Masquerade of Bones

A blood oath. A botched heist. A dangerous deal with the enemy.

Everly Thorn knew she was doomed when the bones of dead dragons and other magical beasts began whispering to her. She’ll do anything to keep her cursed gift a secret for fear of being used as a weapon to hunt other witches in hiding.

Reeling from her parents’ murder and broken betrothal to the crown prince, Everly has racked up a fortune in gambling debts. Her job as an exhibit curator at the Menagerie of Extinct Magical Creatures doesn’t pay enough to keep the collectors from threatening to take her home—the only thing she and her brother have left.

Silas Drake is an infamous outlaw in need of a witch with a unique set of skills and exactly the kind of man Everly has vowed to stay away from—cruel, dark, and deadly. He’s determined to steal a powerful dragon relic being held in the Menagerie’s vault.

When Silas discovers Everly’s secret, the ruthless shadow summoner presents her with an impossible choice—swear a blood oath to help him steal the relic and secure her financial freedom, or be handed over to the authorities.

Everly, however, is done taking orders from men who want to control her and refuses to accept her fate without a fight. She’ll risk everything - including her hardened heart - to undermine Silas Drake and his dangerous band of thieves.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, villain gets the girl, shadow daddy, heists, forced bonds, royalty, arranged marriage, found family, fake dating, outlaws, magic, and dragons.

Content Warning: Masquerade of Bones is a dark southern gothic romantasy intended for an adult audience and includes graphic depictions of public hangings, violence, blood, gore, decapitation, chronic illness, references to mental illness, reference to suicide ideation, alcohol & drug use, prescription drug abuse, drugging of others, military conscription, hazing, slut shaming, bondage (not the fun kind), torture of prisoners, abuse, an implied threat of sexual assault by a side character, death of a child on page, explicit language, explicit sexual content, public sex, and use of magic during sex. Please read with care.