'I devoured it in one sitting!' KRISTIN CASHORE 'Beautifully crafted' JULIET MARILLIER In 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 '.