Books like 'Defend the Dawn'
Readers who enjoyed Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
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The King's Traitor by Jeff Wheeler
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsAgainst all odds, Owen Kiskaddon grew from frightened boy to confident youth to trusted officer in the court of Kingfountain—and watched its regent, Severn Argentine, grow ever more ruthless and power-mad. Robbed of his beloved protector, his noble mentor, and his true love, Owen has anticipated the day when the king he fears and reviles, yet loyally serves, will be toppled...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure alternate-history arthurian audiobook book coming-of-age -
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsQuinn is a loyal soldier of Farset, willing to risk her life on behalf of her country and squad. So, when a fellow soldier volunteers for a dangerous mission, Quinn joins him. Their assignment is to investigate the nightly disappearance of the twelve royal princesses, a mystery none have solved as those who attempt it vanish... -
A King of Masks and Magic by Lisa Cassidy
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA storm is coming…The Shadowhawk has been unmasked to those he trusts most. Montagn, the most powerful empire in the world, prepares for invasion. And back in the tangled alleys and dark streets of Dock City, Vengeance lurks.Badly injured after the ambush that nearly claimed his life, Cuinn Acondor is recovering in the Twin Thrones, determined to grow strong so that he can go home and do more... -
The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sequel to the critically acclaimed The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, The Words of Kings and Prophets is the powerful new historical fantasy novel by Shauna Lawless.Ireland, 1000 AD. Gormflaith is unhappily married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, and although a queen she struggles with her limited position...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery retellings europe scandinavia fantasy historical-fiction myths fiction -
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Lake of Sorrow by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAll Kaylina ever longed to do was open her own meadery and prove her worth to her family. She didn’t want to develop feelings for the haughty royal ranger, Lord Vlerion, and she definitely didn’t want to be accused of trying to poison the queen.But a conniving competitor has framed her, and now the Kingdom Guard is hunting her down...Categorized as:
retellings romance fantasy paranormal fiction high-fantasy shapeshifters action-adventure -
The Legendary Inge by Kate Stradling
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAn alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.Plagued by misfortune, Ingrid Norling treks into the woods to clear her head. She emerges a monster-slayer, the shaken executioner of a creature so ferocious that even the king’s strongest warriors could not destroy it... -
The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsShe’d failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price. Kiva thought she knew what she wanted—revenge. But feelings change, people change... everything has changed.After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her... -
Rise of the Weakest Summoner: Volume IX by J. R. Saileri
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThough the request they had received from the Elf Queen was certainly surprising and not easy to fulfill, Ast's group still managed to save Civienne's precious friend, at the same time, saving the Elf Nation from the threat of an evil cult lurking right beneath the capital grounds...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery harem fantasy fiction male-mc romance mythical-creatures action-adventure -
Charlotte and the Cozy Cottage by Abigail Manning
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsShe’s a con artist who’s ready to start fresh. He’s her last target before she’s placed under house arrest. What will happen when he pays her a visit in her new prison? Charlotte Chryses has spent enough time pick-pocketing and thieving to know that it’s not the life she wants, but her father doesn’t feel the same...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery fantasy fiction fairy-tale season-autumn female-author young-adult -
Champions of Time by Sarah Woodbury
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsApril 1294. With David returned from Ireland and Anna from Avalon, the time has come to confront the traitors who sought to assassinate David and take his throne.But before that can happen, David is tested yet again by his inability to account for everything or everyone in his life--and especially the magic that surrounds him...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure alternate-history book fiction high-fantasy historical -
Chief of the Blackgorge by Marvin Knight
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Cultivating Gamelit Harem AdventureA man must repay his debts.Especially when he owes those debts to the princess of the realm. Luckily, she only asks that Theo stay in the palace as her guest. That should be an easy debt to pay, but trouble is afoot in the land and no number of royal dinners or palace balls will stop it... -
The World of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe official guide to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series complete with characters, creatures, new artwork, and more!Everyone knows the story of the assassin queen. But now, fans of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series will be immersed in her journey like never before... -
Winds of Courage by Melanie Cellier
