What an incredibly engaging read. I've been told this is inspired by The Legend of Zelda, however, I have no knowledge of the story behind the game

Richly imagined and brimming with tension, this book delivers a high fantasy experience with compelling characters and unforgettable dynamics.

The world-building is absolutely top-tier: vivid, immersive, and beautifully layered. I felt genuinely drawn into the universe the author created, and the emotional depth of the FMC's relationship with her best friend stood out. Their bond, and the heartbreak that followed its unraveling, was written with sincerity and weight.

The deliciously slow-burning tension between the FMC and the MMC: this back-and-forth had me kicking my feet on more than one occasion. Their chemistry is sharp, witty, and full of that addicting kind of push and pull that makes you unable to look away. Alongside a villainous show stealer of a Queen. If you're a fan of Red Queen-esque flair, she'll absolutely captivate you (her verbal sparring with the MMC was a highlight all its own.

Thomson's writing in this novel leans into the classic high fantasy style, which I adored. There's something so rich and elegant about the prose that perfectly natches the epic scope of the story. While I didn't get to enjoy it as leisurely as P hoped (ARC life is real, I still appreciated the story's depth and style

A heads-up: this is a very slow burn. Things don't heat up until about 70% in, but when they do... whew. We're talking will it fit moment and some unexpected spice (with toys). It was a fun surprise!

I do wish the romantic development between the leads had been explored more emotionally and physically not full on habanero but maybe some sparring type tension). And the ending felt a bit too easy- like the FMC was a little too quick to accept the major twist.

All in all, this is a fantasy romance I'd absolutely recommend- especially for fans of The Legend of Zelda. If you've ever wanted to see a Ganondorf/Zelda dynamic brought to life in a dark, magical world, this odd couple will not disappoint.

Please note the Amazon review is still pending and will be updated as soon as it’s available.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the concept of this story because what millennial doesn’t love Zelda?! I enjoyed the characters at the very beginning of the book. That said, the pacing was almost too quick and it left me feeling like the character development suffered as a result. I loved Fae sooo much. She and Sylvanis cracked me up.

I love world building and complex magic systems, so that part didn’t trip me up but I don’t think everyone would be able to keep up! I hope book 2 slows down a little so we can get a better grasp on each character’s thread, I want to see where the series goes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

I really loved the writing style. This is truly good as a debut novel.it was A pleasure reading this

There's political intrigue, there's a HOT romance and a plot that rivals Outlander. Laughed at people commenting on the height difference but found myself loving it with Theron and Aurora!

Thank you to NetGalley and Two Laurels Press for an ARC of this. This book has a lot going on. There is a bit of time traveling, romance, fantasy and more!! It’s a really nice blend and the plot is engaging. With the time traveling and time jumps, you have to pay attention to where in the timeline you are. The story was a bit slow at the start for me, but I was engaged once things picked up. I enjoyed all the characters and the world that was created. There are multiple POVs and that can be tricky because it changes a lot and can be frequent. Our main characters are Aurora and Theron and their relationship starts off a little rocky. They have a lot of secrets from one another and I didn’t feel the chemistry at the start. This is also a slow burn romance. Overall, I did enjoy the story and I’m looking forward to the next one because the book ends on a cliffhanger!!

A really interesting fantasy with a great romamce. I enjoyed the romance the most with plot coming in second. I feel like the plot had roo much going on even though there were so many exciting moments and worldbuilding happening.

A fun reading experience from start to finish. Intriguing story, characters that will appeal to all reads and action packed twists and turns.

The Oracle of Dusk presents an ambitious blend of time-travel fantasy and romance, with richly evocative imagery in its opening chapters. The initial third offers a vivid and immersive experience, showcasing a talent for setting and atmosphere.
However, as the narrative goes on, a significant time jump introduces a new cast and setting, creating a disconnect from the story and the characters from the beginning. The frequent shifts in point of view, sometimes without clear indicators, can lead to confusion and disrupt the narrative flow.
The morally grey male lead, King Theron, embodies the enigmatic anti-hero archetype, yet his motivations remain vague, making it difficult to understand his character arc.
While the novel's premise is intriguing and the world-building shows promise, the execution may pose challenges for some readers. Those who appreciate complex narratives and are drawn to morally ambiguous characters might find this story rewarding.

