Young adult fantasy frequently includes an element of romance where the heroine is aided by her true love to overcome adversity. Together they defeat the evil entities that threaten them. Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo finds Selestra, a witch who prophesies peoples' deaths, rescued from imprisonment in a tower by Nox whose death in inextricably tied to her own. A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass is a star crossed love story where the princess is abducted by a soldier from an enemy kingdom, who ultimately falls in love with her. They join forces to bring a peaceful solution to the conflict between the two kingdoms. Crossed by Lynn Rush is the first in a trilogy about an angel who falls to earth and the reclusive artist who comes to her aid to help her escape people who are pursuing her.
In Princess of Souls, a reimagining of the fairytale Rapunzel, Selestra Somniatis spends her days imprisoned in a tower on Floating Mountain. She is destined to replace her mother as the king's witch, who prophesies deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Participants must survive three threats to their lives during a fortnight. The first threat is predicted by the king's witch, giving the person a chance to avoid death. If they die, which most do, their soul will be consumed by King Seryth to extend his immortality. If they live, a wish will be granted, and they are given the opportunity to attempt to survive the remaining fatal encounters. Seryth will cede his immortality to anyone who succeeds, which, of course, no one does. Enter Nox Laederic, a Last Army soldier who hopes to kill Seryth in revenge for his father's murder. Selestra, who can prophesy a person's death by merely touching them, is allowed to practice on Nox. She foresees that Nox's death is intertwined with her own. She convinces him to help her escape to an island safe from Seryth's rule, where a fabled sword is hidden that must be used to end Seryth's life. Needless-to-say the escape is fraught with danger and adventure. Nox and Selestra's witty banter adds to this slow-burning romance.
A Thousand Heartbeats, a Romeo and Juliet-esque romance, finds Annika, the princess of Kadier betrothed to her scheming cousin Nicholas for political gain. When they leave the castle to tour the kingdom celebrating their engagement, she is kidnapped by Lennox, a Dahrainian soldier who believes that the Kaderian throne belongs to his family. Annika is dismayed to find that the stories of her family being chosen by the six clans to rule is a myth. Lennox tells her that when his father was executed for attempting to reclaim the throne, her mother was abducted and murdered in retaliation. Annika escapes her imprisonment in a dungeon only to be recaptured by Lennox, who then lets her go. Her father King Theron arranges a meeting on a nearby island with the Dahrainian leader Kawan to negotiate a truce. Annika is appalled to find out he is actually planning an ambush. In the ensuing battle Annika and Lennox face off in a sword fight that ends when a hurricane hits land and they end up sheltering together in a cave where they share their secrets and fall in love. When the storm subsides, they leave the cave and find that the survivors have retreated, and Annika's father and brother have been gravely injured. Annika, who has been declared acting regent, wants to pursue peace and find out the truth about who should actually be King of Kadier. In alternating chapters from Annka and Lennox's points of view, the action-packed story unfolds, filled with palace intrigue, conflicting histories and steamy romance.
Crossed, the first book in a new paranormal/fantasy trilogy, introduces Trinity Dawkins, who crosses between two parallel realms and lands in Berg, Minnesota, where she is rescued by reclusive artist Jayden Brown. At first Trinity is blind and has amnesia, but she slowly regains her sight and memory. Jayden is amused by her unfamiliarity with life on earth and voracious appetite, but when she sprouts wings, he is mystified. Their mutual attraction becomes an unbreakable bond, when Jayden touches a gold bracelet she wears and a brand is transferred onto his wrist. Then enemies from her world back home appear on Earth. Jayden does everything he can to protect the mysterious angel who has become his muse. Ultimately, they find other angels on Earth who help them in their quest to defeat Trinity's enemies and seal the opening between realms. The sequels Winged (January 23) and Clipped (May 17) will be released in 2023.
