Series: The Ember War # 3
Format: Kindle, 340 pages
Release Date: December 28, 2024
Publisher: Leia Stone LLC
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
When empires fall, love is the ultimate sacrifice.
When Aisling ascends the throne as empress, the weight of the crown is heavier than she ever imagined. Her father’s brutal murder leaves her with two burning purposes: find the killer and make them pay.
But her quest for vengeance leads to an act of retaliation that shifts the tides of war—and awakens a formidable new enemy.
Through the chaos, Kohen is her anchor. His unwavering love and loyalty are the only constants in her life. Yet when a shocking revelation emerges, Aisling is forced to question everything she believed to be true—even the bond she thought unbreakable.
In a world where trust is a fragile weapon, can Aisling hold her empire together, or will her pursuit of justice cost her everything?
Lies That Bind is the second installment in author Leia Stone's The Ember War series. This story picks up right where Lies That Bleed left off with a brutal cliffhanger. (Thankfully, the author does a good job summarizing the previous book's events, so you are not lost.) Lies That Bind is a fantasy romance novel, part of a series that blends elements of paranormal fantasy, urban fantasy, and romantic fantasy. Aisling Everhart is now navigating the heavy mantle of the empress of Amersea after her father’s brutal murder by an unknown assassin during an attack by the Luskans.
What unfolds is a gripping tale of vengeance, love, and betrayal that keeps you on edge until the final page. Aisling’s journey is fraught with challenges—her quest to avenge her father’s death sets off a chain of events that escalates the war and awakens a formidable new enemy. She’s fierce, loyal, and unrelenting, yet her vulnerabilities shine through as she grapples with the weight of leadership and the shifting loyalties around her. In her fragile position, a strong enemy emerges, as well as the end of the search for her father's murderer.
We are also introduced to new key players (like Maxim) that will likely be front and center in the next installment after Aisling orders and an attack on the Luskan capital. With these new developments, Aisling might find a truth that will shatter everything she had come to depend on. Kohen Badshah, her anchor and love interest, remains a standout with his unwavering devotion, though a shocking revelation tests their bond in ways that feel both heartbreaking and inevitable. Even though she knows her people will never accept him, Aisling can't seem to push Kohen away.
He has been by her side throughout all of her grief, fears, and frustrations. Their slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance continues to simmer, offering enough tension to keep readers invested without overshadowing the larger plot. The pacing is relentless—action-packed scenes flow into quieter, introspective moments with a balance that feels natural rather than forced. There was a moment in this book where I knew what would happen before it happened because I had said previously that betrayal would likely stun readers.
Now, where does the author go from here? Aisling is under serious threat from Luskan and its new leader, who demands she marry him within 3 months. Thanks to the betrayal, she is facing a two-front war that could devastate her country, and she hasn't exactly been through training to inspire people to fight for her. The magical system, involving bonding with creatures, is intriguing, and the political tensions between territories add flavor.
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