The Ascended (The Aesymarean Duet)
Parker Lennox
4.7
The Ballad of Phoenix and Monsters
by M.N. Robbins
Published Sep 23, 2025
Category
About this book
In a kingdom ruled by dark magic, Deneb strikes a bargain to save her mother: kill the Crown Prince, Varkein, and the Dark Prince Aedan will grant her the countercurse. But at the royal feast, everything unravels. Varkein isn’t the heartless tyrant she imagined—yet she stabs him anyway. Captured by his guardians, she begs him to let her go. “I swear I’ll return. And my life will be yours.” She does return—but with vengeance burning in her veins. Her mother is dead, murdered by Aedan. Now Deneb vows to destroy him: to slay his seven monsters, reduce his obsidian castle to rubble, and slit his throat. The only path to Aedan’s stronghold is through Scathmore’s Tournament, where fifty contenders battle monsters and cursed magic to the death. To survive, Deneb forges uneasy alliances… while Varkein waits in the shadows. Betrayed and possessive, the Crown Prince intends to claim what she owes him—her life, her loyalty, and maybe her heart. Vengeance has a price. And in Scathmore, love may be the deadliest trap of all.
Available Formats
Kindle: $0.00 Paperback: $12.99
What readers are saying
AlanaSurprises keep you guessing and on your toes, a MUST READ for romantasy lovers
"This book was such an experience. I read this in a very unique way. A group of friends gathered together on a LIVE on TikTok and we took turns reading, breaking each week and not continuing to read in between. And we got to experience it WITH the author as well! Each and every week I waited with bated breath to continue to read this story. M.N. knows how to keep readers guessing throughout the entire book. You may think you know what to expect when you turn the page or start a new chapter. But you will likely be wrong. And the CLIFFHANGER! A surprise until the very end! I am so happy to know that the next book will at least be released sometime this summer! ["
January 20, 2026 Verified Purchase
ashley3.5 stars!
"I give this book a 3.5? It has good potential for the second to come back being everything it needs to be! I was confused at parts, and didn’t really get in to it u til the last half of the book. But I’m now invested and will be reading the second! ["
May 10, 2026