Birthed in shadow. Forged in fire. A Splintered Kingdom An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace. A Haunted Warrior Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate. A Vengeful Knight Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne's lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity's behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria-the very fae he blames for his parents' deaths. An Unwinnable Challenge With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic... as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other. This is the Arcane Crucible. Smoke and Scar is the first book in Shattered Crown, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows our heroes Elyria and Cedric through deadly trials, dark magic, and shocking betrayals as they attempt to undo the wrongs of the past and heal their broken land. This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers story is perfect for fans of epic world-building, a diverse cast of characters, elemental magic, tension, and plentiful banter. This book will appeal to fans of high stakes, character-driven fantasy with a heavy dose of romance, and authors like Carissa Broadbent, Raven Kennedy, Helen Scheuerer, Penn Cole, and Sarah J. Maas.