The Rose in the Shadows
"I was not created to back down"
The Descendants of Hyrax, God of the Dead, had long ago died out - that is, until Theadora Moore showed up on the steps of the Athenian Palace without any memories of her past life. She does, however, have magic in her veins and a mark on her chest that brands her the last living Descendant of Hyrax.
Desperate to use her to ensure peace in his kingdom, Prince Clayton Vail forces her to play a role she doesn’t want at court. When mysterious attacks start happening at the castle, though, it becomes clear that not everyone is happy with the return of House Hyrax.
If Thea wants to stay alive long enough to uncover the secrets of her past, she’s going to need to master her powers, navigate complicated politics, and figure out who to trust. In a castle filled with the children of the Gods... that might be easier said than done.
The House of Hyrax series is an action-packed slow-burn romance filled with magic and political intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Red Queen.
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Arcadia Rayne
Arcadia Rayne doesn’t write to escape reality—she writes to rewrite it. Her stories are threaded with shadows and silk, weaving together fantasy and romance in a way that feels both intimate and epic. With a deep love for myth, memory, and morally complex characters, she builds worlds where every choice echoes, every kiss matters, and nothing—especially love—comes without a cost.
While her name is still emerging in the fantasy romance space, Arcadia’s writing already carries the hallmarks of a voice readers remember. Her characters often begin fractured—haunted by forgotten pasts, suppressed power, or quiet defiance—and slowly come into themselves through relationships that challenge and transform them. The magic in her books is rarely just a system; it’s an emotional force, tied to grief, love, sacrifice, and the self.
House of Hyrax
Step into the enigmatic world of House of Hyrax, where power is forged in darkness, loyalty is a double-edged sword, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. Arcadia Rayne’s gripping fantasy series pulls readers into a realm where political machinations, forbidden magic, and ancient secrets swirl together, creating a world on the brink of chaos. In the House of Hyrax, nothing is ever as it seems, and no one is truly safe from the webs of deceit and intrigue that govern the land.
House of Hyrax consists of three primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Reviews and Comments
This was a great book. For a debut novel, Arcadia is deserving of the praise she receives! With plenty of magic, found family, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, angst, twists and betrayals, this story never failed to keep my interest. It had the perfect blend of unique characterisation, world-building and political intrigue, as well as delving into realistic issues of abuse, objectification and grief. A lot of the description was gorgeous and sophisticated too.
I really enjoyed the mystery vibes of this story as Theadora tries to uncover who is behind the plots against her life. This had to be one of the best aspects of the story. I loved the characters, especially Thea, Clay and Iris. Theadora is a strong character and seeing her growth as a character was great to see: I cannot wait to see where her story takes us next!