Deal of Jagged Thornes - Thorne Chronicles, #0

The winds of Iosia are thick with whispers of unthinkable horror. "Magic has returned... The Thorne King is in danger!"In the early days of Iosia, chaos and dark magic ravaged the kingdom. The first Thorne King and his revered Sentinels-shifters blessed by the gods with the ability to transform between human and animal form-defeated the Onyx King and his evil magicians. With magic extinguished, and the Onyx magicians banished, all of Iosia enjoyed peace and prosperity under the rule of the House of Thorne for generations.
Leopold Thorne, second son of King Percival Thorne, revels in his role as the Spare prince; content to remain in the shadows, without a crown upon his head, or a wife in his bed. With his military deployment approaching, Leo sets out on one final adventure of good-natured debauchery with his best friends, and stumbles into a nightmare with the potential to ruin his future. Lady Astrid is the only child of the Earl of Sprusset.
As a future countess, Astrid refuses to bow to society's claustrophobic rules. She has no intention of relinquishing her independence to a husband or children. Faced with the prospect of losing her family's estate, courtesy of her father's gambling debts, Astrid enters into a deal with a stranger-a vile creature who now holds her future, and her freedom, in his calloused grip-a deal as impossible to escape as a thicket of jagged thorns.
When tragedy strikes the Kingdom, Leo and Astrid's paths cross once more. An unexpected attack by a shape-shifting Sentinel leaves them trapped-together, injured, and lost. If they hope to survive, Leo and Astrid must set aside their animosity and work together. Can Astrid set aside her pride and trust a beast to save her life? Will Leo allow himself to rely on the one woman who has the power to destroy not only his heart, but his kingdom?"An intriguing prequel from Lisa Alfano to launch her Thorne Chronicles series...
I recommend Deal of Jagged Thornes to readers who enjoy fantasy stories with engaging characters." Five Stars, Readers' Favorite This YA fantasy romance is a prequel novel to the Thorne Chronicles: a new, epic young adult fantasy series featuring strong female characters. DEAL OF JAGGED THORNES occurs almost two decades before CAGE OF TANGLED THORNES: THORNE CHRONICLES BOOK ONE (Release Date: July 25, 2023-Preorder Now).