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The Truth-Teller's Bargain: The Oracle's Duet Part One
She cannot lie. He refuses to kneel.
Alethea has never been free.
Born an Oracle with the power to speak undeniable truth, she has spent her life trapped in a gilded cage — her gift wielded by her mother, the ruthless Queen of Lenorea, to silence dissent and tighten her grip on the throne.
When Alethea speaks a prophecy that threatens the crown itself, escape becomes her only chance at survival.
But freedom has a price.
Fleeing the palace, she falls right into the hands of Nakir Hasan, the cursed and exiled heir leading the rebellion against Lenorea's rule. He expects a loyal weapon of the queen — another tool of the throne.
Instead he finds a young woman desperate to escape the very power she was forced to serve.
So they strike a bargain.
Alethea will help him reclaim the crown. In return, Nakir will grant her the freedom she was never allowed.
Yet as war looms and prophecy begins tightening its grip on the future, their uneasy alliance shifts into something far more dangerous — and their unlikely pull to each other grows stronger with every step toward war.
Because the closer Alethea gets to freedom, the harder it becomes to walk away from the man who promised it.
And when prophecy demands its price, she may have to choose between the future of a kingdom and the freedom she has fought her entire life to claim. Because the greatest threat to their bargain may not be the prophecy Alethea spoke . . . but the freedom she seeks, and what — or who — it will cost her to claim it.
Perfect for readers who
enemies-to-lovers tensionmorally gray rebel leadersdangerous bargainsfound familyprophecy and fateslow-burn romantasyepic fantasy rebellionsThe Truth-Teller's Bargain is the first book in The Oracle's Duet, set in the sweeping romantasy world of The Songs of Senmarria.
Alethea has never been free.
Born an Oracle with the power to speak undeniable truth, she has spent her life trapped in a gilded cage — her gift wielded by her mother, the ruthless Queen of Lenorea, to silence dissent and tighten her grip on the throne.
When Alethea speaks a prophecy that threatens the crown itself, escape becomes her only chance at survival.
But freedom has a price.
Fleeing the palace, she falls right into the hands of Nakir Hasan, the cursed and exiled heir leading the rebellion against Lenorea's rule. He expects a loyal weapon of the queen — another tool of the throne.
Instead he finds a young woman desperate to escape the very power she was forced to serve.
So they strike a bargain.
Alethea will help him reclaim the crown. In return, Nakir will grant her the freedom she was never allowed.
Yet as war looms and prophecy begins tightening its grip on the future, their uneasy alliance shifts into something far more dangerous — and their unlikely pull to each other grows stronger with every step toward war.
Because the closer Alethea gets to freedom, the harder it becomes to walk away from the man who promised it.
And when prophecy demands its price, she may have to choose between the future of a kingdom and the freedom she has fought her entire life to claim. Because the greatest threat to their bargain may not be the prophecy Alethea spoke . . . but the freedom she seeks, and what — or who — it will cost her to claim it.
Perfect for readers who
enemies-to-lovers tensionmorally gray rebel leadersdangerous bargainsfound familyprophecy and fateslow-burn romantasyepic fantasy rebellionsThe Truth-Teller's Bargain is the first book in The Oracle's Duet, set in the sweeping romantasy world of The Songs of Senmarria.
390 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
May 8, 2026
4.5 stars
I adored this book very much! It was a beautiful story with lovable (and hate-able) characters, self discovery, found family, and just the right about of angst!
This was a very ‘easy’ read! While it didn’t take a ton of brain power to read, it was quite nice to read a romantasy novel that was very easy to understand without compromising everything you love about Romantasy!
I wish we could have had more time with the side characters as I found I really loved all of them, just another reason I’m excited for book two!
I adored this book very much! It was a beautiful story with lovable (and hate-able) characters, self discovery, found family, and just the right about of angst!
This was a very ‘easy’ read! While it didn’t take a ton of brain power to read, it was quite nice to read a romantasy novel that was very easy to understand without compromising everything you love about Romantasy!
I wish we could have had more time with the side characters as I found I really loved all of them, just another reason I’m excited for book two!
July 7, 2026
In a world full of magic, an Oracle's powerful blessing comes with a powerful curse. Alethea Onasis is cursed to be the Truth-Teller and cannot lie. When she escapes the castle and her mother's harsh grasp, Alethea runs directly into the path of Nakir Hasan, the prince in exile, and must take charge of her own destiny.
Overall, I really enjoyed this epic romantsy (it was a 4.5, rounded up for Goodreads). What stood out to me is that at the start of The Truth-Teller's Bargain, Alethea is a young woman who is consistently told she has one purpose: to use her magic to help her mother retain the throne. While Prince Nakir is totally swoon-worthy and the slow-burn romance is definitely worth the payoff, I loved seeing her find a circle of friends who see how strong she truly is and want her to choose herself over everything.
I liked that Althea was an Oracle and her magic revolved around prophecies. So often, Oracles are side characters the main characters visit along their quest. I am so curious to see how her magic continues to change as she learns how to hone it.
While book one left me with questions (like what is Roman's deal?), they were the good kind of questions that have me eagerly awaiting book two!
- - -
I received an advance copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Overall, I really enjoyed this epic romantsy (it was a 4.5, rounded up for Goodreads). What stood out to me is that at the start of The Truth-Teller's Bargain, Alethea is a young woman who is consistently told she has one purpose: to use her magic to help her mother retain the throne. While Prince Nakir is totally swoon-worthy and the slow-burn romance is definitely worth the payoff, I loved seeing her find a circle of friends who see how strong she truly is and want her to choose herself over everything.
I liked that Althea was an Oracle and her magic revolved around prophecies. So often, Oracles are side characters the main characters visit along their quest. I am so curious to see how her magic continues to change as she learns how to hone it.
While book one left me with questions (like what is Roman's deal?), they were the good kind of questions that have me eagerly awaiting book two!
- - -
I received an advance copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
the beginning of the book intrigued me and overall it was very easy to read, but i couldn’t get invested in alethea’s and nakir’s relationship. this book is marketed as a slow burn and enemies to allies and i feel it is neither of these. it really had good potential to be a slow burn but they’d already given in before 50%. i like my slow burns to start paying off by 70% minimum but there was no tension between them. i’m sorry but you can’t say you’re falling in love with someone but also admit at the same time that you barely know each other.
there was also a lack of world building and exploration of the magic system could have been more detailed. i also felt like there was a lack of plot: there was no plot twists or high stakes and the ending did not give me the cliffhanger i’d need to read book 2.
thank you to the author for the e-arc but sadly this book wasn’t for me.
there was also a lack of world building and exploration of the magic system could have been more detailed. i also felt like there was a lack of plot: there was no plot twists or high stakes and the ending did not give me the cliffhanger i’d need to read book 2.
thank you to the author for the e-arc but sadly this book wasn’t for me.
June 6, 2026
First, I want to say a huge thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this story as an ARC in exchange for my review!
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The FMC and the MMC are both older (26 and 33) and truthfully, this is such a breath of fresh air. I felt very attached to this story very quickly due to the abuse and toxicity within the mother / daughter storyline & unfortunately relate to it a bit too much. Our MMC is quite literally the biggest green flag book boyfriend I’ve ever read about. Nakir (MMC) is the leader of a rebellious group and he has his immediate circle - called the dark court - and it’s giving me inner circle vibes from ACOTAR (in a good way!).
Personally, I am someone who stops my reading at the end of the chapters and these chapters are SO long. There was several times I had to put it down in the middle of a chapter and I really cannot stand that but that’s just a personal preference.
The story itself moves along at a good pace. There’s some brilliant yearning and tension between our FMC and MMC, however I have some issues. While slow and steady can win the race, I feel like nothing major happened throughout the entire story (no plot twists, no unexpected moments IMO) and the few things that could have been bigger, were resolved very quickly. Don’t get me wrong, I like the story and the characters, however it just seems to fall flat for me in the sense that it’s just…going? There’s no real ups and downs.
The last 5-10% of the story ramped up quite a bit and it had my wishing there was more of these moments throughout but the way this story concluded has me curious to see what happens to Thea, Nakir and their friends in the next book.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The FMC and the MMC are both older (26 and 33) and truthfully, this is such a breath of fresh air. I felt very attached to this story very quickly due to the abuse and toxicity within the mother / daughter storyline & unfortunately relate to it a bit too much. Our MMC is quite literally the biggest green flag book boyfriend I’ve ever read about. Nakir (MMC) is the leader of a rebellious group and he has his immediate circle - called the dark court - and it’s giving me inner circle vibes from ACOTAR (in a good way!).
Personally, I am someone who stops my reading at the end of the chapters and these chapters are SO long. There was several times I had to put it down in the middle of a chapter and I really cannot stand that but that’s just a personal preference.
The story itself moves along at a good pace. There’s some brilliant yearning and tension between our FMC and MMC, however I have some issues. While slow and steady can win the race, I feel like nothing major happened throughout the entire story (no plot twists, no unexpected moments IMO) and the few things that could have been bigger, were resolved very quickly. Don’t get me wrong, I like the story and the characters, however it just seems to fall flat for me in the sense that it’s just…going? There’s no real ups and downs.
The last 5-10% of the story ramped up quite a bit and it had my wishing there was more of these moments throughout but the way this story concluded has me curious to see what happens to Thea, Nakir and their friends in the next book.
June 8, 2026
Review to come…
May 24, 2026
Full Review Pending - but the short version is that I need everyone to read this.
May 24, 2026
This is my ARC review of The Truth-Teller’s Bargain. Thank you to the author, Camille Wolfewood, for giving me the opportunity to read this advance copy and give my honest thoughts.