The story started out slow, but I quickly enjoyed it the more I read. I finished the book in two days!

I loved Aurora and Theron’s story in this book. The relationship started out rough with all the secrets and pain they endured from others and each other. I swear this couple’s words can hurt more than any other weapon. There are many exchanges between them that made my heart hurt. At the end, I was really rooting for them. However, what transpired made me want to read the next book more.

I wish we know more about what happened with Phaedra and Sylvanus. I know their fate may be explored more in the future, but their exchanges were fun. Epicasta and Hyllus seem to be their parallel.

If anything, I wish Aurora was developed as a stronger character. There were times when her neediness was a little irritating. I know she needed time to grow into her magic, but I wanted to tell her to stand up for herself more.

Overall, I enjoyed the book even though it started slow. I can’t wait for the next one!

✅ Fated mates
✅ Magic
✅ Multiple POV
✅ Secrets and betrayals
✅ Monsters and beasts
✅ Slow burn
🌶️🌶️/5

I really wanted to love The Oracle of Dusk. The concept? Fantastic. A time-traveling oracle thrown into a doomed romance with a king? Sign me up. And the cover? Stunning. But somewhere along the way, the story just lost me.

The book starts off strong—with action, a hint of danger, and some promising character dynamics. But once the time travel element kicks in, it felt like the story shifted into a completely different tone. Characters I had started getting attached to just disappeared, and the emotional stakes didn’t carry over.

The romance, which should’ve been the glue holding it all together, felt more like insta-lust than a true connection. I wasn’t sold on the chemistry between Aurora and Theron, and the constant reminders of how tiny she was compared to him got old fast.

I also struggled with the writing style. It often told me what to feel instead of letting the scenes speak for themselves. There were whole stretches where I felt like I was being hand-held through every beat, which pulled me out of the immersion.

Ultimately, it just didn’t hold my attention enough to keep going. It’s not a bad book—there’s definitely an audience for it—but I don’t think that audience is me.

The premise for this sounded real interesting. Wish I liked it more but just could not get into it. The writing style was not for me and I just did not connect with the characters.

The Oracle of Dusk begins with a young historian being told she is fated to face the terrifying flying monstrosity, Drakon, which is set on destroying everything in its path. She then finds herself thrown back thousands of years in time, with no allies, and no idea how to save her world from the brink of destruction.

“Yes, quite the opposite of the wild, wicked life of my dearest friend. Why, I caught you dog-earring a page last year. Wars have been fought over less.”

This is the first epic romantasy novel in the Cycle of Calamity series following the oracle, Aurora, as she awakens her powers of prophecy and time travel. The time shift forced me to leave behind characters I was beginning to grow attached to, making it difficult to adjust. But I suppose that gives you a sense of how the protagonist must have felt, thrown into an unfamiliar time and place full of strangers. Aurora doesn’t know who to trust and where to look for help in preventing the impending disaster. She is rather naïve at times and falls for some schemes the reader may see coming a mile off. However, I’d like to continue with the series to find out if she ever makes it back to her time and see how her romance with the doomed king, Theron, plays out.

The Oracle of Dusk by Elyse Thomson is an epic fantasy romance that had me hooked from the start. Aurora, a historian turned accidental hero, stumbles upon an ancient artifact that catapults her back in time and into the path of King Theron, a ruler with a reputation as dark as his fate.

The world-building is immersive, blending elements of magic, time travel, and political intrigue. Aurora's journey is both thrilling and emotional as she grapples with her unexpected role in a prophecy and her growing attraction to Theron. Their chemistry is palpable, and the slow-burn romance is worth the wait.

Inspired by The Legend of Zelda, this novel offers a fresh take on classic fantasy tropes. The narrative is rich with action, suspense, and a touch of spice that keeps the pages turning. Fans of fated romances and strong heroines will find much to love here.

A book base on the legend of Zelda? I’m sold!

I absolutely love auroras character, she is so well developed .

I love that you could feel the similarities between this book and LoZ, while still being introduced to new and beautifully creative world building.

