Her Dark Reflection
Hailey Jade
Publication date: June 15th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
“They called me the Whore Queen. Some even called me the Evil Queen. But they could call me whatever they wanted. I was still queen.”
Rhiandra Tiercelin hungers for power and her charm has always been her sharpest weapon in hunting it. So when a brutal attack leaves her physically scarred, desperation drives her to make a deal with Draven, a magic-wielding stranger who is inexplicably compelling and definitely dangerous. She knows she can’t trust him, but he when he offers to make her a queen, the temptation is too enticing to resist.
Armed with a glamoured face and an enchanted apple, Rhiandra is determined to scheme her way into a crown, even if it means risking the deadly punishment for unsanctioned magic use. But Draven is playing a bigger game, and she is just one piece on the board.
Can she keep her wits about her long enough to uncover his secrets, or will he lure her down a path she will come to regret?
Her Dark Reflection is the first book in a new dark romantic fantasy series perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy, Jennifer Armentrout and Sarah A. Parker. If you like cunning, ambitious heroines, morally ambiguous men and romance that toes the line between love and hate, then you’ll love Hailey Jade’s dark reimagining of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
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EXCERPT:
‘After today, you’ll be living in the palace,’ he said, eating up that sensible distance I had just erected with a few steps. ‘Are you ready?’
I turned to him, looking up at him from under my lashes. By the time he had knocked on my door an hour earlier, his arms full of boxes of clothes, I had long since made up my mind to seduce him. I had flushed as I’d pulled on the clocked stockings and white chemise that I sported beneath the gown I now wore, wondering if he’d imagined what I would look like in them.
I traded in desire, but usually not my own. I had felt it before, of course, but this was disconcertingly intense. I felt like there was too much blood in my body, keeping my skin perpetually flushed and sensitive. It was inconvenient, especially since everything about him suggested that I needed to be on my guard. Fortunately, the solution to lust was usually a tumble between the sheets, and once my curiosity was sated, the desire went with it. I would have him, and then my head would clear.
He held my gaze and leaned forwards a little. I tilted my head, my breath coming faster. The smell of him was heady, rattling my senses like a stiff drink.
Then, he smirked. ‘Get your head on straight. Enchantment or no, you’re about to enter a den of vipers. Your wits need to be sharp.’
I let out my breath in a huff, flushing scarlet as I stormed away from him, heading straight for the door, mentally chastising myself as I did. Stupid little idiot. I wasn’t some maiden, to be played by a cunning knave.
‘Rhiandra,’ he called as I placed my hand on the doorknob, and I looked back at him, schooling my expression into one of blasé detachment.
‘Yes?’
‘Have you forgotten something?’ He gestured at the mirror over the fireplace and I scowled at it for a few moments, hating it, before slowly walking over to it. I gritted my teeth and braced myself as I stepped before the glass.
The beautiful girl in the small mirror on the dressing table was not the one that greeted me now. Staring back at me was my ruined face, the one that haunted my nightmares. All I wanted to do was get away from the sight, to run from this heinous reminder of what had happened to me, but I stood waiting. The feeling of phantom fingers brushed over me, over my scars, and my skin went strangely numb, then flushed ice cold. As soon as the sensation of cold had faded, I backed away from the fireplace, glancing at the regular mirror on the dressing table to make sure I was still whole and gleaming there. It seemed a particular kind of cruelty that the enchantment now woven into my mother’s mirror revealed my true face even as it hid it. I would be forced to look on my scars whenever I refreshed the glamour, and I wondered whether it was an intentional cruelty.
‘You can’t forget while you’re in the palace.’ Draven was still, his gaze sharp as he watched me. ‘Don’t wait until your time is almost up before you refresh the glamour.’
‘My, how lucky I am to have your sage wisdom supplementing my poor feminine brain,’ I snapped, my lip curled with sarcasm, begging for a rise, but he remained as impassive as a stone wall. ‘What happens if I meet a druthi? Won’t they see the glamour?’
‘You’ve nothing to fear from druthi. You could crack one over the head with your mirror and he wouldn’t understand what it is. A bunch of incompetent parasites.’ There was something in the way he said this, a simmering anger that drew my attention.
‘How can you be sure?’ I said. ‘They burn people every month for unsanctioned magic use. If they catch me—’
‘They won’t.’ He sounded irritated now. ‘Trust me, Rhiandra.’
‘I don’t trust you.’
He tilted his head and offered a vicious smile. ‘And yet, here you are.’
I sighed with frustration and turned for the door again. He was taking up too much space in this too-small room and I was ready to be out of it.
Author Bio:
Hailey Jade is an Australian who has the audacity to think she might be able to hack it as a writer. Whether this is true or not, she is hoping giving it a red hot go will make the characters who live in her head pipe down long enough for her to get some sleep. She likes creating complicated antiheros, pairing them with heroines who wont be pushed around by any man, sex appeal be damned, and planting them both in worlds touched with magic.
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Sounds good.
the plot sounds good
How long was the writing process?
Very striking cover, love it!
this book looks intriguing
I really like the cover. It looks really good. Sounds like an interesting story.
Sounds like a fantastic read!
Hailey Jade is a new author to me but I want to thank this blog for the introduction.
I look forward to reading this book.
I think that the front cover of your book is striking and eye catching.
I like the cover. Love that she doesn’t mind what they call her as long as it involves Queen! Enjoyed the excerpt.
I look forward to reading this.
This sounds like a really great book, can’t wait to read it!
I look forward to reading this.
Congratulations on your release of Her Dark Reflection, Hailey, great excerpt and your book sounds like a fantastic fantasy read for me and the cover is awesome! Good luck with your book and the blitz! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a spectacular week!
Great post – thanks for sharing!
Looks like an interesting book.
Thanks for the contest.
sounds like a wonderful book
Sounds like a good read.
The book sounds interesting. 🙂
I love the cover, synopsis and excerpt, Her Dark Reflection is a must read for me. Thank you for sharing the author’s bio and book details
The Title and the Cover go well together. Sounds like a great story.
I really enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks!
This sounds like one that I would so love to read this summer and I love the cover too.
that opening paragraph definitely got my attention LOL
What a fascinating book! Great excerpt. I’d love to read more.
wonderful excerpt from the book
Sounds interesting. Adding to my TBR list.
Excerpt draws me to the book, well written!
Selling one’s soul for a short time of beauty? It’s rather meager, in my opinion.
nice cover
Sounds like a good read.
I suppose someone had to explore the evil queen in Snow White, although it doesn’t sound as if this one will work to humanize her much.
I think it’s interesting that The Evil Queen from ‘Snow White’ has taken center stage as a popular character in fiction recently. My personal favorite version when she was on the animated television series, “Bunnicula”! So hilarious!
This sounds really interesting! I’d love to read it!