A Kiss of Iron Shadows of the Tenebris Court Book 1

Clare Sager — 2023

n the cut-throat game of court life, masters manipulate pawns—and you never know which one you are. One thing is certain: there’s no space on the board for love. A penniless noblewoman, Kat is on the verge of losing everything when she’s offered a well-paid job that could be her salvation… or her ruin. Drawn into court’s deadly intrigues, she’s given a single task: spy on the powerful fae lord known as the Night Queen’s Shadow. Bastian Marwood is handsome, ruthless, and cunning, but Kat can’t decide if he’s a threat to her kingdom or just her heart. To uncover the truth, she must play a dangerous game of desire and deceit, pushing him to reveal his secrets while protecting her own. But Bastian’s shadows have a hold on her—one she isn’t sure she wants to escape. Kat soon learns that at court, nothing is as it seems and even the best-laid plans can be destroyed in an instant. As a pawn on the board, she can’t afford to fall victim to love—only fight for survival. A Kiss of Iron is the first book in a new series featuring court intrigue, a morally grey hero, and an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Gild and From Blood and Ash.

Reviews

Isidora Vatali@eleaza

Mar 20, 2025

The ending. I need the next one immediately

anna haskins @annahaskins

Dec 5, 2023

yeah... this was hot and sexy and good plot

Maeson Grace@maesongrace03

Aug 18, 2023

BASTIAN❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Faith Kitowski@faithkitowski

Mar 20, 2023

okay. wow wow wow. first i’d like to say thank you clare, for allowing me to read this arc! at first i was back and forth about whether or not i wanted to rate it 5 stars but the authors note solidified my rating. alright, the way that this book made me feel so many emotions. it definitely puts you through the ringer. kat and bastian were made for each other. kat deserves so much after what she’s been through. IM ROOTING FOR YOU HUN <3 YOU DESERVE THE WORLD. men are disgusting (except for bastian😏) i was literally having a full on BREAKDOWN over the library scene. if you know, you know. and don’t even get me started on the quotes. i literally want to sob just thinking about them. i cannot wait for the next book to come out AHHHHH

Seher Mohsin@bookstagramofmine

Feb 21, 2023

I love so many things about A Kiss of Iron! It's a well-edited book that you can just dive right into! You read and read and just enjoy the ride!

Kat's been married to a nobleman who has been away for ten years, sleeping with other women and basically flaunting his marriage vows while she looks after his crumbling estate. She was taught to be obedient in horrible ways, which haunt her throughout this book. She also knows that she has to make difficult decisions and be practical; after all, what use is sentimentality when water is dripping through the roof.

I also loved the touch her and die trope and how sex can be wild, crazy, and passionate without trampling over someone else and their boundaries. I loved how much Kat grew as a character! She was reasonably determined at the start of things. Still, as things change and progress, she deals with many horrible people and things around her, makes allies, and becomes more robust and wiser.

And I have a crush on Bastien, for sure. He's my new book boyfriend, and I can't wait to learn more about his past in the upcoming books.

I can see that this series is set in the same world as Beneath Black Sails. However, that didn't make a difference to my reading experience, except it made me want to check out that series. I wish we had seen Avice interact with Uncle Rupert because that would have been pretty exciting.

The next book in the series, A Touch of Poison, comes out on the 28th of September, and I can hardly wait!