The Ascended

The high-stakes trials of Carissa Broadbent's The Serpent and the Wings of Night meet the forbidden romance of Keri Lake's Nocticadia in the first of the Aesymarean Duet, as twins thrust into a brutal tournament for godhood must navigate forbidden desires and their own drive for revenge. In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight-a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension. But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into purpose: to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods-the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother. To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything. What she doesn't expect is her twin brother's powers suddenly manifesting, forcing him into the trials alongside her-leaving Thais to protect more than just herself. Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a mentor: X?l. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them. Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm-a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves. Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance. And the cost of godhood is rising. Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons. Some stars are meant to fall.

The high-stakes trials of Carissa Broadbent's The Serpent and the Wings of Night meet the forbidden romance of Keri Lake's Nocticadia in the first of the Aesymarean Duet, as twins thrust into a brutal tournament for godhood must navigate forbidden desires and their own drive for revenge. In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight-a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension. But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into purpose: to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods-the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother. To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything. What she doesn't expect is her twin brother's powers suddenly manifesting, forcing him into the trials alongside her-leaving Thais to protect more than just herself. Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a mentor: X?l. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them. Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm-a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves. Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance. And the cost of godhood is rising. Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons. Some stars are meant to fall.

⚔ THE INSTANT VIRAL SENSATION! An all-consuming, epic romantasy – perfect for fans of Dire Bound, Phantasma AND ACOTAR This gorgeous standard edition of The Ascended includes a foiled jacket, illustrated endpapers and a special hardcover case design. REVENGE CALLS HER. DUTY BINDS HIM In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. Secretly, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight . But, when Thais’ powers are exposed , she finds herself forced into the deadly Trials of Ascension -where those with divine powers are given a choice: ascend. . .or die trying. Trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into purpose: to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods . Only the trials bind her to a mentor: Xül. A dark prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dangerous secrets of his own. He might be sinfully hot, but Thais cannot let herself be drawn into the heat that pulses between them. Because, to take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything . . . --------------------------------------------------- Readers are OBSESSED! 'The yearning , the tension ? To DIE for!!' '6 agonizing, beautiful, tortuous stars of absolute perfection .' 'The ending... oh, God , the ending ....' 'I've been sitting in stunned silence since finishing this book!' ' INFINITY stars' 'I have CHILLS !! Literally left my jaw on the FLOOR' 'The plot? Amazing . The romance? PERFECT . The character development and relationships? Done to absolute perfection !' 'This was I NCREDIBLE !!!' ' Listen , I'm going to need you to RUN DONT WALK!!'

⚔ THE INSTANT VIRAL SENSATION! An all-consuming, epic romantasy – perfect for fans of Dire Bound, Phantasma AND ACOTAR This gorgeous standard edition of The Ascended includes a foiled jacket, illustrated endpapers and a special hardcover case design. REVENGE CALLS HER. DUTY BINDS HIM In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. Secretly, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight . But, when Thais’ powers are exposed , she finds herself forced into the deadly Trials of Ascension -where those with divine powers are given a choice: ascend. . .or die trying. Trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into purpose: to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods . Only the trials bind her to a mentor: Xül. A dark prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dangerous secrets of his own. He might be sinfully hot, but Thais cannot let herself be drawn into the heat that pulses between them. Because, to take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything . . . --------------------------------------------------- Readers are OBSESSED! 'The yearning , the tension ? To DIE for!!' '6 agonizing, beautiful, tortuous stars of absolute perfection .' 'The ending... oh, God , the ending ....' 'I've been sitting in stunned silence since finishing this book!' ' INFINITY stars' 'I have CHILLS !! Literally left my jaw on the FLOOR' 'The plot? Amazing . The romance? PERFECT . The character development and relationships? Done to absolute perfection !' 'This was I NCREDIBLE !!!' ' Listen , I'm going to need you to RUN DONT WALK!!'