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDelphine possesses great power—too much power for the daughter of farmers. The Mage’s Guild would eagerly take her, but she wants nothing to do with its arrogant and self-centered members. That is, until her friend is abducted in front of her.Now Delphine needs her power, but to access it, she’ll have to apprentice herself to a traveling master... -
Rumpelstiltskin by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsWhen 17-year-old Gemma, a seamstress, is ordered by the insane King Torgen to spin straw into gold or be put to death, she knows her life is forfeit. Unwilling to give up, Gemma tries to escape her prison, earning her the respect of the mysterious mage, Stil. Stil offers to complete the impossible task…for a price...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure adaptations book coming-of-age fairy-tale female-mc -
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Puss in Boots by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThough she dreams of adventure, Gabrielle—a peasant girl—is given only a cat for her inheritance and is told she must marry, immediately. So when the cat, Puss, offers her a life of excitement in exchange for a pair of boots, Gabrielle jumps at the opportunity. Through Puss’s cunning and Gabrielle’s good deeds, they become celebrated heroes in small villages across the country...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure adaptations alpha-mc book fairy-tale female-mc -
The Ring Sets Out by J.R.R. Tolkien
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsContinuing the story of The Hobbit, this seven-volume paperback boxed set of Tolkien's epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings is a collection to treasure. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power; the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth... -
Cultivating Chaos 5 by William D. Arand
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings(Book 5 of 9)Ash’s life is anything but normal these days.Having discovered his Dao, he’s grown in power. Grown to the point that others are now aware of him and that he could be a danger.In this world of martial arts, only the strong and the ruthless survive.Everyone else is merely a stepping stone on their path of Cultivation, or an obstacle to be overcome.Or knocked down... -
The King of Koraha by Maria V. Snyder
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHard on the heels of trouble in Zirdai city, Shyla Sun-Kissed and Rendor are ordered to report to the King of Koraha - a summons that is deadly to ignore. The King holds the key to Koraha's existence, but a formidable new enemy threatens Koraha's very survival and the King desperately needs Shyla and Rendor's help... -
Die With Your Lord by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA DEATH TOO TERRIBLE TO CONTEMPLATE. A LIFE GAMBLED FOR EVERYTHING.DIE WITH YOUR LORD is the last book in the Bluebeard's Secret series following the eerie and romantic story of GIVE YOUR HEART TO THE BARROW.Description coming soon.Warning: This is the last book in the series, but that doesn't mean you're safe. These books are intense. Read at your own risk... -
Hidden Fate by Jen L. Grey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI'm the cause of a war between two brothers… two dragon princes.The king is dead.He was the one person who could’ve protected my fated mate, the true heir to the throne.As a result, Thorn and I are being hunted as we scramble to find a way to survive this war.Even with our allies, our numbers are small… not great enough to fight the prince who is desperate to claim the crown...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery fantasy dragons paranormal romance audiobook shapeshifters fated-mates -
Enchanted by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsASIN moved from less recent editionAfter she is successfully crowned King of Britain and vanquishes those opposed to her rule, Britt thought life would settle down and she could peacefully pretend to be the real King Arthur and search for the lost Round Table. However, her enemies aren’t cowed yet... -
The Emerald Sea by Richelle Mead
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe dazzling conclusion to #1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead's The Glittering Court series.Meet Tamsin, the Glittering Court's hard-angled emerald. Her outsized aspirations make her a fierce competitor, rising to the top of the ranks. But when the ship she boards for the New World is tragically lost at sea, she is quite literally thrown off-course... -
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsA fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure audiobook book dystopia enemies-to-lovers fiction -
Glass Princess by M. Lynn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA shattered princess is a vengeful princess. On the shores of Madra, rebellion has won. Her family dead or missing, Helena seeks help from the kingdom across the sea. Bela. She knows it from stories of magic and war but now finds herself at the mercy of the intimidating Basile queen. Etta is everything Helena wishes she could have been for her family and everything she hopes to be still... -
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Feathers of Snow: A Goose Girl retelling by Alice Ivinya
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn Brianna’s new world of ice and snow, the coldest things by far are the eyes of her betrothed...Brianna bears a deadly secret: she’s not the princess she is pretending to be. If the prince finds out, her life will be forfeit and her country plunged into war...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery arranged-marriage book enemies-to-lovers epic fairy-tale fiction -
