Compass Rose

by M.H Savage

An orphan king. A sheltered queen. A plot that might get them both killed.

Aesira Valandor hasn't seen her betrothed in ten years. Taking her place as Branimir Mairead's wife means leaving behind everything she's ever known- and becoming queen of a nation vastly different from her own.

She doesn't know what to expect from the careworn young man who's replaced the boy she played with as a child. But in spite of the grief of losing his parents and the pressures of being king, Branimir remains the thoughtful, fun-loving boy who once put a toad in her nurse's teacup. The more time Aesira spends in her new life, the more she finds herself falling for her husband and the kingdom she now rules.

No sooner do she and Branimir begin exploring these feelings than strange things start to happen. A collapsed bridge, a murder at their front door, and worst, a stray arrow that nearly kills her husband. Aesira is no fool. None of this is coincidence. Neither is the worry Branimir tries to hide from her.

As Branimir begins to pull away, and his secrets threaten to tear them apart, Aesira struggles to unravel a conspiracy that runs deeper than she had ever imagined. No one is trustworthy, and only one thing is certain: Someone is trying to kill the king. And whoever they are, they're not working alone.

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2026

About the author

Mykaela has been making up stories since elementary school. As a teenager, she wrote her first novel, a murder mystery that was almost published, but given the boot after a bad experience with a publishing company. It would be five years before she penned another word.

Compass Rose started as a way to pass the time when she worked as a bank teller (gotta do something to pass those boring work hours), and soon became her new obsession. When she isn't holed up in some coffee shop creating made up fantasy worlds, she enjoys camping, hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She currently lives in Texas with her husband.

Reviews

[abigail]

This was pretty good! It started out slow, but then picked up after the plot started unfolding. I would definitely consider it a more character and vibes driven novel, but since I really liked both those aspects (especially the characters) I will keep reading this series when the next books come out.

[Iza's Book Tower]

💖 NA romantic, non-magical fantasy
🌶️ Closed-door romance between a married couple, kisses, innuendo
💬 Mild
❗ Death, murder, severe injuries, drinking, anxiety, panic attacs (all mildly descriptive)
.
My thoughts:
My favourite parts of this book must have been the characters and beautiful descriptions!✨ The story begins quite slowly, so you have to wait to get to know the MCs, where they come from and what matters to them, but once things start happening, your sleeping schedule will be just as messed up as the characters' 🤣 I'm telling you, get ready! I will never forget that one conversation that changed everything 😳 Suddenly, everything that happened previously made SO MUCH SENSE and my heart broke for all those poor, precious fictional people 😭💔 It was, arguably, my favourite chapter of the whole book. I cannot wait for books two and three to come out, because I need to know what happens next (and that everybody lives!) 🙈🤩🤣

[Katysbookhollow]

🌊✨⚔️ 🌹

Wowww. What an intense and beautiful book!!

My heart physically *ached* with every other page that I read.
It currently still feels bruised and battered and put through the wringer.. but I know that a story is great when I feel that *MUCH* feeling. The heaviness in my chest felt like a living thing, throbbing again with every new pain that the characters endured.

I grew up on a teeny tiny island and I felt my love for the ocean echoed constantly throughout. I adored that part of the book. The sea is revered and described in a way that paints the authors love for it.
For who could express such earnest declarations of the ocean without truly loving it?

The wedding vows in particular seriously touched me - and the small gesture calling back to those vows throughout? Ugh 🥺😭

I cannot speak on any of the plot points without spoiling, but they can be surmised as follows..

HELLO?! Ouch..
OUCH?!!
OOF that HURT. 😭
OW!!!
O U C H
❤️‍🩹💔

Both physical and emotional. 🥰
And I loved every bit of it!!!!

[B.G. White]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.25/5

troupes
🤍 best friends to lovers
🌊 beach vibes
⚔️ traitors + touch of mystery
🌙 arranged royal marriage
🐚 very emotional!

