Unlock the Dark

Perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer and Lexi Ryan, this debut romantasy stand-alone novel blends an immersive world, unique magic system, and swoon-worthy romance to create an unputdownable read that explores the great and terrible lengths to which love compels us to go. Elia Tallis’s key conjuring abilities, when used with her father’s magic, allow her to open a path to any location. But Papa is dying, and Elia has been forced to painfully tether him to life so she can siphon his magic to provide for her siblings. The god of death, angry to be denied his due, punishes her by claiming her youngest brother as a servant. Desperate to save her brother, Elia accepts a potentially deadly commission from Trys, a kindhearted prince with his nose stuck in a book. Trys wants Elia to help him find a legendary scroll. In exchange, he’ll give her his hand in marriage, securing her and her siblings’ futures and allowing her to release Papa to the afterlife. Despite the danger of their quest, Elia and Trys find themselves increasingly drawn to each other. But when Trys finally reads the scroll, it transforms him into a monster beyond comprehension. Elia will have to wield her power in ways she never thought possible, braving a world of endless darkness and the nightmares dwelling within it to bring home the prince she’s growing to love. She accepted the deal to save her family, but now she’s on a quest to save his life. Can she master her magic and break the curse before the monster consumes the man she loves? A Twist on Beauty and the Beast: He was a kindhearted prince on a quest for a scroll. Now he’s a monster beyond comprehension, and Elia is the only one who can save the man trapped inside. Marriage of Convenience: The original deal was simple: help him find an artifact in exchange for a marriage that would secure her family's future. Now, with his life on the line, the stakes are infinitely higher. Unique Magic System: She’s a key Conjurista who can open a path to anywhere. But to save Trys, Elia must push her abilities to their breaking point, all while siphoning magic from her dying father. Gods and Monsters: With the god of death demanding his due and a cursed prince to save, Elia must navigate a world where both love and magic come with a terrible, terrifying price. A Forbidden Quest: Their journey takes them to the closed-off, floating kingdom of Serratura, a place of immense danger where one wrong step could mean death for them both.