"I was not created to back down"

The Descendants of Hyrax, God of the Dead, had long ago died out - that is, until Theadora Moore showed up on the steps of the Athenian Palace without any memories of her past life. She does, however, have magic in her veins and a mark on her chest that brands her the last living Descendant of Hyrax.

Desperate to use her to ensure peace in his kingdom, Prince Clayton Vail forces her to play a role she doesn’t want at court. When mysterious attacks start happening at the castle, though, it becomes clear that not everyone is happy with the return of House Hyrax.

If Thea wants to stay alive long enough to uncover the secrets of her past, she’s going to need to master her powers, navigate complicated politics, and figure out who to trust. In a castle filled with the children of the Gods... that might be easier said than done.

The House of Hyrax series is an action-packed slow-burn romance filled with magic and political intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Red Queen.

Published
April 11, 2024
Where to find this book
External links open a book search at the selected retailer. Availability may vary.
House of Hyrax

The series

Full series details →

Step into the enigmatic world of House of Hyrax, where power is forged in darkness, loyalty is a double-edged sword, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. Arcadia Rayne’s gripping fantasy series pulls readers into a realm where political machinations, forbidden magic, and ancient secrets swirl together, creating a world on the brink of chaos. In the House of Hyrax, nothing is ever as it seems, and no one is truly safe from the webs of deceit and intrigue that govern the land.

Read full series description

The series begins with The Rose in the Shadows, where Theadora Moore, the last living descendant of Hyrax—the God of the Dead—finds herself pulled into the tangled politics of Athenia. With no memory of her past and an awakening magic threatening to overtake her, Thea’s journey of self-discovery leads her to confront both her terrifying heritage and the complex world of powerful families, where allies are often enemies in disguise.

In To the Edge of Athenia, the prequel, the foundation of the world is built as readers meet a group of unlikely friends who will later shape the course of history. Their bond and loyalty will be tested, setting the stage for the dangerous and dark path that lies ahead.

The saga continues with The Crown of the Dark Prince, where trust is a luxury few can afford, and alliances are tested to their breaking point. As Thea delves deeper into her powers, she uncovers secrets about the realm that challenge everything she thought she knew—and learns that her role in Athenia’s future might be darker than she ever imagined.

Richly immersive with layers of complex characters and political intrigue, the House of Hyrax series is a slow-burn fantasy that masterfully blends high-stakes adventure with heart-pounding romance. It explores themes of loyalty, identity, and the cost of ambition, offering readers a deep dive into a world where every decision could mean life or death.

For those who crave intricate world-building, intense emotional stakes, and a tale where every truth comes with a heavy price, House of Hyrax is a journey into the unknown, where power is fragile and nothing is certain. Brace yourself for a story where the gods walk among mortals, and the cost of survival is steep. Will Thea and her companions rise to the challenge, or will they fall victim to the very powers they seek to control? Only time will tell in the ever-dangerous world of House of Hyrax.

Risingshadow

Rating distribution

How reader ratings are distributed across the 1–10 scale.

100
90
81
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Risingshadow

What did you think of this book?

Share your experience with other Risingshadow readers.

Risingshadow

Reader reviews

1 review

What Risingshadow readers think about this book

8/10

This was a great book. For a debut novel, Arcadia is deserving of the praise she receives! With plenty of magic, found family, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, angst, twists and betrayals, this story never failed to keep my interest. It had the perfect blend of unique characterisation, world-building and political intrigue, as well as delving into realistic issues of abuse, objectification and grief. A lot of the description was gorgeous and sophisticated too.

I really enjoyed the mystery vibes of this story as Theadora tries to uncover who is behind the plots against her life. This had to be one of the best aspects of the story. I loved the characters, especially Thea, Clay and Iris. Theadora is a strong character and seeing her growth as a character was great to see: I cannot wait to see where her story takes us next!

The romance was a more secondary aspect to the novel and the fantasy itself takes the centre stage which, for me, I would have hoped for more of the former. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twists at the end and one of the betrayals I did not see coming. The main twist unfortunately felt rather obvious and I was hoping it would not be them because of that very reason. Other than that, I enjoyed it!

Risingshadow

Readers Also Enjoyed