The Stoneheart Bride

The Dead Lands #3.5

by Kati Wilde

Flora doesn’t know which is worse: being abducted by ogres who intend to eat her, or being saved by the barbarian warrior who’d coldly rejected her hand in marriage. Brom the Stonehearted had crushed Flora’s every hope of a future where she was valued for herself, and dreams of a life where she was more than her uncle’s political pawn.

But as they ride toward home, Flora discovers that a warrior raised in the barren wilds of the Dead Lands recognizes value far beyond power and gold—and that his particular kind of courtship could never be cold…

This short fantasy romance is part of the Dead Lands series but completely stands alone. The audiobook will soon be available on the Read Me Romance podcast.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Novella, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Historical, Friends To Lovers

51 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2022

About the author

Kati Wilde is a tight-lipped, loose-hipped woman of indeterminate age and low breeding. Born into a very large family, she now has a very small family (no laws were broken in this transition), and she writes romantic fiction to assuage her darker urge to write Transformers erotica. She lives in Oregon, so most of you are safely far enough away, and has two old cats.

Kati writes the Hellfire Riders MC romance series and will be publishing her first New Adult novel, Going Nowhere Fast, with Berkley later this year.



About Our Series:

The Motorcycle Clubs series is for romance readers who want all the heat and emotion, but who don’t have all of the time. At this time, we are only publishing novellas — our intention is to provide readers with short (yet satisfying) MC romances. Sometimes we might continue one couple’s story over several novellas, but each individual novella will have a satisfying romantic resolution. Because they are short, we focus the stories on the eroticism and romance, and will be building the MC worlds as each series progresses.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me -- kati@katiwilde.com.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was super cute...but short. Very, VERY short.

So short that it has a disclaimer from Wilde at the beginning warning how short it is.

So I feel conflicted complaining about how short it is, being that I read it in spite of knowing that. Still. This was cute for what it was.

But could have been a great full-length. Just sayin...

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5* The story begins with Brom arriving just in time to save Flora from being eaten alive by two giant ogres. They are arguing over what body part to leave behind as evidence.

Decent writing but it was too short to capture my full attention. The ending left me wanting so much more story. (44 pages)

“Never would any of our clan marry to secure an alliance. Marriage is only for love.”

[Zero · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st read: November 2002
2nd read: October 2025

Flora was in love with Brom and she thought that he cared for her, too. When her uncle tried to negotiate their marriage and Brom refused, Flora was heartbroken. Five days later, she is abducted by ogres. And who ends up rescuing her?

The author's note made it very clear that this was going to be short (it was written to meet a specific word count)... but I wish it was longer. I would love to read more about the setup of Flora and Brom's relationship before the negotiations. Of course, this is still an adorable short story/novella and it was awesome reading something else in Kati Wilde's Dead Lands universe.

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I may have burned myself out on novellas/short stories before reading this. The story starts right in the thick of the action with Flora (h) having been taken by ogres and about to be eaten. She’s terrified but also thinking about her recently broken heart because Brom (H) rejected a marriage offer for her that would have allied their kingdoms. Thankfully Brom does save her and whisks her away to safety. Written in third person, single POV of h. No ow/om drama, h seemed to be a virgin and I don’t remember a history for the H.

Flora seemed like a very giving and kind heroine and Brom is a barbarian but also a good person. They do get steamy as they travel back and before they sort themselves out long-term romantically. Flora’s focused on soaking up what she can with him in the moment and we have hints that she’s wrong in thinking he doesn’t want her forever. I really enjoyed this story but it didn’t quite work for me at the same time. Because of the length, the misunderstandings outweighed their shared opening up once they each realized how the other felt for me. They do get a HEA and there’s a cute epilogue with a small skip ahead in time. I’m happy this author is finding her groove again with writing and I do think this makes for a quick read if you’re in the mood for a touch of fantasy that still has nice steam.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great example of a fantasy romance short story - we get a full character arc in 50 pages. No one has the right balance of angst and action like Kati Wilde

[a seductive cactus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s just a cruel trick to write such a beautiful and enthralling novella and leave me wishing it had been 100 times longer.

[Cheesecake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute but kinda boring because it was so predictable.
The big 'misunderstanding' trope, but it doesn't fester, because it's such a short story.
safety no details about their sexual past. He was devoted even if it seemed otherwise. She is a virgin.

[AvidReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still thinking about this book. Absolutely loved it. My only complaint is it’s too short for my needy soul.

[Kate V · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Kati Wilde is a wonderful writer. I love her stories and her heroes and heroines. This was really cute and sweet and I really loved it. But it would have been WAY WAY WAY better if it had been a full length novel. I think there was a huge missed opportunity here and it makes me sad.

