For a long time, fairies and humans have been at odds. Kinnar, the king of Sundar, believes this schism should not exist; he envisions a way for both parties to unite against their shared enemy. However, Kinnar dies under suspicious circumstances before realizing this plan, leaving his naive daughter, Mireya, to oversee the kingdom's affairs. The young princess becomes ensnared in a web of deceit that confines her to the castle while elevating her ambitious cousin to the highest position in the land. The only person who can save Mireya is Yunier, a young warrior whose mysterious background is as intriguing as his unwavering love for the princess. Only time will tell if the princess and the warrior can reunite the kingdom without sacrificing their passion in Kristina Kamaeva's Mireya Book 1: The Usurper.

The Usurper is the first installment of Kristina Kamaeva's fantasy series. The author explains in depth the mythology, highlighting the key deities influencing the events and their connections to the principal characters. Kamaeva combines this with magical creatures, some familiar to fantasy purists, such as dragons, and an incredible assortment of new creations with equally captivating names. This results in remarkably detailed world-building. The sedate pace enables readers to better appreciate the complexities of Mireya and Yunier's romance and the motivations behind the numerous attempts to thwart it. Each principal character has an ulterior motive behind their outwardly altruistic goal to restore order to the realm. The result is a riveting adventure that readers will be reluctant to put down. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next one in this intriguing series.

Mireya, Book I: The Usurper by Kristina Kamaeva follows Princess Mireya of Sundar as she and her trusted maid Airen sneak out on Lilac Night to enjoy the festivities. But she runs into a warrior, Yunier, who, just like her, pretends to be someone else for the night. The two share a romantic evening and become one another’s May Betrothal. However, neither could predict how the events of the evening would shape the rest of their lives. And with the untimely passing of the king, Mireya must take the throne and lead her people through an impending war. Can the pair stand together until the end, or will their bond prove to be nothing more than a fleeting encounter?

Mireya, Book I: The Usurper by Kristina Kamaeva is a unique and intriguing story with an expansive and wondrous world filled with various races and magic. I really enjoyed the lore behind the creation of this world and how it tied into the events of the story. Kamaeva clearly put a lot of thought into the backstory and setup of this entire world. The characters were also well written, and although I found myself struggling to like Mireya in the beginning, she grew on me as her character developed. Yunier’s character is also unique for a male lead, showing duality between his playful side and his more serious nature. Overall, I found this book a pleasure to read, and while events can get a bit chaotic, you will never experience a dull moment while reading it.