Romantasy

Review: Bride of Stone by Lisette Marshall

October 13, 2026

Synopsis:

She’s a princess married off against her will. He’s the guard delivering her to the altar.

The powerless sister to a volatile crown prince, Estegonde Averre has spent her whole life surviving at court. But when her brother’s schemes leave her betrothed to a vicious nobleman, she must leave her cutthroat family home and travel to the estate of her husband-to-be – accompanied by his most dutiful guard.

Gon knows she shouldn’t trust a man loyal to her horrendous betrothed. But Errik Eirikson isn’t the brute she he’s quiet, ruggedly handsome, and uncannily determined to tend to her every wish even when she tries to guard her heart. Worse, he saves her life the very first night of their journey, when a mysterious assassin comes for her head.

As the royal family turns against itself and rivals move to eliminate Gon before her wedding can take place, Errik soon becomes the last man she can trust. And the more she learns about the secrets behind his unreadable grey eyes, the harder it becomes to ignore the dangerous attraction between them.

But Gon is promised to another. Errik is sworn to obey his lord. Falling in love would be treason … and to the House Averre, treason means death.

Bride of Stone is a standalone princess x bodyguard romantasy taking place in the world of the Runewitch Saga, thirty years before the events of The Death-Made Prince. While it’s as slow a burn as possible for a shorter story, it does contain spicy content intended for 18+ readers.

Review:

Estegonde (Gon) is intended to marry in a few months. When her brother tells her that this will no longer be the case and that he is marrying her off to someone else to further advance his standing, she has no choice but to leave at a moment’s notice and be sent on her way. To ensure she does not run away, she is sent off with a bodyguard at her side.
Enter Errik, who arrives with certain expectations of Gon but quickly learns that she is not the woman he expected her to be. During their journey, they get to know each other better and find themselves having to escape several dangerous situations.

I did not read the first book in the Runewitch Saga, to which this one is connected, and I did not feel that I needed any prior knowledge to enjoy it. If you are looking for something short and sweet, this might be the perfect book for you. It is fast-paced and features a badass FMC, and I loved that for her.

🌙 Recension: Bride of Stone (The House Averre #1) by Lisette Marshall
📚 Genre: Romantasy
📅 Release Date: October 13, 2026
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 150
⭐️ 4/5