The Freedom You Seek by Emily Villin

“I’d rather die before ever making you mine—but that doesn’t mean anyone else can have you.” —— A man with many secrets, a woman desperately fighting for independence, a mission that leads them and their company towards unknown mysteries they are desperate to unravel because the world could soon depend on it—literally. —— What would you do if everything you knew was a lie? When you found out there was so much more to your world than you were taught? I never expected that my parents’ failed attempt to arrange my marriage would lead me to leave the small town I’ve known my entire life. What started as a journey to escape the law soon shattered my worldview and dismantled everything I believed to know. Suddenly, being hunted is only the smallest of my problems. Not only am I on a chase for truth and unraveling mysteries, but I also need to navigate the minefield that is Dion. The soldier who rescued me has a nasty temper, and—for someone who loves to be in charge—he has extremely little impulse control. But if he thinks I would simply submit to his antics, he is wrong. Just because he and his men helped me in a difficult situation and possess more knowledge about hidden truths from the past, it doesn’t mean I simply submit and be the docile woman society expects me to be. I have no wish to bind myself to anyone, not to my father, not to some rich betrothed, or to an arrogant bastard, no matter how attractive he is. —— “The Freedom You Seek” is the first installment in the “A Requiem for Fading Worlds” dark romantic fantasy series. The story centers on Nayana, an ordinary small-town woman with a rebellious streak who gets involved in a mission bigger than herself; and Dion, a flawed soldier with a bad temper and a massive ego who tries to leave his past behind. Together with Dion’s comrades, the two embark on a journey into the heart of history and soon find out that sometimes, someone has to step up to try to save everything. The novel tells a story about unraveling mysteries, self-discovery, uncovering the truth, and maybe even saving the world, which actually might be easier than dealing with love. Perfect for fans of character-driven dark romantic fantasy with a plot that starts small, but escalates over the course of the series. Full of slow burn, angst and romantic tension, mutual pining, found family, mysteries, magic, overcoming trauma, as well as finding your place in a world that seems already doomed. Lastly, this story is for you if you love a walking red flag— a morally gray and possessive male main character whose secrets are as dark as the magic he wields. This book is 18+ and contains difficult topics. Please mind the trigger warnings. This novel is written in first person past tense with dual points of view. The story contains spice and shadows. The pepper rating will increase throughout the series.

Adult • Fantasy/Epic and High • Fantasy/Romantic and Erotic • Romance/Fantasy • Fantasy/Dark • Fantasy

Content Warning: Within these pages, there is a lot of darkness. Your mental health matters, so please take a look at the trigger warnings before beginning to read. Physical violence Threatened homicide Domestic violence Sexual assault / On page attempted rape (not by MMC)* Self-harm Murder Oppression Gender inequality Controlling behavior Explicit sexual scenes Alcohol as a method of coping Blood and Gore Cursing Tolerating / Enjoying red flag-actions Suicide (briefly mentioned in a legend) *A quick note: the attempted SA happens in Chapter 4, after the first chapter break until the end. If you don’t feel comfortable reading such a scene, you can just skip it and read the summary I provided at the end of the book. Your mental health matters, so please listen to yourself! <3