Princess Alethea is a prisoner, an Oracle unable to tell a lie. After she tells a prophesy that puts the kingdom in jeopardy, her mother, Queen Zenobia Onasis, keeps Alethea held in the castle and uses her power for her own gain, not caring what it costs Alethea in the process. When Alethea see the chance to escape the castle, even for a few moments, things go awry, and she is found and kidnapped by Nakir Hasan, feared leader of the rebellion to overthrow her mother. Finding that Nakir isn’t the monster all the rumors portray him as, she sees an opportunity to aid in his quest to take the throne, the throne that was taken from his family years ago.
Alethea isn’t a battle-hardened warrior princess. She has a soft heart and a yearning to love and be loved. She has few fond memories of her father, but that is the extent of any sort of love she’s been shown. She’s been brainwashed by her despicable mother, that anything bad that happens comes from her, and she is undeserving of anything good in her life. Nakir is a commanding presence throughout, and he is a warrior. But I loved seeing the soft side when connecting with Alethea. He understood her so well, treated her with compassion, and that was so hard to wrap her head around. The way their relationship develops is so beautiful. There weren’t a lot of spicy scenes, but the ones that were there were hot! And I love that she eventually finds family with those members of the rebellion closest to Nakir. They, too, are nothing like she expected, and she develops true friendships with them.
I highly recommend The Truth-Teller’s Bargain to anyone who loves Romantasy or Romantic Fantasy!
Princess Alethea is a prisoner, an Oracle unable to tell a lie. After she tells a prophesy that puts the kingdom in jeopardy, her mother, Queen Zenobia Onasis, keeps Alethea held in the castle and uses her power for her own gain, not caring what it costs Alethea in the process. When Alethea see the chance to escape the castle, even for a few moments, things go awry, and she is found and kidnapped by Nakir Hasan, feared leader of the rebellion to overthrow her mother. Finding that Nakir isn’t the monster all the rumors portray him as, she sees an opportunity to aid in his quest to take the throne, the throne that was taken from his family years ago.
Alethea isn’t a battle-hardened warrior princess. She has a soft heart and a yearning to love and be loved. She has few fond memories of her father, but that is the extent of any sort of love she’s been shown. She’s been brainwashed by her despicable mother, that anything bad that happens comes from her, and she is undeserving of anything good in her life. Nakir is a commanding presence throughout, and he is a warrior. But I loved seeing the soft side when connecting with Alethea. He understood her so well, treated her with compassion, and that was so hard to wrap her head around. The way their relationship develops is so beautiful. There weren’t a lot of spicy scenes, but the ones that were there were hot! And I love that she eventually finds family with those members of the rebellion closest to Nakir. They, too, are nothing like she expected, and she develops true friendships with them.
I highly recommend The Truth-Teller’s Bargain to anyone who loves Romantasy or Romantic Fantasy!
June 27, 2026
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book turned out to be exactly the kind of romantasy book I love. Tons of adventure, one clear villain, two unlikely MCs who come together under tenuous circumstances, and side characters that have potential. It is truly a 'danger lurks everywhere, trust no one' type of vibe. It was fast-paced and ended on a cliffhanger, but it was done so well. I'm so invested and can't wait for book 2 to come out.
Totally recommend if you're into enemies to lovers (true political enemies but that changes soon), slow burn, he falls first and hard, and opposites attract with an MMC who knows what he wants and is fighting for it vs. an FMC who's lived a tortured, sheltered life as everyone's pawn.
Note: Thank you to the author for sharing this ARC with me.
This book turned out to be exactly the kind of romantasy book I love. Tons of adventure, one clear villain, two unlikely MCs who come together under tenuous circumstances, and side characters that have potential. It is truly a 'danger lurks everywhere, trust no one' type of vibe. It was fast-paced and ended on a cliffhanger, but it was done so well. I'm so invested and can't wait for book 2 to come out.
Totally recommend if you're into enemies to lovers (true political enemies but that changes soon), slow burn, he falls first and hard, and opposites attract with an MMC who knows what he wants and is fighting for it vs. an FMC who's lived a tortured, sheltered life as everyone's pawn.
Note: Thank you to the author for sharing this ARC with me.
June 14, 2026
4.5 stars.
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this book! All my opinions and thoughts are my honest and genuine ones!
Oh wow this book was so interesting!! I really liked the character descriptions in this book! They was vivid and easy to understand! My absolute favourite character was the MMC, Nakir. Yum hello mister green flag🙂↕️👏🏻 he’s now in my top list of favourite MMC of all time🫶🏻 the plot was really interesting as well and was filled with prophecy, scheming and following our FMC, Alethea, in her discovery of a new perspective of life. I really liked her character development throughout the book and to see that she wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes and fumbled but she always tried her best. I flew through the book and I can’t wait for book two!! I NEED it right now please😭🫶🏻👏🏻
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this book! All my opinions and thoughts are my honest and genuine ones!
Oh wow this book was so interesting!! I really liked the character descriptions in this book! They was vivid and easy to understand! My absolute favourite character was the MMC, Nakir. Yum hello mister green flag🙂↕️👏🏻 he’s now in my top list of favourite MMC of all time🫶🏻 the plot was really interesting as well and was filled with prophecy, scheming and following our FMC, Alethea, in her discovery of a new perspective of life. I really liked her character development throughout the book and to see that she wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes and fumbled but she always tried her best. I flew through the book and I can’t wait for book two!! I NEED it right now please😭🫶🏻👏🏻
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thankyou Camille for the ARC!
The more I kept reading, the more I got sucked into the story!
💙 Found family
💙Slow burn (ish, more like cautious attraction at first)
💙 Interesting magic system
Two reluctant allies fighting to get rid of the Crimson Queen and restore the rightful heir to the throne.
Alethea is different from FMC I usually read but i thought she was really well done. For a princess who was being so sheltered and never having learned to fight, she makes up for it in trying to find her strength in her oracle powers and her own mind.
Nakir was dreamy and him struggling with not having magic anymore is such a unique plot for a magic system to me. I can’t wait to see how him and Alethea are going to be in the second book.
And ofcourse their found family was so wholesome. Sure there will be bickering, but they will go through fire for the other. They have my heart.
And I would like book two right now 🥹
The more I kept reading, the more I got sucked into the story!
💙 Found family
💙Slow burn (ish, more like cautious attraction at first)
💙 Interesting magic system
Two reluctant allies fighting to get rid of the Crimson Queen and restore the rightful heir to the throne.
Alethea is different from FMC I usually read but i thought she was really well done. For a princess who was being so sheltered and never having learned to fight, she makes up for it in trying to find her strength in her oracle powers and her own mind.
Nakir was dreamy and him struggling with not having magic anymore is such a unique plot for a magic system to me. I can’t wait to see how him and Alethea are going to be in the second book.
And ofcourse their found family was so wholesome. Sure there will be bickering, but they will go through fire for the other. They have my heart.
And I would like book two right now 🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2026
ARC REVIEW
First off. The MMC has horns. 😏
I absolutely ate this book UPP omg!! The plot was fast paced, I had my kindle clued to my side non stop while reading this. I read it in 24 hours it was so good. I adore the FMCs story, the ending had my heart beating out of my entire chest lol. The MMC would literally kill anyone that even looked at her wrong, ugh I love him. Yup yup this book is ITTTT.
First off. The MMC has horns. 😏
I absolutely ate this book UPP omg!! The plot was fast paced, I had my kindle clued to my side non stop while reading this. I read it in 24 hours it was so good. I adore the FMCs story, the ending had my heart beating out of my entire chest lol. The MMC would literally kill anyone that even looked at her wrong, ugh I love him. Yup yup this book is ITTTT.
July 6, 2026
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 2.75 🌶️🌶️
“For the soft girls—may you never be convinced that tenderness is weakness, or that survival requires a blade.” This dedication 🥹.
I need the second book asap. I turned to the next page, saw it was the end of the book, and thought “there’s no way that’s the end.” I was invested from the very beginning. There’s just something about it that reels you in immediately. It’s an easy read that 100% delivers on everything.
I also really enjoyed the magic system and the characters. The fact you could die if you tap too far into your powers? Alethea is lucky she never burned out with how her mother forces her to use them 🫣. Nakir, the MMC, is such a green flag, and it’s really refreshing.
I can’t wait to continue the story and I’m SO glad the next book is coming this fall!
“I want you. Not because you’re an Oracle. Not because of some fucking prophecy. I want you because of your bravery and your heart.”
Spice: 2.75 🌶️🌶️
“For the soft girls—may you never be convinced that tenderness is weakness, or that survival requires a blade.” This dedication 🥹.
I need the second book asap. I turned to the next page, saw it was the end of the book, and thought “there’s no way that’s the end.” I was invested from the very beginning. There’s just something about it that reels you in immediately. It’s an easy read that 100% delivers on everything.
I also really enjoyed the magic system and the characters. The fact you could die if you tap too far into your powers? Alethea is lucky she never burned out with how her mother forces her to use them 🫣. Nakir, the MMC, is such a green flag, and it’s really refreshing.
I can’t wait to continue the story and I’m SO glad the next book is coming this fall!
“I want you. Not because you’re an Oracle. Not because of some fucking prophecy. I want you because of your bravery and your heart.”
June 21, 2026
2.75 ⭐️
Thank you to Camille for allowing me to read this advance copy!
It was nice to have an FMC not 18-19 years old inexperienced snarky & powerful right out of the gate. I liked the oracle magic which is a new one for me to read from a fmc so that felt unique! The softer FMC was a nice change up! This book has a cute found family!
This was very insta love, it could have had a good enemies to lovers with a kidnapping off the start but they both just fall for each other right away and I’m not really sure why. This was not a slow burn or enemies to lovers.
