Embers of Analon

The Emberborn, Book 1

By: Paul Michael Winters

Narrated by: Blake Lockheart

Six of Crows meets epic romantasy in this high-stakes, high-action, high-heat romantic fantasy!

As the city burns, so does his heart...

Cas Nightbrook lives on a knife's edge, surviving by precision, cunning, and grit. A thief in the brutal City of Analon, his only goals are protecting his younger sister and avenging his parents' murder at the hands of the crown. So when Cas is invited to The Emberlight Trials—a deadly initiation run by a rebel order tied to a forbidden and hunted magical race—he doesn't hesitate. It may be his best chance at justice.

What he doesn't anticipate is Darion Thorne.

Charming, infuriating, and always one step ahead, Darion keeps showing up in places Cas doesn't expect. As the riddles and danger of the Trials intensify, Darion becomes a complication Cas never planned for: someone who sees through Cas's defences and tempts him to want something more than just survival. And that's exactly what terrifies him.

But Darion's secrets run deep. As the rebellion breaks into the streets and the city burns, Cas must choose between vengeance, his sister's life, and falling for a man whose hidden past could destroy everything Cas has built to survive.

©2026 Paul Michael Winters (P)2026 Paul Michael Winters

Critic reviews

"This brisk, riveting tale boasts magic, mystery, and superlative characters." - Kirkus Reviews

Great world building and unique lore

It has an amazing balance of action, adventure and romance. the world building and lore are great and I was on the edge of my seat with every new bit of new information. It can be somewhat predictable but I find some comfort in that. I'm not a huge reader but this might have just jumped to the top of my favorite books.

The queer fantasy adventure I’ve been waiting for

Honestly, I couldn’t put this book down. Embers of Analon has everything you want in a fantasy — a thief protagonist, deadly trials, a rebellion, forbidden magic — and the world is so rich and detailed that you’re completely immersed. The way the mysteries unfold kept me turning pages, and there’s so much happening that you never quite know what’s coming next.

But here’s what really got me: the love story. It’s not just there for fun — it’s woven into the whole thing. Cas and Darion’s relationship feels like the heart of the adventure, and honestly, it’s the kind of queer love story I wished I’d had when I was younger. If you’re queer and you’ve been looking for yourself in a fantasy epic, this is it.

And if you just love a good adventure with amazing world-building and a love story that matters? You need to read this. Book two cannot come soon enough. I’m so excited for what’s next in this series.

Wonderful!

Such a good author and narrators! The story unwinds beautifully! Please, please finish the next book in the series!

Must read if you like LGBT fantasy

This was my first LGBT fantasy book and it did not disappoint. Picked it up after reading a different book by Paul Winters and am excited for the next in this series.