The end has come. The balance is broken, the Gilded Amulet is lost, and Aileana has been taken. Never before has the outlook in the Four Kingdoms been so grim. Vowing to retrieve his bonded mate at whatever cost, Xander will not rest until she is found. Life and death rest in balance and fate is playing a dangerous game with their lives. Luckily, Xander is not alone. With the help of old and new friends, he journeys through Ithenmyr to find his mate before the Dragon Queen can destroy everything he holds dear. Aileana isn't the only one in danger. The Four Kingdoms are on the verge of collapse. No matter the cost, the balance must be righted before time runs out. This is their last stand. This Rapunzel retelling is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers high fantasy romance, and it is filled with banter, fated mates, fake marriage, and world-building. Of Shale and Smoke is book five in The Ithenmyr Chronicles. This series is upper YA/NA and will have moderate steam as the series progresses.
