A review by myhappilyneverendingtbr
A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden was a fun fantasy romance and an interesting twist on the beauty & the beast dynamic. It is book 1 in the sacred stones trilogy. I loved this book so much! 
 
Arwen Valendale, a young healer, with a secret gift, in a war torn kingdom, is her family's only support since her brother was drafted to fight. living in the amber kingdom she is plagued by fear that she too, one day, will be conscripted into this war that she is sure has taken her brother’s life. I loved that outwardly, she is fearless and stoic in her decisions. when we see her inner dialogue though we see her vulnerability, compassion and knowledge that makes her a formidable FMC. 
 
Dragons, fae, and more aren't supposed to exist. Yet, what if they do. King Kane Ravenwood of the onyx kingdom is persistent in his aim of destroying the amber kingdom, her home. He is known to her as this ruthless bloodthirsty tyrant. through a series of events she finds herself imprisoned in the onyx kingdom and becomes their healer. 
 
A beastly king and a healer beauty. It's a story about love, loss, struggles and triumphs. It is also about self discovery and finding the power and strength within yourself. Watching Arwen find herself throughout the book was really cool. there are several “who did this to you” moments. That line never gets old. I loved the found family and the tension!!! 
 
I really loved this book and immediately jumped into book 2. Book 3 comes out in october! 
 
This book does have a cliffhanger without an HEA. but since it is only the first book in the trilogy I am hoping that we see that HEA eventually. 
 
Since there are no trigger warnings listed, here are the ones I noted while reading: 
parental loss (on page) 
abuse by father figure: memories and flashbacks 
attempted sa (on page) 
general blood, gor and all things war 
 
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