Crown of Shadows

By Lexie Janson

Book Overview

★ #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER IN SWORD & SORCERY ★

Top 10 Bestseller across UK, Canada, Australia & Poland in Nordic & Dark Fantasy

They were told the monsters were only fairy tales.

They were lied to.

Slavic Folklore Fake Engagement Brutal Court Politics Lore-Rich Dark Fantasy

Mayu was never meant to rule-and ever since she began acting like a complete stranger, her best friend and the king's enforcer, Aaron, knows something is deeply wrong. But before he can uncover what changed her, the king is slaughtered in a brutal, ritualistic murder that no human weapon could inflict.

Inheriting a crown on the brink of collapse, Mayu faces a ruthless court and superstitious nobility. Toby, her friend and the lord next in line for the crown, would rather force Mayu into marriage than become an "Heir of Death"-a cursed title that threatens his life. To block court distractions, Mayu enters a fake engagement with Aaron. Yet behind closed doors, she relies on Enzo, a mysterious guardian seen as the "insane soldier." Though Enzo manages to quiet the nobility, his dark presence sparks fierce suspicion in Aaron.

As court treason threatens her kingdom's fragile independence, an enemy soldier named Valergrof arrives with a terrifying truth: the monsters of ancient lore are not only real, but furious and hunting. At his side walks a white wolf-revered in legend as a Vergad, a messenger of death whose presence pushes the realm to the brink of panic.

Uncover the hidden history in Crown of Shadows, a dark, atmospheric fantasy combining the creature-hunting grit of The Witcher with the high-stakes political intrigue of Game of Thrones and the lore of The Wolf and the Woodsman.

Ideal for readers who love:

Slavic & Nordic Mythology: Featuring Licho, Draugr, Banshees, and fate gods.High-Stakes Tropes: Fake relationship, forced proximity, and memory loss mystery.Morally Grey Characters: Complex loyalties where love is a weapon and secrets are deadly.Immersive Worldbuilding: Dark fantasy featuring ancient runes, mind-talk, and deep magic mechanics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FHC1Q6GN
• ISBN13: 9798888248881
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Koehler Books
• Length: 386 Pages
• Weight: 1.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"