A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Princess Seraphena "Sera" Mierel is believed to be destined to become the Consort of the Primal of Death, Nyktos, a powerful eternal being who rules over other gods. This union stems from a pact made by one of Sera’s ancestors with the Primal of Death to halt the Rot, a devastating blight that destroys crops and threatens their kingdom, Lasania. At birth, Sera bore a mark identifying her as a Maiden—one destined to ascend to the ranks of the gods and bring significant change to the realm. However, Sera’s family and closest advisors believe the Primal of Death must be killed to ensure the kingdom’s survival. Thus, they raised Sera in secrecy, training her to seduce and assassinate him.

When Sera turns 17, she is declared ready to fulfill her role as the Primal's Consort, but Nyktos unexpectedly rejects her. Her mother, Queen Calliaphe, accuses Sera of dooming Lasania. Three years later, Sera uncovers grisly murders committed by gods. She is stopped from intervening—and being killed—by a mysterious god named Ash, who warns her that he’ll be watching her.

Later, Sera practices combat skills with Sir Braylon Holland of the Royal Guard and successfully disarms him, though she faces criticism for her ongoing feud with her stepbrother, Prince Tavius, heir to the throne. She visits her nursemaid, Odetta, who hints at Sera’s connection to life and death, though only the Fates can explain its significance. After a heated argument with Queen Calliaphe about the royal family’s negligence toward their starving subjects, Sera storms out and senses death in the city. She stumbles upon another murder scene—a woman killed and left behind. Ash reappears, and in a panic, Sera stabs him. While they argue, the victim reanimates, but Ash destroys her before she can attack. He advises Sera to keep their encounter a secret before departing.

Troubled by recent events, Sera seeks solace in the forest, where she encounters a wounded wolf and uses her forbidden power to heal it. At a nearby lake, she runs into Ash again. He warns her of danger, and they are attacked by Hunters—malevolent creatures. After the fight, Ash suggests the Hunters might have been after him. The two discuss their pasts, and a shared moment leads to a passionate kiss, though they decide not to take it further.

As the Rot worsens, Sera is disheartened by the palace’s lavish preparations for a feast. She confronts the King and Tavius about their indifference to their people’s suffering. At the Sun Temple, she witnesses the Rite of Ascension, where Kolis, the Primal of Life, locks eyes with her. Later, her stepsister, Princess Ezmeria, begs Sera to revive her partner, who was killed during a riot. Despite warnings against using her gift on humans, Sera agrees. However, Tavius—now King after their father’s sudden death—sends Sir Holland away and tortures Sera for her disobedience.

Nyktos, revealed to be Ash, appears in response to her plight. He frees Sera, and she kills Tavius in self-defense. Ash claims her as his Consort to protect her and takes her to his realm, the Shadowlands.

In the Shadowlands, where there is no day or night, Sera and Ash encounter draken—dragon-like shapeshifters who serve the Primals. At Ash’s palace, the House of Haides, Sera learns that her priests never attempted to summon Ash again after his initial rejection. Ash reveals that their engagement was his father’s idea, not his. Sera starts to see him differently but still believes she must kill him to save her kingdom.

When the body of a missing woman, Gemma, is found, Sera revives her with her gift, shocking everyone. Ash warns the palace residents to keep her powers secret, explaining that her "ember of life" originated from his father—the original Primal of Life—before Kolis usurped him. Sera reveals her mission to kill Ash, but they are interrupted by an attack from Kolis’s monsters. Afterward, Ash is injured, and Sera offers him her blood to heal. This intimate act deepens their connection, though Ash keeps his emotional distance.

Gemma later awakens and reveals that Kolis seeks Sera’s power to create Revenants—reanimated corpses under his control. Meanwhile, Sera begins to experience symptoms of the "Culling," the transformation into godhood, due to her bond with Ash.

Sera seeks answers from the Arae, the Spirits of Fate, but is attacked by the murderous gods she encountered earlier. Bele, a goddess, sacrifices herself to protect Sera, and Ash kills the remaining attackers. In an unprecedented act, Sera Ascends Bele, turning her into an immortal rival to the Primals.

Sir Holland returns and reveals himself as an Arae. He explains that Sera will need the blood of a god who loves her to survive the Culling. However, Ash insists he is incapable of love, complicating her survival. Holland also reveals that Sera is the reincarnation of the woman Kolis became the Primal of Life to save, making her his only weakness. Moreover, Sera is the true Primal of Life, having been gifted the ember of life by Ash’s father. Her death would mean catastrophic consequences for the realm.

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