I think the world building was well done so the world felt well developed but I struggled withthe plot and pacing. I struggled to connect with the main characters at times and the romance lacked depth and just miss the mark for me. The side characters definitely stole the show!
Thank you to Camille for allowing me to read this advance copy!
It was nice to have an FMC not 18-19 years old inexperienced snarky & powerful right out of the gate. I liked the oracle magic which is a new one for me to read from a fmc so that felt unique! The softer FMC was a nice change up! This book has a cute found family!
This was very insta love, it could have had a good enemies to lovers with a kidnapping off the start but they both just fall for each other right away and I’m not really sure why. This was not a slow burn or enemies to lovers.
I think the world building was well done so the world felt well developed but I struggled withthe plot and pacing. I struggled to connect with the main characters at times and the romance lacked depth and just miss the mark for me. The side characters definitely stole the show!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book. ❤️👏
Thanks to the author, I had the chance to read it before it was published. 🤍
I did have some reservations:
😳No shadow daddy
😳A soft FMC who doesn’t fight—in fact, she hates blood and aggression
😳It’s written in third person
I put it off for a long time because I felt like I was both interested and not… oh, how wrong I was.❗️
This book was one of the biggest surprises for me so far in 2026…
✅Nakir is a huge green flag. In fact, I’ve probably never read about a man who is this emotionally accessible and possesses such developed emotional intelligence.
He actually communicates; he doesn’t just growl and run away from every conversation.
If there were a convention where all the MMCs from my books were present and sat in a circle to discuss what happened to them, he would be the one leading the conversation, and even the grumpiest MMC would consider him his best friend by the end of the day.
✅Alethea, the FMC, is sweet, tender, and completely authentic.
An abused girl, kept away from the joys of life and locked away in a castle, who has multiple traumas but doesn’t whine—in fact, she’s full of empathy and wants to make amends. There was one time I thought, “Nooo, don’t do it, girl,” but otherwise I completely understood every decision she made.
Although I feel like a big warrior when I read fantasy, I KNOW that if I were in that situation, I would act exactly like her.
So she’s officially made it onto my list of best book friends.
✅As for the third-person narration, I realized halfway through that it’s entirely there to make us feel like we’re reading a piece of history.
I found it very interesting, and it really added to the reading experience.
The author’s writing style—lyrical, beautifully crafted sentences, vivid imagery, and metaphors—really appealed to me, and although English isn’t my native language, I had no trouble reading it. It was completely understandable and enjoyable.
And I’d also like to mention the 🌶️ scenes—there weren’t many, but I really liked that the lyrical writing style remained consistent here; it didn’t stray from it and didn’t become vulgar… so this was also very enjoyable, and I felt it was completely appropriate.
I recommend this to everyone—especially to the softer-taste girls, because this will be totally your genre—but particularly to the more hardcore fantasy readers, because this kind of shift in perspective will go over so well with you, just as it did with me. Hopefully 🤞
Thanks to the author, I had the chance to read it before it was published. 🤍
I did have some reservations:
😳No shadow daddy
😳A soft FMC who doesn’t fight—in fact, she hates blood and aggression
😳It’s written in third person
I put it off for a long time because I felt like I was both interested and not… oh, how wrong I was.❗️
This book was one of the biggest surprises for me so far in 2026…
✅Nakir is a huge green flag. In fact, I’ve probably never read about a man who is this emotionally accessible and possesses such developed emotional intelligence.
He actually communicates; he doesn’t just growl and run away from every conversation.
If there were a convention where all the MMCs from my books were present and sat in a circle to discuss what happened to them, he would be the one leading the conversation, and even the grumpiest MMC would consider him his best friend by the end of the day.
✅Alethea, the FMC, is sweet, tender, and completely authentic.
An abused girl, kept away from the joys of life and locked away in a castle, who has multiple traumas but doesn’t whine—in fact, she’s full of empathy and wants to make amends. There was one time I thought, “Nooo, don’t do it, girl,” but otherwise I completely understood every decision she made.
Although I feel like a big warrior when I read fantasy, I KNOW that if I were in that situation, I would act exactly like her.
So she’s officially made it onto my list of best book friends.
✅As for the third-person narration, I realized halfway through that it’s entirely there to make us feel like we’re reading a piece of history.
I found it very interesting, and it really added to the reading experience.
The author’s writing style—lyrical, beautifully crafted sentences, vivid imagery, and metaphors—really appealed to me, and although English isn’t my native language, I had no trouble reading it. It was completely understandable and enjoyable.
And I’d also like to mention the 🌶️ scenes—there weren’t many, but I really liked that the lyrical writing style remained consistent here; it didn’t stray from it and didn’t become vulgar… so this was also very enjoyable, and I felt it was completely appropriate.
I recommend this to everyone—especially to the softer-taste girls, because this will be totally your genre—but particularly to the more hardcore fantasy readers, because this kind of shift in perspective will go over so well with you, just as it did with me. Hopefully 🤞
July 6, 2026
4.5⭐️ rounded up
This book exceeded my expectations and was the perfect balance of action, romance and character development.
The Truth-Teller's Bargain by Camille Wolfewood surprised me in unexpected ways. In a sea of same in this genre, it stands a bit apart and was the breath of fresh air that I needed at this point in my reading journey.
The FMC Alethea (Thea) is not your typical tough, witty, independent, weapons-wielding main female character. She's quiet, even a bit timid, obedient, polite, has been sheltered her entire life and has no idea how to fight. Her character arc is interesting to witness throughout the book as her confidence in herself, her magical abilities and her place in the world slowly grows. She made many nonsensical decisions that frustrated me greatly, but what I enjoyed about her character was that she always admitted when she made a misstep and tried to remedy it.
Nakir is also not your typical MMC. He's fierce and formidable, but a bit of a cinnamon roll type. Though Thea and Nakir are born enemies, they each immediately seemed to have respect for the other. There's no real banter between these two but this was the breath of fresh air to me: their interactions showed maturity, respect and understanding for the role they've each had to play in life. Banter wasn't needed. Their light teasing, immediate connection and sweet interactions made this an enjoyable read.
Is this a slow burn as it has been marketed? Maybe not in the traditional sense of a slow burn. There's an immediate attraction and SOME intimacy before the 50% mark, which may lead some readers to call it "insta-love." Personally, I would have preferred more time to have been given to the development of their relationship (and deep feelings) but I felt this was a slow burn in a more nontraditional sense as much of the spice in this book is near the end.
The found family was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Nakir's friends - Balthasar, Kerrigan, Emi and Dawes - each had such memorable, loud personalities, and quickly became some of my favorite side characters. I look forward to more of their antics in book 2.
This world the author has created and the magic system is also fascinating. It's complex, layered and unusual. I can tell we've only scratched the surface of this complicated world in book one. I was intrigued by the magical academy vaguely mentioned throughout the story and hope this is something that gets explored later.
All in all, this was an enjoyable, even paced read with sharp writing. If you like stories with magical lore, memorable characters with depth, a plot that cleverly unravels as you go along and a sweet romance, you'll likely find as much to enjoy about this book as I did.
Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced reader copy of this book with me. This review is my honest opinion, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
This book exceeded my expectations and was the perfect balance of action, romance and character development.
The Truth-Teller's Bargain by Camille Wolfewood surprised me in unexpected ways. In a sea of same in this genre, it stands a bit apart and was the breath of fresh air that I needed at this point in my reading journey.
The FMC Alethea (Thea) is not your typical tough, witty, independent, weapons-wielding main female character. She's quiet, even a bit timid, obedient, polite, has been sheltered her entire life and has no idea how to fight. Her character arc is interesting to witness throughout the book as her confidence in herself, her magical abilities and her place in the world slowly grows. She made many nonsensical decisions that frustrated me greatly, but what I enjoyed about her character was that she always admitted when she made a misstep and tried to remedy it.
Nakir is also not your typical MMC. He's fierce and formidable, but a bit of a cinnamon roll type. Though Thea and Nakir are born enemies, they each immediately seemed to have respect for the other. There's no real banter between these two but this was the breath of fresh air to me: their interactions showed maturity, respect and understanding for the role they've each had to play in life. Banter wasn't needed. Their light teasing, immediate connection and sweet interactions made this an enjoyable read.
Is this a slow burn as it has been marketed? Maybe not in the traditional sense of a slow burn. There's an immediate attraction and SOME intimacy before the 50% mark, which may lead some readers to call it "insta-love." Personally, I would have preferred more time to have been given to the development of their relationship (and deep feelings) but I felt this was a slow burn in a more nontraditional sense as much of the spice in this book is near the end.
The found family was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Nakir's friends - Balthasar, Kerrigan, Emi and Dawes - each had such memorable, loud personalities, and quickly became some of my favorite side characters. I look forward to more of their antics in book 2.
This world the author has created and the magic system is also fascinating. It's complex, layered and unusual. I can tell we've only scratched the surface of this complicated world in book one. I was intrigued by the magical academy vaguely mentioned throughout the story and hope this is something that gets explored later.
All in all, this was an enjoyable, even paced read with sharp writing. If you like stories with magical lore, memorable characters with depth, a plot that cleverly unravels as you go along and a sweet romance, you'll likely find as much to enjoy about this book as I did.
Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced reader copy of this book with me. This review is my honest opinion, and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
July 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐
The Truth-Teller’s Bargain had an intriguing premise that didn’t quite reach its full potential for me.
The strongest part of this book was definitely the romance. This is a true slow burn with only around ten pages of spice near the end, but the payoff felt earned. Nakir was an easy character to root for (yes, the horned MMC didn’t hurt!), and I enjoyed watching his relationship with Alethea grow through trust and the bargains they made together. I also loved how the story kept weaving different bargains and wordplay into the plot.