✨my thoughts
Oh this book was so good! Mykaela is a beautiful writer and SO talented at crafting vivid characters and capturing their emotions! Compass Rose was very bingeable and I was hooked from the start! (Took me out of my reading slump!) I went through so many different emotions reading this, and I shut the book feeling satisfied but wanting more! I can't wait to see where the rest of the story goes <3

🕯 prose
Mykaela's writing is so good! She paints such a cozy, vivid picture of Iumavae--the beach vibes, Bran and Aesira's relationship, and all the little moments that made it so fun! It was the perfect amount of description and I absolutely ate it up.

🌊 plot + pacing
Compass Rose is just the right blend of cozy, sweet, devastating, mysterious, and gripping all at the same time! I loved how slow the beginning of the book was where we get to explore the chemistry between Bran and Aesira before things start picking up. Then there's traitors, secrets, mysteries, and action that pick up the pace and add such tension between the characters! I absolutely loved every bit of it.
Some of the scenes seemed to jump really quickly which threw me off for a second, and I almost felt like the traitor was too easy (I kinda knew who it was from the beginning...), but the plot twists were still fantastic and I have NO IDEA what will come in book two! I'm all here for it! 🤭

🤍 characters
Oh my goodness, Bran and Aesira were perfect!! They have some of the BEST character chemistry I've read in a long time. They were so cute together and I loved watching them learn to trust each other, to open up, and to find true love and forgiveness! They felt so real, and were so funny and cute. I loved how they complimented each other so well and knew just what the other needed.
I'm so excited to see how they continue to grow and interact with each other later on! <3

⚠️ content
Not much to note here! It's a NA book and the characters are married. It's all closed door though, and there's just a few innuendos. It's very emotional at times, so be sure to bring tissues and something to squeeze when you get angry (lol, iykyk).

[Aubrey Hedman]

I received an ecopy of this book from the Author, and I am telling you right now I'm putting the physical copy of this book onto my wishlist. Immediately.👏🏻✨️

Such a beautifully written book and the cover is also stunning (just the cherry on top) there is romance (no spice), grief, loss and just so much to this story. Loyalty and love and just a soft beauty throughout this book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!!

[Leamarierojas]

⭐️Arc Review💫

Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

~☆"Maybe forgiveness doesn't mean it'll stop hurting. Maybe it just means I stop letting it consume me."


I was selected as an early reader, and what can I say... it was an absolute five-star reading experience!!!😭🫶🏻

The beginning was a bit slow and dragged a little, but from Chapter 3 onwards, I was totally hooked on the story and couldn't put the book down!

It’s a story about love, secrets, intrigue, lies, betrayal, and very realistic characters!!!

We follow Aesira Valandor, who marries her childhood friend Branmir—Bran for short—in an arranged marriage (and honestly, who wouldn't want to marry him?!!! 😏 #WeAllLoveBran) and finds herself in the role of Queen of Lumavae.

The two grow closer, and everything could actually be perfect... were it not for someone who is out to take Bran's life.

When a murder occurs, Aesira and Bran have to team up to solve it, only to discover that a deep-seated conspiracy is at play...

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

To be honest, I found it a bit hard to write a review for this book—not because I didn't like it, but because I felt soo much while reading it that I can't quite put it into words.

I shared in Aesira and Bran's suffering, grief, and tears (and Author, you know the why and how of that! 😭❤️‍🩹!!!), as well as their love and hope...

The two of them make a truly special couple, and the group of friends surrounding them made the story so unique and special for me—I love stories that are character-driven and feel soo real!!!!

But Aesira and Bran also worked well as individuals in their own right.

Aesira was quite naive and reserved at the start; I absolutely loved watching her become stronger, more independent, and more resilient!!! (she is sooo cool)

~☆“If you are still dissatisfied, you're more than welcome to send us a declaration of war. But you will not start that conflict in my throne room."

~☆"I'm getting really tired of having blades held against my throat."


and Bran... oh, my Bran—you just have to fall in love with him while reading!👀🙂‍↕️
He is wise, protective—but not in a condescending way—playful, compassionate, and an absolutely good person through and through.❤️

He has been through so much and suffered so much—it was beautiful to see him open up to Aesira, even teaching her how to fight AND taking her needs and opinions into account (he never ignored her or put her down... The two of them are sooo cute together💘!!!!).

