Lightbringer

by Evelyn Flood

Nobody knows why the war began.
But I have always known how it will end.

Lyra Vaelion has spent her life in brutal training beneath the harsh suns of Solvandyr. As the hidden youngest daughter of the militant Lightbringer commander, she has always known what her future would be - to infiltrate the Darkwielder territory, Umbraxis, and kill their beloved heir.

She will not fail her people.

Darkwielder prince Kaelen Duskbane is fighting a war on endless fronts, and he’s tired. His fearless healer partner, Eres, insists on risking his safety at every turn while his silver-tongued rival, Darian, sows discord within the Royal Council and questions every decision he makes.

When an injured Lyra is discovered and saved by Eres, she finds herself face-to-face with the male she’s destined to destroy. But the Darkwielders are not what she expected. As time passes and hatred turns to heat, Lyra learns that light can blind as easily as it guides, and that the darkness she’s been raised to hate might be a shelter instead of the storm.

But one way or another, the war between the Lightbringers and the Darkwielders must end.

And Lyra stands in the middle.

This is a MMMF fantasy romance standalone, from the author of Stars Above the Never Sea.

Genres: Fantasy, Why Choose, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Magic, M M Romance

445 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2025

About the author

Evelyn Flood is an Amazon bestselling author of more than fifteen romance books.

She writes in various sub-genres including contemporary romance, fantasy romance and why choose, but you'll always find a main course of angst and a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.

She's based in South Wales, where she spends most of her time hopping between coffee shops with her laptop in hand and buying a ridiculous amount of notebooks to write all of her ideas down.

Find her on Facebook in her reader group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.

Reviews

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I want him. And I want her. I want all fucking three of them, and I don’t have enough appendages to manage it.

Her best one yet! (I know I say that every time, but Evelyn Flood pulled out all the stops with this one).

I was hooked from the first chapter and was torn between wanting to race through the pages to see how it ended and savoring each word. Binging won out in the end, and my only regret is that it’s over too soon.

I fell in love with these characters. True enemies to lovers, with a FMC who was beaten (tortured) but never broken, and three MMCs who might have had a little bit of damage themselves. Eres, the healer and Darian the shadowwalker won me over immediately. The broody dark prince, Kaelen, took a little longer, but he won my heart in the end.

Slower burn and while spicy, the spice didn’t drive the story. This is a very plot heavy fantasy MMMF romance that ends in a beautiful HEA.

Thanks to the author for the eARC.

[Kala Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn Flood is officially an auto read author for me. I fell head over heels for her writing with Stars Above the Never Sea, and Lightbringer fully sealed the deal. This book is everything I crave in a romantasy and then some. A fast paced, addictive plot. Deception layered on deception. Politics that actually matter. An interesting magic system. World building that is intricate but never overwhelming. And the slow burn. The angst. The tension. Absolutely immaculate.

The story just keeps tightening its grip, building and building until I was straight up in tears, frantically flipping pages because I had to know what was coming next. It was intense, emotional, and completely consuming in the best way. Lightbringer didn’t just deliver, it wrecked me. Outstanding.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Evelyn Flood, for adding me to their ARC team in exchange for honest reviews of their releases!📚

Genre/Themes: ☀️🌑⚔️🏰👨🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏻💭🏞️
Tropes: Light and Dark, War Between Kingdoms, Reverse Harem, Tortured Hero, Polyamory, Dark Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Bisexual, Grumpy, Insta Love, Nursed Back to Health, Jilted Lover, Corrupt Officials, Hired Assassin, Female Warriors, Grand Battles and Sieges, Rescue Mission, Home Invasion, Domestic Abuse, Stabbing, Murder, All Hope Lost, Supernatural Abilities, Betrayal
Positives: engaging writing style, strong fighting/battle scenes, fun use of multi-POV
Room for Improvement: weaker plot and pacing, world-building and characterisation including romance development
Rating: 🌕🌕🌗

✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑

Evelyn moved into serious romantasy last year with one of my all-time favourite novels in the genre - Stars Above the Never Sea, so I was super excited to read another world of hers. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Admittedly, I’ve never really read polyamory/reverse harem stories, but I was open to it, and just didn’t feel it was executed as well as it could have been. But Ms. Flood is still that girl, and I read this novel in a single day.