Alethea’s struggle against her manipulative mother, the Crimson Queen, gave the story emotional weight. I appreciated her determination to become a different kind of ruler instead of repeating the cycle of abuse.
Where the book struggled for me was in the execution. The pacing was slow for much of the novel, and I found myself pushing through the middle waiting for the plot to pick up. While there were interesting ideas surrounding the Oracle magic, runecasters, and the political rebellion, I wanted the worldbuilding and magic system to be explored in more depth.
The final 30% finally delivered the action I’d been waiting for, and the romance paid off beautifully. Unfortunately, the ending left me more confused than shocked. I actually had to reread the last chapters to understand what happened. It almost felt like the story wanted a dramatic cliffhanger but wasn’t entirely sure how to land it.
Overall, this is a promising debut with a solid romantic arc and an interesting foundation. I’m curious enough to see where the series goes next, but I’m hoping the sequel has tighter pacing, clearer worldbuilding, and a more cohesive ending.
If you enjoy:
* 🩵 True slow burn
* 👑 Evil queen mother
* 🦌 Horned MMC
* ✨ Bargains and magical promises
* ⚔️ Political rebellion
* ❤️ Found family
The Truth-Teller’s Bargain had an intriguing premise that didn’t quite reach its full potential for me.
The strongest part of this book was definitely the romance. This is a true slow burn with only around ten pages of spice near the end, but the payoff felt earned. Nakir was an easy character to root for (yes, the horned MMC didn’t hurt!), and I enjoyed watching his relationship with Alethea grow through trust and the bargains they made together. I also loved how the story kept weaving different bargains and wordplay into the plot.
Alethea’s struggle against her manipulative mother, the Crimson Queen, gave the story emotional weight. I appreciated her determination to become a different kind of ruler instead of repeating the cycle of abuse.
Where the book struggled for me was in the execution. The pacing was slow for much of the novel, and I found myself pushing through the middle waiting for the plot to pick up. While there were interesting ideas surrounding the Oracle magic, runecasters, and the political rebellion, I wanted the worldbuilding and magic system to be explored in more depth.
The final 30% finally delivered the action I’d been waiting for, and the romance paid off beautifully. Unfortunately, the ending left me more confused than shocked. I actually had to reread the last chapters to understand what happened. It almost felt like the story wanted a dramatic cliffhanger but wasn’t entirely sure how to land it.
Overall, this is a promising debut with a solid romantic arc and an interesting foundation. I’m curious enough to see where the series goes next, but I’m hoping the sequel has tighter pacing, clearer worldbuilding, and a more cohesive ending.
If you enjoy:
* 🩵 True slow burn
* 👑 Evil queen mother
* 🦌 Horned MMC
* ✨ Bargains and magical promises
* ⚔️ Political rebellion
* ❤️ Found family
May 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read this before it releases in July🫶🏻
from the moment I started reading this, I couldnt put it down. the plot was so interesting. We have our fmc who was graced with the powers of an oracle. who has been abused for her powers ever since her father died. our fmc is soft and cares alot about the people around her, often causing her to make silly mistakes!!! all she has ever wanted is to be free. Throughout this book I just wanted to hug her, tell her its going to be ok! but also yell at her and tell her to stand up for self!!
our mmc …. oh boy. he had me from his first appearance. it was nice to read a book where the mmc is also soft and kind whilst also being someone you wouldnt fuck with. The way this man treated our fmc was 10/10. he also has horns… just fyi 👀
this book is less than 400 pages but packs so much into it and a great set up book two, which by the way, I need right this second!! I loved the pacing and the way it was written and I dont actually think I have a bad word to say about this book honestly.
thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read this before it releases in July🫶🏻
from the moment I started reading this, I couldnt put it down. the plot was so interesting. We have our fmc who was graced with the powers of an oracle. who has been abused for her powers ever since her father died. our fmc is soft and cares alot about the people around her, often causing her to make silly mistakes!!! all she has ever wanted is to be free. Throughout this book I just wanted to hug her, tell her its going to be ok! but also yell at her and tell her to stand up for self!!
our mmc …. oh boy. he had me from his first appearance. it was nice to read a book where the mmc is also soft and kind whilst also being someone you wouldnt fuck with. The way this man treated our fmc was 10/10. he also has horns… just fyi 👀
this book is less than 400 pages but packs so much into it and a great set up book two, which by the way, I need right this second!! I loved the pacing and the way it was written and I dont actually think I have a bad word to say about this book honestly.
June 20, 2026
If you’re a fan of fairytale-inspired romantasy, found family, and stories about breaking free from the cages others build around you, The Truth Teller’s Bargain is definitely one to add to your TBR.
One of my favorite things about this book was Alethea. She felt refreshingly unique compared to a lot of romantasy heroines. She starts the story incredibly sheltered, naive, and trusting—and honestly, she stays that way for much of the book. Instead of feeling frustrating, it felt realistic given everything she’d endured, and it made her journey that much more compelling. Watching her slowly question the world she’d been raised in kept me invested from beginning to end.
The writing was easy to sink into, the worldbuilding felt approachable without being overwhelming, and the magic system was simple enough to grasp quickly while still being interesting.
This book leaves off with questions, and I absolutely need answers. I’ll definitely be back for Book 2 to see what happens next for our girl Alethea.
July 8, 2026
First and foremost, thank you to the author for letting me read this before release. I am truly grateful!
With that being said, I am rounding up the stars since Amazon doesn't do halves. This was a lovely read but I don't feel like this book was for me, but just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it isn't for you.
Our FMC, Alethea has the gift of foresight and while she has this power she also cannot tell a lie due to her powers. Alethea is being used as tool by the Queen, her mother, and forces Alethea to push past her limits.
Alethea, to me, seemed to be really naive for her age. I wasn't a fan of her.
Nakir, he was definitely a green flag MMC, I really liked learning about his story of his parents and how he formed his army to take back his rightful throne.
The pacing of the story was slow and steady but thats all it was. There weren't any twists or turns that kept you on the edge of your seat. It seemed a little too flat for my liking.
Overall, its an easy read and a cute story. It just wasn't for me.
With that being said, I am rounding up the stars since Amazon doesn't do halves. This was a lovely read but I don't feel like this book was for me, but just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it isn't for you.
Our FMC, Alethea has the gift of foresight and while she has this power she also cannot tell a lie due to her powers. Alethea is being used as tool by the Queen, her mother, and forces Alethea to push past her limits.
Alethea, to me, seemed to be really naive for her age. I wasn't a fan of her.
Nakir, he was definitely a green flag MMC, I really liked learning about his story of his parents and how he formed his army to take back his rightful throne.
The pacing of the story was slow and steady but thats all it was. There weren't any twists or turns that kept you on the edge of your seat. It seemed a little too flat for my liking.
Overall, its an easy read and a cute story. It just wasn't for me.
May 2, 2026
This book had me feeling every emotion, sometimes multiple emotions simultaneously!
The world that Camille built is thoughtfully described and the characters are complex, yet relatable despite having magic.
Alethea is a rare oracle and a princess in kingdom that has seen violent changes in leadership. Unexpectedly she falls into the hands of the former crown prince of her kingdom. She also finds herself in the midst of the rebellion and must decide if she will betray her family, help the rebels, or leave and find peace & freedom.
There will be times you want to throw your phone or kindle and other times you may need tissues, so plan accordingly.
The world that Camille built is thoughtfully described and the characters are complex, yet relatable despite having magic.
Alethea is a rare oracle and a princess in kingdom that has seen violent changes in leadership. Unexpectedly she falls into the hands of the former crown prince of her kingdom. She also finds herself in the midst of the rebellion and must decide if she will betray her family, help the rebels, or leave and find peace & freedom.
There will be times you want to throw your phone or kindle and other times you may need tissues, so plan accordingly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2026
Advanced readers copy
This book completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. The world building was so easy to follow that I was instantly HOOKED. I almost read this entire book in one sitting because I could not put it down!
Thea is an oracle who has spent her life struggling to find her place in a world where she can only speak the truth, often leaving her vulnerable to people who take advantage of her.
When she finally decides to run away and take control of her own fate, everything changes... If you love fantasy with easy world building, a FMC you can't help but root for, magic, adventure, and plenty of SPICE.. add this one to your TBR immediately.
This book completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. The world building was so easy to follow that I was instantly HOOKED. I almost read this entire book in one sitting because I could not put it down!
Thea is an oracle who has spent her life struggling to find her place in a world where she can only speak the truth, often leaving her vulnerable to people who take advantage of her.
When she finally decides to run away and take control of her own fate, everything changes... If you love fantasy with easy world building, a FMC you can't help but root for, magic, adventure, and plenty of SPICE.. add this one to your TBR immediately.
July 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, I thought the story was really beautiful and by 30% I was absolutely HOOKED! 😍 It was giving rivals to lovers with some slow burn 🔥 I felt like the story slowed down a lot in the middle but was a good chance to get to know the side characters who were all really interesting and have so much more to give I feel as this series continues…
It finished off with enough of a cliffhanger than I want to continue the series when book 2 is released. Overall, it was a quick, easy to read Romantasy, which wasn’t confusing at any points!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this e-arc copy and I will definitely be recommending to other romantasy lovers 💕
It finished off with enough of a cliffhanger than I want to continue the series when book 2 is released. Overall, it was a quick, easy to read Romantasy, which wasn’t confusing at any points!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me this e-arc copy and I will definitely be recommending to other romantasy lovers 💕
July 7, 2026
4 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this Romantasy. It felt very whimsical and fairytale-like at times! Camille Woolfewoods writing style was beautiful and descriptive. I think my favorite thing about this book was the found family. There were so many like-able characters! I ate up the sizzle between the FMC and MMC! I felt like the pacing was well done and flowed very nicely. The overall story was interesting and it definitely has me hooked and ready for book 2! I would definitely recommend this Romantasy, if you're looking for one that's well written, has great world building and fantastic character development.