Carabosse and the Spindle Spell by Sylvia Mercedes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShy but magically talented, Princess Carabosse only wants to help her people as they face the looming threat of the Warlock King and his daughter, Aurora. Aurora was gifted from infancy with fairy blessings that make her the most lethal magic-user the world has seen in centuries . . . and she wants Cara’s kingdom...Categorized as:
retellings action-adventure book dragons fiction high-fantasy paranormal young-adult -
Champion of the Crown by Melissa McShane
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWillow North has safely brought the boy-King Felix out of Tremontane and secured the support of neighboring Eskandel in his bid to recover the Crown. Now she faces her greatest challenge yet: convincing the Counts and Barons of Tremontane to support Felix as he confronts his uncle, the pretender to the Crown...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery action-adventure book coming-of-age epic female-mc fiction high-fantasy -
A Kingdom of Nomads by S.B. Nova
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs the darkness grows, so must the light…Branded as enemies of the fae kingdom, Serena and her friends are on the run from the witch queen, Morgan. They reach sanctuary, only to discover shocking secrets that separate them.Serena’s newfound destiny takes her to a land plagued by endless war. To survive there, she is forced to bloody her sword, escape an evil king, and confront a god... -
From Flame and Ash by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues Lyric’s epic journey in this spellbinding sequel to From Breath and Ruin.I lost my past, my friends, and even my connections to both worlds when I found out about the Maison realm and my calling. Now I must put that aside and travel back to the kingdoms to continue my training as the Spirit Priestess...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery action-adventure audiobook bisexuality book enemies-to-lovers fated-mates fiction -
Flame Dancer by Hercules West
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGet ready to be transported to a world beyond your wildest imagination in this fast paced adventure! When Alex Khan's military service comes to an end, he's eager for a change. Little does he know, fate has a different plan in store for him . A nearby lightning strike triggers an ancient stone portal, whisking Alex away to a mysterious alien world teeming with magic and danger...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery harem fantasy epic fiction mythical-creatures action-adventure romance -
Scales of Ice & Shadow by Emily L. Schneider
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThey say love conquers all…but what about an army of ruthless dragons?Kaida and Prince Tarrin barely escaped the dungeon of Belharnt with their lives.Now, the Remnant is hunting them while the Royal Palace is under the claw of the Council... -
Venom by Bex Hogan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMarianne has never wanted to be a fighter, but with unrest and discord threatening the Twelve Islands, she will have to battle threats both inside and out in an attempt to attain peace for her homeland.Marianne is now the Viper, but her hopes for peace in the Eastern Isles are being frustrated... -
The Crystal Gryphon by Andre Norton
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe story of Kerovan, whose cloven hooves set him apart from the human folk of the Dales, as he seeks his rights as heir to the throne of Ulm at a time when strange sea invaders are shattering the old kingdoms, and equally enigmatic manifestations of the Old Ones coming to interfere with humanity...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery action-adventure book epic fiction heroic-fantasy high-fantasy historical -
The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBlue de la Cour has her life planned: hide the magic in her blood and continue trying to turn metal into gold so she can help her city’s homeless. But when her father is murdered and a cruel but powerful woman claims custody of Blue and her property, one wrong move could expose her—and doom her once and for all. The only one who can help? The boy she’s loathed since childhood: Prince Kellan...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure adaptations audiobook book enemies-to-lovers epic -
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Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 5 ratings#1 New York Times bestselling YA author Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery romance fantasy historical-fiction historical fiction young-adult -
Of the Curse or the Crown by V.B. Lacey
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPrincess Diaries 2 meets King Midas in this swoon-worthy forbidden romance fantasy standalone.An heir. An Empress. A Queen.As a former rebel leader, Clarissa Aris is no stranger to power. She’s ready to reclaim the throne of the Veridian Empire and is eager to guide her people out of a past of violence and into a better future...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery romance fantasy magic young-adult action-adventure season-winter -
Princess Ahira by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsOnce upon a time? Please! What a joke.Princess Ahira is not your average damsel in distress. She hates being a princess and constantly tries to flee from her mother and her lectures. Pleasantly, her life is shattered on the eve of her sixteenth birthday when she is kidnapped by dragons... -
Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe fifth novel in the bestselling Graceling Realm series is told from the point of view of Hava, Queen Bitterblue’s sister and spy, and chronicles the harrowing journey back to Monsea.Hava sails across the sea toward Monsea with her sister, the royal entourage, and the world’s only copies of the formulas for the zilfium weapon she saved at the end of Winterkeep... -
