The City of Citadels Book 1 by K. Cross | City of Citadels Book 1 (PREORDER)

Long before the Isles were ruled by sirens, wyverns, and sea-bound kings, there was a gothic city of castles, a dying fountain of magic, and one desperate marriage contract that changed everything.

Brynn of the Farmlands does not come to the City of Citadels for love.

She comes because her people are starving.

With dervishes tearing through the crops, old magic weakening, and her ruthless brother Jono tightening his grip on the Farmlands, Brynn makes the only bargain powerful enough to save the people she loves: she binds herself to Lukas Devereaux, the dangerous Don of the City of Citadels.

Lukas is powerful. Controlled. Ruthlessly protective.

And not at all prepared for the woman who arrives at his citadel with mud on her hem, secrets in her eyes, and a hidden agenda of her own.

Their contract should be simple. Brynn needs Lukas’s power to protect the Farmlands. Lukas needs Brynn’s connection to the land as the magic that built his world begins to fail.

But beneath the towering castles and fog-drenched halls of the City of Citadels, something older than magic is rising.

The fountain is dying.

The arcane is awakening.

And Jono’s hunger for control may unleash a future soaked in blood, betrayal, and monsters.

To survive, Brynn and Lukas must decide whether their marriage contract is only a political bargain—or the beginning of an alliance powerful enough to change Elestra forever.

The City of Citadels Book 1 is the first novella in the City of Citadels Series by K. Cross, a clean romantasy origin series set thousands of years before The Isles Series. This gothic fantasy romance features marriage of convenience, forced proximity, enemies-to-allies tension, a protective dangerous hero, hidden family secrets, court politics, ancient magic, slow-burn romance, and no spice.

Perfect for readers who love clean romantasy, gothic fantasy worlds, dangerous dons, arranged marriage romance, powerful heroines, morally complicated families, political intrigue, magical secrets, and sweeping fantasy romance with high yearning and a guaranteed romantic arc.

Perfect For Readers Who Love

• Clean romantasy with no spice
• Gothic fantasy romance
• Marriage of convenience
• Forced proximity romance
• Protective dangerous heroes
• Powerful heroines with secrets
• Political marriage contracts
• Enemies-to-allies romantic tension
• Hidden family secrets
• Ancient magic and rising arcane power
• Court politics and dangerous families
• Slow-burn romance with high yearning
• The origin story of Elestra
• Connected fantasy worlds and bingeable novella series

Format Options

This product is available in multiple formats, depending on the edition selected:

• Ebook
• Audiobook (Through ACX/Audible)
• Paperback

Please choose your preferred format before checkout.

Series Reading Order

This is the first novella in a planned 10-book clean romantasy series. The first book comes out on December 4, 2026.

FAQ

Is The City of Citadels Book 1 the first book in the series?

Yes. The City of Citadels Book 1 is the first book in the City of Citadels Series and is the best place to begin this clean romantasy origin story.

Is this connected to The Isles Series?

Yes. The City of Citadels Series is set in the world of Elestra thousands of years before The Isles Series. It explores the ancient origins of the world before sirens, wyverns, and sea-bound kings ruled its future.

Do I need to read The Isles Series first?

No. The City of Citadels Book 1 begins a new origin series and can be read first. Readers of The Isles Series will recognize the world of Elestra and enjoy seeing where its deeper mythology began.

Is The City of Citadels Book 1 a clean romantasy?

Yes. This is a clean romantasy with no spice. It includes romantic tension, yearning, emotional intensity, slow-burn romance, and a fantasy adventure plot.

What tropes are in The City of Citadels Book 1?

This book includes marriage of convenience, forced proximity, enemies-to-allies tension, protective hero, dangerous Don, gothic fantasy, hidden family secrets, political intrigue, ancient magic, slow-burn romance, and found family elements.

What is the setting?

The story is set in Elestra, thousands of years before The Isles Series, in and around the gothic City of Citadels and the struggling Farmlands.

What formats are available?

Depending on the edition selected, The City of Citadels Book 1 may be available as an ebook, paperback, or audiobook.