“Love,” he said quietly, “is the strongest of all true magics. Trust that it can penetrate anything. Even stone. But what my heart will not do is easily crumble. A stone heart will weather any troubles, just as a mountain stands against storm and quake. With time enough, perhaps my heart might wear away…but that time would be far longer than I am ever likely to live.”

Can't wait to see what's next!

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yooo !! Why does a dirty barbarian covered in Ogre blood sound so hot?! Flora you better get that man with his fine self!!

Wrestling ogres fighting with a battle axe and slaughtering people then kisses that make you want to scream..sheesh today is book heaven and this gave that 1990s warrior and king’s/queen’s romance a run for its money. Add that on with a spicy narration baby 🥰🥰😚!! I even screamed at my desk like a maniac.

Slow burn in a novella is absolute madness. Also, finger banging and envelope ✉️ licking is just like what the f f !!

I loved every part of this novella. I need to read the first book now!! 📕 📖

[Grisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

What a delightful short story! I am infinitely grateful for KW's clever writing in this little story. This is my second book from her and she is fast becoming a reliable author to look into. Brom has me dreamy for 'windings'. The way he kept asking for her consent was sigh-worthy. Gentle and strong barbarians are proving to be utter catnip to me 🥰!

P.S. What a lovely cover!

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although painfully short, I absolutely loved this- This series hits different and I need more 😭🙏.

[•Mrs Pizza• · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I’m just one of those people that picks up a book because it’s short and then is upset it’s so short.
But it was short, and I wanted more because I was having fun damnit !

[Sarandah chrysalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally charged, sweet, and sexy. And Kati’s specialty- utterly smitten hero.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story but so short it felt rushed.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love an obsessed warrior hero who will literally kill in your honor 👌

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun short story. When she does them well, Kati is able to pack a lot of history and backstory into her novellas. And they are so much fun! Really have enjoyed this series.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars

This is a very short (50-page) fantasy romance novella that takes place in Kati Wilde's Dead Lands series. However, this can be read as a complete standalone. The Stoneheart Bride is the romance between Flora and Brom. Flora is the niece of a king in this land, and he tries to arrange a marriage between Brom and Flora. Flora has been falling for Brom during the weeks he has visited her kingdom, but those tender feelings are shattered when she hears Brom reject her uncle's marriage proposition. But she then gets kidnapped by some orcs, and Brom does everything to rescue her.

I loved this novella!! It was so good and hot! I loved the pining and courting rituals here as well. I loved Flora and Brom so much! Also - THIS COVER ?! STUNNING

TW: descriptions of barbarian violence (using swords and axes), threats of cannibalism

TROPES: barbarians, fantasy romance, kindle unlimited, longing, royalty, novella, savior

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borderline perfection for a novella- I enjoyed this. My only bone to pick, did I miss the part where they gave her clothes to wear or did she only wear a tunic while riding horseback for 5 days?? And barefoot?

It was not “insta” which I appreciate! The 2 MCs had time to get to know each other, honesty, humor, steam and pure devotion which makes for a swoony read. There was a misunderstanding but it didn’t hinder the story and make me yell at the characters. No drama from others.

This was a well rounded story with pertinent details, I was glad to see she had a chance to bathe before sexy times. Always a plus in my book.

[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m usually not a fan of miscommunication. It drives me crazy when two adults can’t communicate well. But this was done so well. This is what the miscommunication trope was meant to be.

Flora has always dreamed of marrying for love but knows her future is an arranged marriage. Her uncle only kept her alive to help further his political reach. Brom the Stonehearted refuses to align himself with the evil king but is captivated by his niece. What’s a barbarian to do?

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’m so impressed that Kati Wilde managed to fit a full story into 51 pages. There’s an angsty set up on page 1, pining/yearning, hurt/comfort, plus spice and a satisfying HEA. What else could I ask for (other than another 200 pages)?

[Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was way too short for anything to really happen, but still cute.

[Bluestockings Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm SO bummed right now. That "odd one out" feeling sucks. Everyone loves this. And I really wanted to love it too, because the Dead Lands series is one of my favorites. But the betraying body syndrome overshadowed an otherwise beautiful, well-written, lyrical story.

Honestly, the betraying body trope isn't always a deal breaker for me - but it became one here because I felt she exchanged too much of her self-respect.

For the past couple months, our princess & the MMC have been hanging out, and he's been putting out major signals. She sees wedding bells in her future. Then five days ago, she overheard him "immediately and coldly refuse" to marry her:

Heart utterly destroyed, Flora had fled. Only sheer willpower had gotten her through the following days... It had taken all of Flora’s strength to keep from bursting into tears whenever Brom was near. So she’d stayed away when she could—and when she could not, she’d survived by clinging to the tattered remnants of her pride.

Then she's abducted by ogres, and he rescues her:

He’d broken her heart…but then he’d saved her. With hot tears clogging her throat... she lay tied and naked and helpless, with the remaining shreds of her pride scattered like trash in the dirt. Humiliation and relief collided violently within her chest.