~☆"A man who's seen war, whose body bears the ugly marks of countless ugly battles, is keeping me from shattering by the strength radiating from his own beautiful soul."

The only thing I have to complain about is that I now have to wait longer for the sequel (Author, I hold you responsible for this... Why did you have to pick me as an ARC reader?! 😩😜)

~☆"You're ruining my brilliant escape!"
"You're ruining my daring rescue!"


── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Compass Rose" by M.H. Savage captivates with its atmospheric narrative, compelling characters, and a thrilling blend of adventure and emotional depth. The story unfolds with suspense and surprising twists, while the vivid writing style brings the world to life. A gripping novel that keeps you turning the pages until the very last.


All in all, a highly recommended read!📚✨️

[Charlotte]

Thank you M.H. Savage for allowing me to be an ARC reader for your debut novel Compass Rose!

So, as a blanket statement, I enjoyed this book! I know a lot of my criticism here might sound like I didn't enjoy it, but I did, I finished it in 4 days ☺️
I loved the wedding ceremony and vows so much, and all the salt water symbolism 🥹 I originally thought that Bran, the MMC, was the perfect balance of wise, respectful, gentlemanly, and playful, reminding me of Jaren from The Prison Healer. I still somewhat believe that, though the miscommunication arc in the book bothered me and soured my opinion on him ever so slightly. Just a tiny smidge 🤏😅🥲 I only wished he would open up more to Aesira but it took some time to get to that point, which I guess is good character development 😅

I found the pacing a bit slow and the first two chapters jarring with multiple time skips in quick succession. I felt some of the chapters throughout the book could have benefited from an extra dinkus or two to help with more seamless transitions in time.

Compass Rose is fantasy realism, so no magic, but still pretty dresses and castles 🤭 The map bothered me a little, purely because the kingdom borders seemed a little too uniform (that's just me being nitpicky though 💀) but I'm looking forward to the other kingdoms being explored in future books.

I guessed the main plot points surrounding the conclusion but it was still nice seeing it all come together. The character deaths were really sad, one in particular had me gaping at my phone 😭

Here are some quotes that stood out to me:

☆ I'd be annoyed, but he's so kind about it that I feel safe enough to fail miserably. He won't get angry or make fun of me.
☆ I'm not sure what toad spit tastes like, but if I had to guess, it would be this.
☆"You showed an interest in my hobby, and I want to show an interest in one of yours."
☆ How did he become this thoughtful and caring, treating me like an equal while honouring our differences?
☆ He provided a safe place for me to try something new without being ridiculed, and I will do the same for him.
☆ Maybe forgiveness doesn't mean it'll stop hurting. Maybe it just means I stop letting it consume me.
☆"You're ruining my brilliant escape!" "You're ruining my daring rescue!"
☆ I'm getting really tired of having blades held against my throat.

Overall, I rate Compass Rose 4 stars and look forward to the next book! Mykaela is also Christian and anti-AI which are author green flags for me 🙂‍↕️

[LightningTail97]

I had such a fun time reading this one! The characters were so complex and the romancecwas so sweet ❤️

*Spoiler Warning! If you don't want spoilers, don't read past the content warning!*

*Content Warning!*
Language- One use of pr*ck but other than that, nothing!

Spice - None!

Violence - A little bloody and a slightly graphic scene involving an animal, but nothing overly descriptive. PG-13.

Other - Mentions of past torture, but nothing else I can think of.
************************************************

The book starts out so sweet and fun and then takes such a huge turn! I enjoyed Bran and Aesira as characters and I especially liked how their conflict was written.

This is major spoiler territory, so beware.

