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The Maids of Dunwall
WHO WILL INHERIT THE THRONE?
The question burning in the mind of every inhabitant of Avonland might have just been answered. The border has been crossed, and a seed of peace has been planted. On the far-flung island of Lothien, as two kingdoms prepare for a union that promises the end of a centuries-long feud, a second question still persists—and no one knows what to do with her.
Princess Elanora—“Just call me Nora”—is struggling to fit into the royal ideal shaped by her flawless twin sister. Browbeaten by her father’s cruelty and grappling with the near certainty that she may never be queen, Nora finds welcome distraction in her new guard, whose sudden appearance at the crux of momentous change feels like more than mere coincidence. Mysterious, with an unsettling dislike for the king, she can’t help but wonder if her guard is everything he seems.
A chance encounter by the river Avon forges an unexpected friendship between Nora and her sister’s betrothed. Charming, and only a little smug, it seems Brenland's prince might just be the friend she needed. Forced ever closer by unending conflict between the island’s figureheads, they find exciting—and dangerous—solace in each other, under the shared weight of their kingdoms.
Beyond the shelter of Dunwall Castle, a threat is brewing across Lothien. An unseen hand is stirring the people’s discontent, and tensions finally bubble over in a traitorous attack that leaves Dunwall stunned—and Nora mortally wounded. When all seems lost, and the world around her begins to fade, her father is forced to unleash a power in order to save her—a stolen power he’s been hiding in plain sight, which will shake the foundations of what she thought was the truth.
Faced with unimaginable tragedy, and with Lothien teetering on the brink of war, Nora will be forced to confront her family’s oldest betrayal and decipher the island’s most ancient secrets if she is ever to reclaim her people’s trust—and save the man she loves.
The question burning in the mind of every inhabitant of Avonland might have just been answered. The border has been crossed, and a seed of peace has been planted. On the far-flung island of Lothien, as two kingdoms prepare for a union that promises the end of a centuries-long feud, a second question still persists—and no one knows what to do with her.
Princess Elanora—“Just call me Nora”—is struggling to fit into the royal ideal shaped by her flawless twin sister. Browbeaten by her father’s cruelty and grappling with the near certainty that she may never be queen, Nora finds welcome distraction in her new guard, whose sudden appearance at the crux of momentous change feels like more than mere coincidence. Mysterious, with an unsettling dislike for the king, she can’t help but wonder if her guard is everything he seems.
A chance encounter by the river Avon forges an unexpected friendship between Nora and her sister’s betrothed. Charming, and only a little smug, it seems Brenland's prince might just be the friend she needed. Forced ever closer by unending conflict between the island’s figureheads, they find exciting—and dangerous—solace in each other, under the shared weight of their kingdoms.
Beyond the shelter of Dunwall Castle, a threat is brewing across Lothien. An unseen hand is stirring the people’s discontent, and tensions finally bubble over in a traitorous attack that leaves Dunwall stunned—and Nora mortally wounded. When all seems lost, and the world around her begins to fade, her father is forced to unleash a power in order to save her—a stolen power he’s been hiding in plain sight, which will shake the foundations of what she thought was the truth.
Faced with unimaginable tragedy, and with Lothien teetering on the brink of war, Nora will be forced to confront her family’s oldest betrayal and decipher the island’s most ancient secrets if she is ever to reclaim her people’s trust—and save the man she loves.
502 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2026
About the author
Mary Wise
1 book3 followersI live a quiet life in the sweeping hills of Georgia's Appalachian Mountains. By day, I can be seen chasing after my beautiful son and caring for my elderly grandmother. By night, I can be found drinking coffee with too much sugar and pestering my husband while I write "The Ghost of Adarel" by the light of my computer screen.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 24, 2026
This book completely swept me away!
From the very first chapter, I felt transported into a beautiful medieval world filled with castles, royal intrigue, loyal guards, and breathtaking landscapes that felt so vivid I could picture every scene unfolding in my mind. The author's descriptions are absolutely stunning, creating a setting that feels both magical and real, a place I never wanted to leave.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is the love triangle. Somehow, the author accomplished what so few books can: I genuinely changed my mind multiple times about who I wanted the FMC to end up with. Each love interest is compelling in their own way, and I found myself emotionally invested in every interaction.
The story also weaves in whispers of magic and folklore so beautifully. There's an underlying sense that something larger is waiting beneath the surface, and the way those elements are introduced kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
And that ending... I did not see it coming. Looking back, the clues were there, but the reveal still completely caught me off guard in the best possible way.
What makes this book truly special, though, is how it stayed with me long after I finished it. I'm currently rereading it, and it's already giving me a sense of nostalgia. Revisiting favorite scenes feels like returning to a place I've missed, and I can still vividly picture so many moments in my head.
If you're looking for a romantasy filled with immersive worldbuilding, compelling romance, beautiful prose, and a story that lingers in your thoughts long after the final page, I cannot recommend this book enough.
From the very first chapter, I felt transported into a beautiful medieval world filled with castles, royal intrigue, loyal guards, and breathtaking landscapes that felt so vivid I could picture every scene unfolding in my mind. The author's descriptions are absolutely stunning, creating a setting that feels both magical and real, a place I never wanted to leave.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is the love triangle. Somehow, the author accomplished what so few books can: I genuinely changed my mind multiple times about who I wanted the FMC to end up with. Each love interest is compelling in their own way, and I found myself emotionally invested in every interaction.
The story also weaves in whispers of magic and folklore so beautifully. There's an underlying sense that something larger is waiting beneath the surface, and the way those elements are introduced kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
And that ending... I did not see it coming. Looking back, the clues were there, but the reveal still completely caught me off guard in the best possible way.
What makes this book truly special, though, is how it stayed with me long after I finished it. I'm currently rereading it, and it's already giving me a sense of nostalgia. Revisiting favorite scenes feels like returning to a place I've missed, and I can still vividly picture so many moments in my head.
If you're looking for a romantasy filled with immersive worldbuilding, compelling romance, beautiful prose, and a story that lingers in your thoughts long after the final page, I cannot recommend this book enough.
July 4, 2026
A solid debut novel!
I found the concept of twin royal sisters really intriguing from the get-go.
Well-written, characters with depth, immersive fantasy setting-I enjoyed the journey Mary took us on, into the lives of the royal family and their darker sides.
The love triangle between the mc's was done well, but I, personally, am still shipping a certain hehe
The ending had me on the edge of my seat and glued to my tablet.
I found the concept of twin royal sisters really intriguing from the get-go.
Well-written, characters with depth, immersive fantasy setting-I enjoyed the journey Mary took us on, into the lives of the royal family and their darker sides.
The love triangle between the mc's was done well, but I, personally, am still shipping a certain hehe
The ending had me on the edge of my seat and glued to my tablet.
June 25, 2026
Personally for me this book had a pretty slow start, took a solid 100-150 pages for me to get into it. But all together a pretty good one, the last couple hundred pages kept me very engrossed which made it that much better for me. Characters were solid but gosh the author knows how to have you dislike a character for sure. If you know you know haha
Review of advance copy received from Author
Omg this book was amazing! If you're looking for a book filled with yearning, a love triangle,spice, suspense, and more, I highly recommend this book! Thank you Mary for allowing me to arc read for you, it was an honor! Can't wait for book two!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews