Plot Summary
Ashes and Lace
The story opens with Leina, a Selencian farm girl, haunted by the memory of her best friend Irielle's death—burned alive in lace on her wedding day. This trauma is the first of many that shape Leina's world: a land ruled by Faraengard, where Selencians are oppressed, their sons taken in the Collection, and their lives dictated by distant overlords. Leina's family is marked by loss, poverty, and the constant threat of violence. The memory of ashes and lace is not just a personal wound, but a symbol of the world's cruelty—a world where beauty and hope are consumed by fire, and where Leina's own sense of self is forged in grief.
Blood in the Wheat
As Leina works the fields with her family, the threat of the Collection looms. When Faraengardian soldiers arrive to take her brother Seb, Leina's latent powers explode in a moment of desperate violence. She slaughters the soldiers with unnatural strength and speed, but the cost is immediate: her parents are killed, her family is shattered, and she is forced to flee with her surviving brothers. The blood spilled in the wheat marks the end of innocence and the beginning of Leina's transformation—from victim to something more dangerous, and more hunted.
The Collection Comes
Leina, Seb, and little Leo escape into the Weeping Forest, carrying only what they can. Grief and guilt threaten to overwhelm Leina, but the need to protect her brothers keeps her moving. The siblings debate joining the Selencian rebels, a choice they once refused out of fear. Now, with nothing left to lose, they resolve to seek out the rebellion. The Collection is not just a physical threat, but a system that destroys families and hope, and Leina's determination to fight back is born from the ashes of everything she's lost.
Unleashing the Curse
As they travel, Leina's powers grow—unnatural senses, strength, and a connection to her weapons. When they are ambushed by Ryot, an Altor warrior sent to capture her, Leina's abilities are tested. She fights Ryot, but is ultimately overpowered and taken prisoner. The encounter reveals that Leina is not just cursed, but something unique: a potential Altor, a warrior chosen by the gods. Her fate is no longer her own, and her journey is now entwined with Ryot's, the Synod, and the mysteries of her own power.
Flight and Fury
Ryot forces Leina to travel with him to the Synod, the fortress of the Altor. Their journey is fraught with tension, mistrust, and a growing, dangerous attraction. Leina's first flight on Ryot's faravar, Einarr, is both terrifying and exhilarating—a moment of awe that hints at the freedom and power she might claim, but also the isolation and danger of her new path. The world opens up: mountains, oceans, and the city of Edessa, a place of opulence built on Selencian suffering. Leina's rage at injustice grows, fueling her resolve.
The Synod's Judgment
At the Synod, Leina is met with suspicion, hostility, and open sexism. She is the first female Altor, the first Selencian, and her very existence is a threat to the established order. The Synod's warriors are divided—some see her as an abomination, others as a curiosity, and a few as a potential ally. When the Kher'zenn, monstrous enemies from across the sea, attack, Leina's powers are tested again. She survives a deadly encounter, but is marked by the Kher'zenn's rot—a sign that she is truly Altor, but also a reminder of the cost of power.
Veil of Nightmares
Recovering in the Synod's infirmary, Leina meets Elowen, a gifted healer and secret princess, and Rissa, the cold, ambitious heir to Faraengard. The Synod's politics are as dangerous as any battlefield, and Leina must navigate suspicion, jealousy, and the threat of assassination. Her connection to Ryot deepens, but so does the danger—both from within the Synod and from the Kher'zenn, who seem to know her name. Nightmares and visions plague her, hinting at a deeper connection to the Veil, the mysterious boundary between worlds.
The Gifted and the Damned
Leina is forced to train as a ward, the lowest rank among the Altor, and must find a master willing to claim her. Ryot, haunted by the deaths of his previous wards, resists, but their bond is undeniable. The cast of Stormriven—Thalric, Nyrica, Faelon, Leif, and others—becomes her found family, teaching her to fight, to control her powers, and to survive. The Synod's rules forbid love, but Leina and Ryot's connection grows, dangerous and irresistible. The presence of the gifted—those with rare, magical abilities—complicates everything, as old secrets and new alliances are forged.
Chains of Power
As Leina's training continues, she learns the truth about the Synod, the Altor, and the power structures that keep Selencia in chains. The Synod claims to serve the gods, but is complicit in Faraengard's oppression. Leina's demands for justice are met with resistance, but her growing power—and the threat of more Selencian Altor—forces the Synod to act. Ryot and Rissa are sent to investigate Selencia, and the truth they uncover is damning. The seeds of rebellion are sown, and Leina's role as a catalyst for change becomes clear.