The conflict was done so well! Both Bran and Aesira are likeable characters and you don't want to dislike either of them. On top of that, it's written in a way that I can understand both sides of the story and where these characters are coming from. I get Aesira being upset that Bran didn't trust her, especially after he told her he loved her and all theyve been through. I can definitely see her questioning everything and being angry with him. But I can ALSO see where Bran is coming from. I can see that he's very distrustful, which is valid after his parents' murders. And I can see why he might not fully trust Aesira, especially since this killer has been playing with his mind and making him miserable. So, while I get when Aesira brings up the point of "what about all those times we were alone and I didn't kill you?" I can also understand that Bran would still question her, as he didn't know if she was playing with his mind or not. I know that was a long tangent, but I wanted to gush on how well this was written 😂

Both Bran and Aesira are complex. Both are green flags, yet they have some issues, just like everyone else does. Not every green flag character is perfect all the time.

Overall, this was such a well-written and fun book and I can't wait for the next one!

[Emilee White]

Compass Rose was such a captivating and emotional read! The beginning was a bit slow for me and did have multiple time jumps, but I was hooked after a few chapters.

The opening, while may have been a bit slow, was setting the stage for the rest to come. The sweet wedding vows are a key part in the story, as they are reflected upon multiple times and show the personality and adoration between our two main characters. After the first few chapters, I could not put the book down!

The romance aspect was so sweet, and made me smile every time. You can see that she writes from a true place of understanding what a green flag MMC looks like. The fact that Bran, the MMC, was inspired by her husband also is just so sweet. Even as the story took some dark turns, the relationship between the two characters was a beacon of light shining in the darkness. It provided hope and reminded me why I was rooting for them in the first place.

Compass Rose definitely does not shy away from some darker themes, such as grief and loss. But they endure through it all, even as the antagonist tries to break them. Some scenes were difficult to read, but what I really loved is that darkness never had the final word. Through every hardship and every challenge, they continued to choose each other and those moments of love, redemption, and perseverance truly made the emotional journey worthwhile.

If you are looking for a no-spice fantasy romance read with high stakes, endearing romance, emotional depth, and plenty of twists and turns, then I highly recommend Compass Rose. Be prepared to fall in love with all of the characters, but watch out, because as Bran says, " I didn't know who to trust."

[Rebecca]

First book in a new fantasy trilogy.
This is a story of Princess Aesira and her husband to be King Bran.
This book is no spice, I think this could be overplayed because honestly you don’t miss it! It’s an adult fantasy book with epic battles, kidnapping, revenge and love. The love story is of a betrothed royal couple from two kingdoms(since childhood) who come together 10 years later to marry. They actually get to fall in love! Well, with a few hiccups, before any intimacy is hinted. And yes it is heavily indicated they consummate their, now, fully committed partnership but without the excessive detail you find in many of the books in this genre nowadays. A few I find have little story outside these scenes even!
By no means is this book being a prude! It just does’t delve into a lot of detail in that category.
The characters are great, Aesira is a strong minded Princess who indicates she will rule with Bran rather than be an accessory! Her strong personality, wit and intelligence means Bran fall in love with the adult version of a girl he once knew. Bran is also a great character, dealing with grief and sorrow while ruling a kingdom, he is still a warm person who loves his Kingdom, his people, his Knights and his wife. The Knights are great! A mix of characters likeable and not as they would be. Aesira’s maid Tinsley is lovely and loyal. The physician is another great character. To be a citizen of Iumavae.
I think this is a great start to a series, I look forward to book 2.

[Jennie Jae]

If you enjoy…
-exciting stories of secret plots and conspiracies against a kingdom
-romance that blossoms from an arranged marriage between childhood friends
-a strong-willed FMC who knows her worth and is clever and dutiful
-an MMC who is romantic, protective, and has a heart of gold
-Knights, battles, pranks, secret passageways, charming side characters, and a sparkling seaside kingdom setting

…then you should probably read this fantastic debut novel that is first in a series!

I was incredibly impressed with the quality of the writing, the portrayal of the depth of feelings felt by the characters, the intricacies of the intrigue and peril throughout the story, and the overall flow of the book. It focuses much on the developing relationship of the main characters, as well as the mysterious events that keep happening, all through the point of view of the FMC, so we are discovering things and puzzling out the mysteries alongside her.

