Cover of The Heir & the Spare (Of Flesh & Bone, 5)

The Heir & the Spare (Of Flesh & Bone, 5)

by Harper L. Woods

4.5
Published Feb 3, 2026

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About this book

Bound by a destiny she never chose, the protagonist finds herself trapped in a marriage that serves as a gilded cage. Once hidden away beneath the mountains to escape the machinations of her mother, Mab, she now faces the brutal reality of a life dictated by power and manipulation. Her only solace is the profound, sisterly bond she shares with Estrella, a connection that proves to be both her greatest strength and her most dangerous vulnerability.

When Mab exploits this devotion to force a betrothal that defies the protagonist’s very soul, the stakes shift violently. The exile of Estrella into the depths of Tartarus leaves the protagonist with an impossible choice: surrender to the cold, calculated demands of the Summer Court or risk everything to defy the queen who views love as a fatal flaw. Forced to take her place as a bride and a reluctant ruler, she must navigate a treacherous landscape of divine politics and ancient shadows.

As she journeys toward an uncertain future, she discovers that to save the sister she loves, she must be willing to sacrifice the woman she once was. In this dark, high-stakes collision of duty and desire, the line between queen and captive blurs.

Available Formats

Paperback: $19.99 Hardcover: $18.18

What readers are saying

Amazon Customer

Potential

"Not quite as good as the the rest of the series, but definitely a good read ["

March 25, 2026 Verified Purchase
Nelia

A Fantastic Setup for What’s Coming Next

"I loved how The Heir and the Spare overlaps with What Lurks Between the Fates and What Sleeps Within the Cove. It felt like the perfect little refresher, but from totally new angles. Definitely don’t pick this up unless you’re caught up through What Sleeps Within the Cove though, it has major spoilers. What really hooked me was how clearly this novella is setting the stage for What Roams Beneath the Stars. It’s laying groundwork in a way that made me even more excited for what’s coming. Fallon especially stood out to me here, she’s stubborn, soft, growing, and figuring herself out without losing her fire. I loved her even more after this. Etan… listen. I like him. I also side-eye him. He’s a mess of loyalty, guilt, and feelings he refuses to name, and watching him unravel a bit was honestly fascinating. His POV also gave me a better look at the court politics, which made the world feel richer. And seeing certain moments from the last book through different eyes? So good. Also, Mab? I’m done. Not that I liked her before but fully anti-Mab now. The chemistry between Fallon and Etan is ridiculous. They can deny it all they want, but the tension is loud. Their banter had me grinning, and the slow burn is painfully slow, but the payoff is worth it. That ending should be illegal. I’m still recovering. ["

February 15, 2026
Tracy Bibler

Great read, just not long enough!

"Really great read. I was not very happy when I got it, to realize that this was not about Caldris and Estrella, but Fallon and Etan. I quickly changed my mind and enjoyed it very much! Looking forward to the next book! ["

February 12, 2026 Verified Purchase
readbykaycee

Vibes read

"The narrators are absolutely fantastic. The audio is in dual narration and it is very well done. If you have listened to the other books of the series, it is the same narrators. The story is occurring at the same time as the previous book in the series. But it focuses on Fallon and Etan. There is not a huge overlap in the storyline, but there are moments where we are getting events we’ve already read from a different point of view. I could not put this book down. It is a short novella that you’ll dive into and be done before you know it. I think the ending was supposed to be a big reveal, but I was not surprised by it. I hate Etan. I felt like he is selfish and self-absorbed and uses the guise of doing things for his court in order to do what he really wants. It drives me nuts that Fallon just falls for it. She goes from angry to getting over it without any conversation or thought. These uncomfortable conversations are necessary. This is definitely a romance book with a fantasy backdrop. Etan could have been an amazing complex, well developed character, and even with his point of view, I thought he felt inauthentic. He did not grow on me throughout the book. I love Fallon, but her ability to go from hating him to wanting to jump him without any change or conversation or anything more than just a blink was disheartening. The story feels under developed. That being said this is a total vibes read. It’s a good time. Even though I hated Etan I really enjoyed reading about him and their journey. I do wonder if the next book of the series will be four person point of view based on where the story left off. Read this book if you like a romance book with some fantasy vibes where you’re OK with plot holes If you like Sadie Kincaid’s Forged in bBood, you will probably like this series, though this is not why choose. ["

February 4, 2026

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