🧍‍♂️🧍‍♀️Characterisation:🧍‍♀️🧍‍♂️
Lyra Vaelion was the main character, and I’m not really sure how I felt about her. She was brave with a strong sense of vigilante justice, shown when her father’s soldiers slaughtered innocent people in Veilspire, and when his army tried to wipe out Umbraxis in the final battle. She could be quick witted and sarcastic, mostly when talking to Kaelan. She was compassionate and determined, such as when she tried to heal Sera. She was hardened and desensitised to pain and torture, from the years of abuse she endured, and Darian was right in that she seemed to think she only deserved happiness in exchange for her own suffering. Initially, this was to protect her sister, Reena. I think I struggled to connect with her because she didn’t feel very realistic. She had been indoctrinated for years to kill Kaelan and then take her own life, and said she had training and schemes on how to do so, yet she never once actually planned or tried to kill him. The poison was taken from her, ruining the end of the plan too, but she never tried to get it back. I think I’d have preferred to see her at least try to assassinate him, and then struggle with that internal battle, as opposed to her seemingly just deciding straight away she wasn’t going to bother. Things like her managing to adjust her memories, that Darian then read, to hide her truth were cool and I wish we’d had more of that kind of skill and plotting. Despite her trauma with men, including sexual, she seemed to fall in love with Eres and Darian almost instantly. I liked some of the subtle behaviours, like flinching at certain movements that the men made or her nightmares, but I wish there had been more emotional struggle. She just seemed to trust them straight away? Felt a ‘pull’ towards Eres even before the bond? I just found myself craving more nuance, more flaws. Her ‘running off to save the day without considering Eres and Kaelan’s fear for her’ wasn’t really a flaw.
Kaelan Duskbane was marketed as the main MMC, but ironically wasn’t the one Lyra fell for first. He was grumpy, swore a lot, and had a jealous streak. He could also be hurtful, especially when he felt betrayed or feared betrayal, after the actions of Darian’s father. He didn’t act like your typical prince, not afraid to get his hands dirty to help his people including washing dishes or cooking feasts. I liked that this was his response to his mother’s withdrawal following his father’s death. He was also very dominant in bed, so if you like that sort of thing, he’d be for you. My only gripe with him is that his personality sort of… switched very quickly as soon as he started to like Lyra. Too quickly, I felt. I was enjoying their jabs at each other, their spats. How they challenged each other. But that all suddenly stopped and he became soft spoken and romantic with her (outside of the bedroom, of course). His White Knighting also got a bit tiring, getting so angry and stubborn any time any of his lovers wanted to help the cause, if it would cause risk to them. Sometimes it was just illogical and felt more like a lack of trust than a protectiveness. Maybe some more context about his father and his life when he was alive would have explained this a bit more.
Eres was fine. He was warm and gentle and cared about others, and submissive to Kaelan which summed up their dynamic. That’s all I could really tell you. There was no real background to his life, his family, or how his relationship with Kaelan developed. His insta love for Lyra was confusing and really could have done with some development or some context as to what drew him to her. I didn’t understand his powers outside of healing, either, so when he was suddenly wielding a spear in the final battle - whether a ‘mortal’ weapon or a shadow one, I wasn’t sure - I was surprised. I didn’t even know he could fight.
Darian was the least developed character, and didn’t work for me at all as a love interest for Lyra. He only seemed to start to love her after accessing her nightmares and seeing her being tortured. Up to that point they’d barely had a conversation. By the time they did have one, with Darian showing Lyra the Kingdom’s children hidden below ground, Lyra already loved him. When did this happen? What else, other than seeing her trauma, caused him to fall for her? What was Darian’s personality other than his Bond with Kaelan straining against their distance? The issues between him and Kaelan were well done, and palpable, but same as Eres I had no real context to his life or his childhood with Kaelan. It was just thrown in towards the end that Kaelan had been in love with him ‘since they were 15 years old’, but I hadn’t even realised they’d grown up together. Kaelan also referred to him as his best friend, but throughout it seemed like they’d been lovers and broken up. Yes, you can be lovers and best friends, but when they made up Darian kept saying he ‘wished Kaelan had told him / shown him sooner’, so it seemed like they hadn’t been lovers before, but had Bonded as Eres and Lyra had? Several of the groups’ dynamics were unclear, to be honest. In the one year time jump, during sex, everybody seemed shocked that Eres and Darian kissed and dry humped, but I’d just assumed they were all mutually dating? Especially considering Eres had been so sympathetic to Darian, and protective of him, encouraging Kaelan to make up with him. Then at one point Lyra was in Kaelan’s bed, and Kaelan hid her from Darian at the door as if protecting her from him. Darian got upset that he might ‘keep her from him’, and that Kaelan had ‘skipped him’ to be with Lyra. Again, it wasn’t clear whether they’d ever been together that way. The whole love square felt like a bit of a hot mess.
Antagonists were Lyra’s father Commander Vaelion, his general Cindral and a Lightbringer soldier Iliria. Vaelion was only present briefly at the beginning of the novel, then appearing again in the final battle. Their final confrontation was very good, especially with Lyra using his own training against him and his realisation that he had written his own demise. I do wish he had been a bit more present as a villain, though. It made sense to a point, because Lyra had grown up essentially hidden from everybody, so wasn’t privy to his life in the Kingdom. But his only motive seemed to be endless power and hubris. It would have been more satisfying to know how he got to such a point. Cindral was a much more convincing villain. Using charisma to manipulate Lyra, making her believe that his version of love was the only one. He wanted her as a possession, not a partner, and Lyra briefly touched on his obsession with trying to please or match her father. I’d have liked this to have been explored further. I got the impression that Iliria was jealous of his fascination with Lyra, which made her hatred of her stronger. But the woman was addicted to the idea of hurting her, and I didn’t really know why.
Supporting characters included trainer Eldritch, soldiers Elspeth and Sera, other council members Valcor, Nythen and Neena, Queen Maelira and Lyra’s sister Reena. Eldritch was so underutilised. He seemed to be something of a mentor for Kaelan, and trained their young soldiers with his wisdom and patience. But he only appeared a couple of times, so I didn’t feel as much about his fate as I wanted. He was funny, too, being so blasé and resigned to everyone’s terrible decisions. Justice for Eldritch. Elspeth and Sera only really appeared for the healing storyline, but it would have been nice for Lyra to have more of a sense of sisterhood from them. Sera’s relationship with her father, Valcor, was briefly shown too. But I didn’t know enough about either character for that relationship to have context or development. Valcor was something of a non-committal council member, seemingly not truly siding with anybody. While he joined Nythen in sneaking to Lyra’s cell and torturing her, he found his methods too much. Whether it’s because he disagreed with the pain he was causing, or if it was out of fear of consequences from Kaelen, was difficult to gauge. Nythen was far more blatant with his xenophobia against Lightbringers, and showed a strange joy in painful torturing methods even though the rest of the council did not agree with them. It was unclear whether he tortured Lyra because he hated Lightbringers, because he hated Kaelen’s rule, because he was desperate to save Umbraxia, or that he just enjoyed inflicting pain. A history of the pair’s time in the council, especially when Kaelen’s parents were rulers, would have been useful. The same could be said for Neena, who only appeared briefly and predominantly when caring for the children, and Queen Maelira. Her depiction of grief could have been good, but as has been the trend for this novel, more background would have been useful. Memories, flashbacks, anything to flesh out the history of these characters and their Kingdom. Reena, Lyra’s sister, would have benefitted from more flashbacks of the times she snuck down to see her or tried to protect her. Or her own flashbacks of life with her father, as we knew very little about that due to the narrative being from Lyra’s perspective. She showed a similar level of stubbornness as Kaelen, but her more distant form of affection was reflective of how she was raised.

🗺️World-Building:🗺️
The world was set in the warring Kingdoms of Solvandyr - home of Lightbringers - and Umbraxis - home of Shadow Wielders. They had been at war for hundreds of years, separated only by the neutral mountainous region of Veilspire. Of the brief lore surrounding these magics, Lightbringers were said to be the product of the God Aedryn, while the Wielders were borne of Erevan. Aedryn had become obsessed with power, trying to eradicate the Wielders, before realising balance was necessary and surrendering, leaving the mortal plane. His children, though, had different ideas, and continued with their genocide. Some history as to why this happened, after the withdrawal of their God, would have been helpful. Or whether there were more Gods, how they were worshipped. The Lightbringers power, Luminth, and the Wielders power, Erevas, was somewhat unclear. The Wielders seemed to have slightly different variations of their power. Kaelen was able to wield the shadows like appendages, and summon silhouettes called Voids who could do his bidding. Eres could use his to heal, while Darian was able to Mindwalk. However, it was unclear what gave the Wielders their powers. For the Lightbringers, it was ‘royal blood’, dependant on lineage, but it was unclear if this applied to the Wielders - whether Eres and Darian were also royal. During the battle between the Lightbringers and the Wielders, soldiers appeared to have powers as well. Lyra was near-killed by a Luminth spear, but it was never confirmed who threw it. There was mention of ‘mortals’, but how many were there in comparison to Bringers or Wielders? Was the Bringer army full of those with access to Luminth? I also wasn’t sure if the Bringers had any power variation either, or if they just formed weapons out of it. If there wasn’t variation, was that why the Bringers felt so threatened by the Wielders? If the Wielders were technically more powerful, why were they the ones to develop the Dimmer quills? There was a lot of mention of glass in Solvandyr, which was seemingly used alongside their magic, but I didn’t really know why. To reflect it, exacerbate it, maybe? Generally, I found the Kingdoms to be lacking in development, too. While it was somewhat understandable in Solvandyr, what with Lyra being hidden away for most of her life, I felt it was missed in Umbraxis. What was life outside of the Royal dwellings like in either of these Kingdoms? What was life for ‘mortals’ like. How did the magic Wielders benefit the lives of their subjects outside of defence? Did their subjects like the Wielders, like being under their rule? What trade did they have, or culture? There were flashes of this, mainly in Umbraxis, with the Binding ceremonies and The Passing ceremonies. I actually loved those. There was mention of certain fantasy creatures, I think, The Gloam river and plant life like Iskrar leaves that could poison. I would have loved more of an idea of the nature and setting of the Kingdoms, especially since the surroundings were incapable of holding life. The cold versus warm climate was a good example, as was the harsh climate of Veilspire and the almost nomadic way of living there. There must have been an abundance of resources in the Kingdoms themselves for the people to survive. Generally, I felt the world-building took a back seat in this novel much more than Stars Above the Never Sea, with more heavy focus on the polyamorous romances.

📝Prose/Plot:📝
I generally love Evelyn’s prose, which is why I’m such a fan of her writing. The only issues I had in this one were ones that had appeared in her other romantasy. The use of the words ‘male’ or ‘female’ as opposed to ‘man’ and ‘woman’ - it’s really clunky and sometimes sounds incorrect, even if it isn’t - and certain smut sins such as the word ‘nub’ or confusing character placement/positioning. I would also say the dialogue was a little on the over-dramatic side in this one, often feeling like the characters were constantly giving dramatic speeches or arguments. What was written especially well were the battle or fight scenes, I only wish we’d seen more of them, even if just Lyra proving her skills as an assassin. The plot felt weaker in this novel, too, meaning a good chunk of the middle of the story felt like it wasn’t really going anywhere. Umbraxis had accepted the inevitable and were waiting for defeat, so it felt like a lot of waiting around and petty arguments as filler. Some of the approaches to sensitive topics, such as Lyra’s sexual abuse, were a little borderline. This poor girl, who had never had comfortable penetrative sex, felt totally up for double penetration in her first consensual sexual encounter. Now everybody is different, but this felt very unrealistic for me. I won’t lie though, certain aspects of the spice were hot as all hell, and as always Ms. Flood is out here representing the variety of real adult female bodies with pubic hair and brown areolas. However, after all the torture she had gone through, Kaelen also felt it appropriate to joke ‘I am this close to putting you over my knee’ when he was upset with her. A little tone-deaf, no? I really felt this slower portion of the novel could have been utilised better to develop her relationships with the three men, develop them as individuals, and immerse us better in the world.
Overall, this novel didn’t hit enough of the fantasy elements for me, feeling a little more porn-with-plot than her other novel did. But, I will still chomp at the bit for any of her future Romantasy releases because I know she’s capable, this one just wasn’t for me.
If you like dark romance with reverse harem, with Shadow and Bone-esque magic systems and magical bonds, then this could be for you.

[nayezi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the world-building, the general idea of the novel, and - after the first 50 pages, which were a bit of a rough, dumpy explanation of the world-building - the writing style as well. However, the book should have been longer to explore the characters fully. That, however, isn’t my main critique.

What really annoyed me was the ending. I’m a sucker for a good happy ending, but based on how the story was built, they realistically should have died in the end. If the author had found an elegant and logical way to justify and describe their survival, it would have been okay-ish, but she didn’t.

I mean, you’re seriously trying to tell me the FMC can fight her father (the army’s leader), surrounded by his soldiers, and nobody intervenes until after she killed him? Who are you kidding? That part genuinely annoyed me.

[books_know_rh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is very well put together!
It’s a strongly plot-driven fantasy that stands out for its originality and layered storytelling. The worldbuilding is engaging, and the story unfolds gradually, adding complexity as it goes.
The characters were overall well done, especially the protagonist, Lyra. She’s been through so much since childhood, yet every hardship has only made her stronger. She’s determined, brave, clever, and a true fighter. I loved her growth throughout the story: she learns to question what she’s been taught, break free from mental constraints, see the truth for what it really is, and never hesitating to stand on the right side once she understands it.
Kaelen, Eres, and Darian are all well defined and distinct from one another, each with their own personality and presence. I really appreciated that the story gives space not only to their individual relationships with Lyra, but also to the dynamic between the three of them. Considering this is a standalone, it was nice to see that aspect explored, even if not in extreme depth.
The world itself was fascinating, built around this constant war between light and darkness… only to reveal that things are far more complex than they initially seem. Not everything that shines is gold, and that moral duality made the story even more engaging.

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I have read many books by this author and have loved most of them. By far, out of the books I've read, this one is my favorite. Its a genuine masterpiece. Its brilliant and brutal and everything an fantasy novel should be. And best part? Its one dang book!!! No going on and on for no reason. Everything worked out. No plot holes, no odd loose ends. This is how a standalone fantasy is done.

Then there's Lyra. Broken, strong, and stubborn Lyra. She is fabulous. Flawed and a bit psychotic but every inch the heroine. Even though it had some spice, it didnt over take the story. There were such great developments with Kaelan, Darian, and Eres. Each guy was unique with their own issues and opinions. They each fit with Lyra in their own way but also with each other. There were miscommunications and issues but they all talked it out. Worked it out and chose each other. I found it so refreshing.

As much as those aspects made me love the story, the one thing that stood out was the love between sisters. The trust Renee and Lyra had for each other. While the relationship with Lyra and the guys was great, the sisterly bond was better. It shined even if it was a small part. It impacted so much of that ending. Im so proud of who Lyra became and the forgiveness she showed. I'm also proud of Renee for going against everything she was taught. Then that one sentence from the High Solar! Literal chills! Love love love this book.

[booksaremysoulfood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the best kind of surprise and I'm so sad it's over. Evelyn is just such an epic fantasy writer, she really does something special to her books! I've never been sure on why choose books however this has definitely changed my mind. It definitely just felt like an epic fantasy read that just so happened to have a why choose romance in it and it definitely wasn't the sole focus. I loved the story and honestly could have read a series on this it was so good. The writing was beautiful, I could picture this like a movie in my mind and loved all the MCs with equal hate for the villains. A winner from me!

[Tanushri V.N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really hesitant about RH/poly relationship books because they always fall short for some reason. It's like the concept is good and the characters are 2d or vice versa. But this book wasn't like that. The concept, execution, chracters are all well-written. I really couldn't control myself and binge-read it in one sitting. I wish there were more time for Kae and Darian because I wanted Kae to yearn/beg more for Darian after ignoring him for months. Other than that, it's a really good book.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE! One of the best books I’ve read this year. Speechless honestly. I saw nothing coming. The world building was absolutely incredible. The way this MMFM forms didn’t feel rushed or out of place. It felt like it was meant to be. The power Lyra exudes is insane. The men are swoon worthy and every single one of them had so much depth. Begging for another book! I NEED MORE!

Storyline:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Song: so freaking many I can’t pick one

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a standalone, and it was such a refreshing change not to worry about cliffhangers or waiting months for the next book.

Lyra’s backstory is tragic — everything she’s survived and endured, yet she still keeps going. Kaelen (the Prince), Eres (the Healer), and Darian (the Dreamwalker) already have a complicated dynamic, so Lyra’s mission was never going to be easy.

The romance is a slow slow burn, but when it finally happens, it feels earned and completely right. For a standalone, the world-building was strong and well thought out, with no gaps or unanswered questions that pulled me out of the story.

A perfect standalone if you love fantasy and romance.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A standalone why choose romantasy- say less. Obviously its a yes for me.

What I love even more is that the men have a complicated past and currently don't all get along- give me all the tension. (and the boyfriends are boyfriends- salivating). This why choose is a slow burn which is honestly, refreshing. Give me the tension and the yearning.

All of the characters have so much depth, tragic backstories. Especially our FMC Lyra.

The magic, the world building, the twists and turns, political intrigue. I was obsessed with all of it.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author writes well. The first 3/4 are fabulous. Or in the case of her other series, the first book is normal great…. But then you hit the turning point. The crux of the relationships. And I get bored. I’m just not one for oo jo boo boo, I wuv you.
Always trudge through just to read the crux of the actual plot.

[Lyrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that we're thrust right into the plot. The world building is seamlessly woven through the story and is easy to follow. The enemies to lovers was paced perfectly -- there's tension and angst without it going on endlessly. I just really liked spending time with these characters. This book is a bit of a unicorn because it's a standalone why choose fantasy romance. I'd highly recommend it to romantasy fans that want a faster paced story.

[Lauren Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read pretty much everything Evelyn writes because I adore her stories.
I did really enjoy this but I felt like a couple of things could have been done better.
The positives really engaging story, interesting characters, great plot and back stories for most the characters.
The downside it felt rushed. The relationship building felt rushed and so did the ending. Which I get it’s harder to do a standalone fantasy and get enough story I just felt like it was a bit of a miss in certain areas.

Overall it was entertaining and I did enjoy it but i would have loved it be a bit more.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This needed to be a duology or trilogy. I felt none of the relationships had enough substance. Every critical moment in the story deserved just a little more time to show characters processing the impact of them.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only discovered Evelyn Flood after finding out she would be at RARE25 London, but she quickly became a must read author for me, with stories that deliver every time. Lightbringer is no exception.

In this standalone, the Lightbringers and Darkwielders have been at war for a long time. Lyra, daughter of the Lightbringer commander, has been raised with one purpose - to end the war by killing Kaelen Duskbane, prince of Umbraxis. When the time comes for her to fulfil her purpose, she is left, near death, just outside of Darkwielder territory. What she doesn't expect is for their healer, Eres, to heal her, and take on a sacred bond, meaning that betrayal on either of their parts would result in certain death. As Lyra gets to know the Darkwielders, particularly Eres, Darian, and Kaelen Duskbane himself, will she be able to go through with her assassination?

For a standalone novel, the world building within is outstanding. There is a clear picture of the opulence of Solvandyr and the almost-ruins of Umbraxis. We often see Light vs Dark magic systems, but unusually the Light is the primary aggressor. The magic systems are well developed, and fairly symmetrical in their usage, indicating that the potential to live in harmony has always been there. Whilst primarily the magic has been used in warfare, it's use in healing is demonstrated to great effect on both sides, another strong indicator that good can come of it.

Lyra Vaelion is such a complex character. Her life has been nothing short of horrendous, suffering abuse of all forms (off page for the most part) for her entire life. Raised as an instrument of prophecy, she has had it violently drummed into her that she must kill Kaelen Duskbane at any cost. When she is left gravely injured on the doorstep of Umbraxis, her healing by Eres has her beginning to question her mission for the first time in her life. His kindness is like nothing she has seen before, and the binding they undertake only reinforces those questions. When Darian dream walks into her nightmares, the horrors he finds there are so profound that he suffers himself, realising just how many times she has been broken and put back together again. Despite all of the horrors of her past, and the indoctrination of her father's instructions, she is able to see with her own free will that the Lightbringers are committing a genocide against a people who have no wish to fight them, and that informs the choices she makes next.

Evelyn Flood is an RH master, so three guys and a girl was always going to get spicy - but she ramps it up in this book by making the guys boyfriends before Lyra even arrives (although Kaelen and Darian are estranged). There isn't a great deal of spice, but when it comes it is hot! There's lovers, enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity (from the bonding ceremonies).

As always with Evelyn's men, each is a very distinct character. Eres is the gentle healer, pliant and submissive, but with a feisty streak when it comes to doing what is right. Darian is a pariah, shamed by the supposed actions of his father, hanging around on the fringes of the council, desperate to regain the love of his bondmate, and Kaelen is domineering, fierce and determined to do everything in his power to save his people, whilst accepting that their time may be short. He stumbles over the right words, inadvertently making things worse, particularly where Darian is concerned, but his heart is softer than even he believes.

The final battle is as epic as you could wish for in a fantasy novel, and it's immediate aftermath is intense, before giving way to a gentle humour, despite the gravity of events that have taken place. The two epilogues are spicy and gentle in turn, with a reveal that is both heartwrenching and beautiful at the end.

Evelyn Flood never lets me down, and Lightbringer is another string to her genre bow. I loved it, and I'm almost sad it was only a standalone, as the characters all really struck a chord with me, and I could easily have seen myself reading two or three books' worth of their story!

[Booksbystarlightandshadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time reading this one over the festive season as I wanted to savour it! I loved the mythology and how accessible it was; as much as I enjoy a fantasy, if the world building overtakes the plot I start to lose some of my engagement trying to keep track of everything. This was the perfect balance though as the war between the Lightbringers and Darkwielders as well as the history behind the conflict is integral to the motivations of so many characters.

Lyra was such an interesting character as despite being raised in isolation with one sole purpose, she still tries to do what is right even if it goes everything she has been taught and she knows she will be punished. Lyra's suffering largely happens before the beginning of the book but there are a couple of on page episodes that were tough to get through.

This has plenty of enemies to lovers tension, "who hurt you" moments, and one of my favourite microtropes, the insult that becomes the term of endearment. Swoony Kaelen was my favourite Kaelen! Darian was probably my favourite of the MMCs, he was a sweetheart but the tension between him and Kaelen was scorching! Definitely give it a go if you are looking for a story which will keep you hooked from the start, has plenty of twists and turns, and has a slow burn romance which works perfectly with the pacing of the story.

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light Bringer Exceeded My Already High Expectations

I swear Evelyn Flood can’t write a bad book if she tries, her books pull on your heartstrings and absolutely transport you to another world.
Light Bringer is no different, and easily a 10/10 read to start the new year!
Light Bringer introduces us to a new world divided by light and dark magic. Lyra is the hidden away daughter of the General of the Light Bringers, who have spent the last few hundred years raging war on the city of Dark Wielders across the mountains. She has been raised in pain and isolation to end the war by completing a final secret mission that she has accepted will be her last.
However, Lyra’s plans change when she is badly injured and taken in by the very people she has been raised to destroy and realizes there is so much more to them than she knew. Unwittingly, the Dark Wielders help her to heal from her life of pain and discover the power of love and sacrifice.
This is a MMMF romance with magic and spice 🌶️ that keeps you turning the pages. I flew through the book as I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next, it was such a good read!
I hope we get to see more romantasy like this from Evelyn Flood soon!

[Its A Rebound · Rating 5 out of 5]

GENUINELY 6⭐️!

I am completely obsessed with this book.

“There you are.” “I’ve been waiting.”
Instant chills.

This story weaves together multiple narratives, each as compelling and emotionally resonant as the next. Every character leaves a lasting impression. Kaelen had my attention from the second chapter; fiercely protective, deeply loyal, and perhaps someone readers may take a moment to fully warm to. Darien begins as a lost soul, gradually finding belonging and family within this group dynamic. And Eres is simply a beautiful spirit through and through.

Together, these three men show Lyra, our FMC, immense compassion and understanding. They give her the space to be both vulnerable and strong, supporting her healing in a way that feels genuine and meaningful.

Evelyn also plays thoughtfully with contrasts, turning expectations on their head. Darkness emerges from places associated with light, while comfort and warmth are found in shadow. This thematic juxtaposition adds a layer of depth that I found particularly fascinating.

Reading this book felt like coming home each time I picked up my Kindle. I only wish it weren’t a standalone! I’m not ready to say goodbye to Kaelen, Darien, Eres, and Lyra just yet.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you were born for one thing...

You know those authors that you'll read anything they write, will Evelyn Flood is one of those authors for me. She does the RH, angsty, betrayal that I love to devour. And just like those, I read this one so fast because I couldn't put it down. If you like romantasy with a strong FMC who has been through it, and several MMCs that decide shes the one for them, this is the book for you. Oh, and the boyfriends are boyfriends too. There are only a few spicy scenes so if that's not your jam, you can skip those.

Lyra has been trained by her father her whole life to do one thing; end the war, end the Darkwielder prince, Kaelen. It's been beaten into her since she was a small child. So when its time to go, she is ready. What she's not prepared for though is what she finds when she arrives there, barely alive. Saved by his healer Eres, she discovers a side of the darkwielders she's never known. And she starts to care for not only Eres, who saved her, but also Kaelen himself, and their friend Darian who has protected her secrets. She knows what's coming, they all do. And she will need to decide how it ends.

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lightbringer is a standalone why choose fantasy romance about a woman sent to kill a man in order to end a war. But he, and his side of the war, are not what she expected. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author for my eArc.

Tropes and themes include:
✨Why choose (mmmf)
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Prophecy
✨Who did this to you vibes
✨Dark and light magic
✨She’s sent to kill him
✨Prior abuse
✨Hurt/comfort
✨One dom and 3 bratty sub vibes
✨He brushes her hair

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames
Nickname: Witch

The Lovely: I love how this author always makes you feel for the characters and this book is no different. The FMC has been raised for one purpose - a fatal one. But what she finds? Three men with their own struggles and who might see the real her. The development of their relationships with her were perfect in their intensity and complexity.

Recommendation: A standalone fantasy romance that’s also why choose? Yes please. If you’re looking for a character centered romance with subtle angst, sprinkles of humor and a journey that will suck you in, I think you’d like this book.

[Eilis Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Evelyn for this arc!

Wow there’s so much to say about this book.
I absolutely loved the plot. The world building was incredible and I loved seeing how the powers worked in this system.
Lyra is an absolute sweetheart even with her more nefarious intentions 😂 She really captured what it feels like to be caught between two truths and trying to make sense of everything when all you ever knew is no longer quite what it seems
Her interactions with the boys were my favorite ❤️
Kae, Eren and Darian were eaxcetly what she needed. Each of them brought out a different side of her and I loved every moment.
Kae and Eren were also just too cute to handle and once Darian is thrown in the mix I was gone for 😂
It’s so rare to find fantasy stand alone books especially ones where the story feels perfectly complete! This accomplished that and more for me 🙌🏼
Highly recommend 💕

[Danielle Stricklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn Flood I don't know how you do it, but I absolutely can't get enough of your books!! This book was so good! It is fast paced with so much character development. I was not expecting to be so in love with 4 of these characters. Lyra is an absolute beast of a woman. She can handle her own but will accept the help of others. The men in this book are so sweet. I was not expecting to be so invested in all of them! The world building was amazing. I love how you have in a way the dark vs the light. I also enjoyed how we were learning the history as Lyra was learning it! I can't get enough of this book! If you are looking for a romantasy book this has everything you want! I can't recommend it enough! Thank you so much @evelynfloodauthorfor allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC Team! Can't wait to read what you do next!!

