When best friends and illegitimate bastards, Selene (a poison mage with a disposition as caustic as her gift) and Iliana (a metals mage whose swords are as unbreakable as her spirit) are kidnapped by their traitorous noble fathers, each are given a choice: either pose as their half-sisters in the Prince’s upcoming marriage competition or be killed. Desperate to escape the Lethe empire together, the friends accept the deal and are thrust into the perilous, glittering world of the imperial court. Any mistake could mean death at the hands of their fathers or the crowned Prince himself. But Prince Belisarius has other plans for these imposters. There are traitors in his court, greedy noblemen who are willing to sacrifice the souls of their daughters to magnify their own magic. The only way for Belisarius to expose their foul magic is to lure them to the capital under the guise of choosing his bride. In order to succeed, and avoid another Great War, he will need Selene and Iliana’s help. In exchange for riches and their freedom, Selene poses as the chosen fiancée to the handsome prince while Iliana is paired with Marduk, the Strategos and Belisarius’ trusted friend.
As the four move forward with their scheme, false affections soon give way to real passions. Selene and Iliana must both decide if these men are worthing risking their heads for…and their hearts.
It’s been a while since I’ve read fantasy romance, but this book reminded me why I love it. The world building is fantastic, and social hierarchy surrounding mage gifts and abilities fascinating; the elemental mage gifts are considered elite while the more specialized gifts (ones that could be used to work or provide services) are looked upon. The bond that forms between Selene and Belisarius was an interesting contrast in personalities that made sense within the world the story took place. The “Grumpy vs Sunshine” trope is one of my favorites (or in this case, Slightly Homicidal Outcast vs Exasperated Proper Monarch), but often times it’s written in a way that makes it clear to me as a reader without the physical attraction (which cools eventually), two characters would never last. That was not the case here. Thomson backs up her more spicy scenes with moments of genuine connection between her characters. Iliana and Marduk’s relationship develops organically and, again, makes sense considering what we know about their backgrounds.
But what I loved most is how, despite the romance and royal espionage aspects of the plot, Selene and Iliana’s friendship remains the heart of the story. I absolutely adored their scenes together. I loved how accepting Iliana was of Selene’s more abrasive traits, and how Selene so fiercely protected her friend from those who would harm her. (There was one scene in particular where I genuinely feared for Marduk.) But even more interesting, is how their friendship actually mirrors Belisarius and Marduk’s bond. Iliana is (imo) the only thing stopping Selene from descending completely into her bitterness and bloodlust, while Marduk is one who keeps Belisarius from becoming nothing more than a Happiness Pump (or Sacrifice Pump, maybe) for his country. And in return, Selene and Belisarius are the shield against a world who would do Iliana and Marduk harm. It was interesting to read how both “outcasts” and nobles gave themselves permission to find happiness and discovered their true strengths.
There were some issues with the pacing near the end. There’s a final confrontation and twist reveal that probably could have been combined with an earlier, and (imo) stronger, action scene, but that is just my personal preference. I did end up predicting the twist and while that didn’t detract from the story for me, it did make me wish there had been more scenes with that character beforehand.
But these are merely quibbles. I am now officially obsessed with these series and cannot wait for the next installment! I highly recommend Thomson’s Mages of Oblivion series to anyone looking to end the summer with an engrossing fantasy read.
Lacey Moone 