Heart of Night and Fire

This addictive romantasy series launch from Tuli (Not Safe for Work) follows young heroine Zarya, who has been raised in gilded captivity by the mysterious Row since the death of her parents. Row insists his refusal to let her leave his gorgeous property by the ocean is for her own safety, though he doesn’t elaborate. When Row disappears, Zarya risks fleeing, discovering a largely abandoned world damned by blight and roving demons save for one still-standing city. There, Zarya is injured while helping two Rakshasas, the city’s elite soldiers, fight a demon. Afterward, the men take her directly to the city’s castle. Unsure whom to trust in court, Zarya focuses on finding out why Row kept her hidden, a quest that unfolds as a twisty and genuinely surprising mystery. Meanwhile, with demons increasingly encroaching on the city, new friendships and potential romance with a Rakshasa inspire a newly self-aware Zarya to fight alongside its inhabitants. Tuli balances mystery, magic, and romance to create a page-turning tale. It’s sure to be a hit. (Nov.)