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A Splintered Kingdom
An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace.
A Haunted Warrior
Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate.
A Vengeful Knight
Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne’s lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity’s behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria—the very fae he blames for his parents’ deaths.
An Unwinnable Challenge
With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic… as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.
This is the Arcane Crucible.
An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace.
A Haunted Warrior
Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate.
A Vengeful Knight
Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne’s lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity’s behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria—the very fae he blames for his parents’ deaths.
An Unwinnable Challenge
With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic… as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.
This is the Arcane Crucible.
68 Reviews
4.5
Kelsey Fletcher
Created 1 day agoShare
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“I got this as an ARC but all opinions are my own.
I don’t even know where to start because this was just so good. Elyria Lightbreaker aka The Revenant is a ferocious shadow mommy fae who enters the Arcane Crucible to protect Kit but ends up getting so much more in the process. Sir Cedric Thorne is a human knight who’s been raised to detest Arcanians and trained to be humankind’s Champion in the Crucible at all costs but there’s so much more to him than meets the eye. This was a high stakes mission for all the Champions who entered the Crucible and they have their strength, magic, and spirit tested at every turn. The way Gretchen was able to bring this world and these characters to life was truly remarkable. There were so many moments that had me on the edge of my seat and so many moments that made me cry my eyes out and other moments that had me gasping in shock at the actions of certain characters. This was no spice but there’s definitely some romantic moments that have me begging for more. The ending to this had me quivering with rage at the betrayals but I absolutely cannot wait for book two! This was an extremely moving and beautiful story about unity in the face of adversity and it was incredible.”Cloudsofescape
Created 3 days agoShare
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“- Slow burn
- Dual POV
- Deadly Trials
- She saves him
- Forced Proximity
- Queer rep
- Found Family
5 ⭐
Thank you so much Gretchen for letting me take part in reading this arc! Your book is honestly phenomenal and it has become a favourite of mine and I really look forward to the next one! This releases March 11th, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT! IT IS INCREDIBLE!!! 🖤
This book is absolutely incredible. It gives off to me dungeons and dragons/hunger games vibes. It truly was an amazing read. The different races and the show of a rift between both humans and non-humans. The queer rep was lovely to see as well! The world building was wonderful, I really felt like I was watching a tv series or even a movie. The trials they endured had me gripped onto my e-reader, it was just pure action for each one, never a moment I got bored.
The characters were all written wonderfully, I absolutely favourited Thraigg, I found him to be hilarious and of course he’s a dwarf, who doesn’t love dwarves? I also really adored Zephyr, tbh I loved all of them, they were all amazing! But of course Elyria and Cedric, observing their relationship from start to finish was beautiful, the growth, the change. Seperately they both are amazing characters I love a lot.
This book has really left me with a lot of emotions, there was twists in it, shocks, betrayals and deaths. I cried at one specific part that I will not mention. But it was an insanely wild ride and the ending has left me SHOOKETH!!! But I feel slightly empty now that I’ve finished it.
Thank you again for letting me read this arc Gretchen and I’m so excited for the next in the series to come, so I can be reunited with the characters again! 🥹🖤”Whyevernot
Created 4 days agoShare
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“GRETCHEN. WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THIS BOOK.
First I should say thank you to the author and QP Book tours for the e-arc. I FLEW through this book at top speed. I had heard wonderful things about it, but was not prepared.
Do you like shadow magic, but SHE'S the centuries-old fae wielding it? Do you like a black-cat/golden-retriever FMC/MMC? Do you like her saving him? Do you like games and trials, high stakes world-saving, and meddling gods? I like all these things, and more, and this book has them.
We meet our FMC, Elyria (aka the Revenant), down in the depths of her despair. Many years after the war and after the loss of her soulmate, she is coping with alcohol and other avoidance behaviors. Sir Cedric Thorne is a human whose family was killed when he was a child, and he blames the Revenant for their deaths. OF COURSE they end up in the same place (forced proximity FTW) and hijinks ensue. In the best, most traumatizing ways.
This had good world-building and a good build up into the action. I loved the supporting characters and the found family aspect, and the BANTER and TENSION. I absolutely cannot wait to see where this goes in the next book because I have THEORIES and I suspect this is going to keep getting better.”
ghostlypeach_
Created 6 days agoShare
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“My goodness do I love it when an author plays with my feelings GAHHHHH all the thoughts but damn this is just so good SO GOOOOOD I cannot word
👻 book 1/? epic romantic high fantasy
🍑 slow burn
👻 dual POV
🍑 enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
👻 shadow mommy
🍑 she saves him
👻 deadly trials and challenges
🍑 found family
Firstly a massive thank you to Gretchen, the author, for this eARC 😍
This book really was such a journey and I loved every single second. It has everything: high stakes, amazing side characters, plot twists, a romance that’ll have you screaming, so much ‘who did this to you’ and wound tending (I was in heaven). It’s just. So. GOOD.
The plot was easy to follow and the magic and world felt familiar with such a unique spin on it. The MCs are truly enemies to reluctant allies and was showcased so well? The development of their relationship was perfection and the slow burn BURNS 😮💨 Also the side characters? Perfection. I have so many favourites. They’re all so fleshed out and unique you will absolutely love them
Honestly this book holds such a standing in the fantasy genre for me. If you love Lord of the Rings but wanted higher stakes, trials and a badass sarcastic FMC with a slow burn to (quite literally) die for, you’ve got to read this one. Just expect to go through every emotion as you read. The good and the bad 👀😬🤭
Smoke & Scar will be released on March 11th!!”Start a Book Club
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