The end of the book is so fast paced, I LOVED IT SO MUCH. It was an absolute rollercoaster which caused some serious whiplash, but enjoyable whiplash indeed.

Uh WHAT! That cliffhanger hanger had me reeling!

This is a pretty heavy fantasy book that had me hooked, especially towards the end I could not get enough!

Aurora, the FMC, thought that wild magic had escaped her and that she was not chosen for that blessing. Instead she threw herself into study at the temple of knowledge, which she loved. When she uncovered an old artifact, it cascades a series of events that reveal she is so much more than she thought she was! The future depends on her, will she succeed in her mission or just be tricked by love?

This book is for you if you love:
• Fantasy
• Romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Yearning
• Surprises!

I’d say this was a 4 star read for me! It was a bit slow for me in the middle but I was hooked beginning and end!

For readers who are sensitive to depictions of rape, sexual assault, and torture, this will not be the book for you. While it’s never gratuitous, it is present and often explicit.

The book started out stronger than it finished. In the beginning Aurora, a young initiate of the Goddess of Knowledge, is whisked away by an avatar and a group of paladins with her best friend, Princess Phaedra tagging along. We’re told about a great evil threatening the world — as happens every so often — and Aurora and Silvanus have to deal with it. Silvanus and Phaedra bicker and flirt, Aurora puts up with them, and there’s a fair amount of world building and action as the great evil, in the form of a giant dragon, comes chasing after them.

Then Aurora ends up back in time in a palace ruled by an evil queen and flirts with a captive king. It’s mentioned that Aurora has pointed ears, but since no one cares, I can’t help but wonder why it was brought up at all. Chapters go by with Aurora and Theron flirting, Theron being protective, Theron being angry that people have touched Aurora … and these scenes include moments of physical assault as Aurora is beaten, manhandled by guards, forcibly stripped and threatened with rape.

This is one of the few romantasies where there is sexual incompatibility between the couple. Aurora, though willing and eager to have sex with Theron, finds herself uncomfortable and uncertain at the idea of rougher sex than she’s accustomed to, and Theron instantly pulls back and offers her choices: to stop for the night (she’s already come several times with toys and his tongue), to continue slower, or anything else that would make her comfortable. All too often it feels like rough sex is a given with no warm up — and here there is plenty of foreplay and preparation before Theron’s romantasy sized cock is put to use — let alone lube, so it’s nice to see a scene that involves consent, care, and choice.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m moderately curious to see where it goes, to see if Aurora is truly so gullible and so changeable as to accept what she’s told by people she has no reason to trust. But that’ll all have to wait for a sequel.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. The premise sounded promising, and I'm always down for romantic adventure, but it was frustrating to read at times because it felt like the author was trying to make every word count, overexplaining or giving more detail than necessary, 2.5 stars

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing The Oracle of Dusk. As a historian myself, I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of the book. The premise is intriguing and some of the plot is interesting. However, it felt like many of the things that happened in the book happened with very little explanation or reason. The characters were interesting but some of the things that happened to them felt repeptive and I was only about a third of the way into the book. When the main character, Aurora, is thrown back in time it almost feels like you start reading another book. There are new characters to meet and new world-building.

While this book wasn't for me, I'm sure it will find its audience.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I initially really liked the premise of this book and I went into it excited. However my excitement soon died.

The book is separated by an event in which the main character is no longer in the “world “ that she knows. However the build up to and the emotions after the event make it seem like it wasn’t the massive act that it was. It also feels like the before the event and after the event story lines feel like two separate books.

I had issues with the writing as it was a standard case of telling AND showing the author would very blatantly spell out and describe what was happening in a way that felt almost insulting to the reader basically being like:

“You’re a useless and stupid queen,” I insulted her
The gathered crowd gasped because it’s very rude to insult a queen.

And MANY more examples like this.

The book also has a romance element but it felt more like insta lust and I couldn’t not understand the desperation and ties that the characters had because it felt like it came out of nowhere and I never felt the true chemistry between the characters.
I also just couldn’t get past the height difference, she is supposed to be small and petite and he is supposed to be the tallest person she’s ever seen, and it amounts to her barely reaching his elbow.