Elara Vance was never supposed to survive.

Taken in the annual Blood Tithe, she is sent to the Obsidian Citadel—a ruthless war college where the weak are purged and the strong are forged into weapons for the High King’s endless war. Armed with nothing but a sharp tongue and a deadly secret, Elara is determined to endure the trials and uncover the truth behind her sister’s mysterious disappearance.

Because her sister didn’t just vanish.

She was erased.

Elara carries a forbidden power—void magic—a heretical force capable of unraveling the world itself. If discovered, it will mean her execution. So she hides it, burying it beneath control and survival instinct… until a single moment changes everything.

A catastrophic trial binds her soul to Kaelen Thorne—the Citadel’s most feared commander.

Cold. Lethal. Untouchable.

And now, impossibly, bound to her.

Their connection is more than magic—it’s a soul-deep tether that amplifies their power to catastrophic levels. Resisting it tears them apart. Surrendering to it could bring the empire to its knees.

Forced into a fragile alliance, Elara and Kaelen must navigate deadly trials, political betrayal, and enemies who would kill them both to control what they’ve become.

But something ancient is stirring.

A prophecy long buried.
A power long feared.
A bond that was never meant to exist.

And as war looms on the horizon, Elara must make an impossible choice:

Survive the Citadel…
or become the weapon that destroys it.

Get it on AMAZON HERE

Listen to first 5 Chapters Here

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Symphony of Ash and Ruin is a gripping and emotionally charged debut that delivers everything readers crave in modern fantasy. With its rich world-building, high-stakes academy setting, and a powerful enemies-to-lovers dynamic, A. C. Thorne crafts a story that is both addictive and cinematic.

Elara is a fierce and compelling heroine, while Kaelen brings a dark intensity that keeps the tension razor-sharp from beginning to end. Their connection is electric, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

This is the kind of book that pulls you in from the first page and refuses to let go. A must-read for fans of dark fantasy romance and anyone looking for their next obsession.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book completely hooked me.

Deadly trials. Forbidden magic. A soul-bond with the most dangerous man in the Citadel? I couldn’t put it down.

The tension between Elara and Kaelen is unreal—dark, addictive, and just the right amount of slow burn. If you loved Fourth Wing or ACOTAR, this is your next obsession.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A dark, addictive fantasy filled with dangerous magic, brutal trials, and a romance that burns just as fiercely as the world around it. A. C. Thorne delivers a powerful start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.