Author: Ashley Tropea
Series:
Genre: Mythology/Adult Fantasy/Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: June 16, 2026
Edition: Ebook
Source: NetGalley
Pre-Order: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Kobo |
Synopsis:
As a slave to the Ashoran royals, Samira has always known she was expendable. So when the vicious Kaldfolk attack the palace, she is ready to die as a decoy for her princess. But when she’s captured instead, she’s forced to impersonate the princess and survive through brutal trials designed to awaken her divine powers—all under the watch of her dangerously intriguing, shape-shifting captor.
Amunet Khada—now queen of Ashorah—is on the run following the king’s death. With only her guard-with-benefits, Jasim, by her side, she must evade treacherous allies while racing to contact her father—the god of the underworld—before her long-promised powers slip beyond reach.
While Amunet embarks on a quest through the wastelands, Samira learns the true reason for the attack and unlocks secrets in her past that could change everything. And with threats growing on all sides, Samira and Amunet must decide...who can they trust?
In the first book in this romantasy duology inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, a slave and a princess switch places during an enemy attack, igniting parallel journeys of love and survival.
Amunet Khada—now queen of Ashorah—is on the run following the king’s death. With only her guard-with-benefits, Jasim, by her side, she must evade treacherous allies while racing to contact her father—the god of the underworld—before her long-promised powers slip beyond reach.
While Amunet embarks on a quest through the wastelands, Samira learns the true reason for the attack and unlocks secrets in her past that could change everything. And with threats growing on all sides, Samira and Amunet must decide...who can they trust?
In the first book in this romantasy duology inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, a slave and a princess switch places during an enemy attack, igniting parallel journeys of love and survival.
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I did struggle with the characters. One POV was a much more enjoyable reading experience than the other. I had a really hard time caring what Amunet was going through, she's a terrible person. But, Samira is a bit of a wet blanket. That aside, Samira was a much more enjoyable character to follow. I was invested in what she was going through, I cared when things happened to her. I wanted to know more about who she really was and the mystery surrounding her.
Amunet when we meet her is half drowning a different slave for swimming. Shortly after she's offering up Samira to take her place to die for her so she can escape. And then every time we're in her chapters she's doing something cruel to someone because she wants to survive, which is fair, but I also feel that she should've shown more humility for her situation, or at least tried to. Jasim deserved better than her and what that got him. I feel bad for what he went through traveling with her, but I have a really hard time caring and sympathizing what she went through.
Samira eventually did grow as a character, but I just wish she had more faith in herself after something she didn't know about herself was revealed. She should've been honest and asked more questions. But she didn't ask any questions, and she wasn't honest. She had unearned faith in Amunet, faith that wasn't repaid.
The ending has me hooked for the sequel though, I wish I had access to it right now so I can keep reading the rest of the story. I need to know how things pan out, I need to know more about certain characters and I need to know how they are going to resolve everything.
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