The Trial of Last Blood
To prove her worth, Leina is forced to fight in the Trial of Last Blood—a duel to the death against Maxim, a brutal Altor who embodies the Synod's worst traditions. The fight is vicious, testing Leina's strength, skill, and will to survive. She is marked by the gods, her powers manifesting in ways no one expects. Her victory is not just personal, but symbolic—a challenge to the Synod, the king, and the entire system. But the cost is high, and the path ahead is more dangerous than ever.
Kissed by the Veil
In the aftermath of the trial, Leina is summoned to the temple of Thayana, the goddess of war and justice. Her rage and defiance draw the goddess's attention, and she is "kissed by the gods"—marked with a scar of adamas, gifted with new weapons, and granted the power to stride the Veil itself. The experience is both blessing and curse, leaving Leina changed in body and soul. She is now a veilstrider, able to cross the boundary between worlds, but the cost is great, and the dangers are only beginning.
Stormriven Bonds
Leina's bond with Ryot and the Stormriven cast deepens, forged in battle, training, and shared trauma. The unnaming ceremony severs her ties to her past, but the cast becomes her new family. Together, they face the challenges of the Synod, the threat of the Kher'zenn, and the politics of Faraengard. Love, loyalty, and sacrifice are tested, as the lines between duty and desire blur. The bonds of Stormriven are both shield and sword, and Leina's place among them is hard-won.
The Unnaming Ceremony
The unnaming ceremony is a rite of passage, stripping Leina of her old identity and binding her to the Synod. The ritual is both painful and profound, marking her as Altor and as Ryot's ward. Blood is spilled, vows are sworn, and the past is left behind. The ceremony is a moment of both loss and gain—a sacrifice of self for the promise of power, purpose, and belonging. But the cost of loyalty is high, and the wounds of the past are not easily healed.
Faravars and Family
Leina's training includes bonding with the faravars, the winged warhorses that are both weapon and companion. Her connection to Vaeloria, a rare female faravar, is unique and powerful, mirroring her own journey as the first female Altor. The faravars are more than beasts—they are partners, guides, and symbols of the divine. The cast's camaraderie, the rituals of training, and the moments of joy and grief create a new sense of family for Leina, even as the threat of war looms.
The Veilstrider's Awakening
As Leina's powers grow, she learns to stride the Veil, a realm of darkness, memory, and possibility. Guided by the Elder and Vaeloria, she discovers that the Veil is alive, a force that both protects and threatens. Her journeys through the Veil reveal visions of the past, warnings of the future, and connections to the Kher'zenn and the gifted. The cost of power is high—physical wounds, mental strain, and the risk of losing herself. But the Veil is also a source of hope, a path to salvation or destruction.
Selencia's Forgotten Truth
The truth about Selencia is finally revealed: the Collection is not just forced labor, but a systematic culling of potential Altor, a massacre that has lasted for centuries. The Synod, the king, and even Ryot are complicit, whether by action or ignorance. Leina's grief and rage are overwhelming, and the betrayal cuts deep. The revelation is a turning point, shattering illusions and forcing a reckoning with the past. The fight for justice is no longer just personal—it is a battle for the soul of the world.
The Synod's Betrayal
As the truth comes to light, Leina is betrayed by those she trusted most. Ryot's true identity as the king's son is revealed, and the king's role in Selencia's suffering is undeniable. The Synod's promises of justice are hollow, and Leina's faith in love, loyalty, and the gods is shattered. The desire for vengeance burns hot, and the lines between justice and revenge blur. The cost of truth is heartbreak, and the path forward is uncertain.
The Battle for Aish
The Kher'zenn attack Aish in overwhelming numbers, and the Altor, the faravars, and the people of Aish fight for survival. The battle is brutal, chaotic, and devastating. Lightning and magic tear the sky, and the cost in blood is staggering. The Elder unleashes the full power of the storm, sacrificing himself to save what remains. Leina, Ryot, and the survivors are forced to flee, carrying the wounded and the hope of a new beginning. The world is changed forever, and innocence is lost in the ashes of war.
Lightning and Loss
In the wake of the battle, the survivors mourn their dead and count the cost. The Elder and Caius are gone, Thalric is gravely wounded, and the cast is forever changed. Leina and Ryot cling to each other, their love a fragile lifeline in a world of loss. The threat of the Kher'zenn remains, and the future is uncertain. But in the darkness, there is a glimmer of hope—a promise to fight for a better world, to rebuild from the ruins, and to honor the fallen with courage and love.
