For centuries, humans and the magical races of Arcanis have been locked in conflict. The Arcane Crucible, a deadly trial held every twenty-five years, offers a glimmer of hope for peace—but at a steep cost. Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, has been living in the shadow of her past. After losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, she has sworn to protect his sister from meeting the same end. To keep her promise, Elyria must find the strength to face the chaos she thought she left behind.

S. M. Gaither presents Book 2 in the What Blooms From Death series.

Twenty years after a rebellion branded her an outcast, Fia Riftborne navigates a city rife with prejudice so deep, it's often deadly. But she harbors a secret, one that would paint an even larger target on her back. A hidden power within her is growing, threatening to destroy everything she's built for herself.

Estranged from her powerful family, Lilith Leviathan finds refuge in Nineveh, a district in the city of Eden devoted to sin. There, she uses her magic to steal for a living, attracting the attention of the five governing families as well as the church, which expects women to remain pious and silent. When Lilith comes into possession of a beautiful blade, she thinks all her worries are over . . . until her usual buyer dies while inspecting it.

The only way to survive is to win. The only way to win is to slay a dragon. In a realm where power determines life or death, two young women are thrust into a deadly tournament where the only path to survival is to slay a dragon. Forced to participate in the brutal Gauntlet, Amalia and Dyana enter the dangerous world of the Fae. But humans aren't the only ones being forced to fight... Dragons, once revered as Gods, are on the brink of extinction. Enslaved by the Fae and forced to fight, they've given up hope of ever seeing the skies again.

Trapped in the Seelie Court by a forest of thorns, Selena Hale lives at the mercy of the dragon shifters. Her only chance to gain her freedom is by entering the Atonement Trials: a deadly competition that pits fae magic users against each other. Only three people can win, and Selena intends to be one of them. There is only one problem. Draven Ryat, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army, is determined to make her lose.

The Dread Sorceress Oneira has retired. She’s exhausted from fighting the endless wars of kings and queens, and has long accepted that her death is near. Alone at last but for a few uninvited companions—a near-mythical wolf, a goddess’s avatar, and a feline that embodies magic itself—Oneira realizes that she’s bored. On a whim, or perhaps at the behest of fate, she makes an unlikely trip to the most extensive library in existence: the home of her most powerful rival, the sorcerer Stearanos.

Eight Fae fight for my hand in marriage. They're willing to kill for it. But if they discover my secret, my future husband might kill me too. The King of Brookmere has decreed his daughter is to marry—which means, despite my protests, he's enacted an archaic tradition, summoning powerful Fae from across the land to compete for my hand in marriage. And more importantly, the throne. Eight fae will fight in the deadly trials, braving formidable magic and each other to prove themselves worthy of the crown. Including the arrogant, shadow-wielding Kade Blackthorn.

Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess—one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion. Every year, Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple. In a millennium, no maiden has made it out of Ilion alive. This year, Lia is one of the hunted.

Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain concealed beneath her skin. When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save their kingdoms from an even greater monster.

Ophelia Winters wants revenge. Isolated in the Scottish Highlands, Sorrowsong University usually only welcomes students from the most powerful and corrupt families. Ophelia doesn’t belong, but a rare scholarship grants her the perfect opportunity to investigate her parents’ “accidental” death near the castle grounds. Her plan? Keep her head down to find out what truly happened and punish those responsible. The last thing she needs is to wind up in a mafia war or step on the toes of actual royalty.

Chaos, the vicious supernatural competition where heroes are born and riches are won. To most, it's just an urban legend whispered in the darkest shadows, but that all changes when my best friend drags me into a savage world where vampires, shifters, and fae compete for glory and fame. As a creature without magic, I’d be a fool to enter Chaos, but the prize—a dagger of untold power—could change my powerless existence. With that dagger, I could wield magic, earn respect, and maybe, just maybe, win the heart of the dragon heir… it’s a risk I have to take.

Half-human, half-fae, and with rebellion in her blood, Lady Avice chafes against society's strict rules. Climbing trees, cursing, and running through the woods with young men are all strictly forbidden. Eloping with a man she's fairly sure she loves must be the solution to all her problems. But her white knight quickly loses his luster when they're chased across the country by armed men and forced to flee in a pirate ship.

When Roxilana hears a voice inside her head, she believes she's gone mad. This voice, Memnon, claims he is her god-touched soul mate, one who has the ability to wield magic. Not only that, but he believes Roxilana possesses magic too. Wild though his claims are, Roxilana realizes Memnon speaks the truth. First, her power Awakens. Then, Memnon, King of the Sarmatians, shows up at her door in Rome, proclaims her as his wife, and takes her to his homeland.

Half-Fae Elessia could have had everything. Literally. Since her magic allows her to compel anyone to do her bidding by merely looking into their eyes, the world was at her feet. But after a tragic accident, she is thrown into the Fae king's dungeons and forced to swear a blood oath to him, binding her to his service. Five years later, she's living amongst humans in Ellow and has created a life for herself—as much as she can with the king's promise to call in his debt looming over her.