The Rule

by Bronwyn Eley

She has lived only in shadows, but now she must step into the light.

Born and raised by the Baleful, an assassin guild spoken of only in hushed rumours, Zinha is chosen for a dangerous assignment – a game of seduction with a deadly goal that will test everything she’s trained for. The King wishes to invade the neighbouring country of Maetora, but he must first neutralise their ruler – and her dangerous magic.

Zinha infiltrates The Trial of Power, a magical competition during which the Maetorian Heir chooses his consort. She must seduce the Heir, uncover his mother’s secrets and topple their kingdom from within. But Heir Reyher is not what she expected, and neither are the Maetorians. Especially Mateo, a fellow contestant with his own secrets.

As Zinha gains more distance from the darkness of her previous life, doubts begin to surface about everything she’s been told. When rumours of a rival assassin threaten her success – and the lives of the people she has come to love – Zinha is forced to choose between the powerful bonds of her past and the fragile hope of an unexpected future. Because time is running out, and the Baleful live by only one rule:

Succeed or die.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Audiobook

464 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

I'm a fantasy author of YA and Romantasy books, born in Australia but currently living in Edinburgh, Scotland.

My debut series THE RELIC TRILOGY is a YA series published by Talem Press, perfect for anyone who loves dark fantasy, strong heroines and dark magic.

My upcoming book THE RULE is coming in March 2025 from Pantera Press, the first in a duology. This romantasy series is 'Nevernight' meets Miss Congeniality, perfect for lovers of dramatic magic, assassins and atmospheric settings.

Reviews

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
The Rule by author Bronwyn Eley is book one in a duology and is out now and what an absolute addictive page turner it is!

A fast moving tale of magic, assassins, secret identity, found family, a love triangle and political intrigue. The characters, the plot and the scenery are amazing!

Meet Zinha an assassin, born and raised by the Baleful. When The King plans to invade Maetora, Zinha is sent on a dangerous assignment, competing to be chosen as the Heir’s consort so the King can put his takeover plan into action.

You will not want to miss this one, believe me!

Now it’s going to be difficult waiting for the next book, I can’t wait to see where it goes!

Publication Date 04 March 2025
Publisher Pantera Press

Thank you so much Pantera Press for a copy of this gorgeous book.

[Bronwyn Eley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi everyone, my name is Bronwyn Eley - I’m the author of this book! I hope you love the adventure Zinha is about to embark on. The inspiration behind this book was Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and (weirdly) the movie Miss Congeniality. It’s a story for anyone who has ever been brave enough to unpick their inherited beliefs, no matter the cost or consequences.

[Leticia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun, and one of the best romantasy books I've read in terms of both plot and romance.

I liked all the main characters, and Zinha's emotional arc is very coherent and believable. When the author said that part of the inspiration was Miss Congeniality I wondered what she meant, but I very quickly got it: Zinha enters the magical trial and is sort of a ringer, and sort of completely out of her depth, and she learns some lessons about herself along the way. I love that the love triangle is an actual triangle! My only complaint is that by the end there was still so much to resolve. I now regret reading this so soon after it came out because who knows how long I'll have to wait to find out what happens.

[Victoria M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this one down! While I don’t tend to read fantasy, I was drawn in by the stunning cover and unique concept. I mean, who could resist a book described as Miss Congeniality but with assassins and magic??

What kept me captivated, though, was the fast-paced story, the beautiful setting and creative magic system, and how engaging Zinha was. While I might not be an assassin masquerading as a noblewoman who can see the future, I think most women can relate to the need to prove yourself, particularly when you’re just starting out in the world, and the fine line you have to walk between doing what you’re told and standing up for what you believe to be right. To create a character as relatable and bad ass as Zinha is a feat, and I can’t wait to see her continue to grow in The Oath.

Oh and of course who could put down a slow burn, ‘why choose’ romance… 😏

Now to (not so) patiently awaiting The Oath, it can’t come quick enough!

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succeed or die.

I quite liked Zinha as a protagonist, her decisions made sense and she kept her head in the game without too many distractions. Though I didn't really feel that she felt like an assassin. I find it a bit difficult to find assassin mc to be anything what they actually are, TOG comes to mind.

I enjoyed the concept of this, her family is relying on her to win the Trial of Power and become the Heirs consort. The setting was also pretty cool. Though i did like that the MC was reminded again and again of her reason for being there, I wished that "Succeed or die" moto was used less.

[Kirstyn Appel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need book 2, please! 😭❤️

An assassin, a desert castle, a secret Oasis and not one, but TWO beautiful men.

A little slow at the start, but I was HOOKED after a certain escapade out a window until the very end 😏😉

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assassins + magical competitions + forbidden romance + found family… need I say more?

