A Touch of Gold and Madness
Fairytales are for the naive.
Princess assassin Gray Monroe is ordered by her father to kill the villainous prince responsible for throwing the modern world into a post-apocalyptic society. In a decrepit landscape where two magical species war with one another while a human militia hunts them all, Gray has only one thing on her mind: vengeance.
With the single focus to kill the man who murdered her first love, she believes nothing will stop her. That is, until she hesitates when she comes face-to-face with her nemesis at long last.
Gray must return to the King’s Palace empty-handed for her annual birthday celebration to a court of vipers who lie in wait for a slip in her icy façade. When a sinister plot is revealed to assassinate the princess, she must flee into a world where she’s now the hunted and must survive to get the revenge that she’s owed.
Prince Griffin Silas is on a mission of his own: to kill the King. Problem is, he’s suffering from an affliction that robs him of his sanity while making him crave violence and death. But first, he needs the princess in his hands no matter the cost. In a race against his spiraling affliction, who will achieve their goal first?
As the first installment in the Celestials of Arcadia, “A Touch of Gold and Madness” is a story about moving through a lifetime of trauma, while also packed with action, secrets, betrayal, and tension full of slow-burning steam. It will keep you turning the pages to discover the long-buried truths concealed by those who seek ultimate power.
*This a dark romantic fantasy with heavy themes of trauma and contains explicit adult encounters. Please read the trigger warnings listed in the beginning of the book before diving in. Your mental health matters.*
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K.L. DeVore
K.L. DeVore is a writer who knows how to blend the stark beauty of a dark world with the tender complexities of the human heart. Her stories weave a tapestry of intense emotions, slow-burn romance, and the raw realities of trauma and healing. Whether she's exploring the clash of magic and betrayal or the delicate dance between a broken soul and redemption, DeVore's writing offers a window into worlds both haunting and beautifully transformative.
Her debut novel, A Touch of Gold and Madness, opens the door to the Celestials of Arcadia universe—a place where assassins and princes alike are bound by secrets, curses, and the looming threat of chaos. At the heart of her writing are characters who are as imperfect as they are unforgettable. Take Gray Monroe, a princess turned assassin, and Griffin Silas, a tortured prince with a violent affliction. Together, they navigate a path paved with power struggles, secrets, and an undeniable, slow-burn connection.
Celestials of Arcadia
In the world of Celestials of Arcadia, magic is as dangerous as it is beautiful, and love can be as destructive as war. This dark, romantic fantasy series pulls readers into a world fractured by violence, haunted by betrayal, and torn between two warring species. Here, gods and mortals clash in an endless battle, but at the center of the turmoil is a story that’s both achingly personal and epic in scope.
Celestials of Arcadia consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Related series Celestials of Arcadia: Insurgency
