Recommendations based on "A Stage Set for Villains"

A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.“To win the God of War’s support was wise—to fall in love with him would ruin me.”As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal… even if it means losing her heart.

'Impossible to put down' V.E. Schwab, international bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue A star-crossed lovers romance that spans a millennia, for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, They Both Die at the End and The Time Traveller's Wife 'Maybe that's all love is, in the end. An endless tempting of fate.' Evelyn - or Branwen Blythe - can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she's been murdered before her eighteenth birthday. The problem is that she's quite fond of the one she's in now, and more importantly, her sister needs her for bone marrow transplants to stay alive. So now she has to: find the centuries-old enemy who hunts her through each life and destroy them forever figure out exactly why she's being hunted in the first place, try quite hard not to fall in love with them ...again. 'Vividly beautiful and brilliantly transcendent' - Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom duology 'A beautifully tender book about the power and vulnerability of loving deeply. Our Infinite Fates is an iridescent ode to love, life and humanity' - Bea Fitzgerald, Sunday Times best-selling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen 'It has been a very long time since I've found a story as sweeping, as heartbreaking, and as utterly gorgeous as Our Infinite Fates. Evelyn and Arden are a pair for the ages' - Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author Beasts of Prey 'Our Infinite Fates demands to be read in one sitting. It's more than just a twisty, romantic story--it's a meditation on love, the human condition. I was utterly enraptured and absolutely enthralled' - M. K. Lobb, Sunday Times bestselling author of Seven Faceless Saints 'Sprawling, star-crossed, and sensational, OUR INFINITE FATES is the kind of book that only comes around once in a lifetime. Gives enemies to lovers a whole new meaning' - Kara A. Kennedy, author of I Will Never Leave You 'One of the best books I've ever read' - Rachel Greenlaw, author of Compass and Blade

In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.*Named one of TIME's Top 100 Fantasy Books Of All Time* World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, winnerJade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for -- and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone -- even foreigners -- wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones -- and of Kekon itself.Praise for Jade City:"An epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you'll forget you're reading a book." --Ken Liu, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author"A beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!" --Ann Leckie, Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author"An instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats." --NPRThe Green Bone SagaJade CityJade WarJade Legacy

Enter the brutal world of Endlock, a prison where the wealthy hunt the inmates for sport, in this spicy dystopian new adult romance between a courageous young woman and an enigmatic guard.A deadly prison. A forbidden romance. A fight for survival.In the city of Dividium, the law is simple: commit a crime, and your punishment is a life sentence in Endlock.Raven Thorne is Dividium’s most notorious bounty hunter, living on the edge of society. But when her younger brother, Jed, is sentenced to Endlock, Raven will do anything to save him—even if it means getting herself arrested.Now trapped in a prison where danger lurks around every corner, Raven must use all her cunning and strength to protect Jed—and herself. But there’s one obstacle she never expected: the prison guard who stirs something deep inside her. The man she should hate. The man whose true motives seem impossible to pin down.In a world where trust is a weapon and love is a liability, Raven can’t afford for her heart to get involved…

An "atmospheric and evocative" (Rachel Gillig) romantasy debut about a threatened Siren who forges a bond with a brooding, self-righteous king in order to flee the king who raised her, for fans of One Dark Window and For the Wolf. The monster is always slain... Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen's bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin. When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen's power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her--the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

Rachel Gillig, the queen of gothic romantasy, returns with higher stakes, darker mysteries and deeper longings in this gorgeous sequel to the No. 1 international bestselling sensation The Knight and the Moth. Aisling Cathedral is in ruins. Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew and Maude Bauer are rumored to be dead - and the king has taken Sybil Delling as his bride. To show off their union and solidify his power over Traum, Benji proposes a series of tournaments throughout the hamlets. Captive and drugged, Sybil remains determined to vanquished him as she once did the Omens, even if she destroys the kingdom's faith - and herself - in the process. But then a mysterious knave rises to the top of the lists, a man with no name and no memory who may just be Sybil's ticket to undoing Benji's power. For in a land where stories repeat themselves, where a king can prove as cruel as a god, the only way to truly destroy the Stonewater Kingdom's faith is to save it. Praise for The Knight and the Moth: 'Dreamy prose, characters so vibrant they breathe on the page, a romance that smoulders, and a spellbinding world to get lost in. Prepare to meet your next obsession' Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals 'The Knight and the Moth delivers pure joy: gargoyles! gods! girls in armour! alongside a serious examination of faith, fealty, and the powers they serve. It's a fairy tale with bruised knuckles, perfectly balanced between the mythic and the desperately human. Simply stunning' Alix E. Harrow, author of Starling House 'Haunting, elegant and lovely, The Knight and the Moth is that rare fantasy gem: both a thrilling quest and an exquisite love story' Tasha Suri, award-winning author of The Burning Kingdoms trilogy 'With the headiness of dreams and the darkness of haunted abbeys, The Knight and the Moth is dazzlingly transportive tale of love, salvation, and freedom that cements Gillig as one of the finest fantasy writers of our age. You will never want to surface from these enchanting, depthless waters' Ava Reid, author of A Study in Drowning 'I'm obsessed with Rachel Gillig. The Knight and the Moth is achingly romantic, richly imagined, and told with a gossamer delicacy that keeps the pages flying' Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King 'A gothic, romantic fairy tale that feels like falling into a dark, strange dream - one you won't want to wake from. Gillig has done it again - I'm obsessed' Amélie Wen Zhao, author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night 'Brimming with beguiling prose, and a dangerous magical world, The Knight and the Moth sparkles with wit and a slow burn romance that left me breathless and impatient for the next instalment' Isabel Ibañez, author of What the River Knows 'The Knight and the Moth is a lavender-drenched dream. Readers won't be able to put down this adventurous, dark gem of a book' Kalie Cassidy, author of In the Veins of the Drowning

Sarah A. Parker returns with more romance, heart-pounding action, and scorching secrets in the much-anticipated sequel to the worldwide phenomenon When the Moon Hatched. Following explosive revelations, Raeve embarks on a journey to find herself--one that includes embracing her forgotten identity as the presumed deceased royal, Elluin Neván, and as the long-lost love of Kaan, the Burn's warrior king.

Revenge demands sacrifice. Don't miss this action-packed, jaw-dropping, dark and romantic sequel to Dire Bound. This gorgeous DELUXE LIMITED EDITION is available while supplies last--featuring exclusive special design features. CROWNED BY DESTINY. CONSUMED BY VENGEANCE. Against all odds, Meryn Cooper has inherited the crown--and a deadly war. As the Kingdom of Nocturna splinters under the weight of generations of lies, it is up to Meryn, her bonded direwolf Anassa, and their allies to bring the country back from the brink. But the commoners, the Bonded, and the nobles are distrustful of their new queen and Meryn is caught in a deadly game of politics. Meanwhile, Meryn's beloved younger sister, Saela, is more at risk than ever. Confusingly, the one person Meryn can trust is Stark Therion--the dark, dangerous Alpha she thought hated her as much as she loathed him. Yet, his loyalty is unshakeable. His presence is intoxicating. And with his guidance, Meryn can seize an unthinkable level of power. With enemies closing in and shadows stirring in her dreams, Meryn stands to lose her kingdom--and her heart. Blood will spill. Bonds will break. Fate will be tested. Perfect for fans of: Slow burn romance Forbidden romance Found family Morally grey characters Touch her and die Who did this to you Enemies to lovers Forced proximity Vampires vs. wolves!

From the bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros.Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down.Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court.With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor.To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…