If you're searching for your next dark romantasy obsession, King of Ravens by Clare Sager deserves a spot at the top of your TBR. This captivating Hades and Persephone retelling weaves Welsh mythology into a story of fae bargains, forbidden desire, and an underworld court dripping with danger.
What Is King of Ravens About?
King of Ravens follows Rhiannon, a woman living a quiet but painful existence in a remote seaside cottage. Suffering from a mysterious chronic illness that has no cure, she depends on her family whilst desperately searching for answers to her condition.
Her world shatters when Drystan, a cold and powerful fae King of the Dead, arrives to collect on a bargain her father made years ago; his life in exchange for his firstborn daughter as a bride for a king of death. Rhiannon is given an impossible choice: descend to the underworld as Drystan's bride or watch her family die.
Dragged into the perilous unseelie court, Rhiannon refuses to accept her fate. She strikes a new deal with her infuriating captor: if she can survive and escape his deadly, ever-shifting labyrinth, she wins her freedom. But the underworld is filled with withered gods, scheming courtiers, and ancient magic; and her feelings towards the morally grey king begin to shift into something far more dangerous than hatred.
This is the first book in the Upon a Broken Throne duology, promising readers a complete romantic arc with high stakes and an ending that will leave you desperate for the sequel.
Why You Should Read King of Ravens
Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance - The tension between Rhiannon and Drystan crackles from their first encounter. Watch as hatred slowly transforms into something neither of them expected, with all the delicious push-and-pull that makes this trope so addictive.
A fresh Hades and Persephone retelling - Clare Sager puts her own spin on this beloved myth, infusing it with Welsh mythology and creating an underworld that feels genuinely unique amongst the crowded retelling landscape.
Chronic illness representation done right - Rhiannon is a 33-year-old heroine who lives with chronic pain and illness. Her condition shapes her story without defining her entirely, offering meaningful representation that readers have praised as genuine and layered.
Morally grey characters throughout - From the brooding fae king hiding loneliness beneath cruelty to the scheming courtiers of the unseelie court, every character exists in shades of grey. If you love complex, flawed characters who keep you guessing, this book delivers.
Slow-burn romance with steam - Clare Sager (dubbed the "Queen of Edging" by her readers) crafts a romance that builds gradually before delivering satisfying payoff. The chemistry is intense, the tension is masterful, and the spicy scenes are well-earned.
Atmospheric dark fantasy worldbuilding - The underworld comes alive through lush, sensory prose. Expect a richly imagined setting filled with ancient magic, dangerous bargains, and a court where beauty masks cruelty.
Forced proximity and marriage bargain tropes - Trapped together in the underworld with a marriage neither wanted, Rhiannon and Drystan must navigate their arrangement whilst uncovering truths about each other and themselves.
A fierce, determined heroine - Rhiannon refuses to be a pawn in anyone's game. Despite her illness and impossible circumstances, she remains clever, brave, and wonderfully stubborn; a heroine you'll root for from the first page.
Labyrinth trials and fae court intrigue - The deadly labyrinth challenge adds thrilling stakes, whilst the political machinations of the unseelie court provide layers of intrigue beyond the central romance.
From a BookTok favourite author - Clare Sager has already won devoted fans with her Shadows of the Tenebris Court series. King of Ravens showcases everything readers love about her writing: darkly addictive storytelling, gut-wrenching emotion, and romance that consumes you.
Who Will Love This Book?
King of Ravens is perfect for readers who enjoyed The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Phantasma, Kingdom of the Wicked, or A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you're looking for books like Fourth Wing but with a darker underworld setting, or searching for the best fae romance books of 2026, this should be on your radar.
Fans of dark fantasy romance, unseelie fae courts, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and stories where the villain gets the girl (or perhaps becomes worthy of her) will find everything they're craving within these pages.
King of Ravens is the first book in the Upon a Broken Throne duology by Clare Sager, published by Forever (Grand Central Publishing).
Available January 2026.