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Maimed
The crown is a cage, but her blade is the key.
Exodus is the Autumn Court's most lethal paradox: a prince gifted with the terrifying power of mental manipulation who craves nothing but the silence of a common life. Bound by duty and a father's cold expectations, he is prepared to marry for politics and suffer for the throne. That was the plan until he met Azalea. She was the Courtless assassin sent to end his life, yet she became the only heart he ever truly claimed. Then, without warning, he broke her.
Six years of icy silence shatters when Azalea returns to the palace. Hired by the King himself for a suicide mission to eliminate a rival monarch, she must inhabit the same halls as the man who discarded her.
The price is too high to refuse; the proximity is a torture she didn't anticipate. Azalea came for blood and gold, but as buried secrets of the Autumn Court begin to surface, she realizes the mission is a trap, and her past is a lie. In a kingdom built on deception, the most dangerous thing isn't the contract she signed, it is the man she still craves.
Betrayal has never tasted this sweet.
Exodus is the Autumn Court's most lethal paradox: a prince gifted with the terrifying power of mental manipulation who craves nothing but the silence of a common life. Bound by duty and a father's cold expectations, he is prepared to marry for politics and suffer for the throne. That was the plan until he met Azalea. She was the Courtless assassin sent to end his life, yet she became the only heart he ever truly claimed. Then, without warning, he broke her.
Six years of icy silence shatters when Azalea returns to the palace. Hired by the King himself for a suicide mission to eliminate a rival monarch, she must inhabit the same halls as the man who discarded her.
The price is too high to refuse; the proximity is a torture she didn't anticipate. Azalea came for blood and gold, but as buried secrets of the Autumn Court begin to surface, she realizes the mission is a trap, and her past is a lie. In a kingdom built on deception, the most dangerous thing isn't the contract she signed, it is the man she still craves.
Betrayal has never tasted this sweet.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2026
About the author
Avery Timmons
11 books37 followersAvery Timmons is an Illinois-based young adult author holding a Bachelor of Arts in
creative writing with a focus in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. She has had numerous speculative fiction short stories and photographs published in literary magazines and anthologies.
She is the author of young adult fantasy novels THICKER THAN WATER (2025) and MAIMED (2026).
creative writing with a focus in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. She has had numerous speculative fiction short stories and photographs published in literary magazines and anthologies.
She is the author of young adult fantasy novels THICKER THAN WATER (2025) and MAIMED (2026).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 1, 2026
If you like your romantasy dark (but not TOO dark), with morally conflicted characters, life-or-death stakes, and royal palace power struggles, then MAIMED is one you need to read!
Azalea is an assassin. She’s the best around in a dirty business. Her next assignment requires her to kill a rival king. It’s a dangerous job, maybe even a suicide mission, but one she doesn’t really have a choice on. It’s particularly awkward because taking the assignment requires her to live in the palace with Exodus, a prince of the Autum Court–and Azalea’s ex-boyfriend!
Six years earlier, Exodus broke Azalea’s heart after she trusted him. And that’s not something she takes lightly. But why did he reject her love? The reasons turn out to be surprising, as we learn more from his point of view as well as hers over the course of this well-constructed novel. The story moves at a nice pace - never slow and plodding, but also, we get time to absorb each important twist and turn.
Yes, Azalea and Exodus still have feelings for each other. But will they get back together? In addition to the love story, both find themselves in real danger from conspirators within the court. No spoilers, but there are two twists near the end that I did NOT see coming!
Author Avery Timmons had a great debut with THICKER THAN WATER, a teen drama about a vampire in college. MAIMED is a different type of book, but one every bit as strong.
Azalea is an assassin. She’s the best around in a dirty business. Her next assignment requires her to kill a rival king. It’s a dangerous job, maybe even a suicide mission, but one she doesn’t really have a choice on. It’s particularly awkward because taking the assignment requires her to live in the palace with Exodus, a prince of the Autum Court–and Azalea’s ex-boyfriend!
Six years earlier, Exodus broke Azalea’s heart after she trusted him. And that’s not something she takes lightly. But why did he reject her love? The reasons turn out to be surprising, as we learn more from his point of view as well as hers over the course of this well-constructed novel. The story moves at a nice pace - never slow and plodding, but also, we get time to absorb each important twist and turn.
Yes, Azalea and Exodus still have feelings for each other. But will they get back together? In addition to the love story, both find themselves in real danger from conspirators within the court. No spoilers, but there are two twists near the end that I did NOT see coming!
Author Avery Timmons had a great debut with THICKER THAN WATER, a teen drama about a vampire in college. MAIMED is a different type of book, but one every bit as strong.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
I really liked the dual POV and timeline so you found out what happened in the past to cause him to break her whilst also keeping up with the current going ons. Even though you were switching between the then and now it wasn’t confusing which made it a smoother read. I liked the magic system even though it was very minimal in the book and only appears a few times, would have been nice to see a bit more of this coming into play. Seemed like it was going to be a straight forward book…… until you get near the end, then it just twisted! Enjoyed the twist but at the same time it was not the ending I was expecting! Can’t say too much about the ending without giving anything away, both sad and happy at the same time about it! Overall really enjoyed the book, nice easy and quick read for me.
I really liked the dual POV and timeline so you found out what happened in the past to cause him to break her whilst also keeping up with the current going ons. Even though you were switching between the then and now it wasn’t confusing which made it a smoother read. I liked the magic system even though it was very minimal in the book and only appears a few times, would have been nice to see a bit more of this coming into play. Seemed like it was going to be a straight forward book…… until you get near the end, then it just twisted! Enjoyed the twist but at the same time it was not the ending I was expecting! Can’t say too much about the ending without giving anything away, both sad and happy at the same time about it! Overall really enjoyed the book, nice easy and quick read for me.
July 26, 2026
I loved reading this!! Duel POV with split timelines of past and present, twists and unexpected turns, heartbreak and love, this book has it all! I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole way through…. ish. Pick up this book asap for a fantasy book that holds heavy topics with levity and understanding.
May 13, 2026
Can't wait for this one to be out in the world!
September 13, 2026
Maimed moved way too fast for me, and I spent a lot of the book feeling like I had missed part of the story! So many things happened before I really had time to care about them, and the same thing happened with the relationships. People would suddenly seem really close, and I’d be sitting there like, since when?
I just never felt like I had enough time to get attached to anyone or anything happening! I think I would have liked this a lot more if there had been more time spent on the characters and relationships. This one just ended up not for me.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!
I just never felt like I had enough time to get attached to anyone or anything happening! I think I would have liked this a lot more if there had been more time spent on the characters and relationships. This one just ended up not for me.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews