The Robin on the Oak Throne by K.A. Linde

Kierse McKenna has recently found out that she is a druid, a magical being whose species is all but extinct. On the heels of betrayal by a man she loved, Greaves, she and her friend Gen (who recently found out she was a High Priestess) have moved to Ireland so they can learn more about the Druids and the wisps that have followed Kierse. Despite moving to a new place, Kierse is still back to her thieving ways. Her next target is to sneak into a party at Versailles and steal a bracelet from the queen. While almost getting caught, Greaves arrives and covers for her, saying that she is his wife; she has no choice but to play along. But it works to her benefit, as Greaves introduces himself to the queen, and Kierse is able to steal the bracelet anyway.

Greaves then takes her to a warlock friend to hide away at a house belonging to Estel, who also happens to have the Cauldron, one of the magical artifacts he has been searching for. Greaves needs Kierse’s help to steal it while they are there. As Kierse goes to take it, she runs right into Estel, who says the Cauldron isn’t there but offers a clue to its location if Kierse answers a riddle. She does so successfully, and learns that the Cauldron will be going up for auction in New York City the following week.

Greaves and Kierse are about to part ways, as Greaves needs to pursue the Cauldron, while Kierse wants to continue researching her magic and heritage. But Greaves realizes Kierse might be heading down a dangerous path, and wants to help her. They return to her and Gen’s home in Ireland. While there, Greaves wakes Kierse from a nightmare, and in doing so glimpses a memory of her as a six-year-old with her father. Kierse doesn’t remember it herself, but believes it to be real, and suspects there are more hidden memories. Greaves confirms it, and they form a plan: they need to go to the goblin market to find a cure. While searching for the right goblin, Nieve, they get caught in the middle of a bar fight. Kierse is stabbed, and Greaves takes her home to heal. While she recovers, Greaves manages to find the goblin. They obtain a potion, and Kierse must drink it with a magical anchor to guide her through the memories. Greaves offers to take that role.

Kierse’s first memory surfaces: once again, she is a child, this time with both her father and her mother, who she had thought died in childbirth. Her parents are frightened and seeking protection during the war. They turn to Greaves for help. He sees that they are wisps and fae, currently being hunted. Though unable to fully protect them, he gives them a knife. When Greaves and Kierse wake from the memory, he admits he didn’t realize she was that same girl, because his later investigation had confirmed that all three had died.

Greaves, Kierse, and Gen decide to go back to New York City—Greaves to continue pursuing the Cauldron, and Kierse to investigate her memories. Greaves suggests visiting Dr. Emmaline, in case there is something wrong with Kierse’s brain. After that visit, Kierse and Greaves share an intimate moment, and Kierse realizes she still has feelings for him. Greaves, too, has been trying to include her more. They continue working on restoring her memories while also growing closer together.

Seeking more information, Kierse decides to visit her friend Ethen, who is now training under the dryads. She visits Lorcan in Brooklyn first. He flirts with her as always, but when Ethen discovers that Kierse is back with Greaves, they fight. It seems Ethen and Greaves are on opposing sides.

The night of the auction arrives. Greaves, Kierse, and two other specialists set the plan in motion to steal the Cauldron. During the heist, the men are sprayed with a powder that affects them. Under its influence, Lorcan reveals that he and Kierse are mates, which explains why she always feels drawn to him. Kierse doesn’t know how to handle this revelation, since she has already chosen Greaves. Their heist fails, as the Cauldron they obtain turns out to be a decoy. Determined to continue, Kierse follows the trail to the goblin market. She alone is able to enter, so Greaves cannot follow. Inside, she traces the lead to a magical border she has never seen before. Crossing it, she discovers a community of monsters and humans living peacefully together. They welcome her and suggest she stay. However, the auctioneer—the very one selling the Cauldron—arrives and orders them to capture her. Kierse flees, and runs straight into Greaves.

Still without the Cauldron, Greaves makes a new plan. The real artifact should be in the auctioneer’s possession and will be brought to Monster Con, an elite event with limited entry. While preparing, Greaves pushes Kierse too hard regarding her memories, so they visit another doctor. She provides Kierse with a potion and reveals that Kierse has two mental blocks, which is why her memories are difficult to access. Kierse also visits an old friend, Nate, a wolf shifter, who invites her to his engagement party. Greaves goes with her as her date. Lorcan, however, insists on seeing Kierse again. He pressures her into joining him, Gen, and Ethen during the full moon to practice magic and recreate a bond like before. The night is grueling, ending badly when Lorcan pushes too far and Ethen accidentally drains Kierse’s magic, causing her to pass out. Lorcan takes her to his home and watches over her as his mate, while Greaves patiently waits for her to wake so he can bring her back.

Days before Monster Con, more obstacles arise—new security measures, fresh hurdles, and the issue of Kierse needing an invitation. She manages to secure one by pretending to fall in love with the lead of a play who will attend. Gen, originally meant to stay safe, is now drawn into an important role. Kierse also learns she cannot approach the auctioneer directly about her memories.

Before the event, Kierse meets Lorcan again. He reveals that his past mate, Emily, was killed hundreds of years ago by Greaves, and he believes her essence and magic live on in Kierse. This, he claims, is why they are bonded. He kisses her, and for a moment Kierse kisses back—until she realizes she doesn’t want him. She pulls away and returns to Greaves’s home.

At the mansion, they make their final preparations. Kierse confides in Greaves about what happened with Lorcan, then tells him she doesn’t want Lorcan—she loves Greaves. Shocked but moved, Greaves kisses her back, and they share an intimate moment. Closer than ever, Kierse asks for one more attempt at uncovering her parents’ memory. With Greaves’s help, she finally breaks through, seeing how her parents died and how the spell was placed on her. Everything makes sense now.

At Monster Con, their plan unfolds smoothly. The only sour note for Kierse is seeing her old boss, Amberdash, who is running for office with a campaign built on the idea that humans and monsters should not live together. Even so, the heist succeeds: Kierse secures the Cauldron, swaps it for a fake, and hands it off. But before she can escape, someone knocks her out, saying it is time to meet the Curator.

When she wakes in a dark room, Kierse is shocked to see that the Curator, Killian, is Jason—the man who taught her to be a thief, but also abused her. He is the one who took her memories and blocked her magic. What Kierse didn’t know is that he has also been siphoning her magic for years. Since she broke the bond, he can no longer steal her power. Feeling stronger, Kierse shifts and escapes, right into Lorcan’s hands. She had called to him in her mind, thinking it was the only way out. Lorcan tells her that Greaves has been tampering with her memories. Kierse doubts for a moment but ultimately decides she doesn’t care—she loves Greaves, and she tells Lorcan so. In response, Lorcan orders Nieve to make Kierse sleep.

When she wakes, she is in Lorcan’s home. He intends to complete their bond, making them king and queen, tied forever. Kierse resists, but Nieve helps perform the ceremony. Partway through, however, Nieve feels guilty and invokes the right to challenge the throne. Lorcan tries to stop her, but Greaves arrives and fights him. During the battle, Lorcan reveals that the bond is already complete: he now has Kierse’s magic, breaking free will be difficult, and if Greaves kills him, Kierse will die too. Seizing her chance, Nieve takes the throne herself. She tells Kierse and Greaves they can leave, while condemning Lorcan’s actions as blasphemy. He can apologize or be exiled.

Back home, Kierse recovers. Meanwhile, Gen bonds with the Cauldron and begins using it to help others. Nate is the first, seeking a cure so his wife can have a child. Then it is Kierse’s turn. The process causes excruciating pain, and when she wakes, she has lost her magic—or perhaps gained a new kind that has yet to be discovered.

Soon after, it is time for Nate’s wedding. The ceremony is beautiful, until trolls storm in, led by a woman named Nova Lee. Competing against Nate and his wolf pack, she kills Nate before leaving, throwing everything into chaos. Kierse realizes this signals the start of a new monster war.

Meanwhile, Lorcan still thinks of Kierse. He holds onto her family necklace, upset that she chose Greaves and thus a different side. But Lorcan begins to plan. Out of the four magical objects, he has one—the sword. Greaves and Kierse have the Cauldron and the spear. Only the stone remains, the most powerful of all. Lorcan makes a call to a friend, saying it is time to start preparing.