A Kiss of Iron (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #1)

by Clare Sager

In the cut-throat game of court life, masters manipulate pawns-and you never know which one you are. One thing is certain: there's no space on the board for love.

A penniless noblewoman, Kat is on the verge of losing everything when she's offered a well-paid job that could be her salvation... or her ruin. Drawn into court's deadly intrigues, she's given a single task: spy on the powerful fae lord known as the Night Queen's Shadow.

Bastian Marwood is handsome, ruthless, and cunning, but Kat can't decide if he's a threat to her kingdom or just her heart. To uncover the truth, she must play a dangerous game of desire and deceit, pushing him to reveal his secrets while protecting her own. But Bastian's shadows have a hold on her-one she isn't sure she wants to escape.

Kat soon learns that at court, nothing is as it seems and even the best-laid plans can be destroyed in an instant. As a pawn on the board, she can't afford to fall victim to love-only fight for survival.

A Kiss of Iron is the first book in a new series featuring court intrigue, a morally grey hero, and an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Gild and From Blood and Ash.

• ISBN13: 9781739804473
• Publish Date: 20 February 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Wicked Lady Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 608
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ashley]

DNF at 53%.

I started out loving this. I liked the plot of doing whatever necessary to earn income and save her estate. 

But once the MC went to the palace she became a complete push over.

The sec also wasn't for me. It makes me cringe when she orgasm and the guy said, “You did so well, sweetheart. My ember.” Gag.

At the 40-50% mark it felt like the plot had stopped progressing and the MC just got clueless.

[mvk]

Fantasy Realm 3/5
Female Main Character 3.5/5
Male Main Character 4/5
Side Characters and Villains 3/5
Spicy 2/5

A Kiss of Iron is a solid, good book. It has a well-developed plot, amazing characters with good chemistry and motivation, and an interesting - though not entirely new world of Fae and human lands that’s described well.

[bookstagramofmine]

Thank you, Paper Myths, for the chance to read and review the arc for A Kiss of Iron! This is the first book in a brand new series by Clare Sager and is absolutely perfect for fans of ACOTAR! Kindle Unlimited subscribers will be happy to know that the book can be read as part of the subscription! 

 

I love so many things about A Kiss of Iron! It's a well-edited book that you can just dive right into! You read and read and just enjoy the ride!

 

Kat's been married to a nobleman who has been away for ten years, sleeping with other women and basically flaunting his marriage vows while she looks after his crumbling estate. She was taught to be obedient in horrible ways, which haunt her throughout this book. She also knows that she has to make difficult decisions and be practical; after all, what use is sentimentality when water is dripping through the roof. 

 

I also loved the touch her and die trope and how sex can be wild, crazy, and passionate without trampling over someone else and their boundaries. I loved how much Kat grew as a character! She was reasonably determined at the start of things. Still, as things change and progress, she deals with many horrible people and things around her, makes allies, and becomes more robust and wiser.

 

And I have a crush on Bastien, for sure. He's my new book boyfriend, and I can't wait to learn more about his past in the upcoming books.

I can see that this series is set in the same world as Beneath Black Sails. However, that didn't make a difference to my reading experience, except it made me want to check out that series. I wish we had seen Avice interact with Uncle Rupert because that would have been pretty exciting. 

 

The next book in the series, A Touch of Poison, comes out on the 28th of September, and I can hardly wait!