A Moment with the King (A Calysian Saga Standalone romance)
About
Can a squire’s love and duty save the king, or will she be forced to make a choice?
When Emryll’s clairvoyant abilities save Prince Reynard from an assassination attempt, he persuades his father to grant her wish to become the first female knight of Lornauteria. Enduring years of rigorous training to prove herself, her hidden gift earns Emryll respect among the hardened knights. However, when an uprising against the now King Reynard disrupts her knighting, Emryll and Rey escape as fugitives. With a motley crew of banished knights and bandits, Emryll is determined to protect the king she loves and restore him to his rightful throne. Yet, as they embark on this perilous journey, will Emryll be able to shield her heart from the king, or will Rey see past her unwavering loyalty to cherish the woman willing to sacrifice everything for him?
* Trigger warning- sexual assault is mentioned, but did not happen
** Rose of the Winds is Book 1 of the Calysian Saga, available
Praise for this book
I was pleasantly surprised by this story—it completely pulled me in. Emryll, the main character, instantly became a favorite of mine. At just eight years old, she has clairvoyant abilities and uses them to save the Prince, who’s 14, from an assassination attempt. As a reward, she’s granted one wish—and she boldly wishes to become a knight. The Prince agrees, but with one condition: that she never cuts her hair, a way for others to remember that she would always be a woman despite her wish, and so she would remember that he was the one who granted her this wish and not his father. “Your hair will be uncut until the love of your kingdom is shared with the love of a man. Henceforth, all may witness the unshakable resolve of Lornauteria’s women in defending their king and kingdom, and that this little girl represents them all.”
That condition, though symbolic, ends up being her greatest challenge. The world of knights is harsh and unwelcoming to a girl, no matter how brave or skilled. Emryll’s journey isn’t easy, but that’s part of what made this story so compelling.
What I especially loved was the mystery throughout. I couldn’t easily figure out who the villains were or who could truly be trusted. It constantly had me questioning: Was Emryll on the right side? Or was she being misled into helping the wrong people? That uncertainty kept me hooked. Still, what stood out the most was Emryll’s unwavering determination. She made an oath—and no matter how difficult things became, she stuck to it. Her loyalty and resolve were inspiring, even while she was just a squire in training.
And then… the ending. Without giving away spoilers, I’ll just say—I did not see it coming. It was shocking, and honestly, it made me upset—but in a good way. Part of me even wished the story had ended that way, because it would’ve been even more dramatic and jaw-dropping.
All in all, this was an awesome story with a strong lead, unexpected twists, and a powerful message about honor, perseverance, and identity. Highly recommend!