A Kiss So Cruel

by Avelley Greer

Overview

When Briar's sister falls deathly ill, she ventures into the forest seeking a cure from a creature she is certain doesn't exist. But the Forest King is terrifyingly real and he's been expecting her.

Twenty-five years ago, a desperate mother traded her unborn child for her own life. Now Eliam has come to collect and he'll break his new pet the way he breaks them all, with exquisite cruelty and patient hands.

Bound by forest magic and ancient laws, Briar becomes the Forest King's captive. But in his shadow-filled halls, survival becomes seduction, defiance becomes desire, and the connection between them deepens with every touch, every cruel game, until neither can tell where possession ends and need begins.

As Briar navigates the treacherous fae court, where every smile hides a lie and every kindness has a price, she must decide if the growing bond between her and her captor is real, or simply another fae trick meant to break her. Because in the Forest Court, love and cruelty are often the same thing.

Dark, sensual, and wickedly romantic, A KISS SO CRUEL is perfect for readers who love Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Carissa Broadbent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798999450630
Publisher:	Avelley Greer
Publication date:	10/13/2025
Series:	Fractured Crown Trilogy , #1
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

Avelley Greer is a romance and fantasy author who firmly believes that the best stories happen when magic gets messy and love gets complicated.

Growing up devouring the works of Robin Hobb, Tad Williams, Madeleine L'Engle, and Philip Pullman, Avelley learned early that the most compelling tales live in the grey areas—where heroes make terrible decisions, villains have excellent points, and nobody's moral compass points quite north.

When not conjuring up new ways to torment beloved characters (before giving them their hard-won happily-ever-afters, of course), Avelley can be found:

• Ugly-crying over the latest K-drama plot twist
• Defending unpopular BTS theories with the passion of a thousand suns
• Playing survival horror games while all four cats—Oliver, Hobi, Rosie, and Nova—judge from various perches
• Watching horror movies through strategically placed fingers

Avelley writes for readers who appreciate their fantasy with sharp edges, their romance with real stakes, and their happy endings earned through blood, sweat, and maybe a few supernatural tears. She's particularly drawn to stories featuring morally grey characters, unconventional magic systems, and relationships that challenge everything we think we know about love.

Currently plotting her next novel while surrounded by too many notebooks, an unreasonable amount of purple pens, and at least one cat who's definitely plotting world domination.