The Ascended (The Aesymarean Duet, Band 1)

The high-stakes trials of Carissa Broadbent's The Serpent and the Wings of Night meet the forbidden romance of Keri Lake's Nocticadia in the first of the Aesymarean Duet, as twins thrust into a brutal tournament for godhood must navigate forbidden desires and their own drive for revenge.<BR><BR>In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight-a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension.<BR><BR>But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into purpose: to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods-the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother.<BR>To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything.<BR><BR>What she doesn't expect is her twin brother's powers suddenly manifesting, forcing him into the trials alongside her-leaving Thais to protect more than just herself.<BR><BR>Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a mentor: Xül. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them.<BR><BR>Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm-a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves.<BR><BR>Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance.<BR>And the cost of godhood is rising.<BR><BR>Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons.<BR><BR>Some stars are meant to fall.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER<BR><BR>The gorgeous standard edition of Riftborne, with beautiful jacket effects, illustrated endpapers and a special hardcover case design.<BR><BR>AN UNLEASHED POWER. AN ALL-CONSUMING DESIRE.<BR><BR>Decades after a rebellion tore through the Isle of Sidhe, Fia Riftborne has learnt three important lessons to survival: keep your head down, don't draw attention to yourself, and avoid the Sídhe Guard at all costs.<BR><BR>That isn't so easy though when she harbours a secret power, one that would paint a target on her back if discovered. But, after a simple errand goes awry and her explosive power erupts, Fia knows she can no longer hide in the shadows.<BR><BR>Only, the swift punishment she expected never materialises. Instead, the elusive General Laryk Ashford offers her a choice: join the Sídhe Guard. . .or face execution.<BR><BR>Soon, Fia faces another impossible choice: surrender to the chaos within and risk destroying everything she holds dear or become a weapon in the hands of those who took everything from her.<BR><BR>Including the alluring General who is starting to consume her every thought. . .<BR><BR>This slow-burn, true enemies-to-lovers romantasy filled with high stakes and political intrigue is perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses.<BR>'EVERYTHING I LOVE IN ROMANTASY' - Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones<BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>Reader's reviews for Riftborne:<BR><BR>'I feel like I am going to explode because I need to talk to everyone about this book. I am about to be so insufferable about it.'<BR><BR>'If you loved Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, or Serpent and the of Wings and Night you're going to adore this series.'<BR><BR>'I don't know what they put in this highly addictive book but I was hooked from the start!'<BR><BR>'RUN, don't walk, to pick this up!'<BR><BR>'If I could give this book 6 stars I would!!'<BR><BR>'I'm devastated that I'll never be able to read this again for the first time.'<BR><BR>'Okay wow...I DEVOURED this book. The FMC...The MMC...The plotline...The supporting characters...I really fell in love with every aspect of this book.'<BR><BR>'I'll be living on the Isle of Sídhe for the unforeseeable future thank you.'<BR><BR>'Omg absolutely made it on to my god tier/six star reads list.'