A Promise so Bold and Broken Summary: A Dark Fantasy Romance by Sophia St. Germain
TL;DR: A High-Stakes Return to Havlands
- Lessia Gyldenberg, a half-Fae mind-bender, flees Ellow with Merrick, Ardow, and Venko.
- The ancient Oakgards Fae are sailing to conquer Havlands, but King Rioner refuses to prepare.
- Lessia must master mental magic she despises while rebels kidnap her sister and a prophecy marks her as the reluctant ally.
- Merrick is bound by a blood oath and hides a mate bond with Lessia.
- The ending leaves Lessia unconscious in the sea as Merrick’s Death Whisperer power erupts.
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A Promise so Bold and Broken Summary: The Full Arc
SPOILERS AHEAD.
Sophia St. Germain opens A Promise so Bold and Broken one week after Lessia’s exile. Lessia hides aboard a trade ship with Merrick, Ardow, and Venko, choking down watery porridge while guilt consumes her.
Merrick reveals that the Oakgards Fae are preparing an invasion of Havlands. Since King Rioner refuses to believe him, the group rows toward Midhrok to find Raine.
A spiked sea wyvern attacks the small boat. Lessia falls into the water and uses her mental magic to command the creature, forcing it to retreat.
She washes ashore in Midhrok, where Raine forces her to relive painful memories. Merrick uses his Death Whisperer magic to make Raine stand down and grant shelter.
Raine gives Lessia the clothing of his murdered mate, Solana. He explains how Merrick’s blood oath to Rioner failed to save their mates.
Merrick trains Lessia under the effects of Vincere, a liquid that blocks Fae magic and causes agony. Lessia drinks it and lands a dagger strike on Merrick’s shoulder.
Her father Alarin and sister Frelina arrive. Frelina slaps Lessia, and Lessia learns her mother died from a hidden human illness.
Alarin reveals a royal curse: the Rantzier dynasty will fall to a reluctant ally loved by both Fae and human. Rioner believes Loche is that ally.
The group sails to Ellow to warn Loche. Meyah, the rebel leader, intercepts them and kidnaps Frelina to use as a spy in Vastala.
On Asker, Loche’s guards ambush the group with Vincere-laced darts. They beat Merrick and carve “TRAITOR” into his and Lessia’s forearms.
Soria and Pellie, sisters Lessia once saved, disguise themselves as guards and rescue them. Loche explains he wiped his own memories to protect Lessia.
Merrick realizes the reluctant ally is Lessia herself. She is bound by a blood oath to Rioner and loved by both Loche and Merrick.
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Lessia and Merrick seal their mating bond. Loche secretly blocks their magic with Vincere to keep Lessia out of Rioner’s reach.
Lessia plans to pretend she compiled the Fae and is trading them to Rioner. At the meeting, Rioner forces Alarin to restore Loche’s memories.
Rioner drags Kerym’s tortured twin Thissian onto the deck. Loche slips the wyvern-controlling stone to Lessia before Rioner blasts her into the ocean.
A Promise so Bold and Broken ends with Lessia losing consciousness in the water. Merrick lets his Death Whisperer magic rage, swearing to slaughter both Loche and Rioner.
Summary by Chapter
SPOILERS AHEAD.
The Escape and Revelations of War (Chapters 1–8)
Lessia and three companions flee Ellow across the Eiatis Sea. Merrick reveals the Oakgards invasion, and a wyvern attack strands them in Midhrok, where Raine exposes Merrick’s blood oath.
Training and the Arrival of Family (Chapters 9–15)
Merrick uses Vincere to push Lessia’s combat training. Alarin and Frelina arrive, forcing Lessia to face her mother’s death and the Zehmkell celebration.
The Curse and the Rebel Betrayal (Chapters 16–24)
Alarin shares the prophecy of the reluctant ally. The group sails to Ellow, but Meyah’s rebels intercept them and kidnap Frelina.
Capture, Torture, and Escape (Chapters 25–32)
Loche’s guards imprison the group and carve “TRAITOR” into Lessia and Merrick. Soria and Pellie rescue them.
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Confessions of the Mating Bond (Chapters 33–38)
Loche reveals his memory wipe, and Merrick realizes Lessia is the prophecy’s target. Lessia and Merrick confess their hidden mate bond and seal it.
The Trap and the Descent into Chaos (Chapters 39–45)
Lessia stages a trade with Rioner. Rioner restores Loche’s memories, displays Thissian, and blasts Lessia into the sea as Merrick’s power erupts.
Similar Books
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: A traumatized heroine discovers her mental magic and a supportive Fae mate.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen: A spy heroine navigates political intrigue and a forced alliance.
Quicksilver by Callie Hart: A dangerous Fae male and a survivalist heroine face dark political plotting.
A Ruin of Roses by K.F. Breene: A cursed heroine battles a tyrannical ruler with explicit romance.
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan: A half-Fae protagonist is caught between royal courts and a rebellion.
Characters In This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Lessia Gyldenberg | Half-Fae mind-bender and central protagonist who flees Ellow and resists a sacrificial prophecy. |
| Merrick | Fae warrior known as the Death Whisperer who trains and protects Lessia and is her mate. |
| Loche | Human regent of Ellow who erased his memories of Lessia to protect her. |
| Raine | Reclusive Fae mind-bender who shelters the group in Midhrok. |
| Kerym | Siphon Twin who drains energy and emotions and joins the group. |
| Thissian | Kerym’s twin brother, tortured and held by King Rioner. |
| Alarin | Lessia’s father and Rioner’s brother who works as a spy. |
| Frelina | Lessia’s younger sister, kidnapped by Meyah’s rebels. |
| Meyah | Shifter leader of the rebels who blackmails Lessia. |
| Bowen | Half-Fae rebel with visual-blocking magic. |
| Soria and Pellie | Sisters who rescue Lessia and her companions. |
| King Rioner Rantzier | Tyrannical Fae king who schemes with the Oakgards. |
| Theon | Guard who tortures and brands Lessia and Merrick. |
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