Thank you so much, Camille Wolfewood, for the advanced reader copy! 🫶🏼
Thank you so much, Camille Wolfewood, for the advanced reader copy! 🫶🏼
June 28, 2026
First of all thank you so much to Camille for this ARC!
What an interesting world! Whenever I begin a new fantasy world sometimes it’s hard for me to follow without going back so see what I may have missed but this was very easy to follow. Thea is such a great character and I love her arc during the story. I was rooting for her the whole time. The gang is very fun and I adore each of the chapters, even the not so nice ones. I’m very excited to see what the next book brings!
What an interesting world! Whenever I begin a new fantasy world sometimes it’s hard for me to follow without going back so see what I may have missed but this was very easy to follow. Thea is such a great character and I love her arc during the story. I was rooting for her the whole time. The gang is very fun and I adore each of the chapters, even the not so nice ones. I’m very excited to see what the next book brings!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of The Truth-Tellers Bargain, and in exchange I am leaving my honest review. Thank you, Camille Wolfewood! I will be recommending this book to anyone who stands still long enough! What. A. Book! I believe that Camille channeled every ounce of magic she has into this story. These characters made me feel like I was back in Velaris with the Inner Circle, which evoked such strong feelings of belonging. I don’t know how I’m going to move on from this book.
.｡✧･ﾟ:* ~♡ ⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ ⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆
♡ The Truth-Teller’a Bargain was everything that I adore about fantasy woven into an incredibly intriguing world. The fantasy was accessible but interesting. I didn’t feel overwhelmed at any point, but felt like I was being gently guided through the lore, in ways that held my interest and excited me. The Four Kingdoms of Senmarria felt vast and hugely different from one another. We were submerged in a deep landscape of political intrigue and inner court machinations. I adored that Camille let us breathe in different locations. The pace was steady and the stakes high, but we were able to soak in the beauty of her creations, without the plot losing any urgency. The story is far from over, and I cannot wait to see what else Camille has in store for us.
♡ Alethea is akin to gentle sunshine, the kind that warms your bones and soul. The kind of sunbeam that doesn’t burn, but is a welcome heat to chase away the frost. I know a lot of us adore a rough and sassy FMC, myself included. However, seeing someone so soft and kind in a fantasy setting, never once changing her morals or ethics, was a breath of fresh air. The foreword says it better than I ever could: “For the soft girls — may you never be convinced that tenderness is weakness, or that survival requires a blade.” Do I agree with every decision Alethea made? No. But, did I understand why she made these choices as she followed her moral compass the best she could? Yes. Camille speaks about how strength, by definition, doesn’t have one particular appearance. Choosing words and actions over violence and death isn’t weak. The absence of cruelty doesn’t equate to weakness, and making the decision to love openly and care freely, is strength in its own right. Just because Alethea doesn’t brandish a weapon, doesn’t mean she is meek. Her sense of justice and strength of character in the face of adversity is all I could ever aspire to.
♡ The romance in The Truth-Teller’s Bargain is balanced and makes perfect sense to me. Alethea and Nakir falling in love felt like certainty. They felt inevitable, like the sun rising every morning and the earth continuing its steady journey through the cosmos. If Alethea didn’t want Nakir, I certainly would’ve! He has solidified his place atop my list of book boyfriends, and I don’t foresee him being knocked off any time soon. This man has been portrayed as a monster his entire life. Cruelty and evil are the currency he has been forced to deal in. Yet, at every chance, he chooses understanding and patience. He has an endless reservoir of empathy that he shares among his people. He graciously offers kindness where others would offer a blade. This doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to dirty his hands, and he’s made some bad decisions in his life, but he is a person who learns and grows through his failings. We love an emotionally intelligent man! His emphasis on wanting Alethea to never allow herself to be used by another, healed me. At every opportunity where he would stand to benefit from Alethea’s gift, he opted for consent, safety and championed Alethea’s choice above all.
♡ The side characters stole my heart and I never want them to give it back. A part of my soul belongs to them now, and I hope they take it with them along their journey. I cannot stop thinking about Balthasar. He may not be the MMC of The Truth-Teller’s Bargain, but he’s the MMC of my heart. This man!! He is huge but obscenely gentle. Empathy was quite literally his superpower, and he excelled in this department. I loved all the characters, but he absolutely stood out to me and the character illustrations (on Camille’s Instagram) did me no favours, because how is this man so hot AND so caring? His presence is steady like a mountain, ever prominent in its stature, never overbearing but breathtakingly beautiful.
♡ I am forever grateful for Camille’s emphasis on kinship and love. Her characters have such incredible relationships with each other and love is freely given. These characters are intricately woven into each other’s lives. They are intrinsically rooted together, and I could feel the adoration and trust they have for one another, it seeped out of the pages into my heart. It really did make me feel like I was back in the Inner Circle in ACOTAR, and that is the highest compliment! I am looking forward to seeing more of these characters and how their relationships grow.
♡ I adored my time with this book, and I’m so sad that my journey through these pages is over, for now. I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book. The Truth-Teller’s Bargain is a story deeply entrenched in magic and intrigue. Found Family sprinkles the pages with hope and joy, and the messaging is one of hope. This story shows us there is strength in lowering your weapons, and there is fortitude in taking the kinder path, even if this path is longer and more treacherous. This book has so much heart and soul that it physically cannot be contained in its pages, it permeates through Camille’s words and finds a home inside your heart.
.｡✧･ﾟ:* ~♡ ⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ ⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆
♡ The Truth-Teller’a Bargain was everything that I adore about fantasy woven into an incredibly intriguing world. The fantasy was accessible but interesting. I didn’t feel overwhelmed at any point, but felt like I was being gently guided through the lore, in ways that held my interest and excited me. The Four Kingdoms of Senmarria felt vast and hugely different from one another. We were submerged in a deep landscape of political intrigue and inner court machinations. I adored that Camille let us breathe in different locations. The pace was steady and the stakes high, but we were able to soak in the beauty of her creations, without the plot losing any urgency. The story is far from over, and I cannot wait to see what else Camille has in store for us.
♡ Alethea is akin to gentle sunshine, the kind that warms your bones and soul. The kind of sunbeam that doesn’t burn, but is a welcome heat to chase away the frost. I know a lot of us adore a rough and sassy FMC, myself included. However, seeing someone so soft and kind in a fantasy setting, never once changing her morals or ethics, was a breath of fresh air. The foreword says it better than I ever could: “For the soft girls — may you never be convinced that tenderness is weakness, or that survival requires a blade.” Do I agree with every decision Alethea made? No. But, did I understand why she made these choices as she followed her moral compass the best she could? Yes. Camille speaks about how strength, by definition, doesn’t have one particular appearance. Choosing words and actions over violence and death isn’t weak. The absence of cruelty doesn’t equate to weakness, and making the decision to love openly and care freely, is strength in its own right. Just because Alethea doesn’t brandish a weapon, doesn’t mean she is meek. Her sense of justice and strength of character in the face of adversity is all I could ever aspire to.
♡ The romance in The Truth-Teller’s Bargain is balanced and makes perfect sense to me. Alethea and Nakir falling in love felt like certainty. They felt inevitable, like the sun rising every morning and the earth continuing its steady journey through the cosmos. If Alethea didn’t want Nakir, I certainly would’ve! He has solidified his place atop my list of book boyfriends, and I don’t foresee him being knocked off any time soon. This man has been portrayed as a monster his entire life. Cruelty and evil are the currency he has been forced to deal in. Yet, at every chance, he chooses understanding and patience. He has an endless reservoir of empathy that he shares among his people. He graciously offers kindness where others would offer a blade. This doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to dirty his hands, and he’s made some bad decisions in his life, but he is a person who learns and grows through his failings. We love an emotionally intelligent man! His emphasis on wanting Alethea to never allow herself to be used by another, healed me. At every opportunity where he would stand to benefit from Alethea’s gift, he opted for consent, safety and championed Alethea’s choice above all.
♡ The side characters stole my heart and I never want them to give it back. A part of my soul belongs to them now, and I hope they take it with them along their journey. I cannot stop thinking about Balthasar. He may not be the MMC of The Truth-Teller’s Bargain, but he’s the MMC of my heart. This man!! He is huge but obscenely gentle. Empathy was quite literally his superpower, and he excelled in this department. I loved all the characters, but he absolutely stood out to me and the character illustrations (on Camille’s Instagram) did me no favours, because how is this man so hot AND so caring? His presence is steady like a mountain, ever prominent in its stature, never overbearing but breathtakingly beautiful.
♡ I am forever grateful for Camille’s emphasis on kinship and love. Her characters have such incredible relationships with each other and love is freely given. These characters are intricately woven into each other’s lives. They are intrinsically rooted together, and I could feel the adoration and trust they have for one another, it seeped out of the pages into my heart. It really did make me feel like I was back in the Inner Circle in ACOTAR, and that is the highest compliment! I am looking forward to seeing more of these characters and how their relationships grow.
♡ I adored my time with this book, and I’m so sad that my journey through these pages is over, for now. I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book. The Truth-Teller’s Bargain is a story deeply entrenched in magic and intrigue. Found Family sprinkles the pages with hope and joy, and the messaging is one of hope. This story shows us there is strength in lowering your weapons, and there is fortitude in taking the kinder path, even if this path is longer and more treacherous. This book has so much heart and soul that it physically cannot be contained in its pages, it permeates through Camille’s words and finds a home inside your heart.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐ Rating: 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.