As for content, the romance includes kisses, embraces, and heartwarming moments, and is closed-door when it comes to the marriage bed. There is descriptive violence, physical harm, and murder/deaths, involving people and a horse. There was minimal to no swearing that I can recall.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for adults and older teens who enjoy any of what I mentioned above. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series when it is released!

Thank you to the author for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given willingly.

[Jenna]

I volunteered to be an ARC reader because I am the mother of a teenage daughter who loves these types of stories. I wanted to both support a new author and also vet a new series for my daughter and her friends. I am so glad I took a chance on this author!

Plot: solid and engaging. You have yearning, angst, mystery, action, smut free romance. Who can be trusted? Who is all involved? How deep does it go?
Characters: the FMC took me a bit to truly appreciate. For the first half of the book, I thought she seemed too timid, young, underdeveloped. But in the second half of the book, she blossomed into a strong, courageous, clever, merciful, kind woman. I don't know if the author intended on the development being so evident or not, but in retrospect it makes sense. She is a young 20yo, thrust into many new experiences, and where many might shrivel, she grows. I am excited to see how she develops further in the next book.
The MMC was also incredible. There were moments where I wanted to smack him upside the head, but again, by the end of the book, you just want to hug him instead. I love that he is "touch her and die" without it being morally gray or stalkerish like some books. His devotion is motivated with a developed love, not instalust. The way he bears the weight of the crown reminds me of another favorite king of mine, Aragorn in Return of the King.

Conclusion: The worst part about being an ARC reader is that being able to read the book early means I have to wait that much longer for the next book, ha! Thank you to the author for writing a book that I can enjoy with my friends as well as my daughter and her friends.

[Katelyn Cawthorn]

Wow! I feel like I don’t even have to right words to describe how much I loved this story! Compass Rose is written so beautifully. Mykaela writes in such a way that you’re immediately transported into this world and invested in the character’s lives. From the moment I started reading I could not put it down!😍 Compass Rose has some of the sweetest moments ever! And the most amazing example of love and what it means to truly love someone and to keep choosing that. In so many paces this story had me smiling so much. And at the same time Mykaela doesn’t shy away from some deeper themes. These characters go through some really hard things- including betrayal, hurt and the consequences to those things. But in the end that’s what made this story so meaningful, because it showed that though we may face many difficult seasons even feeling far away from those we love, there is always light and hope somewhere that we can hold on to. This story really touched me. I am already so excited for book 2 (though I’m not sure if I’m ready yet! IYKYK) and this is most definitely a book I’ll be rereading!🥹😭🥰

[Aley]

I absolutely loved this book. From the very beginning, the characters felt like real people. Their inner thoughts, struggles, and emotions were written so honestly that I found myself completely invested in them.

One of my favourite things was how the characters actually communicated with each other. They weren't perfect and they made mistakes, wrestled with their own pain, and didn't always get things right, but they were willing to be honest, extend grace, and keep trying. That made their relationships feel so authentic.

The story kept me hooked the whole way through. Every twist felt natural and well-earned, adding to the tension without taking away from the heart of the story. I genuinely didn't want to put it down.

I'm so excited to see where the next book takes these characters, and I'll definitely be picking it up as soon as it comes out!

[Bryanna Phillips]

✨ARC review✨ 4/5 stars because the book was good but the story is really really heavy. It’s hard to recommend a book fully when the story left me feeling so hollow. The first 40% of the story kind of reads as a lighthearted romance novel, with a few darker moments. In the second half of the story the tone shifts, the story gets much grittier, and while the romance is a key plot throughout the whole book it definitely takes a backseat once the story starts shifting. Which is not a bad thing. This was an out of the ordinary reading experience for me, the story is hard and there are very few bright moments, so I hesitate to say I enjoyed this book. However I was captivated by the story. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, I couldn’t stop reading. The story is well written and I’m anxious to see what comes next for Bran and Aesira.
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‼️‼️‼️SPOILERS/CONTENT WARNING AHEAD, STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON’T WISH TO SEE.‼️‼️‼️
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There is a lot of murder in this story, some for self defense reasons, some for nefarious reasons. I want to give a warning about a specific murder because I feel some people may want to know before choosing to start the story. One of the murder victims is a horse. It is a very cruel death meant to cause pain and suffering not just to the animal but also to its owner.

