Thank you to Bookouture for the arc of this book, wonderful, it was a wonderful read, held me from the get go, made me laugh, had my heart in my mouth a few times, cried a few times, but what a story!
I can’t wait to see where Con and Bel go after this amazing first book!

I love novels that focus on a monarchy, I’m honestly so obsessed by them and this novel did not let me down!
I love the badass female characters within this novel, especially Bel, I want more of her!!
Thorne’s mixture of monarchy and sci-fi fantasy just wowed me and I can’t wait for this novel to come out in November to get everyone on it!
I can’t not rave about this enough!!

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
I enjoyed this novel. It has several different themes and is told in first person point of view. The story begins with Bel, whose father is the grandson of the Vairian king. When their mortal enemy, the Gravians, kill their family, Bel and her family become the new king, princes, and princess. To satisfy the Empire, Bel is betrothed to the young, widowed king of Anthaese, Conleith. Bel will do her duty, but she believes herself to be in love with Shae, one of Vairian warriors and now, one of her bodyguards. Bel has to survive assassination attempts and fit into court life. She meets Con, and likes him, but her heart wants Shae. When the Gravians attack Anthaese from within, Con and Bel have to flee and survive until help can arrive. Con and Bel care for each other and over time grows into true love. Bel and Con try to save as many people as they can, with help from native Anthaese who can communicate mentally with Bel and Con. However, time is running out and the Gravians are creating more Mechas to use for their evil purposes. They will need all the help they can get to save Anthaese. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series!

Bel's family is relegated to the last of the royalty because her father married her mother against the courts wishes. She spends her days studying and flying her Wasp flyer over their beautiful planet. When the unthinkable happens and their sworn enemy wipes out the entire royal family, her father becomes the King. Bel now has to step into the arranged marriage of the dead kings daughter on a distant planet. Woefully unprotected, they are attacked by her planets sworn enemies. Ancient beings of the first race that inhabit the planet in stasis, bond with Bel as the future Queen. And they will do everything they can to protect Conleith, the ruler, and her future husband. I could not put this book down. Heart pounding battles, devastating loss, epic conclusion. I loved it! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.