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Cover of The Faithless

The Faithless

by C.L. Clark

🌶️🌶️mild·spoiler·Magic of the Lost #2

Why Read This?

A sapphic romance where the personal and political are inseparable—Touraine and Luca want each other but can't untangle that from wanting power, freedom, and justice. The court intrigue is genuinely sharp and the colonialism themes hit hard without flinching.

Synopsis

In the second installment of C.L. Clark's Magic of the Lost trilogy, soldier Touraine and princess Luca must return to Balladaire to reclaim Luca's throne and to face the consequences of dismantling an empire. The rebels have won, and the empire is withdrawing from Qazal. But undoing the tangled web that binds the two nations won't be easy, and Touraine and Luca will face their greatest challenge yet. Luca needs to oust her uncle from the Balladairan throne once and for all and take her rightful place as Queen. But he won't let go of power so easily. When he calls for a "Trial of Competence" and Luca's allies start disappearing from her side, she will have to prove her might. And she knows someone who can help... Touraine has found a home in the newly free country of Qazal. However, she soon realizes that leading a country and leading a revolution are two very different tasks. And, even more importantly, if Luca won't keep her promises, the Qazali could end up right back where they started. Together, the two women must overcome their enemies, their history, and their heartbreak in order to secure Luca's power and Touraine's freedom.

At a Glance

4.27 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️mild
Endingspoiler
PairingF/F
Romance Pacingslow burn
Energyhigh

Top Tropes

forbidden loveenemies to loverssecond chanceforced alliance

Mood

intensedramaticepicdarkbrooding

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.27 ★

Page Count

512 pages

Published

2023

Primary Genre

Fantasy

Pairing

F/F

POV

Multi-POV

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

lushimmersivedarkdramaticsharpseriousepic

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

high

Vibes

messy sapphic politicsdecolonization fantasycourt intrigue with teethsoldier and princess tangled in empireFrance-inspired secondary world

Characters

FMC Archetype

warrior/fighterrebel leader / revolutionarysurvivor

MMC Archetype

N/A

Relationship Dynamics

enemies to loverspower imbalanceclass differencestar-crossedpush and pullslow burnmutual pining

Spice Details 🌶️

🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
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Spice Level 2

Spice Style

slow / sensualemotional / lovingtension / anticipation focus

Getting Steamy

tensionanticipationeye contact intensitylonging glances

Bringing the Heat

None
Browse more books by spice level →
child abuse (referenced)violencegraphic violencetorturePTSDtraumadeathcolonialismwarracism/bigotry
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

World Type

high fantasykingdom / empire

Primary Setting

royal court / palacewar front / rebellion

Fantasy Creatures

Representation

sapphicBIPOC MCBlack MCbisexual MCbisexual LIdisabled LIqueer

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

When & Where to Read

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