... his big hand opened as if to cradle her cheek, she saw the same tenderness that she’d been so wrong about before. Renewed misery ravaged her heart. “Don’t touch me!” she cried out, cringing away from his reach.

(Yeah she's a bit snippy considering he just rescued her - but it's kinda understandable given how raw her feelings are.)

They head back on his horse, and chat a bit, but she evades talking about her hurt feelings. Then, suddenly, he's rounding 3rd base on horseback:

“I can touch you like this?”

“You can do,” she panted, “anything you wish.”

If you blinked, you just missed all her pride vanishing. She's like, "He only wants me for tonight, but I'll cherish whatever he gives me." And you know what? I'm okay with that trope sometimes, too. But here it was just too much. Her heart had been crushed into marinara sauce and she's awarding him an all-access pass.

In total fairness, this is all a Big Misunderstanding™, but she doesn't know that. She literally says she'll "take whatever he gives [her]" and cries over it while they're hooking up. 🫣

[Lisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

good for these two horndogs 🙂‍↕️ really enjoyed this and have heard great things about the rest of the series

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! The Stoneheart Bride is part of Kati Wilde’s The Dead Lands series, with interconnected standalones. This one is a novella (less than 50 pages) with pining, a barbarian warrior hero, and rescuing!

The story kicks off with Flora kidnapped from her uncle’s kingdom by ogres. By thankfully her rescuer, Brom the Stonehearted, comes and gets her! Flora is both excited he came to get her and sad because he rejected her recently back at her uncle’s kingdom.

Flora’s uncle had wanted to form an alliance with the barbarians that had settled in the wilderness east of the Kingdom of Innis, the Stoneheart Clan. Her cousin Prince Vash was sent there and had befriended the leader of the Stoneheart Clan, then persuaded Brom and his warriors to travel to Innis and begin negotiations with the King. Flora had served as Brom’s guide and companion for the two months whenever Prince Vash was unavailable and they formed, what she thought was a bond at the time. But her hope sank when she overheard her uncle proposing a marriage arrangement between Brom & Flora and Brom immediately said no.

This is a super short novella but felt like a fully developed story! The whole situation all hinges on miscommunication which is definitely not my favorite but it made sense for it at the same time since we have a barbarian from a different clan. Sweet but steamy too! Read for the Novellathon.

[Teela (bookdragontee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already disposed to love this the moment I started reading, but I was a total goner when Brom told Flora that she was worth more than a politically motivated marriage. I will say that the miscommunication/misunderstanding trope is usually a miss for me, but this? This is how you utilize that source of conflict the right way. I still can't believe that a 50 page novella made me feel the way this one did. Flora's visceral grief at what she assumed was Brom's rejection, the angst and pining when even after he comes to her rescue and he clearly has feelings for her, she still doesn't know where they stood. Kati made me fucking feel all that as if Flora's emotions were my own, how the fuck does she do that, what is this witchcraft???

I am in awe of this woman's talent.

Novellas so seldom pack this kind of punch... and she managed to do all of that in fifty goddamn pages, what the actual fuck.

Anyways, some favorite quotes for posterity:

"Love," he said quietly, "is the strongest of all true magics. Trust that it can penetrate anything. Even stone. But what my heart will not do is easily crumble. A stone heart will weather any troubles, just as a mountain stands against storm and quake. With time enough, perhaps my heart might wear away... but that time would be far longer than I am ever likely to live."

Excuse me as I swoon. 😍

Also, love this one (but since its a bit more racy, we'll treat it like a spoiler):

The greatest of all treasures was to have a friend who could set fire to her skin. Who searched out every spot that made her shiver with need, who trembled when she took him in her hand or her mouth.

And who looked at her as Brom did. Cherishing her, loving her.

Yet he did not make her rely on a look. Instead he murmured words of love as he laid her on the bed. Instead he called her beautiful, and delicious, and his, kissing her again from swollen lips to drenched c*nt, and every quivering inch of skin between.

Such bliss it was, to be loved. So Flora gave all the love she could in return...

[Mary Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lovely little novella

The Stonehart Bride is an amuse-bouche of a novella. This is a tale of perception versus reality, of strength in moments of darkness, and of steadfast resolve when all else seems to have failed. I loved that the story was told entirely from Flora’s point of view so Bram is revealed to us just as he is revealed to her.

This is a lovely little fillip in the Dead Land series. I love how Wilde continues to expand this marvelous fantasy romance series, even with little gems like The Stoneheart Bride.

[MissClo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world and just can’t get enough of it.

The miscommunication, the pining and the slow burn is done perfectly. I know that this book is only 50 pages, but it packs a punch.

Wilde is an incredibly talented writer.

[Susan Kicklighter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Wilde, and it won’t be my last. She did an amazing job of building the setting within a very short time. I felt everything that the main characters felt. Looking forward to the rest of the series.