Crown of the Dunes
The Ballan Desert, Book 2
by S.C. Grayson
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Pub Date Aug 19 2025 | Archive Date Aug 09 2025
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Description
War brought them together. Forging peace could tear them apart.
Back in Kelvadan after narrowly escaping death, former exile Keera is now hailed as a hero for protecting the Great City against the lord of the clans. Forced to lie low as her injuries heal, she discovers the city’s position is more precarious than ever. Now, she faces an impossible choice: betray the city that offered her a home, or be the Champion Kelvadan needs. Worst of all, the enemy forces are led by the man to whom she has given her heart.
After spending his life running from his destiny, Erix finds himself thrust into leadership after the death of his cruel mentor. With the clans of the desert at his command and Keera ripped from his grasp, he wants nothing more than to march on the city that took her—but the desert has other plans. As the Ballan Desert continues to punish those who fractured her magic, sowing division among the clans, Erix desperately seeks to restore the dunes he swore to serve and exact revenge on those who stole Keera away.
Left to navigate ever-changing sands and even more quickly shifting alliances, Erix and Keera must fight to find their way back to each other, even when the desert seems determined to keep them apart.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798992375220 |
| PRICE | $5.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 430 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1743255
Why do I keep reading books that emotionally ruin me??? Oh right—because they’re this good.
Erix??? A spiraling, grief-stricken, morally gray mess trying to be better??? I’m in love. Still simping. Harder than ever. The yearning in this book??? Pain. Delicious pain. Keera and Erix are on opposite sides of a war and STILL can’t stop loving each other. Every near-meeting, every memory, every time they say each other’s name like it hurts??? I was unwell.
Also:
⚔️ Epic fight scenes
👑 Court politics that slap
🔥 Spice level = YES
💔 Emotional devastation = also yes
Book 2 gave us deeper worldbuilding, more angst, more action, and romance so intense I had to lie down. No cliffhanger (thank you!!), but the setup for book 3 has me feral.
Anyway, 5 stars, no notes, except WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK 😩✨
Reviewer 1547926
5⭐️
3🌶️
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for a copy of this e-arc.
I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 of this series but book 2 I was completely engrossed by! We have a mix of clan structure, court politics, understanding of power, demon monsters, unrequited love, and so much more!
Book 2 picks up right where book 1 left off. Keera was taken back by the Kelvadan riders who attacked the united clans. After causing a chasm to save the clans, Erix discovers what saved them initially, has now stranded them all. Determined to get back to Keera, he does everything in his power to not only keep the clans together, but get back to her.
Keera now wakes up back in Kelvadan, with doubts in her mind of why Erix would have brought her back to Lord Alasdar. Even though she knows Lord Alasdar is dead, killed by her hand, why hasn’t Erix come for her? Or come to show he has no plans to eradicate Kelvadan any longer. Did he change his mind about her? The Queen is hesitant to believe that Erix is not a threat, but wants Keera to step up not only in her magic but in the ways she can help protect Kelvadan. She is thrown into the world of court politics she never intended to enter. But when Erix does finally return, who will he be to her? Her lover, a Prince coming to take back what’s his, or her prisoner? Enemies are all around and with the goal of returning the Heart of the desert to its rightful place and stabilizing everything and everyone, are they strong enough to make the right decisions and will their love survive all the obstacles thrown in front of them?
This book really drew me in. We got a little bit of everything. Court politics, clans, adventures, monsters, romance, family drama, arranged marriage, everything! While there were definitely certain plot points that were predictable, it still was a fun read.
Erix and Keera’s relationship is really complex in this book and it kept me on my toes. The spice 🌶️ kicked up this book (yay!) for sure. Erix and Keera’s connection is fire 🔥 we get sneaking around and a jealous Erix (oh, so feral 🥵🥵). Just, yes all around!
Book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but sets up what the next book’s plot/adventure is going to be and I’m excited for the next chapter of their story. Loved the epilogue! ❤️❤️
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