The Rule is an LGBTQ New Adult Romantasy about a young assasin whose first mission is the biggest in her guild's history: infiltrate the palace of enemy state Maetora and tear it down from the inside. The perfect opportunity presents itself when the Queen announces a competition to choose her son’s new consort before he ascends to the throne. The competition will bring together some of the most magically gifted (and hot 😏) young nobles from around the world. And Zinha (who has no magic but does have a gift for lying and other more pointy weapons) will pretend to be one of them.

World-building

The story begins in the Baleful assassin’s hidden underground world. The cramped tunnels feel intimate and safe to Zinha - until she experiences freedom for the first time in the wide desert expanses of Maetora, where most of the book takes place. Maetora is bursting with colour and life. The city streets are full of music and spices, and the desert landscape is a contradiction of endless scorching dunes and lush hidden oases. Maetora has a rich culture with its own language, customs, and religion, all of which we get to learn alongside Zinha. And then there’s the magic system, which is similar to other romantasy worlds but has its own unique twists.

Romance

This one is a slow burn but it BURNS 🥵 Zinha’s mission is to charm and seduce the prince, but even she can’t help being charmed by their secret moonlight rendevous. Which are romantic as hell if you forget the part that Zinha is supposed to kill him. And then there’s her infuriating, irresistable competitor Mateo who seems to have a bit of a history with Crown Prince Rehyer and a why-choose attitude when it comes to him, Rehyer, and Zinha... This book had just the right amount of witty banter, sexual tension, and some 🌶 sprinkled in, with a promise of more to come in book 2. And now for the characters, which were definitely the highlight of the book.

Characters

ZINHA: She's such a badass!! It was refreshing to read about a FMC who owns her sexuality and knows what a badass she is. However, her doubts and insecurities also make her seem very real. She grew up feeling like an outsider as the only child raised to be a Baleful assasin instead of inducted. Her desire to belong has always haunted her, and we get to watch her start questioning everything she’s ever believed in when she finds true belonging in the most unexpected of places.

REYHER: The Crown Prince is kind of a sexy cinammon roll. He’s surprisingly sweet with a hint of rebellious spirit. His scenes with Zhina, particularly their moonlit encounters at a hidden oasis, feel almost poetic, like lost stories from One Thousand and One Nights.

MATEO: Mateo is a Maetta, which is basically a magical warrior monk. He also has a red hot history with the crown prince and an equally undeniable chemistry with Zinha from day one. Their banter is immaculate. What’s not to love about a tall muscley warrior who can almost defy gravity in combat and also plays lullabys on his musical instrument when he’s not busy whispering scandalous things into Zinha’s ear 🔥

Overall thoughts: The Rule is a fun assasin romantasy, but it’s also a beatiful tale of duty vs freedom, the life you were always told you should live and the future you might build for yourself if you’re brave enough. I can’t wait to see where the story goes in book 2!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Loved the characters, the magic, and the way the story flows. The romance of the romantasy felt genuine in how the feelings were written and explored.

[Fabee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assassin, political intrigue, magic, and a trial of power! I was excited to hear of “The Rule” and with good reason! I couldn’t put it down! Now the hardest part - waiting for the next book!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s with books and leaving me on these stupid cliffhangers like get a grip please this is not cute

[A. Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It’s full of intrigue, danger and assassins; all the good things in life.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have many mixed feelings about this book. I listened to this as an audiobook so maybe the way it was narrated could have also affected my perspective. I also feel like maybe I have graduated from this classic type of YA romance and that it's maybe just not for me anymore?

Summary of my review in case reading all this is too much- Good character arc and setting, clear and interesting bisexual love triangle that really is a FULL triangle (would have been better if it was more competetive perhaps), I wish the main character was smarter, and finally, no one has a panic attack and then wants to have a threesome.

So, this book was sitting at around a 2.5-3 star rating for me.
Things I liked:
- I liked the arc of the main character- I could see the character development occurring and I found it believable, and that was probably the most compelling aspect of the book for me.
- I like the trials and the ways each trial was addressed- I feel like this raised the stakes well and was one of the reasons I kept going with the book, even though I was seriously torn about finishing it.
- I actually really liked the world and the city they spent the most time in. It was intriguing, it felt like a utopia at times, and in a good way. The city actually helped me understand the characters and their experiences better.
- I really liked the opening. It was a great first chapter that really drew me in.
- I did not guess some of the twists at the end and rather enjoyed them. In that last 20% I really did just want to keep reading

