The Storm King's Heart. Sons and Daughters of Lir, #0.5

For fans of Amanda Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles, Danielle Jensen's Bridge Kingdom series and Milla Vane's Gathering of Dragons.This is the star-crossed story of a shield maiden and a shapeshifter king. It's set in the Dark Ages and is full of mist and magic and battle and betrayal. Brunhild Ranulfsdottir knows how to cleave skulls with her ax and terrorize villages with her raiding party. She doesn't know how to be soft or surrender to anyone - especially a man.
She's seen firsthand how women become vulnerable when they succumb to the whims of others or bow to inferiority. The last thing she wants is to be bartered in marriage - nothjng more than a pawn in her father's delusions of grandeur. Toran Lir is doing everything he can to keep his kingdom from falling apart. He never wanted the crown resting on his brow or the mantle of responsibility that came with it - but the alternative is far worse.
He needs the Berserker King's fleet of ships to repel the Kraken invasion and he'll sacrifice whatever he needs to in order to secure them. Even if it means he has to give up a mountain of gold and bind himself to the man's fierce warrior daughter. Their bargain is of fire and blood, prophecy and forsaken vows. Love was never meant to be part of it. Read preview >