The Exile's Curse. First in a brand new historical fantasy romance series set in the world of the Four Arts novels coming soon from M.J. Scott, RITA® Award nominated author of the Half-Light City series, the TechWitch series and the Wild Side Series.
Second chances can be complicated...
Chloe de Montesse never thought she'd return from exile. Now she has a chance to reclaim the life she fled after her husband was executed for treason. But coming home again isn't as simple as it sounds. Her magic is rusty, her family want her to wrap her in cotton wool, and Illvyan society views her as a scandal waiting to happen. Worse, her new life keeps throwing her into the path of the man who destroyed her old one.
Lucien de Roche's magic bares the truth for all to see. He's used it to serve the empire, but there's one secret he's always kept hidden. The fact that he fell in love with his best friend's wife. And that he's never quite fallen out again. Now Chloe is back and it's no secret at all that she loathes him for his part in her husband's death. A sensible man would forget her...but he's tired of being sensible. And determined to keep her safe.
When a mission from the emperor takes them both into the wildest heart of the empire, to a country where power and loyalties collide, and old plots simmer back to life, Chloe finds herself dragged back into the past she wants to leave behind. And her only way out might be Lucien. The man she thinks she can never trust. The man she wants to hate. Or hates to want...
Author's note: For tropes and CW, please check the author's website.
You don't need to read the Four Arts books first but maybe you'd like to catch up?
Book 1 – The Shattered Court
Book 2 – The Forbidden Heir
Book 3 – The Unbound Queen
Plus Courting The Witch, a prequel novella (previously published in the Warlords, Witches and Wolves Anthology, now including an all new bonus second epilogue).
What people are saying about M.J. Scott
The Shattered Court - nominated for Best Paranormal Romance in the 2016 RITA® Awards.
"Scott (the Half-Light City series) opens her Four Arts fantasy series with the portrait of a young woman who's thrust into the center of dangerous political machinations... Romance fans will enjoy the growing relationship between Cameron and Sophie, but the story's real strength lies in the web of intrigue Scott creates around her characters."
—Publishers Weekly
"Fans of high fantasy and court politics will enjoy The Shattered Court. Sophie is such a great heroine..."
—RT Book Reviews
The Forbidden Heir
"This story was packed with action, political intrigue, scheming, and high stakes." Alyssa - Goodreads reviewer
"This is a marvellous book. The world building is unique and complex. The characters are well developed and likable and there is intrigue for days. If you've read the first book in the series it only gets better in this one." Lissa - Goodreads reviewer
"'Forbidden Heir' is a great rarity: a sequel that I liked better than the original book." Margaret - Amazon reviewer
The Unbound Queen
This was an incredible 3rd and final book in The Four Arts Series which did a wonderful job of tying up the loose ends and seeing great characters finish a wonderful adventure. Amazon reviewer
Cameron is delectable, Sophie is the right mix of practical, insanely talented and wary of the power broking that is going on around her. It was brilliant to watch her come into her power. Amazon reviewer
The Daughter of Ravens Series
- Fantasy romance
- Historical fantasy romance
- Royal romance
- Gaslight fantasy romance
- Strong heroine romance
- Protector hero romance
- Witch romance
- Witches and demons fantasy
- Magic and witches