Things I liked and disliked at the same time:
- the Love Triangle - I really appreciated the bisexuality of the love triangle A+. The characters really did feel like each one of them cared for the other in the same ways throughout the triangle. BUT I also couldn't stand the way the romance was written. I think it was done well and was mostly believable but I think it just didn't completely hook me. Perhaps this is a case of I didn't feel the competitiveness within the love triangle that usually makes it more exciting, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because yay functioning relationships, but also it kind of made the romance just a bit 'huh'.
- Zinha's naivety. - Okay, so I loved this in many ways in terms of her characterisation staying consistent. Because, yes, she has never left her little assassin house and has barely travelled and barely knows the world - this is her first outing into the world. So yes, she is confused and trying to work stuff out and isn't the best at controlling her expressions etc. That was amazing and consistent with her experience and did add to her character arc.
BUT does the assassins' guild really send an assassin who, at the very least, can't control her facial expressions and lie convincingly? And on that, do they really send her on the most important mission to dismantle a government?! I had higher hopes for Zinha's abilities based on the opening, as she seemed smart and on top of things, a bit cocky yes, but clever. And then my hopes were consistently dashed. I think it was more of a case of surely she has been trained to take on the identity of someone else at assassin school, surely she takes a minute to think about how she can win this, but also minorly conceal her assassin skills?

Things I struggled with:
- The constant repetition of the 'Succeed or Die' motto. It felt VERY on the nose to me and I wouldn't have minded it popping up every now and then, but it honestly felt like every time Zinha had a thought, particularly in the first 30% of the book, she remembered 'Succeed or Die'. The stakes were clear and they didn't need the constant repetition.
- Zinha's CONSTANT flip-flopping between what she wanted to do. - I think this was linked to some of the unbelievability in her assassin role. She seemed committed to oh i'm going to abandon my assassin task because I care about my friends and then would immediately have the opposite thought and do the opposite thing. That frustrated me to NO END.
- On that same note - the thing I think I just could not get over the end part in which she has a PANIC ATTACK about the above conundrum of who she was going to help. Love triangle boys turn up to help her, and once they calm her down, they all almost have a threesome. I was like okay, but she just had a panic attack and this is what you go into... one of the most overstimulating experiences, and you also completely disregard the urgency of the thing you were just having a panic attack over?

Anyway, I feel like I finished this book mainly because I wanted to express the mixed feelings I was having. I mostly enjoyed it but there was a lot I had issues with.

[Lune · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars
It’s been a long time since I read a fantasy novel that I’ve liked! I must say that I liked the beginning the most, the middle dragged on and the ending was a little predictable.
What I liked was Zihna. She was so fierce and too confident for her own good but thag cockyness was kind of her “flaw” which made her character interesting to me. I only wished she had more flaws, but I’ll get to that in a second.
Then there was Matteo and Reyher. Matteo I liked because he was present in the first halve of the story. I liked how his energy matched Zihna’s energy. I can’t help and be attracted to someone that knows what he wants and boy was he clear with his needs haha
Reyher I honestly didn’t care for and I didn’t believe hos connection with Matteo was that strong nor with Zihna. There was just not enough shown, which I get because he couldn’t be seen that much with Zihna and as we read from Zihna’s perspective we didn’t get insight in Matteo’s and Reyher’s connection either. Then the “reveal” as to why they were estranged felt so rushed and down poorly because Zihna was just there between them like😀
Then there is Zihna, who I liked but should really have had more flaws and troubles. Only towards the ending she started to unravel a bit but I wished she would have had a harder time during the challenges and maybe with her contestants but she was basically worshipped there. I like conflict more. It would have been so cool to see her struggle because she is not as good as she thought she was, especially because she is so full of herself it could have been an insightful experience into her character.
The story itself and the world Brownwyn created was very cool! It reminded me a lot of Dune, but a little milder. I don’t know what audience this is aimed at, I think young adult, but I would have loved to see some more darkness and brutality perhaps?
I also feel like the politics side was underdeveloped.
But I devoured this book like crazy so despite its faults I still give it 3,5 stars🤩

[Danni Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rule is a sharp, sizzling read that delivers a gripping anti-hero tale wrapped in a world of heat, lust, betrayal, and the slow unravelling of everything you thought you believed in. Zinha is a brilliantly crafted character—dry-witted, flawed, and easy to root for. The book dives deep into a thought-provoking exploration of conditioning and what happens when we start to question the rules we’ve lived by.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with moments so tense and atmospheric it’s hard to pull away. I devoured it in a matter of days after it sat patiently on my TBR for far too long. A mirage in a desert has nothing on The Rule—this book burns hotter and leaves a stronger impression.

If I had any gripes, it’s that I wish we’d had more development between Zinha and Azzura—their relationship felt a bit rushed, and the journey from the Baleful to Maetoria was skimmed over too quickly.

*Those* relationships didn’t always feel entirely organic in the story’s pacing, but the love interests were still incredibly engaging characters in their own right.

I also would’ve loved more focus on the trials themselves; the competition was such a cool concept, but we didn’t get much time to understand or connect with the other players.

That said, I absolutely loved this book—its world, its heroine, and the provocative ideas at its core.

[Jazzyysj · Rating 3 out of 5]

A why choose romance.
I didn't know this going in, but finished it anyways.

