A Court This Cruel and Lovely (Kingdom of Lies)

For years, when I fell asleep, I dreamed of a man with blazing green eyes and a cruel smile.

The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead.

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae.

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt.

And they are burned.

When my forbidden power is discovered, I'm forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore.

To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest.

Our deal is simple: I'll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he'll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I've always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival.

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love. Secrets that could tear this kingdom-and perhaps even this world-apart.

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Published Mar 15, 2023

560 pages

Average rating: 7.67

101 RATINGS

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BreakdownsInMotion

May 31, 2025

10/10 stars

This really took me by surprise. There wasn’t a ton of world building, but the characters and plot were

Courtasaurus Rex

Mar 22, 2025

8/10 stars

What to expect from A Court This Cruel and Lovely:

bookshelf.at.tiffanys

Dec 19, 2024

8/10 stars

Prisca is a girl living in a village with her mother and brother just trying to survive. Every year, the newborns in the village go through a ritual to be stripped of their magic... however, Prisca still has hers. This is a dangerous secret to be keeping, for her and anyone close to her, because if the king's men find out - she's dead. When a boy from her village sees her use her magic, she has to flee her village to save her life and her family.

While attempting to travel to safety, Prisca comes across Lorian and a group of mercenaries. Lorian would prefer to have nothing to do with her and leaves her to fend for herself. When they come in contact again, Prisca must put her anger and hatred for Lorian aside and work with him to complete his mission in exchange for passage to a safe place.

What you get:
- Dual POV
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow burn
- Strong Female MC
- Magic

I literally requested this book on NetGalley based on the cover and title alone and man, I'm glad I did!

I loved the dual POV of this book. It gave you a lot more insight to what Prisca and Lorian were thinking. The banter between these two was great, plenty of sexual tension - they hate each other, but need each other. Prisca is so sassy and snarky, and I love it.

Stacia Stark's writing is great. She does an excellent job at world building. There are twists thrown in that you'll never expect. I'm really looking forward to the romance between Lorian and Prisca picking up in book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Kierstencora

Oct 10, 2024

8/10 stars

Predictable but still entertaining, 3.5⭐️

Bluegirlrose1982

Aug 19, 2024

10/10 stars

Slow build up but it does get good. The story is similar to another book I read but I can't remember which one. Still a good read/listen.