Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair

Isolde is tormented by memories of her past life as Yesenia, a powerful witch whose coven was destroyed after a devastating betrayal by her sister, Ravena. Now bound in marriage to Adrian, the enigmatic and ruthless Blood King of Revekka, she finds herself caught in a tempest of political intrigue, personal grief, and lingering guilt. Adrian’s fierce protectiveness clashes with Isolde’s unyielding desire for independence, creating a relationship as passionate as it is volatile. Their bond, forged in love and conflict, is laid bare in an emotional encounter that leaves them both raw and deeply entangled.

Still haunted by her father’s betrayal and the role she played in orchestrating his death, Isolde resolves to reclaim her birthright as Queen of Lara. However, her homeland is in turmoil, with whispers of Asha’s salvation stoking rebellion and threatening her claim to the throne. In a tense meeting with Gavriel, a vampire from Keziah, Isolde learns of growing unrest among her people. Her path crosses once more with Killian, her former lover and a loyal commander in Lara’s army. The unresolved tensions between them resurface, even as Killian wrestles with his loyalty to her father’s memory. Before their fraught history can be reconciled, an attack by aufhockers—monstrous creatures that prey on humans and vampires alike—throws them into chaos.

Despite dire warnings, Isolde joins the fray, her courage and determination on full display. Mortally vulnerable but fiercely committed, she fights to protect her people, sustaining a grave injury in the process. Gavriel, whose shapeshifting abilities prove critical, saves her from the brink of death and helps repel the creatures. The aftermath is grim, a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by the aufhockers and the fragility of their current defenses.

Meanwhile, Adrian is consumed by his quest for vengeance, ruthlessly hunting down Gesalac and Julian, noblesse who betrayed him. His path is marked by bloodshed and fear, and his encounter with villagers attacked by an aufhocker lays bare the depths of his brutality. His need for power and control intertwines with his unyielding drive to protect Isolde, creating a man both formidable and flawed.

As Isolde recovers from her injuries, her life takes a darker turn. Treated by Ana, Adrian’s cousin and a skilled healer, Isolde is bitten by an aufhocker, leaving her feverish and on the brink of death. In a desperate bid to save her, Adrian shares his blood with her, a transformative act that unleashes her latent powers. When she awakens, Isolde discovers she has become a shifter, capable of transforming into an aufhocker. Horrified by her new reality, she struggles with the implications of her altered identity. Adrian’s offer to turn her into a vampire only deepens her inner conflict, leaving her caught between her humanity and the monstrous power within her.

Seeking solace, Adrian and Isolde visit the grave of her coven—a place steeped in pain and memories. There, their connection rekindles in an intimate, emotionally charged moment. Yet Isolde remains haunted, not only by the desecration of the grave but by the weight of her past. Adrian confides the grave’s significance: it is where they spent their final night together before her death as Yesenia, adding another layer to their complex bond.

At a feast celebrating Gesalac’s execution, Isolde’s fury with Adrian reaches a boiling point. She provokes him by dancing with Killian, inciting his jealousy and possessiveness. Their argument escalates, and Isolde flees, highlighting the deepening fractures in their relationship. Soon after, a vision of her past life reveals a crucial secret: Yesenia entrusted Ana with the Book of Dis, an artifact of immense power. This revelation coincides with the arrival of Solaris, a witch-hunter created by Dis, at Adrian’s court. Though Solaris is welcomed under the guise of cooperation, Adrian secretly vows to kill him when the time is right—a plan that enrages and unsettles Isolde.

As their relationship deepens, Adrian opens up about his past with Yesenia, sharing the truth of how she died and the scars it left on him. Meanwhile, preparations for the Winter’s Eve celebration begin, a tradition foreign to Isolde but vital to Adrian’s kingdom. On the night of the celebration, chaos erupts with news of a blood plague ravaging the land. A messenger succumbs to the plague in front of the court, only to be revived by Solaris in a dazzling display of magic, earning him dangerous admiration from Adrian’s people. Furious yet resolute, Adrian silently reaffirms his promise to destroy Solaris, while Isolde devises a plan to contain the plague using a spell that requires precise execution.

Amid the brewing unrest, dire news arrives: Alaric of Hela, now a vampire, is marching on the kingdom with his transformed army. The imminent war heightens tensions, and Solaris’s betrayal shatters their fragile alliances. In a desperate move, Adrian turns Isolde into a vampire, ensuring she has the strength to face the growing threats. Now a werewolf-vampire hybrid, Isolde offers to turn Killian, hoping to gain an ally in the battles to come.

As war looms, Isolde turns her focus to reclaiming her throne. Her quest takes her to Lara, where she discovers Alaric awaiting her. In their confrontation, buried truths resurface—Isolde learns she was pregnant before her death as Yesenia, a revelation that reshapes her understanding of her past and her fight for the future. Caught in a web of love, betrayal, and destiny, Isolde must navigate the treacherous paths of power, loss, and self-discovery to secure her kingdom and confront the ghosts of her past.