Her Pretty Knight

Rae introduces an inventive if somewhat underexplored magic system in the brisk kickoff to her Sapphic Lady Knights series. In this world, magic is thought of as a corrupting plague and those with access to it routinely transform into inhuman monsters called malignants. As a result, all witches are being rounded up and executed. To escape such a fate, death witch Della and her sister, Anette, strike a deal with Princess Cordelia of Hevalon. Cordelia is eager to avoid an arranged marriage to Prince Valin of Glea and, given their striking resemblance, asks Della to go in her stead and use her magic to appear to die before the ceremony. The logic of this plan doesn’t hold much water, but it serves to set a captivating plot in motion as Della undertakes the deception and winds up falling not for her supposed betrothed but for the bodyguard he assigns her, Sir Galleon, one of Glea’s famed lady knights. Rae makes her heroines’ yearning for each other palpable as they fight their feelings amid plentiful court intrigue. Unfortunately, plot twists are set up with little payoff, Valin’s late turn to all-out villainy feels somewhat unearned, and the worldbuilding, while fascinating, raises more questions than answers. Still, the simmering romantic tension and striking leading ladies offer plenty to enjoy. (Self-published)