Available November 7

A kingdom in danger. A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

 

Eadlyn’s homeland teeters on the brink of ruin. After years under her father’s violent, indulgent rule, Essix is fractured and vulnerable—an easy target for enemy kingdoms. With her younger brother newly crowned and the throne unsteady, Eadlyn offers the only thing she has: herself.

 

A marriage alliance with the fierce Nords may be Essix’s last hope for survival. But it means leaving behind everything she’s ever known and placing her fate in the hands of a people known for their brutality. Still, Eadlyn is willing to risk it all and trust the God she’s always believed in to protect her and her country.

 

Aevar has already had and lost his chance at love. Now, marrying the Essian princess is simply a duty, one that will secure peace and strengthen both their peoples. What he won’t do is open his heart again. Determined to keep his distance, he focuses only on keeping her safe from those who oppose their fragile alliance.

 

But as the bond between them grows and dangers gather, old wounds begin to heal. Together, they must learn to trust not just each other, but the providence of a God greater than any kingdom.

 

 

Content Guide

Difficult Themes

 

  • This story explores themes of grief, including memories and references to the loss of a spouse, parent, and infant/child. If you have experienced a similar loss, you may find this difficult.
  • Slavery is depicted but never glorified.
  • While not depicted, physical abuse by a parent is referenced within the story.

 

Romance

 

  • The romance is a Level 1 on the Closed Door Romance scale. Only light physical affection and non-detailed kisses. Marital intimacy is implied, but the door stays firmly shut and is never depicted on page.

  • The Christian heroine marries a nonbeliever. This reflects the historical context of arranged and political marriages. This narrative choice is not an endorsement of Christians willfully pursuing such relationships today. It is simply the reality of the time and world I’m writing in. (Think Esther.)

 

Violence

 

  • Battles and bloodshed come with the Viking-inspired territory, and violence is presented at a PG-13 level. Blood and injuries (primarily from blades) are mentioned but not described graphically.
  • Sexual violence is threatened and alluded to but is non-descriptive.

 

Alcohol/Smoking

 

  • Ale and mead are consumed as these were common beverages in the Viking Age. Drunkeness is portrayed negatively within the story.
  • There are no depictions of smoking.

 

Language

 

  • No foul language here. The strongest it gets is an indirect “he swore” or “he cursed.”