Name: King of Battle and Blood
Rating: 3.4166666666666665 (138 reviews)
ISBN: 9781728258416

Isolde de Lara considers her wedding day to be her death day. To end a years-long war, she is to marry vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, and kill him.

But her assassination attempt is thwarted, and Adrian threatens that if Isolde tries to kill him again, he will raise her as the undead. Faced with the possibility of becoming the thing she hates most, Isolde seeks other ways to defy him and survive the brutal vampire court.

Except it isn't the court she fears most―it's Adrian. Despite their undeniable chemistry, she wonders why the king―fierce, savage, merciless―chose her as consort.

The answer will shatter her world.

Isolde de Lara considers her wedding day to be her death day. To end a years-long war, she is to marry vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, and kill him.

Except it isn't the court she fears most―it's Adrian. Despite their undeniable chemistry, she wonders why the king―fierce, savage, merciless―chose her as consort.

The answer will shatter her world.

Reimagining ancient mythology and folklore through high-stakes fantasy romance has driven the widespread appeal of series such as the Hades x Persephone Saga. Author Scarlett St. Clair gained international recognition with her debut novel A Touch of Darkness, which presents the myth of Hades and Persephone set in a modern world of gods and mortals.

Career & Background

Scarlett St. Clair is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and resides in Oklahoma with her dog Adelaide. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English Writing and a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies. Before transitioning to writing full-time, she worked as a librarian for five years, pursuing a literary ambition that began at age thirteen after reading The Lord of the Rings.

St. Clair initially published her books independently before gaining widespread attention on TikTok. Her online popularity led to signing with a traditional publishing house and securing spots on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, with millions of copies sold internationally across multiple translated editions.

Writing Style & Themes

St. Clair's work is defined by high-stakes romance, immersive worldbuilding, and dark fantasy elements. She incorporates her lifelong fascination with Greek mythology, murder mysteries such as Midsomer Murders, and themes of the afterlife into her stories. Her character dynamics frequently explore themes of power, secrecy, and passion between mortals and immortals.

In her Adrian x Isolde series, which includes King of Battle and Blood and Queen of Myth and Monsters, St. Clair expands her narrative focus into dark vampire fantasy and political intrigue. Her bibliography also spans fairy tale retellings, young adult fantasy such as When Stars Come Out, and horror-inflected fantasy like Terror at the Gates.

Major Works

King of Battle and Blood — The first installment in the Adrian x Isolde dark fantasy romance series, centering on a mortal princess who marries a vampire king to save her kingdom.
Queen of Myth and Monsters — The sequel in the Adrian x Isolde series, delving deeper into political alliances, blood magic, and supernatural conflicts.
A Touch of Darkness — The debut novel of the Hades x Persephone Saga, reimagining Persephone as a journalist in New Athens who enters into a pact with the God of the Dead.
When Stars Come Out — A young adult fantasy novel blending modern settings with mythic secrets and romantic suspense.
Rey de guerra y sangre — The Spanish-language translation of King of Battle and Blood, bringing St. Clair's dark vampire romance to Spanish-reading audiences.
Born of Flames and Sacrifice — A fantasy romance novel in St. Clair's catalog featuring high-stakes emotion and mythic themes.
Kingdom of Spirit and Shadow — A fantasy title in the author's catalog exploring dark magic and romantic tension.