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Year of the Reaper: a romantic and mysterious historically inspired fantasy standalone

Makiia Lucier

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“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 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.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantasy Standalones Perfect For Fall

I feel like I am constantly starting new, incomplete series and I can never catch up. Recently on my TikTok I recommended some completed series, but here I wanted to shout out something even rarer—fantasy standalones. I narrowed the list down to a few recommendations that I think would be perfect to read during the fall.

• The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez: A recent fantasy release beautifully weaves Jewish history and folklore together with a fantastical world. In order to save her mother from being accused of a crime she didn't commit, young healer Malka journeys into the forest to find the monster that is stealing the village's young girls.

• Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier: A YA fantasy story that swept me away when I read it last year. We follow Lord Cassia who returns home after being held prisoner in an enemy kingdom for years.

• Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs: This book is a unique love letter to books that reminds me a lot of The Starless Sea. I loved the book-based magic system and the exploration of conservation, power, and control through the library and the books.

Have you read any of these books? I would love to hear your thoughts! See you next week with more reading updates and book recommendations.

Happy reading!

Samantha (ladybug.books)

On my radar (possible next reads):

1. Cinder House - A queer, Gothic Cinderella retelling.
2. My Friends by Fredrik Backman - A charming story about art, life, and friendship.
3. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter - Cozy fantasy vibes.