466 ratings | 101 reviews | avg rating:4.75

Lauren’s Year In Books

Lauren’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Lauren’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Lauren Lee Merewether

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

http://www.laurenleemerewether.com

Twitter

llmbooks

Genre

Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Member Since

April 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/laurenleemerewether

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LAUREN LEE MEREWETHER writes multi-genre romantic sagas inspired by ancient places, legends, and myths. She loves to delve into the shadows of the past, spinning slow-burn, closed door romantic narratives that merge the timeless passions of history with the mysteries of ancient mythologies. Her award-winning novels invite readers to explore the thrilling depths of legends, emotions, and humanity, spanning high-seas adventures to the splendors of ancient empires.

In her free time, Lauren loves to daydream about times long past while sipping green tea and watching the experts on Discovery unearth our ancestors' civilizations.

Go behind the scenes, say hello, and stay current with Lauren’s latest releases at www.LaurenLeeMerewether.com.

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Popular Answered Questions

My wife shared an early copy of The Darkest Oath with me. I thought it was great. And I'm more of a sci-fi guy, but my one question is, where did the sorceress come from? I know it said she was the king's sorceress, but did kings have magic? I thought they executed people for practicing magic in the Middle Ages.

Lauren Lee Merewether Hi! I’m so glad you enjoyed The Darkest Oath, and please thank your wife for sharing it! I love hearing when non-romance readers are drawn in.

Your que…moreHi! I’m so glad you enjoyed The Darkest Oath, and please thank your wife for sharing it! I love hearing when non-romance readers are drawn in.

Your question about the sorceress is a great one, and the answer is rooted in real history. You’re absolutely right: in the Middle Ages, "commoners" accused of practicing magic or sorcery were often executed, especially women. But kings and nobles? That was a different story entirely.

Historically, many rulers across Europe employed occult advisors (astrologers, alchemists, seers), people who dabbled in what we might now call magic, sorcery, or the “dark arts.” These individuals operated in the shadows of court life, offering their kings secret knowledge, predictions, or protection. They weren’t always officially recognized, but they were real. Think of figures like Nostradamus, a French seer and physician, who advised Catherine de' Medici.

So in The Darkest Oath, the sorceress is imagined in that tradition: not a wand-waving spellcaster like today's Merlin, but a powerful, secretive woman whose magic is deeply personal, mysterious, and morally ambiguous. Her title in the book, the king’s sorceress, is both a position of favor and isolation. Her curse on Rollant isn’t part of a larger magic system; it’s a one-time act of "twisted justice" granting him immortality as a reward for loyalty, but cursing love itself as the price.

That tension between belief and superstition, power and punishment felt truer to the spirit of the time than a structured magic system. I wanted her to feel more like a shadow of history than a character out of a high fantasy novel.

To me, the most terrifying kind of magic is the one without clear rules: the kind that punishes not your vices, but your virtues. A moral echo of the age, and Rollant is left to ponder for all eternity what chained him to immortal life. So, I put the reader in Rollant's shoes.

Thanks so much for reading, and for such a thoughtful question! I hope that is an acceptable answer for you.

And Spoiler Alert:

I did imply at the end of the book that she had intentionally chained her immortality to Rollant's, so when he chose what he chose, she essentially dies. But instead of explicitly stating it, to align with my original intent of mythic mystery, I left it unwritten.(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Lauren Lee Merewether My advice for aspiring writers is to keep writing. Write every day, even if it doesn't relate to your story. Treat writing like a sport. You must do i…moreMy advice for aspiring writers is to keep writing. Write every day, even if it doesn't relate to your story. Treat writing like a sport. You must do it everyday and refine your techniques to become great. Just like in sports, perfection is a forward progressing benchmark. There are always new ways to accomplish goals, new methods to improve performance, and better tools with which to train. In writing, befriend creativity, marry determination and serve improvement.(less)

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Lauren Lee Merewether’s books

Average rating: 4.36 · 2,410 ratings · 417 reviews · 29 distinct works • Similar authors

	Salvation in the Sun (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, #1) 4.10 avg rating — 529 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Secrets in the Sand (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, #2) 4.32 avg rating — 268 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Scarab in the Storm (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, #3) 4.42 avg rating — 230 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Silence in the Stone (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles #4) by Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 220 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wife of Ay (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel #2) 4.46 avg rating — 133 ratings — published 2020 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Valley Iris (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel #1) 4.45 avg rating — 125 ratings — published 2020 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Egypt's Second Born: A Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel 4.46 avg rating — 109 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Paaten's War: A Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel 4.49 avg rating — 94 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Fifth Prophet: A Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel 4.45 avg rating — 83 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	King's Daughter 4.58 avg rating — 69 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Lauren Lee Merewether…

Series by Lauren Lee Merewether

The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles (4 books)
by

Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author)

4.25 avg rating — 1,247 ratings

The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel (5 books)
by

Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author)

4.46 avg rating — 558 ratings

The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Complement (3 books)
by

Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author)

4.53 avg rating — 209 ratings

Ancient Legends (1 book)
by

Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author)

4.51 avg rating — 70 ratings

Lauren is Currently Reading

Lauren is currently reading

Scourge of the Shores

by Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Lauren said: " Dear Reader,

I still remember the moment Danna first shouted “No quarter!” across a moonlit deck—saltwater stinging her skin, flintlock clenched in callused hands, facing the sea dragon that had haunted her island since childhood.

