The Antlered King

Readers return to the land of the Chron in the conclusion of “The Raven’s Trade” duology. At the end of the previous book, Hellevir left Rochidain and her role as Princess Sullivain’s personal resurrectionist. She spends the next three-and-a-half years as a traveling herbalist and hides her ability to raise the dead. But news about a brewing rebellion against the royal family eventually reaches Hellevir, and she realizes she can never truly escape her relationship with Sullivain or her reputation for bringing people back from the dead. Hellevir’s love for Sullivain impacts many of her decisions throughout the novel, and their romance is primarily one of conflict. While there is a love story at its core, this is not a romantasy with a happy ending; instead, it’s an excellent choice for readers who enjoy a slower-paced fantasy. The stakes are still high, but Gordon takes the time to weave together Hellevir’s actions during the kingdom’s civil war and her time in the afterlife with the mysterious ruler of Death.