The Mines of Faraengard
Fleeing through the mines with the refugees, Leina and Ryot discover hidden truths about the kingdom's past and the king's crimes. The mines are both grave and crucible, a place where the past is buried and the future is forged. The confrontation with King Agis is inevitable, and the cost of justice is high. The darkness of the mines mirrors the darkness in the hearts of men, and the struggle for redemption is as much internal as external.
The King's Son
The final revelation: Ryot is the king's son, a prince who has lived in ignorance of his father's crimes. The betrayal is devastating, and Leina's trust is shattered. The confrontation between love and justice, between past and future, is raw and painful. The king's power is unbroken, and vengeance is denied. The cost of truth is the loss of innocence, the end of love, and the beginning of a new, uncertain path.
Vengeance and Revelation
The story ends with Leina confronting the king, her powers and purpose fully awakened. The cost of vengeance is high, and the path to justice is fraught with danger. The world is changed, the old order is broken, and the future is unwritten. Leina's journey is far from over—her story, and the story of the Eternal Wars, is just beginning.
Characters
Leina Haverlyn
Leina is a Selencian farm girl forged in grief, loss, and oppression. Marked by the trauma of her friend's death and her family's destruction, she is driven by a fierce will to protect those she loves and to fight against injustice. Her powers—unnatural strength, senses, and a connection to the Veil—set her apart as the first female Altor and the first Selencian chosen by the gods. Leina's journey is one of transformation: from victim to warrior, from outcast to leader, from survivor to symbol. Her relationships—with her brothers, with Ryot, with her found family in Stormriven—are the heart of her story, and her struggle with trust, love, and vengeance is deeply human. Leina's psychological arc is one of reclaiming agency, embracing power, and confronting the cost of both.
Ryot (Skywarden Ryot of Stormriven)
Ryot is an Altor warrior, marked by loss, guilt, and a relentless sense of duty. Haunted by the deaths of his previous wards, he is both drawn to and terrified by Leina. His powers—strength, speed, and the ability to shield others—make him a formidable fighter, but his greatest strength is his capacity for love and loyalty. Ryot's relationship with Leina is fraught with tension, desire, and the weight of forbidden love. His true identity as the king's son adds layers of guilt, betrayal, and internal conflict. Ryot's arc is one of learning to trust, to love, and to fight for something greater than himself, even as he grapples with the legacy of his family and the sins of the past.
The Elder
The Elder is the leader of the Synod, a figure of immense power, wisdom, and sorrow. His connection to the faravars and the storm is both divine and deeply human—a reminder of the cost of leadership and the burden of memory. The Elder's mentorship of Leina is both nurturing and demanding, pushing her to embrace her powers and her destiny. His sacrifice in the battle for Aish is a testament to the cost of magic, leadership, and love. The Elder embodies the tension between tradition and change, between order and chaos, and his death marks the end of an era.
Princess Rissa
Rissa is the heir to Faraengard, a woman shaped by privilege, ambition, and the weight of expectation. Her relationship with Leina is antagonistic, marked by jealousy, suspicion, and a grudging respect. Rissa's connection to Ryot is complex—rooted in shared history, loyalty, and the politics of power. As the truth about Selencia is revealed, Rissa is forced to confront her own complicity and to choose between loyalty to her family and the demands of justice. Her arc is one of awakening, growth, and the struggle to reconcile power with conscience.
Elowen
Elowen is a princess who rejects the trappings of power in favor of healing and compassion. Her gift is both blessing and curse, allowing her to save lives but also to feel the pain of others. Elowen's friendship with Leina is a source of comfort and strength, and her willingness to defy her family and the Synod marks her as a quiet revolutionary. Elowen's arc is one of self-discovery, sacrifice, and the search for meaning in a world of violence and loss.
Thalric
Thalric is the leader of the Stormriven cast, a man of few words and deep convictions. His relationship with Nyrica is a secret, forbidden love that defies the Synod's rules and the expectations of the world. Thalric's mentorship of Leina is both demanding and protective, and his willingness to risk everything for those he loves is a testament to his strength. Thalric's arc is one of loyalty, sacrifice, and the struggle to balance duty with desire.
Nyrica
Nyrica is a field medic, a gifted warrior, and Thalric's partner. His humor, empathy, and hidden pain make him both approachable and enigmatic. Nyrica's love for Thalric is a source of strength and vulnerability, and his role as healer and confidant is essential to the cast's survival. Nyrica's arc is one of healing—both others and himself—and the search for a place to belong in a world that forbids love.
