10 October romance releases to fall in love with this month

October 2021 release: A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout is known for crafting stories that balance magic and adventure with romance, and it sounds like her newest novel will follow that tradition.

A Shadow in the Ember is the first installment in her Flesh and Fire series, and it promises a forbidden romance with plenty of action. The novel follows Chosen One Seraphena Mierel, who’s been tasked with one responsibility her whole life: upholding a bargain her ancestor and becoming Consort of the Primal of Death.

Of course, this means leaving her entire life behind. And that’s not the only problem with her lifelong plans. According to the synopsis, Seraphena isn’t actually the promised Maiden at all, but an assassin with the goal of destroying the Primal of Death:

"“However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania — she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission — one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.”"

Getting the Primal of Death to fall in love with her sounds like a solid plan, but what happens when she starts to catch feelings for him? With Life and Death dictating her every move, she’ll have some difficult choices to make, promising fans a tale full of conflict and desire.

A Shadow in the Ember is available in print, ebook, and audiobook format beginning on Oct. 19.