L.B. Black is one of the most criminally underrated authors of our time. In a crowded field of romance novels, her artfully crafted, atmospheric romances should be getting all the attention. That’s where I come in. After the absolute masterpiece that was The Princess of Bones duet, L.B. Black is back with A Pale Kingdom, the first in an MMF paranormal romance series set in a reimagined 18th-century France.
After a brutal war between the vampires and the elves and a tenuous human-vampire alliance, vampires now run the city of Rouvelle. King Lysander, with the help of his court and their propaganda machine, swiftly eliminates any threat to his rule.
Lenore inherited her role as the court executioner; her family is the sole bloodline that operates the guillotine. After her mother fell victim to the very blade she’s training to operate, it’s more important now than ever that she proves herself.
It’s time for her first execution, and her prisoner is Callan Azéma, a human priest arrested for practicing illegal magic. But when he finds himself under her blade, nothing goes according to plan.
Desperate to prove herself, Lenore sets out to hunt the man her guillotine failed to kill. And Vail is hunting her. As the King’s spymaster, it’s his job to bring Lenore and Callan back to court, but his motivations go far beyond politics. His former lover and his friend are on the run, and he’ll stop at nothing to find them.
The three of them are caught in a tangled web of politics and loyalties, and as truths are revealed, they will all have to decide what they’re willing to do to make things right.
Most people inherited land or titles from their ancestors. Lenore had inherited a guillotine.
There’s a balance between these main characters long before their relationship begins on the page. They make sense together, even each other out, and it makes every interaction between them fascinating to read.
A Pale Kingdom has character dynamics that center heavily on tangled emotional connections, with political intrigue and some healthy jealousy to give it all depth. It’s a heady combination.
This book is a true slow burn, setting up the plot and the characters while teasing the readers with a sure promise of passion to come. We get brief glimpses and one dynamic scene between the three of them, but it left me craving so much more in a wonderful way.
Callan had always enjoyed surrender: to his faith, to spirits, and now to these fucking infuriatingly beautiful vampires who both seemed to want him.
The plot is elaborate, but well-paced. This is no hardship to read. Much more of a struggle to put down. The gorgeous language and atmospheric vibe make it entirely enthralling.
Be warned: A Pale Kingdom ends in a cliffhanger. The next book in the series, yet unnamed, is set to arrive on shelves in mid-2027. I, for one, will be picking it up first thing on release day.
Leave a Reply