Crown of Light and Shadows — A Fantasy Romance (Courts of Aetheria Book 1) book cover by G.K. DeRosa
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Crown of Light and Shadows

Adult • Science Fiction • Fantasy • Sword & Sorcery
A Fantasy Romance (Courts of Aetheria Book 1)
Courts of Aetheria • Book 1 of 4
Powerless girl faces magical rivals Forbidden romance with a Shadow Fae Secret prophecy threatens peace Elite Fae academy setting End-of-year battle looms

On her twentieth birthday a powerless outcast is swept from her home by a brutal Shadow Fae and taken to an elite Fae academy where magic rules life and death. Thrust among powerful students, she must navigate magical education, fight merciless rivals, and begin to summon dormant Light powers while preparing for the end of year battle against the rival Arcanum Citadel across the river.

Her ruthless Shadow Fae instructor becomes her begrudging mentor and a forbidden attraction grows between them. As her powers unfurl a secret prophecy emerges that threatens the shaky peace between the courts and could ignite war.

On her twentieth birthday a powerless outcast is whisked to an elite Fae academy by a ruthless Shadow Fae instructor, sparking a forbidden, prophetic attraction.
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Edition information

Book details

Series
Courts of Aetheria Book 1 of 4
Publisher
Mystic Rose Press
Publication date
June 18, 2024
Print length
448 pages
Language
English
ISBN
9798327477018

Science Fiction + Fantasy + Sword & Sorcery

Reader guide

What to Know Before Reading Crown of Light and Shadows

A young nonmagical protagonist forced into an academy where Fae politics and combat training drive the plot. Much of the setup centers on a fraught student and teacher relationship between the protagonist and a ruthless Shadow Fae instructor, with explicit mature content and an age gap noted. The supernatural and magical education are central to events, including a looming interschool battle and a prophecy that threatens court peace. This opening will appeal to readers who prioritize romance mixed with high-stakes fantasy conflict.

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G-NRIS™ story intelligence

Why readers connect with Crown of Light and Shadows

A concise view of the book’s strongest literary signals and the reading interests shared by people connected to it on bks.social.

Story profile

G-NRIS™ identifies Crown of Light and Shadows primarily as Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, and Romance. Its strongest themes include Magic and Power, Forbidden Romance, Coming of Age, Conflict Between Rival Factions, and Prophecy and Destiny. Prominent narrative patterns include Magical Academy, Non-Magical Outsider, Enemies to Lovers, and Secret Prophecy.

About the author

G.K. DeRosa

G.K. DeRosa

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author G.K. DeRosa writes the kind of books that keep you up way past your bedtime. Think swoony romantasy, dark and broody heartthrobs, and dangerously addictive happily-ever-afters. A lifelong book dragon, she never quite grew up (and refuses to start now). When she isn’t building glittering Fae courts or plotting with charming villains, she’s binging Netflix, passport-stamping, or taste-testing the world with her family. She lives in sunny South Florida with her real-life Prince Charming and their two adorable little royals.

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