That was the spark.

Th ...more "

Sep 12, 2025 05:39PM · see review

Lauren is currently reading

The Darkest Oath: A Closed-Door Historical Romance of Forbidden Love and Immortality in Revolutionary France

by Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: books-i-ve-authored, currently-reading

read in July 2025

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Lauren said: " Dear Reader,

Writing The Darkest Oath felt like pressing my palm to the cold stone walls of a forgotten crypt and whispering:

What if the only way to protect the ones you love is to lose them forever?
What would you give for those you loved?
What if bet ...more "

Jul 19, 2025 10:43AM · see review

Lauren is currently reading

Tides of Treachery: A Paranormal and Fantasy Romance Anthology

by Corina Douglas (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: books-i-ve-authored, currently-reading

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Lauren said: " Dear Reader,

If you’ve found yourself here, chances are you have a taste for vengeance, legacy, love, and the call of the sea. Good. You’re in the right place.

Tides of Treachery is more than an anthology—it’s a storm surge of dark pirate tales bound b ...more "

Sep 01, 2025 07:00PM · see review

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Lauren’s Recent Updates

Lauren liked Adrian Murphy's review of Scourge of the Shores: "If you like a rollicking pirate tale set on the high seas, then this book is for you. I’ve enjoyed Merewether’s historical novels and was curious about her foray into writing a fantasy pirate romance. She handled the genre shift with style and produc" Read more of this review »
Sep 22, 2025 02:23PM · see review
Lauren liked Cathy Gilbert's review of Scourge of the Shores: "Great read with all the ingredients needed in a pirate book."
Sep 22, 2025 02:23PM · see review
Lauren made a comment on Mary Morrison’s review of Scourge of the Shores " Cain is pretty scary! Thank you for reading and leaving a review! "
Sep 21, 2025 07:39PM · see review
Lauren and 1 other person liked Mary Morrison's review of Scourge of the Shores: "Clean pirate romance fantasy with scary monster"
Sep 21, 2025 07:39PM · see review
Lauren made a comment on Amber Lei’s review of Scourge of the Shores " I'm glad you enjoyed the roller-coaster ride! Thank you for leaving a review! ...more "
Sep 21, 2025 07:38PM · see review
Lauren liked Sylvia Lee's review of Scourge of the Shores: "I’m very impressed! This author has done it again! I had my doubts about this book, but, as I got deeper into it, my doubts disappeared. Pirates! Who would have thought? And a woman in charge! Wow! She’s tough too! I got upset with her at first and t" Read more of this review »
Sep 21, 2025 07:38PM · see review
Lauren is 70% done with Scourge of the Shores: Giveaway ending in 18 hours!!!! Grab it before its too late. Enter now: https://goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_... Just want to read it now? The ebook is now available everywhere for only 99c! https://books.laurenleemerewether.com... Scourge of the Shores by Lauren Lee Merewether (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 19, 2025 06:02AM · like · see status
Lauren joined the group Authors & Reviewers
Sep 19, 2025 05:41AM · like
Lauren is now following Andrew Baltasar Author of The Puppet of the Omnigods (Thaumaturge, #1)
Sep 15, 2025 03:11PM · like
Lauren made a comment on Elizabeth’s review of Scourge of the Shores " Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story and even sacrificed precious sleep! I'm honored! ...more "
Sep 14, 2025 01:46PM · see review

More of Lauren's books…

Quotes by Lauren Lee Merewether (?)

“What matters is that you live for something you believe in and not live in fear for something you do not.”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, The Curse of Beauty

tags: believe-and-achieve, live-free, live-from-your-heart, living-life, true-beauty, true-to-life

4 likes

“The older a man gets, the wider their eyes become,”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, Secrets in the Sand

2 likes

“And as long as we live, there is a today and a tomorrow to strive for something greater.”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, The Curse of Beauty

tags: attitude-toward-life, goals-in-life, inspirational, strength, tomorrow-quotes

2 likes

See all Lauren Lee Merewether's quotes »

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Lauren’s Quotes

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
― Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

tags: be-yourself, self-determination

5072 likes

“And as long as we live, there is a today and a tomorrow to strive for something greater.”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, The Curse of Beauty

tags: attitude-toward-life, goals-in-life, inspirational, strength, tomorrow-quotes

2 likes

“A strong person cries; a weak person pretends there is nothing in life worth the tears.”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, The Curse of Beauty

tags: attitude-toward-life, attitudes-of-life, crying-quotes, life-and-living, life-lessons

2 likes

“What matters is that you live for something you believe in and not live in fear for something you do not.”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, The Curse of Beauty

tags: believe-and-achieve, live-free, live-from-your-heart, living-life, true-beauty, true-to-life

4 likes