha Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you StoryOrigin and the author for the ARC.

Finally! The Romantasy I’ve been waiting for! This actually is Romantasy, I would say exactly half romance, half fantasy! A lot of the newer Romantasy books have— and I hate to say it but— vulgar love scenes— all my opinion of course. But these love scenes felt so vulnerable, real and passionate. These two felt like two people really falling in love. And then the backdrop of the Seep/magical world made it feel like a great adventure story like the Mummy. Also the side characters like the chef Basile, were so cute and I loved the serious Valeria and her magical healing! I can’t wait for the next book!

[Nicci Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a well written, feel good, exciting read! I enjoyed the plot and all the characters. I especially liked Heath and Basile and how much humor they added to the book. The characters were relatable and funny. I liked Cordetta's personality arc and her relationships with each of the characters. There were great twists I didn't see coming and the ending was so good it felt like the end of your favorite 90s romcom!

If you like romantasy I think you'd love the plot. It has the perfect balance of romance and action. The romance and world were well developed. This is the first book l've read from this genre and I can't wait to read more.

[Jonathan Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to StoryOrigin and the author for a review copy!

I thought the cover looked cool with the sword so I gave this a try, and I really loved it. The action was awesome especially the fight scenes. Heath felt like a real guy and I liked Cordetta and Heath falling in love.

The plot had some nice twists and turns I wasn't expecting.

Had to give it five stars cause there were some really funny parts in this that had me going.

[Katelynn Cai · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very creative, fast-paced tale of a princess and a pirate. The second half of the book was captivating! I found the world itself so interesting. However, I personally like very in depth world building and I did feel like some parts of it could have been explained a bit more. The characters were a bit difficult to sympathize with and relate to in the beginning, but by the end I was flying through to find out how their story ended!

[lainey - laineysbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Cordetta and Heath’s dynamic. Even though they’re obviously irritated with one another from the start; there’s still that draw to each other from very early on. As I’m reading this is I truly think it would be a great audiobook as well.

also the chapter head sketches are super cute!

- pieates
- intelligent FMC
- bodyguard / thief MMC
- slow burn romance
- dangerous quests

I would recommend this to someone looking for a fast paced pirate adventure with a slow burn romance!!

[Megan O'Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp! A cozy, enemies to lovers, pirate versus princess tale. I laughed a lot a the antics of the two main characters passive aggressively fighting over who stole the ship first.
After the couple consummate their relationship, in the later third of the book, they do suffer from a case of third act breakup cause by miscommunication that did take me out of the story and I struggled to get back into it.
I recommend this book for fans of cozy fantasy or cozy romance.

[Savvybookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

Betrothed to the blade was a cute fast paced, high energy, adventure following Heath and Cordette. They go on a high fantasy adventure and it was easy to get lost in this world and characters. I am interested in what comes next for these characters.

Plot 4/5
Spice .5/5

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* - Received a NetGalley ARC.

The description of the book and the cover grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, this didn't do it for me. It tends to be overly detailed in some places and that slows the pacing quite a bit. It also reads a little like a children's book at times.

This is not to say it isn't for everyone, I can see the appeal. It just wasn't for me.

[VixenLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the witty and sardonic humour. It was absolute chaos which made it a fun ride. Though the characters were imperfect, I enjoyed there being no mary sues or plot armour. It worked for them and the story and I do love rooting for the misfits of the world.

[Erika Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrothed to the Blade was a really fun and quirky read. The dynamic between Cordetta and Heath was great and their banter was top notch. I wish that we got a little bit more explanation of the magic system, but this was a unique and enjoyable read!

[ARNOLD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. The monster hunting and the Seep keep me on the edge of my seat. The relationship between Cordetta and Heath was tense, fun, and real. The engineering of her inventions was interesting and his sword fighting makes it a page turner. Great summer read.

[Danielle Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I really related to Cordetta and her personality arc, and I really liked how she was clever without being stupidly overpowered or whatever. And Heath was sooooo cool and seemed like an actual real guy!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, you could tell the author cares about writing a well structured book. The prose has a lot of style which has been missing in books these days I believe due to AI. Loved the characters and the twists!! Absolutely loved the stoneman, and Heath was sexy but still felt real.

[Reader K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love me a good pirate x princess story, so I went into this book really excited. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit the spot for me. Thank you to Goodreads and the author for the free copy I received from winning a Goodreads giveaway.
Full review and reaction notes in my IG - @itsreader.k

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun adventure story with an interesting plot. I felt that Cordetta and Heath were a bit immature and grating at times though.

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

[Hilary Mandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinda reminded me of a 90s adventure movie, a lot of fun

[Stitch Chungus · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun adventure