A Rose of Blood and Binding
New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, delights in this thrilling conclusion to the steamy, lush, and epic Middlemist trilogy, perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
WAR IS RAGING IN EDYN.
The battered Middlemist can barely hold itself together. Olden monsters terrorize the land. The gods are awakening from their ancient slumber, but if the vengeful Kilraith destroys them, all will be lost. And it's up to the Ashbourne sisters―demigods, daughters of the goddess Kerezen―to stop him.
But the sisters are spread thin. Gemma and Talan travel the world in a desperate search for the gods. In the capital, Farrin and Ryder shelter countless refugees amid roiling unrest. And Mara Ashbourne, bound to the Middlemist and longing for a home she can never return to, is just trying to survive.
Every day is chaos as Mara battles invaders and fights to protect her fellow Roses. The presence of librarian Gareth Fontaine―assigned to aid the Roses' war efforts―doesn't help. Charming, brilliant, far too confident, and annoyingly reverent of the Roses―Mara most of all―he's a distraction Mara can't avoid or afford. Especially since she can see the shadows of Mhorghast brimming underneath his dazzling smile. Shadows of violence and shame that she knows all too well. Shadows that terrify her more than any monster.
As Mara and Gareth search the Old Country for Kilraith's final three curse-anchors, a slow-burning passion born of sorrow and solace sparks between them, one that could finally bring Mara to the very home she longs for…or drive her toward the dark fate she secretly craves, and bring both worlds crashing down alongside her.
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Claire Legrand
Claire Legrand writes the kind of stories that haunt you long after the last page—tales that don’t just unfold, they resonate. With a gift for weaving eerie atmospheres, thorny heroines, and questions that refuse easy answers, she has carved out a singular space in contemporary fantasy and horror. Her worlds shimmer with light and menace, beauty and teeth—perfect for readers who crave emotional intensity wrapped in rich, imaginative storytelling.
Raised in Texas and once a classical pianist, Legrand’s early love of music infuses her prose with rhythm and grace. But it’s her fearless exploration of power, trauma, and the gray spaces between good and evil that sets her apart. From the sweeping, time-bending arcs of The Empirium Trilogy to the unsettling, visceral dread of Sawkill Girls, her books tackle darkness without losing sight of hope.
The Middlemist Trilogy
In a world gilded with magic and shadowed by secrets, The Middlemist Trilogy dares to unravel the illusion of power and the cost of legacy. Set in a society where divine blessings elevate the elite—and curse those born without them—the trilogy immerses readers in a gothic fantasy landscape where beauty masks rot, and every alliance carries a hidden blade.
The Middlemist Trilogy consists of three books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