✨ The Vibe
A prophecy-driven romantasy filled with rebellion, found family, political intrigue, yearning, and quite possibly the biggest green flag book boyfriend I have ever encountered.
If you love slow-burn romance, emotionally intelligent heroes, and found family dynamics, this one has a lot to offer.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Alethea has spent her entire life trapped within the palace walls.
As an Oracle incapable of speaking anything but the truth, her gift has been weaponized by her mother, the Queen, to maintain power and control over the kingdom.
When a dangerous prophecy puts Alethea's life at risk, she flees the only home she's ever known and finds herself in the hands of Nakir Hasan—the cursed heir leading a rebellion against the crown.
The two strike a bargain. Alethea will help him reclaim the throne. In return, Nakir will give her the freedom she's never had.
But as war approaches and their alliance grows into something far more complicated, both of them may end up risking far more than they expected.
🖤 My Reading Experience
The biggest standout of this book? Nakir. Without question. This man might be the biggest green flag I've ever encountered in romantasy.
Seriously. Someone give this man an award.
Nakir is strong, protective, loyal, and capable, but what really made him stand out was his emotional intelligence. He communicates. He listens. He doesn't spend chapters avoiding conversations or running away from his feelings.
The bar is apparently on the floor for fantasy men because I found myself constantly impressed by the fact that he simply acted like a mature adult. I loved him.
I also really enjoyed the Dark Court and the found family dynamic surrounding Nakir. It gave me major Inner Circle vibes from ACOTAR in the best possible way.
Each member of the group felt important, and watching Alethea slowly experience genuine care, friendship, and support for the first time in her life was one of the strongest aspects of the story.
The romance itself is filled with excellent yearning and tension. The slow burn works well, and there are several moments where the chemistry between Alethea and Nakir really shines.
The story also moves at a comfortable pace. I was never bored while reading, and the writing itself is very easy to follow.
💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
Unfortunately, Alethea and I never really connected. I completely understood why she was the way she was. She's spent her entire life being controlled, manipulated, isolated, and emotionally abused by her mother. It makes sense that she would be fearful, sheltered, and unsure of herself.
The problem is that I struggled with how long she remained that way. While Alethea is around twenty-five years old, she often felt much younger to me. Throughout most of the story, she came across as extremely passive, timid, and hesitant to stand up for herself.
I kept waiting for her to push back. To get angry. To fight for herself. And while there are glimpses of growth, I personally wanted much more of that development much sooner.
By the end of the book, I finally started seeing flashes of the stronger version of Alethea I had been hoping for all along, which gives me a lot of hope for book two.
My other issue was the overall plot progression. The story is enjoyable, but I kept waiting for a major twist, shocking reveal, or high-stakes moment that never quite arrived.
Several conflicts that felt like they were building toward something huge ended up being resolved fairly quickly, and because of that, the overall story felt a little flat at times.
I also would have loved more exploration of the magic system. The foundations are there, but I felt like there was room to dive deeper into how everything works.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Enemies-to-allies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn romance
- Prophecy and fate
- Rebellion against the crown
- Found family
- Political intrigue
💔 Emotional Impact
Emotional damage level: 4/10.
Not because I didn't enjoy it. Mostly because Nakir is so emotionally healthy that he solves problems by actually communicating. A rare and beautiful sight in romantasy.
🫶 Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a really good time with The Truth-Teller's Bargain. The writing is engaging, the romance is filled with tension and yearning, the found family is wonderful, and Nakir has officially secured a place on my ever-growing book boyfriend list.
While I would have loved a stronger character arc for Alethea, a deeper exploration of the magic system, and a few bigger plot twists along the way, there was still plenty to enjoy.
Most importantly, this book laid a strong foundation for the next installment, and I'm genuinely curious to see where Alethea's journey goes from here.
Because if the version of Alethea we see at the very end is any indication of what's coming next, book two could be something special.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
✨ The Vibe
A prophecy-driven romantasy filled with rebellion, found family, political intrigue, yearning, and quite possibly the biggest green flag book boyfriend I have ever encountered.
If you love slow-burn romance, emotionally intelligent heroes, and found family dynamics, this one has a lot to offer.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Alethea has spent her entire life trapped within the palace walls.
As an Oracle incapable of speaking anything but the truth, her gift has been weaponized by her mother, the Queen, to maintain power and control over the kingdom.
When a dangerous prophecy puts Alethea's life at risk, she flees the only home she's ever known and finds herself in the hands of Nakir Hasan—the cursed heir leading a rebellion against the crown.
The two strike a bargain. Alethea will help him reclaim the throne. In return, Nakir will give her the freedom she's never had.
But as war approaches and their alliance grows into something far more complicated, both of them may end up risking far more than they expected.
🖤 My Reading Experience
The biggest standout of this book? Nakir. Without question. This man might be the biggest green flag I've ever encountered in romantasy.
Seriously. Someone give this man an award.
Nakir is strong, protective, loyal, and capable, but what really made him stand out was his emotional intelligence. He communicates. He listens. He doesn't spend chapters avoiding conversations or running away from his feelings.
The bar is apparently on the floor for fantasy men because I found myself constantly impressed by the fact that he simply acted like a mature adult. I loved him.
I also really enjoyed the Dark Court and the found family dynamic surrounding Nakir. It gave me major Inner Circle vibes from ACOTAR in the best possible way.
Each member of the group felt important, and watching Alethea slowly experience genuine care, friendship, and support for the first time in her life was one of the strongest aspects of the story.
The romance itself is filled with excellent yearning and tension. The slow burn works well, and there are several moments where the chemistry between Alethea and Nakir really shines.
The story also moves at a comfortable pace. I was never bored while reading, and the writing itself is very easy to follow.
💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
Unfortunately, Alethea and I never really connected. I completely understood why she was the way she was. She's spent her entire life being controlled, manipulated, isolated, and emotionally abused by her mother. It makes sense that she would be fearful, sheltered, and unsure of herself.
The problem is that I struggled with how long she remained that way. While Alethea is around twenty-five years old, she often felt much younger to me. Throughout most of the story, she came across as extremely passive, timid, and hesitant to stand up for herself.
I kept waiting for her to push back. To get angry. To fight for herself. And while there are glimpses of growth, I personally wanted much more of that development much sooner.
By the end of the book, I finally started seeing flashes of the stronger version of Alethea I had been hoping for all along, which gives me a lot of hope for book two.
My other issue was the overall plot progression. The story is enjoyable, but I kept waiting for a major twist, shocking reveal, or high-stakes moment that never quite arrived.
Several conflicts that felt like they were building toward something huge ended up being resolved fairly quickly, and because of that, the overall story felt a little flat at times.
I also would have loved more exploration of the magic system. The foundations are there, but I felt like there was room to dive deeper into how everything works.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Enemies-to-allies-to-lovers
- Slow-burn romance
- Prophecy and fate
- Rebellion against the crown
- Found family
- Political intrigue
💔 Emotional Impact
Emotional damage level: 4/10.
Not because I didn't enjoy it. Mostly because Nakir is so emotionally healthy that he solves problems by actually communicating. A rare and beautiful sight in romantasy.
🫶 Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a really good time with The Truth-Teller's Bargain. The writing is engaging, the romance is filled with tension and yearning, the found family is wonderful, and Nakir has officially secured a place on my ever-growing book boyfriend list.
While I would have loved a stronger character arc for Alethea, a deeper exploration of the magic system, and a few bigger plot twists along the way, there was still plenty to enjoy.
Most importantly, this book laid a strong foundation for the next installment, and I'm genuinely curious to see where Alethea's journey goes from here.
Because if the version of Alethea we see at the very end is any indication of what's coming next, book two could be something special.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 8, 2026
Review of advanced reader copy provided by the author. This review is completely voluntary.
4.5 stars!
Okay, I think I’m at a loss for words for how amazing this book is. The writing in this is exquisite and Camille did such an amazing job of showing how being soft and kind isn’t a weakness but a strength.
In a world where magic comes with a price, Alethea is an Oracle who is cursed to only speak the truth. She was raised by a mother who exploited her powers for her own political gain, manipulating her to believe that her prophecies are the only thing that make her useful. Despite being used her entire life, she still agrees to use her powers to help others, knowing the toll it takes on her body, and never asking anything in return. When she runs away from the castle to escape her mother, she runs into Nakir, the exiled prince. He’s supposed to be her enemy, her mother has warned her that he’s a monster who will exploit her powers, but instead, she somehow feels safe and calm around him. He respects her boundaries, doesn’t use her powers against her will, and actively tries to NOT use her powers even when she offers it to him. The fact that Alethea feels safer with her supposed “enemy” speaks volumes of how toxic her mother is to her.
I think my favourite part about this book are the characters and how Camille explores the themes of power, corruption, and control through them. We have Alethea, an Oracle, someone who has control to the very weaves of fate but has given up control over her own destiny. Then we have Nakir, an exiled prince who is trying to reclaim his throne but trying not to lose control of his resolve over who he is and who he swore not to become in the process. Next comes Balthasar, arguably my favourite character in this book. He’s an empath spymaster who works with Nakir and the rebellion. He’s been such a quiet man throughout the book, but has such empathy for Althea but we see how GOOD he is when he threatened to turn his back on Nakir, the family he’s been loyal to for decades, in order to prevent him from losing himself. THAT is a true friend. This quote summarizes this so well: “For the hardest duty is not guarding the Realm, nor even guarding the crown— but guarding the sovereign from the person they might become.”
