Overview

Instant USA TODAY Bestseller ""Bursting with angst, longing, and sizzling banter.""— Stacia Stark, New York Times bestselling author of We Who Will Die An alliance between enemies. A weapon of untold power. And a bond that could rewrite fate. Fall into the viral, propulsive dark romantasy everyone is reading. A fae assassin with the power of illusion, sworn to a king she despises. An enigmatic grim reaper, searching for freedom. Enemies collide in an unlikely alliance, brimming with desire and destruction. The stunning first edition hardcover will feature sprayed edges, designed endpapers, a custom-stamped case, and a premium dust jacket with metallic shine—while supplies last! She is not the pet they tamed. Blessed with the power of illusion, Iverson Pomeroy has many tricks up her sleeve. However, none of them are a match for the enchanted collar at her throat that keeps her bound as assassin and mistress to a ruthless king. Forced to play the role of his obedient pet, she plots in secret to destroy him and claim the freedom she has always been denied. She is the beast they let inside. When a mysterious reaper, Thorne, arrives in the city with his sights set on the same weapon Ivy needs—the only artifact that can remove her collar—she must decide how far she’s willing to go. And she will show no mercy. With a tenuous alliance tying them together, Ivy learns there is more to her reluctant companion than meets the eye... He sparks her curiosity and ignites dangerous desires within her. But will the secrets they harbor destroy each other? And does it even matter, when anyone who so much as touches Thorne dies? Print edition includes a special bonus chapter from Thorne’s perspective! Tropes: Enemies to lovers / shadow daddy / female assassin / who did this to you / unlikely alliance / he falls first / banter / touch her and die / slow burn / morally gray MMC

Full Product Details

9781638934448

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Heir of Illusion is a tale as smoldering, sensuous, and bloody as its protagonist. An incredibly impressive debut combining all that is best of the romantasy genre into something new, brutally violent, sizzling with tension, and utterly addictive to read. This is how you do romantasy!” —Brigitte Knightley, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy “Tension, angst, a delicious slow burn—I devoured this book. My top read this year!” —Geneva Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Filthy Rich Vampire and Filthy Rich Fae “Unique, twisty, and fun, Heir of Illusion is bursting with angst, longing, and sizzling banter.” —Stacia Stark, author of A Court This Cruel and Lovely Praise for The Romantasy Sensation of 2026 ""Taylor’s spellbinding romantasy debut, the first in her Verran Isles series[...] delivers some genuine third-act surprises and makes Ivy’s desperate struggle for her freedom emotionally resonant.” — Publishers Weekly ★★★★★ “If you love enemies-to-allies, swoon-worthy tension, mind-blowing twists, and a romance that will consume your soul… mark your calendars for Feb 2026 and read this book. ASAP.” ★★★★★ “The end of this book had me gobsmacked??? I’m READY for book 2.” ★★★★★ “That whirlwind of an ending had me shocked to my core. A big round of applause to the author for that spectacular act of deception.” ★★★★★ “SALIVATING for the next book” ★★★★★ “This book changed me on a molecular level…. If this is how Madeline Taylor begins a series, I can only imagine the masterpiece that’s coming next.” ★★★★★ “obsessed. gagged. stunned. and feral for book two.” ★★★★★ “If you’re into messy emotions, high stakes, and a romance that burns slow but bites hard, add this one to your list immediately.” ★★★★★ “INCREDIBLE NEW ROMANTASY ALERT!! You do NOT want to sleep on Heir of Illusion! The plot is fast paced, the magic is so cool, the FMC is an absolute badass and this story is positively addictive!!! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!” ★★★★★ “I need thorne and his shadows like I need air. new book bf unlocked.” ★★★★★ “Every time I thought I had it figured out, this book slapped me in the face with another jaw-dropping revelation.” ★★★★★ “what an exciting and incredible debut for a high stakes and fast paced romantasy book!” ★★★★★ “I'm living for the twists and turns, the banter, the tension between Ivy and Thorne, and the unique magic system and world building.” ★★★★★ “I will not know peace until I have book 2 in my hands!” ★★★★★ “Six Stars. Stop everything and read this book.” ★★★★★ “jaw is ON THE FLOOR?? I need book 2 immediately.” ★★★★★ “Top five read of the year, hands down. The world, the characters, the dynamics - absolutely luscious!” ★★★★★ “This book is perfection on every scale.”

“Heir of Illusion is a tale as smoldering, sensuous, and bloody as its protagonist. An incredibly impressive debut combining all that is best of the romantasy genre into something new, brutally violent, sizzling with tension, and utterly addictive to read. This is how you do romantasy!” —Brigitte Knightley, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy “Tension, angst, a delicious slow burn—I devoured this book. My top read this year!” —Geneva Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Filthy Rich Vampire and Filthy Rich Fae ""Bursting with angst, longing, and sizzling banter.""— Stacia Stark, New York Times bestselling author of We Who Will Die Praise for The Romantasy Sensation of 2026 ""Taylor’s spellbinding romantasy debut, the first in her Verran Isles series[...] delivers some genuine third-act surprises and makes Ivy’s desperate struggle for her freedom emotionally resonant.” — Publishers Weekly ★★★★★ “If you love enemies-to-allies, swoon-worthy tension, mind-blowing twists, and a romance that will consume your soul… mark your calendars for Feb 2026 and read this book. ASAP.” ★★★★★ “The end of this book had me gobsmacked??? I’m READY for book 2.” ★★★★★ “That whirlwind of an ending had me shocked to my core. A big round of applause to the author for that spectacular act of deception.” ★★★★★ “SALIVATING for the next book” ★★★★★ “This book changed me on a molecular level…. If this is how Madeline Taylor begins a series, I can only imagine the masterpiece that’s coming next.” ★★★★★ “obsessed. gagged. stunned. and feral for book two.” ★★★★★ “If you’re into messy emotions, high stakes, and a romance that burns slow but bites hard, add this one to your list immediately.” ★★★★★ “INCREDIBLE NEW ROMANTASY ALERT!! You do NOT want to sleep on Heir of Illusion! The plot is fast paced, the magic is so cool, the FMC is an absolute badass and this story is positively addictive!!! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!” ★★★★★ “I need thorne and his shadows like I need air. new book bf unlocked.” ★★★★★ “Every time I thought I had it figured out, this book slapped me in the face with another jaw-dropping revelation.” ★★★★★ “what an exciting and incredible debut for a high stakes and fast paced romantasy book!” ★★★★★ “I'm living for the twists and turns, the banter, the tension between Ivy and Thorne, and the unique magic system and world building.” ★★★★★ “I will not know peace until I have book 2 in my hands!” ★★★★★ “Six Stars. Stop everything and read this book.” ★★★★★ “jaw is ON THE FLOOR?? I need book 2 immediately.” ★★★★★ “Top five read of the year, hands down. The world, the characters, the dynamics - absolutely luscious!” ★★★★★ “This book is perfection on every scale.”

“Tension, angst, a delicious slow burn—I devoured this book. My top read this year!” —Geneva Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Filthy Rich Vampire and Filthy Rich Fae “Heir of Illusion is a tale as smoldering, sensuous, and bloody as its protagonist. An incredibly impressive debut combining all that is best of the romantasy genre into something new, brutally violent, sizzling with tension, and utterly addictive to read. This is how you do romantasy!” —Brigitte Knightley, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

Author Information

Madeline Taylor is a fantasy romance author with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. She loves to escape reality whenever possible, so reading and writing are great outlets for her. Her other notable hobbies include maladaptive daydreaming, listening to Taylor Swift, and being bossed around by a senile pug. She currently resides in Arkansas.

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