Buried magic. Brutal betrayal. A throne she never sought. When Clara Brighton, a silk-merchant’s daughter, defies tradition to join the kingdom’s military training grounds, she finds herself pressed under the thumb of a cold-eyed sergeant whose brutal training pushes her to the edge—and whose presence sparks a tension she can’t quite ignore. As war ignites and long-buried secrets come to light, Clara must navigate betrayal within her own ranks, confront a forbidden yearning for the man forging her into a weapon, and wrestle with the power awakening inside her. Clara must choose where her loyalty lies: with the kingdom that trained her, the power rising within her, or the crown she never asked for.

Requirements & Requests

This is the first round of beta so any and all feedback is appreciated. Especially the pacing and character development.

Comparable Stories:

From Ash and Blood (without spice), An Ember in the Ashes, Bridge Kingdom