The Alchemy of DesireA steamy and thrilling fantasy romance
Nina stares into Max’s eyes, and watches as they shift from amber to gold…
Max Antonin was already the deadliest man in Valveron. Now the tyrannical Academy has given him the magic of a god, hoping to turn him into their weapon.
It burns in his veins, slowly stealing his mind. Every heartbeat pulls Max further from Nina, and closer to the edge of sanity.
She will not let them take him.
Nina descends into Valveron’s underworld—to seize Max’s criminal empire and break the Academy’s rule.
But thieves and killers will only follow power. Can Nina embrace her own darkness and forge a rebellion that will set the city aflame?
Or will Max be lost to her forever?
This is a dangerously addictive romantasy series about a ruthless crime lord and the woman who will burn down a city to save him—if you love Callie Hart, Carissa Broadbent and Elise Kova, then the Darkest Divine series will leave you breathless.
See why readers love Alexis L. Menard’s spicy fantasy romance:
“OMGGGG the way I loved this book. The tension! The drama! The romanceeee!… Completely obsessed… The banter was top-shelf, TOP-SHELF. Feet-kicking stuff y'all. Legit didn't want it to end.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Had me giggling, crying, and absolutely screaming… ???? What a ride… I could NOT put this down… I felt every bit of it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Oh, I loved this! I was completely engrossed… cured my doomscrolling… the chemistry is electric… the romance is a slooooow burn… my god the tension… I was EATING it up. Under the covers… holding my breath, begging for the characters to KISS ALREADY kind of eating it up.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A six star read for me… This book NEEDS to be on your TBR!… The action never stopped… The romance and tension and yearning was so good!… You don’t want to miss out on this!” daisyreads_3, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Immaculate tension and banter… Delicious slow burn and yearning… Unique magic system… Tense twists and turns… I finished it in a day!” booksandbloodoaths, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I could NOT put this book down! The tension between Nina and Max is perfection… The ending left me BEGGING for more!” tattedmomreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a ride! I could not put it down… Found family, touch her and die, betrayal… Really, really, unique… The yearning was top tier.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Alexis L. Menard
By day, Alexis L. Menard walks the quiet halls of a Louisiana hospital, caring for patients and chasing calm. By night, she builds worlds where calm rarely exists. Between shifts and motherhood, she writes the kind of stories she used to daydream about, gritty, spellbound tales where love and power are always at odds and no one escapes unscathed.
Menard’s background as a registered nurse shapes more than her schedule, it shapes her storytelling. Her characters bleed, heal, and carry invisible scars that feel real because she understands the weight of both pain and recovery. Whether set in a crumbling empire or a post-industrial city pulsing with forbidden magic, her books balance intensity with tenderness, danger with desire.
Darkest Divine
Darkest Divine consists of one book 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.