I also quite enjoyed how Camille describes Althea realizing the horrors of war and the consequences people have been subjected to due to her mother’s reign. She does it in such a way where you can literally see each thought clicking in her mind, realizing every little thing that’s wrong with the world her mother’s reign has caused. It left such a huge impact on me, I literally teared up at it as if I was the one realizing these thoughts.
Although I’ve mostly been talking about the characters and the writing, the magic system in this was also done very well. I really appreciate it when a magic system comes with a cost. This forces the characters to make a choice every time they reach for their magic. How far are they willing to go to use their magic? What price are they willing to pay? This creates such deep characters because magic will not solve all their problems with the wave of a wand. There are consequences and thus we see their motivations and values through their choices and actions.
Overall, this book contained such beautiful writing, creating such a beautiful world that definitely matches its beautiful cover. If you’re looking for a book with a soft FMC that stays soft and never strays from her kindness, extremely fleshed out characters, and a magic system that’s simple yet fantastical, this book is for you!
4.5 stars!
Okay, I think I’m at a loss for words for how amazing this book is. The writing in this is exquisite and Camille did such an amazing job of showing how being soft and kind isn’t a weakness but a strength.
In a world where magic comes with a price, Alethea is an Oracle who is cursed to only speak the truth. She was raised by a mother who exploited her powers for her own political gain, manipulating her to believe that her prophecies are the only thing that make her useful. Despite being used her entire life, she still agrees to use her powers to help others, knowing the toll it takes on her body, and never asking anything in return. When she runs away from the castle to escape her mother, she runs into Nakir, the exiled prince. He’s supposed to be her enemy, her mother has warned her that he’s a monster who will exploit her powers, but instead, she somehow feels safe and calm around him. He respects her boundaries, doesn’t use her powers against her will, and actively tries to NOT use her powers even when she offers it to him. The fact that Alethea feels safer with her supposed “enemy” speaks volumes of how toxic her mother is to her.
I think my favourite part about this book are the characters and how Camille explores the themes of power, corruption, and control through them. We have Alethea, an Oracle, someone who has control to the very weaves of fate but has given up control over her own destiny. Then we have Nakir, an exiled prince who is trying to reclaim his throne but trying not to lose control of his resolve over who he is and who he swore not to become in the process. Next comes Balthasar, arguably my favourite character in this book. He’s an empath spymaster who works with Nakir and the rebellion. He’s been such a quiet man throughout the book, but has such empathy for Althea but we see how GOOD he is when he threatened to turn his back on Nakir, the family he’s been loyal to for decades, in order to prevent him from losing himself. THAT is a true friend. This quote summarizes this so well: “For the hardest duty is not guarding the Realm, nor even guarding the crown— but guarding the sovereign from the person they might become.”
I also quite enjoyed how Camille describes Althea realizing the horrors of war and the consequences people have been subjected to due to her mother’s reign. She does it in such a way where you can literally see each thought clicking in her mind, realizing every little thing that’s wrong with the world her mother’s reign has caused. It left such a huge impact on me, I literally teared up at it as if I was the one realizing these thoughts.
Although I’ve mostly been talking about the characters and the writing, the magic system in this was also done very well. I really appreciate it when a magic system comes with a cost. This forces the characters to make a choice every time they reach for their magic. How far are they willing to go to use their magic? What price are they willing to pay? This creates such deep characters because magic will not solve all their problems with the wave of a wand. There are consequences and thus we see their motivations and values through their choices and actions.
Overall, this book contained such beautiful writing, creating such a beautiful world that definitely matches its beautiful cover. If you’re looking for a book with a soft FMC that stays soft and never strays from her kindness, extremely fleshed out characters, and a magic system that’s simple yet fantastical, this book is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for gracing me with my first ever ARC!
Actual rating: 3.5 rounded up
Quick note: I don't usually write reviews, but I do want to help out the author, so here it goes.
Firstly, the writing was easy to read. Scenes were quite easy to envision and it never felt like a drag to get through the chapters, even though they were on the longer side. That being said, I never quite found my way through the worldbuilding. At times it kind of felt like we were dropped into a world we were expected to already know, followed by some lore drops throughout the book (note: I only discovered the world guide after I finished the book... whoops). However, the (stunning!) map was definitely a big help here.
Regarding the plot... I'm conflicted. My heart enjoyed this book so much, genuinely, but my head says not a lot really happened? This story takes place over around two weeks if I tracked that correctly, and it feels like there was some moving about, but we only really started moving towards any 'big' plot progression near the end of the book (it also made some of the relationships less believable, but more on that later). In short: it kind of felt like a long prequel/set-up for the main story in book two? It does make me excited about the sequel, though.
That brings me to the characters. I loved the crew, both independently (Balthasar, you have my heart) and together. It also felt like a breath of fresh air to have more wholesome dynamics, instead of the 'broody' ones we so often read about. That being said, my main qualm is actually about our main characters, Nakir and Alethea. Nakir is emotionally intelligent and has a tragic past that I feel is reflected quite well in his character throughout the book. However, I feel like he kind of loses his edge regarding the rebellion once he meets Alethea, and frankly... their relationship hasn't completely convinced me. Alethea is very sheltered and timid, which is understandable considering her relationship (?) with her mother. She's also empathetic and refuses to give into the mindset of 'the end justifies the means', which is admirable. However, she is also quite foolish. She makes several mistakes throughout the book and rarely faces any consequences for it, nor does she then really learn from them and make sure she thinks things through in the future. This is quite frustrating to read but I am hopeful that this is part of her character arc, since we do see some character growth near the end of the book. Now, back to her relationship with Nakir: it doesn't feel real. They went from hesitant allies to diving into a tent together by 50%, and though I'd kind of understand Alethea falling for him because she is experiencing true safety and kindness for the first time in a decade, I didn't feel like a lot had happened to warrant Nakir being that smitten with Alethea. I find this quite unfortunate, because their romantic scenes were really sweet, but they didn't feel earned, which made it a little bittersweet.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am now eagerly awaiting the sequel... Even though the first one isn't even out yet. Grrr.
Actual rating: 3.5 rounded up
Quick note: I don't usually write reviews, but I do want to help out the author, so here it goes.
Firstly, the writing was easy to read. Scenes were quite easy to envision and it never felt like a drag to get through the chapters, even though they were on the longer side. That being said, I never quite found my way through the worldbuilding. At times it kind of felt like we were dropped into a world we were expected to already know, followed by some lore drops throughout the book (note: I only discovered the world guide after I finished the book... whoops). However, the (stunning!) map was definitely a big help here.
Regarding the plot... I'm conflicted. My heart enjoyed this book so much, genuinely, but my head says not a lot really happened? This story takes place over around two weeks if I tracked that correctly, and it feels like there was some moving about, but we only really started moving towards any 'big' plot progression near the end of the book (it also made some of the relationships less believable, but more on that later). In short: it kind of felt like a long prequel/set-up for the main story in book two? It does make me excited about the sequel, though.
That brings me to the characters. I loved the crew, both independently (Balthasar, you have my heart) and together. It also felt like a breath of fresh air to have more wholesome dynamics, instead of the 'broody' ones we so often read about. That being said, my main qualm is actually about our main characters, Nakir and Alethea. Nakir is emotionally intelligent and has a tragic past that I feel is reflected quite well in his character throughout the book. However, I feel like he kind of loses his edge regarding the rebellion once he meets Alethea, and frankly... their relationship hasn't completely convinced me. Alethea is very sheltered and timid, which is understandable considering her relationship (?) with her mother. She's also empathetic and refuses to give into the mindset of 'the end justifies the means', which is admirable. However, she is also quite foolish. She makes several mistakes throughout the book and rarely faces any consequences for it, nor does she then really learn from them and make sure she thinks things through in the future. This is quite frustrating to read but I am hopeful that this is part of her character arc, since we do see some character growth near the end of the book. Now, back to her relationship with Nakir: it doesn't feel real. They went from hesitant allies to diving into a tent together by 50%, and though I'd kind of understand Alethea falling for him because she is experiencing true safety and kindness for the first time in a decade, I didn't feel like a lot had happened to warrant Nakir being that smitten with Alethea. I find this quite unfortunate, because their romantic scenes were really sweet, but they didn't feel earned, which made it a little bittersweet.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am now eagerly awaiting the sequel... Even though the first one isn't even out yet. Grrr.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.25/5 ⭐️
The following is a review of an advance copy received from the author.
The gods may not be able to save him. But Alethea wondered if perhaps she could.
This story had such an interesting magic system, with a fantastic representation on the consequences of magic and how it can be used in the context of a kingdom and a rebellion. THE TRUTH-TELLER'S BARGAIN was a good start to the upcoming duology by Camille Wolfewood, and I enjoyed following along Alethea's story so far.
Characters
The first thing in this story that stood out to me was the primary villain - the queen was cartoonishly evil, and her motivation and sense of grounded-ness were missing. She seemed to be evil for the sake of doing evil, which did not feel realistic nor fun to read. That's not to say that Alethea (or other main characters) should always understand the villain's motivation right away, but there is a line. Other than the queen, multiple of the other characters were fantastic. Balthasar was my favorite of the side characters by far, and I loved every scene he spoke in. He was well characterized, interesting, and grounded. Our FMC (Alethea) and MMC (Nakir) both felt well-developed, and made very human mistakes when those times came. I enjoyed their dynamic, though their relationship did feel a touch insta-lovey. I wish that we had gotten a bit more from their early time, particularly regarding Alethea's fear, uncertainty, etc. towards him and the others. At times in the early pages, it felt very clear that she was simply not scared enough for the situations she was in, where later on in the book this rectified itself and she seemed to have more realistic/appropriate reactions. Nakir's history and actions painted a great picture of an admirable MMC with a tragic past, motivating him to do great things. We as the reader understand why Alethea might fall for him.