Faelon
Faelon is the cast's flirt, a beautiful and reckless warrior who hides his pain behind jokes and bravado. His relationship with Caius is that of son and father, mentor and ward, and Caius's death is a devastating blow. Faelon's arc is one of growth, grief, and the search for meaning beyond pleasure and performance.
Leif
Leif is a young ward, kind, loyal, and brave. His friendship with Leina is a source of comfort and stability, and his journey is one of learning, growing, and finding his place in the world. Leif's arc is one of quiet strength, resilience, and the power of found family.
King Agis
King Agis is the architect of Selencia's suffering, a man who wields power with cold calculation and little mercy. His relationship with Ryot is fraught with betrayal, guilt, and the weight of legacy. Agis's crimes are the catalyst for Leina's quest for justice, and his presence is a constant reminder of the cost of power. Agis's arc is one of decline, exposure, and the reckoning of a world built on blood.
Plot Devices
The Veil
The Veil is both a literal and metaphorical boundary between worlds—between life and death, mortal and divine, past and future. As a veilstrider, Leina can cross this boundary, gaining access to visions, power, and the ability to change fate. The Veil is alive, responsive to emotion, memory, and will. It is both a source of hope and a threat, a place of possibility and peril. The Veil is used to explore themes of trauma, transformation, and the cost of power, and serves as a narrative device for foreshadowing, revelation, and the blurring of reality and dream.
The Collection
The Collection is the annual taking of Selencian boys, a system designed to cull potential Altor and maintain Faraengard's dominance. It is both a plot device and a symbol of generational trauma, loss, and resistance. The revelation of the Collection's true purpose is a turning point in the narrative, forcing characters to confront complicity, guilt, and the need for justice.
The Synod and the Altor
The Synod is both a military order and a microcosm of the world's power dynamics. The Altor are warriors chosen by the gods, but their loyalty is demanded, their love forbidden, and their individuality suppressed. The cast system, the unnaming ceremony, and the rules of the Synod are used to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the tension between duty and desire. The found family of Stormriven is both a refuge and a site of conflict, and the forbidden love between Leina and Ryot is a central plot device, driving both character development and narrative tension.
The Gifted
The gifted are individuals with rare, powerful abilities—healing, shielding, fire-giving, and more. Their presence complicates the world's power structures, offering both hope and danger. The gifted are both revered and feared, and their abilities are central to the unfolding war. The revelation of Leina as a veilstrider, and the presence of other gifted, is used to foreshadow coming conflict and to explore the cost of power.
The Faravars
The faravars are winged warhorses, both weapons and companions. Their bond with the Altor is sacred, and their presence is a symbol of the divine. Vaeloria, as a rare female faravar, mirrors Leina's own journey as the first female Altor. The faravars are used to explore themes of freedom, loyalty, and the connection between mortal and divine.
Narrative Structure and Foreshadowing
The narrative is structured around Leina's journey, but interspersed with letters, songs, and visions that provide context, foreshadowing, and emotional depth. Dreams and nightmares are used to blur the line between reality and the Veil, to reveal hidden truths, and to connect characters across time and space. The use of multiple perspectives, shifting timelines, and interludes creates a sense of epic scope and emotional intimacy.
Analysis
Kissed by the Gods is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that interrogates the cost of power, the legacy of trauma, and the possibility of transformation. At its heart, the novel is about survival—of the self, of family, of hope—in a world built on violence, oppression, and the lies of those in power. Leina's journey from victim to warrior, from outcast to leader, is both deeply personal and profoundly political. The novel explores the ways in which systems of power—embodied by the Synod, the Collection, and the monarchy—perpetuate suffering, and the ways in which individuals and communities resist, adapt, and fight back. The Veil, as both a literal and metaphorical boundary, is a powerful symbol of trauma, memory, and the possibility of change. The novel's treatment of love—romantic, familial, and platonic—is nuanced and unflinching, acknowledging both its power to heal and its capacity to wound. The forbidden love between Leina and Ryot is not just a personal struggle, but a challenge to the world's rules, a demand for a new way of being. The novel's ending, with its revelations, betrayals, and the promise of a new beginning, is both devastating and hopeful—a reminder that the fight for justice is never over, and that even in the ashes of loss, new life can be forged. Kissed by the Gods is a story for anyone who has ever felt powerless, who has ever lost and grieved, and who still dares to hope for something better.
Last updated:
