Cover of Throne of Nightmares: A Novel

Throne of Nightmares: A Novel

by Kerri Maniscalco
4.3

About this book

In this action-packed standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco, a book of dangerous magic draws two readers into a perilous quest to find it—and their own happy ending. “Beware of waking the gods, their dreams are often our nightmares...” A prince who prefers games of the head to those of the heart. Prince Sloth hates leaving his enchanted library, but when a forgotten deity threatens the very fabric of the Underworld, he’s thrust into a race against time. He must find the Book of Nightmares—an ancient artifact that has the power to break worlds—before it unleashes a deadly game to free its master, the Goddess of Night. When a betrayal leaves him marked, and desperate, his path collides with a young woman who possesses the legendary Phoenix Tear—a portal stone unlike any other. A librarian who is all sweet sunshine … until she burns. Lore Brimstone has always loved getting lost in a book—but she never meant literally. Yet, after visiting a traveling caravan, she quickly finds herself transported to a terrifying but oddly familiar world—with the worst, twisted prince at her side. Realizing they are living out her favorite novels one by one, they face off against an increasingly dark magic as they try to survive the story. A twisted tale that means they can’t trust themselves—or their hearts. As Lore and Sloth navigate the pages of her beloved novels gone wrong, she must channel her inner main character to defeat the Book of Nightmares before the wall between the gods and mortals comes crashing down, dooming them all.

Available Formats

Hardcover: $13.98 Audiobook: $0.00

What readers are saying

Annie

Lore is us. We are Lore.

"Throne of Nightmares was spectacular—I loved every single minute of it. This book truly feels like it was written for fantasy lovers who immerse themselves in stories and want nothing more than to open a book and jump right in. Kerri wrote something unlike anything I have read before, something I think all readers have dreamt of but were never quite able to put into words. This story follows Lore as she is whisked away from her ordinary life of reading books and spending time with family into a dream world where she becomes the main character in her favorite fantasy novels. It’s clever, unique, and completely immersive. One thing I absolutely loved about Lore was how relatable she felt. She’s sassy and deeply human, yet always ready for whatever comes her way. I loved how she uses her knowledge and love of books as a survival skill—anticipating plot twists, adapting quickly, and never looking back. I was initially worried it might feel similar to the other interconnected standalones, but Prince Sloth is nothing like his brothers. He’s not morally gray—he’s wise, kind, intelligent, and deeply considerate. He always puts Lore’s safety and feelings first, even when it comes at a cost to himself. Their banter is light, funny, and incredibly natural. I found myself smiling, even kicking my feet, eager to see which story they’d be dropped into next. The ending is filled with twists, and I loved the uncertainty of not knowing what was real and what was a test. Since this is a standalone, I can appreciate it as a slow burn. There is a gentle trickling of attraction that gradually develops throughout the story. There was one trope I’m not typically a fan of, but it was minor and didn’t take away from what is, for me, a five-star read. I won't mention it because it would be a big spoiler. If you didn’t love Prince Gluttony’s story and are hesitant to continue, I’m genuinely urging you to still pick this one up. It’s short, magical, beautifully written, and the audiobook is phenomenal—you won’t regret it. ["

March 18, 2026 Verified Purchase
Margaret Minoff

Throne of Nightmares - Must Read!

"This is the third installment in a spinoff series from the Kingdom of the Wicked world. Each book follows the story of a different Prince of Sin, Sloth being the center character in this novel. All the installments in the Prince of Sin series can be read as standalones, but I would highly suggest at least starting with the first in the series – Throne of the Fallen. Extra points if you’ve read The Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy, as all princes made an appearance. This series delivers consistent tropes that checks off multiple boxes for a romantasy reader – enemies to lovers, quests and adventures, yearning, spice, and a happily ever after ending. These are quick reads that you can go into expecting to walk away feeling fulfilled if you enjoy the above tropes. Throne of Nightmares follows the story of the Prince of Sloth and a small-town librarian, Lore. The two are thrust into a journey to stop the Goddess of Night and Book of Nightmares from unleashing their terrible and dark power over the world. Sloth, a man who values books before people, and reason and logic before his heart must work with Lore, a woman who is sunshine captured in a bottle and an avid romance reader with an exceptional imagination. Things become complicated when the two are faced with a deadly set of trials, each level a different novel that Lore has read and favorited. While it might seem like a reader’s fantasy, the Book of Nightmares has warped each story to include a dark and dangerous twist. Sloth and Lore must work together to overcome each story and advance to the next trial before an ancient evil is set loose and the world that they know ceases to exist. Throne of Nightmares takes a lighter approach towards the main conflict than previous novels. This can be attributed to our book-loving FMC. Lore’s internal monologue and her obsession with morally grey characters make her a loveable main protagonist in our story. Kerri does a wonderful job building Lore’s personality into someone that a romantasy book lover can root for. I found myself laughing out loud and agreeing wholeheartedly with most of Lore’s thoughts and actions, simply because I saw myself in her. Another slam dunk in the series – I’m excited to see which Prince of Sin is selected next, only three left! ["

April 29, 2026 Verified Purchase

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