Verity Guild
An Enemies-to-Lovers Romantasy
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- $21.99
Publisher Description
STARRED Kirkus Review
STARRED Library Journal Review
"A breath of romantasy fresh air! Mai Corland is such a skilled storyteller, weaving together layered world-building, tense political intrigue, an engrossing mystery, and, of course, steamy romance teeming with yearning. Verity Guild is absolutely riveting, and I loved it!" —Carissa Broadbent
"Fans of romantasy will appreciate the slow-burning steaminess and world-building. With her political astuteness, along with her ability to tell a good story, Corland has created a romantasy with the suspense of Lucy Foley's books and the tongue-in-cheek moments of Knives Out." —Library Journal, Starred Review
"Absolutely spellbinding."―#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus
Secrets built this republic. One truth could burn it down.
High Priestess Kerasea Vestal is hiding a deadly secret: she’s the last heir of a bloodline the republic tried to erase. If anyone discovers the truth, she won’t just lose her power.
She’ll lose her life.
And the man most determined to expose her is already far too close.
Praetorian Torren Morvane has made a career of dragging liars into the light, and Kerasea is the one person he’s sworn to destroy. When a murder points straight to her, he finally gets his chance.
Until they’re trapped together with nowhere to run—and no one else to trust.
Forced to rely on each other to survive, both are faced with an impossible choice: destroy the other...or protect them.
Because the closer they get, the harder it is to remember why they were supposed to be enemies.
And losing each other?
Might be worse than anything the truth could cost them.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This ambitious romantasy from Corland (the Broken Blades series) gets off to a slow start but develops into a tense locked-room murder mystery rife with political intrigue and secrets. Twenty years ago, the senators of Pryor murdered their tyrannical king and exterminated his magical Elusian bloodline, ending a century-long war and establishing a republic. Every year, these events are commemorated in the Revelry, a night of indulgence coinciding with the annual conclave, a weeklong gathering of the Republic's leaders to debate and pass legislation. When one of the senators is murdered, Praetorian Torren Morvane's investigation leads him to Kerasea Vestal, High Priestess of the Temple of Truth, though it quickly becomes clear that she is being framed. With the conclave under lockdown and more bodies piling up, Torren and Kerasea must overcome years of mutual distrust to determine who among them is a killer. Meanwhile, as the two grow closer and eventually give in to newfound desire, Kerasea hides her secret heritage as the last surviving Elusian. The ancient Rome–flavored worldbuilding gets somewhat muddled, but surly Torren and resourceful Kerasea have satisfying chemistry and, once the claustrophobic mystery picks up, it's fun to watch them navigate this fraught situation. An abrupt cliffhanger ending leaves much to be developed in further installments. Corland fans will be eager for more.