Trial by Heist by Kel Carpenter, Carrie Whitethorne
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTrial by Heist is a full-length novella set in between Heir of Shadows and Scion of Midnight. This book is told from Johanna’s perspective.The Mother will guide you. The dragon will call.I used to believe that. I used to believe a lot of things.My name is Johanna Kozak, and I have spent over a decade living in the shadows of our very dark world... -
Curse Painter by Jordan Rivet
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsArt is magic. Art is a curse.Briar can curse with the flick of a paintbrush. Her paintings maim, bewitch, and—most effectively of all—destroy. But Briar doesn't want to hurt people anymore. She has fled her family's deadly curse business to start a new life peddling nonlethal jinxes and petty revenge...Categorized as:
retellings sword-sorcery action-adventure adaptations audiobook book coming-of-age fiction -
The Wizard of Bright Isle by MomsDarkSecret
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKieran, a kind-hearted boy living a simple life as a servant on a gentleman’s estate, learns that he has the power to become one of the kingdom’s most feared denizens: a royal wizard. This life-changing event transports him into a world of magic, politics and intrigue, where he becomes involved with the kingdom’s invalid prince Edouard and discovers the true meaning of devotion... -
Herd Mistress by Lisa Blackwood
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMagic. It turned Sorsha Stonemantle's world on its head. Yet she can't hate magic for without it Shadowdancer, the Santhyrian ambassador, would never have come into her life. In the days following their first meeting, Sorsha knows Shadowdancer completes her soul. There's only one problem. He's a horse, or at least, enough like one that any relationship beyond friendship is an impossibly... -
The Bone Thief by Breeana Shields
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“I was absolutely swept away by the world of The Bone Charmer.” – Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns seriesA deft exploration of the weight of grief and cost of revenge, Breeana Shields’s Bone Charmer duology reaches its spine-tingling conclusion in this high-octane fantasy-thriller... -
Wrath by J.M. Kearl
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAward winning author J.M. Kearl brings to you the second book in the RISE series. The enemy king is dead. The war to free magic is here. Daelyn risked life, love, everything to free her father from prison. Now hunted by the new King of Hesstia, she, warrior Boaden, and her father are forced to flee into the outlaw land of Nordia for safety...Categorized as:
sword-sorcery retellings fantasy historical coming-of-age myths military mythical-creatures -
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A Game of Malice and Greed by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsA twisted heart, a hollow soul.A broken warrior, lost gods of old.A thief of shadows, blessed with light,A single lie which stole their might.A princess to win, in a brutal game.A great empire falling to a monster’s claim.A forbidden love, a curse untold.The last immortal trapped in a coin of gold... -
The Hunter and the Mage by Kaitlyn Davis
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsReturn to the world of The Raven and the Dove, where winged people rule the skies, a lost kingdom lives at sea, and two star-crossed lovers hold the fate of each in their palms. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo! A mage written in prophecy… When Lyana wakes in the Sea of Mist, adventure is the first thing on her mind... -
Entranced by Sylvia Mercedes
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTHE PRINCE AND THE LIBRARIAN . . .Clara is an Obligate—a human servant at the Court of Dawn.She doesn’t know why. She knows only that she broke the Pledge and must therefore spend her days obliging the every whim of a capricious fae princess. If she can keep her head down and follow the rules, she might survive to the end of her Obligation, spending her days working in the vast palace library... -
The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMy twin sister is the true queen of Aryd. She survives, hiding and clinging to life in the desert, while I reign as the false queen alongside the monstrous King Eidolon. There’s only one escape from this gilded prison: Reven. My Shadowraith. My heart. Only the shadows that he struggles to control are growing more sinister, more powerful.It’s just a matter of time before they turn on him…and on me... -
The Cursed Rose by Leslie Vedder
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe fate of a cursed kingdom rests on ancient secrets, broken promises, and fierce friendships in this gasp-worthy final book of the bestselling twisted fairytale Bone Spindle series.**Perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson, Holly Black, and Marissa Meyer**Not all curses should be broken. Not all fairytales end happily ever after.Fi is a prisoner. Briar, a monster. Shane's a warrior... -
The Baker and the Wolf by J.M. Stengl
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA mysterious stranger, an enchantress grandmother, and an overprotective mother. Can Cerise trust any of them?Cerise DuBois might as well be invisible. Not even her scarlet cloak attracts male interest, and her mother begins to despair of snaring a husband for a boring middle daughter with no magic ability. If not for her baking talents, Cerise would be a hopeless burden on the family...
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