'I devoured it in one sitting!' KRISTIN CASHORE'Beautifully crafted' JULIET MARILLIERIn the aftermath of a devastating plague, a young lord is determined to discover the truth behind a mysterious attempt to assassinate the young queen in this historical fantasy standalone, inspired by the Black Plague.Three years ago, Lord Cassia was entrusted with a mission by the king - and disappeared. Now, having survived a prison cell and a merciless illness, Cas wants only to return to home and forget past horrors.But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer . . . one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with Lena, a brilliant historian. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret - one that could threaten the kingdom's newfound peace and plunge it back into war.'This is the perfect book to pick up if you are looking for a historical kingdom story that is a little more adult, but still love the YA fantasy tropes' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I loved it so much. I need more main characters like Cas. I would have read another 500 pages of this book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Just how I like my fantasy novels: bold, fierce and bloody. Grabs you by the horns and doesn't let go' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'But this book was so damn good written. I loved the story so damn much, AND THE CHARACTERS. I freaking love Cas and Lena. I love them as characters but also together, their dynamic was so much fun to read. ALL THE FEELS' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Year of the Reaper quickly made its way into my heart. I adored the characters and the prose, and the plot was so intriguing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