[AshReadsAlot · Rating 5 out of 5]

After only reading two of Evelyn’s books so far, I have added another author to the favorites list.
I was captivated by Lightbringer right away. The story is immersive, the world building is strong and detailed. The light and dark magic presents in such a unique way.

The romance is breathtaking, the emotions of the characters are so real and relatable. Their banter was perfect. Each Character has their own heartbreaking story and together they make the darkness bearable.

I love the plot and politics and found the origin story so intriguing. I just want more.
My only complaint would be - Standalone? Why? I need more of this world and characters!


Thank you to Evelyn Flood for the ARC copy.

[Katherine Elley · Rating 5 out of 5]

MMMF
Enemies to lovers
Light & dark
Romantasy
Standalone

Lightbringers and Darkwielders have been at war for a long time.
Lyra is a Lightbringer and her father is the commander/high lord of Solvandyr. She has bought up for one purpose - to kill Kaelen Duskbane, Prince of Umbraxis.
Betrayed by her father and soldiers, Lyra is left for dead after a mission gone wrong on the outskirts of Darkwielders territory.
Kaelen’s men including Eres a healer pick her up and take her back to Umbraxis to heal her and to also bind her to him.
She meets also Darian (dream walker) and walks into the path of Kaelen.

This is my first book of Evelyn’s that I’ve read and I have loads of her books on my shelf. Needless to say I will be diving into more of her books from now on.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and finished it in 3 days. I get so tired of reading books with the miscommunication troupe that's used just to create tension in the plot. It was refreshing that the fmc was honest with the mmc about her past so that there was no confusion about where she stood or her original intentions. The fmc is a badass without rubbing it in everyone's face and just being this perfect person who is above everyone else. Of course I was teary eyed at the ending because this is an Evelyn Flood book and she is amazing at invoking emotion. Overall this was an absolutely amazing book that was perfectly paced and well written.

[Aimee Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star page turner

It took me a while to put into words just how fantastic this story was. I devoured it in one day, and loved every single page.

This is one of those stories that stays with you, lives in your mind long after you’ve finished it.

This was a stunning story, a page turning fantastic with the most beautiful imagery, character development and storyline that has you hanging on every page.

This story of Lyra and the MMCs Kaelen, Darian and Eres will have you spellbound, as it did with me. Evelyn has outdone herself and should be aplouded for this fabulous book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ isn’t enough!

[Abi Plested · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read a why choose before, and now I’m questioning my life choices. 36 years, wasted.

This book is PERFECTION. the spice (lord the spice) is minimal in terms of % of book - so doesn’t take over the story. 3-4 scenes total. But the story is beautiful. Loved that they all have normal life spans for one - no 500 year old fae and 19 year old human girl!

I also can’t remember the last standalone I read which is great - i dont always want to commit to a series.

Evelyn has fast become a favourite author for me, I adored Stars Above the Never Sea so much I was worried this wouldn’t compare but she’s a fantastic writer, I needn’t have worried!

[Didi Nikolova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything i needed for my first read of the year. It was emotional,thrilling and swoon worthy.
I fell inlove with these characters. Lyra was a breath of fresh air. She's been mistreated, beaten(tortured) and only been told that she is nothing more than a weapon.
The MMC's were absolutely swoon worthy. Each one of the FMC'S hAd an unique connection with Lyra and between themselves. Darrian was the misunderstood one, Eres was the golden retriever, and Kaelan was the one with the trust issues and each one of them had a huge character growth.
The world building, the magic system, the tension, the angst everything was amazingly written.

[SilentSpectra · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

This was a pretty great story that is well written with fantastic world building—narrow scope but well done. The characters shine through and the final battle is every bit as book hangover inducing as it should be.

Very low spice or as others would say, it's a slow burn. But, shmexy times happen in a way that doesn't feel like a forced scene and absolutely doesn't detract from the main point of the story either. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who want to read about a strong woman, who grew up horrifically trained for a single purpose, but didn't lose herself and rose above to see the bigger picture and helped stop a pointless war.