[Riah Grace]

Honestly this book was so ✨️stunning✨️
From the setting, to the plot, (especially plot *twists*) to the romance, to everything else, this book was packed with awesomeness.
I loved
Fenris
Bran
Kaelan (tho I had my suspicions)
Aesira
Tinsley
Greyan
All of those characters were so beautifully written to be kind, supportive, and loving people 💕
When the plot picked up pace closer to the end I was so sucked into each and every twist, and definitely fell for a few, though I've got to say, the real culprit? Yeah, I knew he was awful, and I was like "it has to be him"!!!
I wasn't prepared for the sadness this book would also bring, and it brought an extra layer that so perfectly tied this story together ❤️‍🩹
Safe to say I'll be waiting for the next installment 😌

[Tyler Burke]

First, I want to say that this book was REALLY good! 🤩📚✨ The storyline was amazing, with so many things that kept me on my toes! 👀 The ups and downs of Bran and Aesira’s marriage were so intense to read—in the best way!

Unfortunately, I was in a reading slump while reading this 🫠📖, so it took me a little while to get through. Before the second book comes out, I’ll probably do a reread so I can be in a better mindset going into book two! 📚✨

I would definitely recommend picking this one up! 🫶🏻 If you love an intense story with plenty of ups and downs, this is definitely one to add to your TBR! 👏🏻

And I’m REALLY looking forward to book two! 😭🤩📖💕

[Daphnie Clark]

ARC reader!!!

Thank you so much Mykaela for allowing me to be your ARC reader and yap to you while I was reading it!

This book was amazing, there were so many twists that had my second guessing myself. The heartbreak is real and I loved it.

I'm obsessed with the MCs and can't wait til the next book! I love arranged marriage stories so much and this is no exception!

I haven't read a book like this in a long time, and I am very happy and satisfied. I will be impatiently waiting for the next book!

[Terra]

This book had me hooked from the beginning! It even haunted my dreams! I had to know what was going to happen next. I suspected everyone, stopped suspecting, was shocked, suspected again, gave up, and got blown away. I even cried at least three times. I am now trauma bonded with all the characters I grew to love in the short 18 hours it took me to finish this book. I didn't even know anything about it before starting, I just liked the title since a compass rose was my doodle of choice in school! 😆 I'm glad I came across it and I can't wait for Book 2!

[Mandy]

A beautiful story full of adventure, purpose, forgiveness, and love. You will be swept away from page one and rooting for our wonderful main couple and their happiness. The story's pacing is perfect and the characters, the main and side are written so well. You will love the heros and truly dispise the villains. Once I started I couldn't put it down.

I received an early copy but my review is my own.

[Danielle K]

Solid 4 stars. I really enjoyed reading this medieval romance, with an arranged royal marriage.

You might like this book if you enjoy secrets, whodunit, and battle scenes. There were parts of this that were oh so perfect. Although I know there will be things revealed in book 2, I felt like the resolution wasn't quite there for some of my questions. That could reflect more on me than on the story. I'll be recommending this to all my fellow medieval romance fans.

I can't wait for book 2!

[Jenn Klein]

I absolutely loved this book. I may be very pregnant, but I haven’t cried this much during a book before—in a good way! The descriptions were delightfully vivid, the characters were realistically lovable, and I’m so excited to see what happens in the next book. I would highly recommend reading this book to those who love spice-free, true love and adventure!

[Isabelle Savage]

I’m not usually the type to get through a book quickly but Compass Rose had me hooked to the point where I finished it in two days, I love the characters and the story line, kept me wanting more. You’ll probably cry and everyone who’s read this now shares a trauma bond. 10/10 would recommend, can’t wait for the next one!

[Hannah Stephenson]

The premise is one that caught my eye but didn’t hold my attention through the first 10% because it’s written like an essay. Paragraphs upon paragraphs of description summaries instead of actual story telling, which is confusing because it’s first person narrative.