Vesselless
A Novel
-
-
5.0 • 1 Rating
-
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
Cortney L. Winn’s sensational debut Vesselless is an addictive enemies-to-lovers romance following the heir to a fantasy kingdom, and the seductive spirit sent to claim her soul—perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Carissa Broadbent.
“I’ve seen monsters, Nizzara, and you are not one of them. A little beast maybe, but not a monster.”
Nizzara, reluctant heir to the Kingdom of Zarr, has always been able to perceive spirits better than the average caster. When she enters a deadly tournament to escape her betrothal, she's determined to win without succumbing to the addictive spirit magic she channels, or the unnerving darkness growing within her. But finding herself outmatched, Nizzara must face her fear of power and team up with Dagen—an enemy who is half-ghost and all charm—to survive the tournament.
Dagen, the last King of Zarr, was killed by Nizzara’s father ten years ago. Now a half-ghost—able to phase between his human and spirit form—he is stuck in another realm, hunting wretched souls for the god of death. When his keeper offers him a chance to reclaim his freedom in exchange for Nizzara’s soul, Dagen takes the deal.
There’s only one catch: she must give it to him freely by the tournament’s end, or his own soul is forfeit.
Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Vesselless is a spellbinding fantasy of magic and intrigue — and a tantalizing slow burn that will have you hooked until the very last page.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Winn debuts and launches her Merciless Realms series with this action-packed romantasy. When Nizzara Glindella, the princess of Zarr and heir to the throne, is forced into a betrothal by her father, her only chance of breaking the arrangement is to enter the King's Duel, a fighting tournament. As a caster, she's capable of wielding "power over lifeless objects" with the help of Liha, a spirit who has bonded to her, and uses this advantage to defeat her early opponents. As the tournament progresses, however, her chances of winning narrow. Enter half-ghost Dagen Corvonna, who was king of Zarr before Nizzara's father murdered him and took his throne a decade prior. Dagen strikes a deal with the death god: to escape the underworld, return to his people, and reclaim his throne, all he has to do is deliver Nizzara's soul. The catch is that Nizzara must surrender willingly. So Dagen sets out to seduce Nizzarra and bond with her, lending her power in the tournament. The worldbuilding is inventive, as is the setup to what eventually plays out as a fairly standard and somewhat rushed enemies-to-lovers romance. The seduction, revelations, and betrayals will suck readers in, but the abrupt cliffhanger ending will leave many frustrated. Romantasy fans will hope the next installment comes soon.
