4.3 (6,481 ratings)

A Darkness So Sweet: The Kingdom Below, Book 1

Name: A Darkness So Sweet: The Kingdom Below, Book 1
Rating: 4.3 (6481 reviews)
Author: Emma Hamm
ISBN: B0F398ZTPN

by Emma Hamm

witches

About this book

Traded like a bargaining chip to secure a fragile peace, Maia Fremont is thrust from her quiet life as a floral artist into a nightmare of royal deception. She is sacrificed to the Kingdom Below, a subterranean realm ruled by the fearsome and misunderstood troll, Ragnar. What begins as a forced union between a delicate human and a formidable, brooding beast quickly spirals into a high-stakes game of survival and unexpected desire.

This spellbinding tale masterfully blends dark romance with the classic grumpy-sunshine trope, turning the monstrous into the magnetic. As a powerful healer bound by duty, Ragnar initially views his human bride as an insult to his bloodline, while Maia must navigate the treacherous politics of a world that views her as an outsider. Yet, beneath the rugged exterior and the shadows of the mountain, a slow-burning connection begins to bloom, proving that even the darkest hearts can be softened by an unlikely light.

Perfect for fans of paranormal romance who crave atmospheric world-building and intense emotional stakes, this story reinvents mythical creatures in the most delicious way. Dive into a realm where magic is dangerous, honor is a cage, and love is the most lethal trap of all.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0F398ZTPN

Reader Reviews

So delicious!!!!

October 9, 2025

💜“He would bring her peace, and she would give him softness.” This is pure deliciousness! LOOK AT THE COVER! THESE VIBES!!! 💜Ok...trolls... Yeah, Emma Hamm has convinced me they are SEXY! Their fierce loyalty, protectiveness, growliness, sense of community, and desire to please their ladies makes me swoon ( and drool hahah). What’s Inside? 💜Trolls, Humans, & Elvish Magic 💜Arranged Marriage 💜Forced Proximity 💜External conflict & Internal Conflict 💜Cultural Differences 💜Size Difference...

Definitely recommend

June 24, 2025

Slow burn.Enemies to lovers. (Kinda) Troll meet human. The troll is described more like an avatar/ogre. I was expecting troll to be something like idk Lord of the Rings. lol. But I definitely like this description much better. They are yall and strong and handsome loyal and tear women excellent. Spice was decent. Some of this story felt like it was a bit rushed especially the ending. It was a lot of information thrown in at once. But it needed to be as a bridge to the next book. Some heavy...

Maia and Ragnar are everything

May 19, 2026

This book is by far my favorite book by Emma Hamm. Being a troll wife is goals. Maia is an independent woman who has her heart in the right place even if misguided in the beginning. Ragnar is a healer who just wants what every male troll wants - peace for the trolls and a beautiful, strong troll wife. And boy does Maia prove how great of a troll wife she can be...even if she is human. These two would do anything for each other after getting off to a rocky start. If you love enemies to lovers,...

if you like emotional roller coasters….

July 29, 2025

Wow what a book? I honestly tortured myself reading this entire book until early morning simply because I wanted it to be over and done with. Based on the reviews I thought this would be a much better read than it was, though if you like lots of drama and chaos it would be a very good read for you. As a reader who prefers a deeper romance rather than world drama I was sad throughout most of this book and honestly confused by a few different things…. In the beginning we start off with the MMC...

Great read

May 21, 2026

I want expecting to love this book so much, and now that I've finished it I will have to read all of them just so I hope to see Ragnar and Maia again. I think out of the pairings I like these two but I'm excited to get to Bjorn's story, and Gunner and Rose! And I'm a little curious about the troll prince, I know he's the ml for the last book that's not out yet. This story is well written and it makes me want to check out the Undine stories this author has written. But I HIGHLY recommend this...