With Hearts of Flame (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Dark Academia Romantasy Novel of Vampires and Dragons Featuring Stenciled Edges and Illustrated Endpapers (Bloodwing Academy, 4)
Briar Boleyn
King of Flesh and Bone: The Pale Court Duet, Book 1
by Liv Zander
About this book
Step into a world of macabre beauty and chilling obsession where the line between salvation and damnation blurs. This dark fantasy shifter romance introduces a realm defined by isolation and rot, ruled by a man who is as terrifying as he is captivating. He is a villain in the truest sense—a king who knows only cold, until a frightened woman stumbles into his grotesque domain and inadvertently ignites a hunger he never thought possible.
As the first installment of The Pale Court duet, this story masterfully weaves a slow-burn narrative that is as poetic as it is disturbing. The dynamic between the ruthless, possessive king and his captive is intense, pushing the boundaries of traditional romance. Through dual perspectives, you will witness a descent into a dark, visceral passion that demands total surrender, proving that sometimes the most compelling love stories are the ones born from the deepest shadows.
If you are a fan of paranormal romance that prioritizes atmospheric horror and morally grey protagonists, this is your next obsession. Prepare for a haunting journey where there are no heroes to save the day—only a master of flesh and bone who plays the puppeteer of desire.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0B64J3S2Q
Reader Reviews
August 29, 2023
My goodness this was a phenomenal, beautiful read! The way Liv writes this book is so beautifully poetic and I found myself often lost in the cadence the narration provided from both POVs. This is a super dark fantasy romance with many uncomfortable topics that may not be suitable for all audiences. PLEAE BE SURE TO HEED TRIGGER WARNINGS! I would say this is more black than morally grey. Enosh, one of the most tortured souls I've read to date, is both, magnificent and monstrous throughout this...
April 16, 2026
King of Flesh and Bone Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I’m not even going to lie, it took me a minute to get into it. The beginning had me confused and a little disconnected from the story which made it hard to fully settle in at first. I found myself rereading things trying to figure out what exactly was going on and it pulled me out of the experience more than once. BUT. Once things started clicking into place, I was locked in and a huge part of that was Ada and Enosh. I absolutely...
January 25, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the story is addictive and I flew through it. On the other, the \"romance\" is built on forced encounters and captivity that was hard to stomach. It’s a dark fantasy that leans heavily into Stockholm Syndrome tropes. While it has some similarities to ACOTAR, it isn't written with the same polish, but the core storyline is intriguing. Please prioritize your mental health and check the triggers before diving in! I’m curious to see if book two...
August 17, 2025
This book is deliciously dark. Like, rot-in-the-walls, body-horror-meets-romance dark. And somehow, it works. Liv Zander doesn’t pull punches. The world of King of Flesh and Bone is grotesque, claustrophobic, and steeped in decay—but it’s also strangely tender. The King (yes, capital K) is a monstrous, obsessive ruler with a soft spot buried under layers of rot and rage. Ada, the mortal woman dropped into his court, is no shrinking violet. She’s confused, terrified, and furious—and she fights...
April 18, 2024
I liked this one. It took me a bit longer to get into it, but it’s an interesting story. Limited characters and settings, but I don’t think the story suffered for it. It is a dark romance, but not the darkest I’ve read. Though Enosh is definitely morally dark dark gray. Spoilers******* Ada is a widowed midwife who lives with her father. She is avoided by the townsfolk as they believe her to be barren. The world is cursed by the King of Flesh and Bone in that the dead do not rot, and they rise...