The World
I was a big fan of the seemingly complex political dynamics that rule this world, but did wish that more of it was explained or understood (especially by the latter parts of the book). It seemed as though whoever held the most power was based on convenience for the story at times rather than a clear structure. The travel that took course over the story also felt more realistic, taking days and weeks to reach nearby cities (especially in a large group as their own). The influence of deities, magic, and the turmoiled history of Lenorea added to the rich feelings of the world, and the ease in picturing it.
The Plot
The main plot, in a typical duology fashion, took most of its time to set up and build smaller conflicts before what we can assume will happen in the second book. Nonetheless, the plot still felt as though it had great stakes and a reason to keep pushing along/striving for the MMC/FMC's goals. The only easily recognizable subplot that was on page was that of the romance, which was focused on in equal measure, fitting the romantasy genre well. Apart from the minor critique of insta-love, the romance felt good and I enjoyed reading about the development of Alethea and Nakir's story as it intertwined. A few plot threads have been left around for book 2 to pull on, which I am sure will come together as side plots and main plot weaving together to increase the stakes for a dangerous and exciting climax to this series.
**BONUS: The epigraphs in this book were so rich and added to the world building. These were a great way to introduce us to facts of the world in a way that didn't feel info-dumpy.
The following is a review of an advance copy received from the author.
The gods may not be able to save him. But Alethea wondered if perhaps she could.
This story had such an interesting magic system, with a fantastic representation on the consequences of magic and how it can be used in the context of a kingdom and a rebellion. THE TRUTH-TELLER'S BARGAIN was a good start to the upcoming duology by Camille Wolfewood, and I enjoyed following along Alethea's story so far.
Characters
The first thing in this story that stood out to me was the primary villain - the queen was cartoonishly evil, and her motivation and sense of grounded-ness were missing. She seemed to be evil for the sake of doing evil, which did not feel realistic nor fun to read. That's not to say that Alethea (or other main characters) should always understand the villain's motivation right away, but there is a line. Other than the queen, multiple of the other characters were fantastic. Balthasar was my favorite of the side characters by far, and I loved every scene he spoke in. He was well characterized, interesting, and grounded. Our FMC (Alethea) and MMC (Nakir) both felt well-developed, and made very human mistakes when those times came. I enjoyed their dynamic, though their relationship did feel a touch insta-lovey. I wish that we had gotten a bit more from their early time, particularly regarding Alethea's fear, uncertainty, etc. towards him and the others. At times in the early pages, it felt very clear that she was simply not scared enough for the situations she was in, where later on in the book this rectified itself and she seemed to have more realistic/appropriate reactions. Nakir's history and actions painted a great picture of an admirable MMC with a tragic past, motivating him to do great things. We as the reader understand why Alethea might fall for him.
The World
I was a big fan of the seemingly complex political dynamics that rule this world, but did wish that more of it was explained or understood (especially by the latter parts of the book). It seemed as though whoever held the most power was based on convenience for the story at times rather than a clear structure. The travel that took course over the story also felt more realistic, taking days and weeks to reach nearby cities (especially in a large group as their own). The influence of deities, magic, and the turmoiled history of Lenorea added to the rich feelings of the world, and the ease in picturing it.
The Plot
The main plot, in a typical duology fashion, took most of its time to set up and build smaller conflicts before what we can assume will happen in the second book. Nonetheless, the plot still felt as though it had great stakes and a reason to keep pushing along/striving for the MMC/FMC's goals. The only easily recognizable subplot that was on page was that of the romance, which was focused on in equal measure, fitting the romantasy genre well. Apart from the minor critique of insta-love, the romance felt good and I enjoyed reading about the development of Alethea and Nakir's story as it intertwined. A few plot threads have been left around for book 2 to pull on, which I am sure will come together as side plots and main plot weaving together to increase the stakes for a dangerous and exciting climax to this series.
**BONUS: The epigraphs in this book were so rich and added to the world building. These were a great way to introduce us to facts of the world in a way that didn't feel info-dumpy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Just because a cage is made of gold doesn’t make it any less of a prison.”
The story begins with Alethea being forced to tell her mother, the queen, if a Lord is guilty of treason. She is pushed to her limits using her gift of truth and the ability to voice a prophecy. It’s apparent very early on that her mother does not care nor have love for her daughter, she is merely a tool to be used.
After making a prophecy that her mother would remain queen until the winter solstice, she flees the castle to enjoy a ride on her mare to get away before her mother learns of the prophecy. Enjoying her time away she quickly looses time and the sun starts to set, her mare gets spooked leaving her behind only for the queens sworn enemy, Nakir to find. Nakir, sworn enemy of the queen has plans to replace her as ruler to take the throne for himself. Soon she finds herself within their encampment and soon realizes they mean her no harm. Nakir realizes she is an oracle yet he doesn’t not push her to use her gifts for his benefit, instead he shows kindness knowing what it costs her to push herself to force her gift which could cause a dangerous burnout. He learns of her mother’s treatment and gets angry when he learns of her mother abuse pushing her to her limit time and time again for her own gain. He tells her that he lost his own power/magic due to burnout while living with the curse of Aeshma’s mark. Desiring freedom from her mother, her powers, and one day becoming queen, she comes up with a plan to aid Nakir to overthrow her mother placing him on the throne forever changing her destiny. It doesn’t take long for her to notice how he makes her feel nor for him to acknowledge how she makes him feel. When Nakir makes the decision to return to Hyelea, Queen Zenobia makes her selfishness known once again forcing Alethea to try and correct her mother’s actions leaving the camp behind. Once Alethea and Nakia are again reunited, Alethea comes to realize it’s not just Nakir that cares for her but so does his friends Dawes, Emi, and Balthasar. Eventually even Kerrigan. Friendship is felt and reciprocated amongst the group that quickly forms into a bond of family. They continue on their journey where sacrifices are made, love cannot be denied, mistakes and promises are made, choices have to be made, yet destinies have yet to be fulfilled as prophecies have been foreseen but not come to pass. The book ends on a cliffhanger as unknown’s lurk within the cold darkness as the sun sets in on what will happen next as she chooses her own path back. Truly a remarkable book on a young woman’s journey of growth while learning that she does matter and deserves to be loved for who she is, not for the gifts she processes to be used as a tool. She learns to reach within herself to fight for her freedom, who she loves, what she believes in, and for a better ruler for the people. Questions have yet to be answered. Is it just her mother they should be concerned about or is there another that could be a potential threat? Another that seems to cause dread whenever his name is brought up. What will transpire from her prophecies? Will the Gods some of them worship come to their aid in battle? Who will fight in the battle? An excellent book that has magic, slow burn, love, vengeance, betrayal, and personal growth that pulls the reader in keeping you turning the pages with anticipation of whats to come next. Absolutely looking forward to reading how the story continues.
The story begins with Alethea being forced to tell her mother, the queen, if a Lord is guilty of treason. She is pushed to her limits using her gift of truth and the ability to voice a prophecy. It’s apparent very early on that her mother does not care nor have love for her daughter, she is merely a tool to be used.
After making a prophecy that her mother would remain queen until the winter solstice, she flees the castle to enjoy a ride on her mare to get away before her mother learns of the prophecy. Enjoying her time away she quickly looses time and the sun starts to set, her mare gets spooked leaving her behind only for the queens sworn enemy, Nakir to find. Nakir, sworn enemy of the queen has plans to replace her as ruler to take the throne for himself. Soon she finds herself within their encampment and soon realizes they mean her no harm. Nakir realizes she is an oracle yet he doesn’t not push her to use her gifts for his benefit, instead he shows kindness knowing what it costs her to push herself to force her gift which could cause a dangerous burnout. He learns of her mother’s treatment and gets angry when he learns of her mother abuse pushing her to her limit time and time again for her own gain. He tells her that he lost his own power/magic due to burnout while living with the curse of Aeshma’s mark. Desiring freedom from her mother, her powers, and one day becoming queen, she comes up with a plan to aid Nakir to overthrow her mother placing him on the throne forever changing her destiny. It doesn’t take long for her to notice how he makes her feel nor for him to acknowledge how she makes him feel. When Nakir makes the decision to return to Hyelea, Queen Zenobia makes her selfishness known once again forcing Alethea to try and correct her mother’s actions leaving the camp behind. Once Alethea and Nakia are again reunited, Alethea comes to realize it’s not just Nakir that cares for her but so does his friends Dawes, Emi, and Balthasar. Eventually even Kerrigan. Friendship is felt and reciprocated amongst the group that quickly forms into a bond of family. They continue on their journey where sacrifices are made, love cannot be denied, mistakes and promises are made, choices have to be made, yet destinies have yet to be fulfilled as prophecies have been foreseen but not come to pass. The book ends on a cliffhanger as unknown’s lurk within the cold darkness as the sun sets in on what will happen next as she chooses her own path back. Truly a remarkable book on a young woman’s journey of growth while learning that she does matter and deserves to be loved for who she is, not for the gifts she processes to be used as a tool. She learns to reach within herself to fight for her freedom, who she loves, what she believes in, and for a better ruler for the people. Questions have yet to be answered. Is it just her mother they should be concerned about or is there another that could be a potential threat? Another that seems to cause dread whenever his name is brought up. What will transpire from her prophecies? Will the Gods some of them worship come to their aid in battle? Who will fight in the battle? An excellent book that has magic, slow burn, love, vengeance, betrayal, and personal growth that pulls the reader in keeping you turning the pages with anticipation of whats to come next. Absolutely looking forward to reading how the story continues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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