Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”
River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.
Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.
Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this quest: no romance.
But we all know how this ends, don’t we?
Release Date: Mar 24, 2026
Heat Level: Sensual
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Price: $11.99
My first Asher book was a fun fantasy romp with high stakes, but not high anxiety.
I won’t lie, I didn’t read book one in this series, but thankfully, I didn’t need to. The book was a bit slow to get started, as I had to familiarize myself with a new world, new terms, and a new system of magic. Interestingly enough, the author trio (yes, you read that right, there are 3 authors) doesn’t bombard with explanation, they actually treat the reader like an intelligent being who can form and infer from context clues, which I did successfully. So, I’ve explained a bunch of little things, but what about the story?
This is a fantasy… erm, romantasy. There is plenty of romance from three main characters who aren’t looking for romance. They all want to be the hero in their own story. Galwell, recently brought back from the dead, wants to discover a new purpose and get back to what he was good at, heroic quests. Thessia, queen of the realm, is looking to be a hero for once in her life, take control of her destiny, and stop being the damsel. River, an assassin, is just trying to show she has the chops for the high-paying gigs… even if that gig is killing Galwell and goes against her assassin’s guild creed. See, already there are twists and turns. They don’t stop with the intertwining.
Between plots, murders, framing, musical performance, acrobatics, and even a pet snail, there were so many ups and downs that I found myself mesmerized. The cast of characters is large, and for those who get overwhelmed by voluminous stories, this might be one you should sit out. But if you enjoy humor, romance at the most inopportune times, and plenty of action paired with adventure, this one is for you.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book. All three leads showed strong growth, satisfactory romantic endings, and a quest that certainly met all criteria. Overall, I highly recommend it for those who enjoy action, adventure, and romance. This has world-building chops comparable to big names like Yarros or Martin, but with humor and elements that make you feel more modern-day in a fantastical setting.
~ Landra
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