It was a decent read, lacked fantasy elements that I was expecting, as per book blurb. The flow went well enough, and the plot moved along decently.

Character wise, there were unique personalities so added to the story well. The main characters, the three, each had their own personalities that made them quite interesting, however, we are stuck in one pov for the whole book, so we are dealing with a lot of inner monologue of the fmc, and we sorely miss out on the two mmcs, which I think may have helped.

The romance was somewhat believable, but again, I didn't know it was a why choose romance, I generally don't read those, I'm selfish like that. So I rated 3 stars. If I were into why choose I'd say it'd be a 4 star.

Spice level is minimal, ya version, but I'd say the next book it'd pick up.

[Ellevj Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll make this short and sweet. Rating this a 3.5, not quite a 4. Way too many repetitive quotes eg succeed or die, not sure how the 100 of them got through editing.

Slow but good character development and rich world building, plus a super saucy trouple, which was slow burn and tastefully written. Felt like the ending was really anticlimactic, with lots of little clues that went nowhere, so I’m hoping it was plot building/set up for the second novel.

Overall it was an engaging read, would love some 2nd/3rd pov from Matteo and Raya’s perspective. Feel like this series could go either way. I’ll defiantly be sticking around to see how it all pans out.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read that kept me going to the last page.
I am 62 and new to this genre. I found myself able to get lost in the world this book created. The story was intriguing and the writing was excellent.
Bronwyn Eley has created strong characters and her ability to create and describe the world in which they live is inspiring.
I am looking forward, with anticipation, to the second book.
If you’ve never tried this genre, then this a great starting place.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Courtney Cooper · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciated the author’s world building and original concept but the consistent spelling and grammatical errors left me wanting to stop reading after the first chapter. It was the strength of the author’s idea that encouraged me to continue reading and not stop after I encountered my first series of mistakes. I am very understanding that occasionally a mistake might sneak in but there were far too many mistakes for a published book. Disappointing that the proofreading didn’t give this book its chance to shine.

[Lindie Naude · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars!

I honestly really loved it! It felt like Throne of Glass before Heir of Fire, when it was focused on a smaller scope of court intrigue, espionage, with the yearning romance (almost like is Celaena chose both Dorian and Chaol).

Sure, it could use a another good editing pass or two to fix up the grammar and spelling mistakes that were throughout the book, but it was just so engaging that even I was able to just ignore those points because I didn’t want it to stop. So I need all you mfs to get in line and read this book so I can get the sequel 😭

[Chloe Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now. I enjoy that this is an Aussie author 🤪 living in Scotland

I did manage to catch right before starting this that it’s why choose - not my usual bag - but proceeded anyway

The first 10% was pretty heavy on the world building - which I also found reasonably complex

There are a lot of characters and concepts in this world that I at times struggled to keep up with

From 15% onwards is where I got into it more

I ultimately enjoyed it and am keen to read the next instalment when it releases!

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced, action-packed fantasy romance.

What to expect -
✨ An assassin guild
✨ High-stakes political intrigue
✨ Magical elements
✨ Immersive fantasy world
✨ Found family
✨ Love triangle
✨ A secret oasis
✨ Fabulously fierce FMC

This is the first book in the Trials of Power duology, and I am keen to know what happens next. I am hoping that the next book cover is as beautiful as this one!

[Olivia Mackervall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutley loved this and it was by afr one of the most well written things i've read in a while. I wasgenuinley surprised when i came to review it and its nowhere near as popular as i was expecting it to be.
I loved the characters and the romance was easy enough for me to overlook I wasn't too bothered by it and also didn't really care that much there was too much else going on.
The second is too far away.

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh! The characters are stunning, I liked the subtle romance, the internal conflict, and the trials. Two days it took me to finish this book and my time spent with this book were amazing. It's an easy read built with culture and depth, the world I stepped into was stunning.

And now, to wait for Autumn 2026 for the next one (hopefully Australian Autumn since that's closer ;)

Loved it!

[Kayla♠️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️

I bought this book at the airport randomly and picked it up after a while. It was shockingly good. I also found out it’s written by an Australian writer and published this year?! I’m impressed, and i’m excited to see how the story plays out in the next book.

The thruple was definitely interesting tho hahah but not the worst thing so i’ll let it slide.

[Lauren Rendoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, the world building was not overwhelming, it was perfectly balanced with character and plot development. Xena/Sabina is a forced to be reckoned with and I cannot wait to read the next instalment!

[Nikita Mzamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi Bronwyn, I would recommend adding tags to attract more readers 'cause your work is truly beautiful. We need more original stories like yours in fantasy. 💞

[Stardust · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat similar to “The Bridge Kingdom”.

[Lanie Krog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 3 books of 2025. The second book cannot come soon enough!