A slow-dark fantasy, and tragiclove story, with demons, vampires, wolf shifters and more
Is Atalan truly such a savage place?
With a broken heart, Kiraly is swept from Earth and thrust into Atalan, a world where vampires, demons, and wolf shifters exist. Until she can find a warlock to send her home, she must remain with the Alliance as they prepare for war against demons.
When a stranger targets Kiraly, she begins training with the wolves for protection. But after being struck down in combat, she discovers her wounds heal with impossible speed. She hides the truth, unwilling to accept that her body is changing.
A growing attraction toward the prince and a hidden desire for a demon, has Kiraly torn between returning home or embracing a new life in Atalan. But her hopes are shattered when war erupts.
Thrown into battle, Kiraly must decide between saving the friends she's come to love, or killing the one person that is supposed to get her home.
But war isn't the only obstacle blocking her path back to Earth. A far more powerful foe lurks in the shadows, a cunning creature who knows the truth. The truth of why she was brought to Atalan. And he will stop at nothing to awaken her powers.
War & Lies is book one in the Tales of Kiraly Trilogy. This heart-wrenching story follows the journey of Kiraly and what her role is in this cruel world.
Tales of Kiraly is a tragic romance and does not have a HEA
War and Lies by T.C. Havlok truly lives up to its title. This romantic fantasy delivers a gripping blend of war, deception, and slow-burning romance that kept me hooked from the very first page.
The story follows Kiraly, a woman suddenly swept from Earth and thrust into Atalan, a world where vampires, demons, and wolf shifters exist. Stripped of everything she knows, she must quickly learn who to trust, how to survive, and whether finding her way home is even possible. Havlok does an excellent job of placing the reader directly in Kiraly’s confusion and fear, making her journey feel immersive and urgent.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its fast-paced narrative combined with multiple points of view. The shifting perspectives add depth to the story and allow the reader to understand the motivations, secrets, and lies shaping a realm torn apart by war. That said, be warned: in a world where survival is never guaranteed, no character is truly safe. Just when you start to feel attached, the story reminds you of the brutal reality of war.
The romance is a slow burn, layered with tension and uncertainty, and features multiple love interests. Rather than overpowering the plot, the romantic elements are woven naturally into the story, heightening the emotional stakes and making each interaction feel meaningful. The push and pull between trust and betrayal keeps you guessing about who truly has Kiraly’s best interests at heart.
Overall, War and Lies is a compelling read for fans of romantic fantasy who enjoy high stakes, morally complex characters, and a story that refuses to play it safe. If you’re looking for a book filled with danger, desire, and difficult choices, this one is well worth the read.
If you are looking for a romantasy that will keep you guessing, you're in the right place!
When Kiraly's world crashes around her (figuratively), she finds herself crashing into another world (literally!). Rescued from her plummet into another world by a group of unlikely allies, all she really wants is to find a way back home with the help of a vampire, a demon, a wolf shifter, and a prince. But the impending war between creatures that she never fathomed could truly exist puts a halt on those plans. Stuck in Atalan, she starts to uncover pieces of herself that she never knew she could.. As she finds her strength and uncanny abilities, she might play a key role in this war.
From the outset, I love the concept of this world. Despite the alliance between the 4 main male characters, I do like that there is tension and blatant distrust among the group. It is an intriguing combination of possible love interests for Kiraly, but don't expect a true reverse harem. There is some spice, but it is not at all overwhelming (I'd say 1.5 out of 5 on the spicy scale).
The characters are clearly different in their demeanors and that feels well thought out, but I do feel like there are times where the characters can feel a little bit one-note. There are times where I wanted more from the dialogue between characters to make them feel a little bit more "real".
Though it felt a little slower than I would have hoped, by the halfway mark, I was fully engaged with the story and the plot threads that were moving forward. The pace picked up and the twists and turns began to unravel in a satisfying and surprising way. BUT, read the warnings from the author! If you are looking for a happily ever after or assurance that everyone will make it out alive, you will find yourself disappointed.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I am looking foward to seeing where all of the threads lead when the next book comes out! Great for fans of "From Blood and Ash" who are looking for a lower spice option! Can't wait to see what is next from this author!
Thanks to Booksprout for the advance reader copy of this book!
From the very first page, this book completely consumed me. I picked it up four days ago and immediately fell into a reading spiral—I devoured it, and this is not a short book. Every time I told myself “one more chapter,” hours disappeared.
It truly delivers on every level. The story captures that disorienting, fascinating idea of waking up in another world and does so with raw, genuine emotion. The characters are written so beautifully that you don’t just like them—you feel them. You fall in love with each one, and your heart breaks with them too. There’s love, loss, war, action, and yes, a bit of gore woven in perfectly. And the slow burn? Absolutely immaculate. The kind that settles into your chest and refuses to leave.
The world-building and character development are phenomenal. I rarely fall this hard, this fast for a fantasy series—usually it takes at least a book or two—but this one had me hooked from the very beginning. Even as someone who can sometimes struggle to get into fantasy, this story grabbed me and never let go. It’s the kind of series that stays with you, one you know you’ll hold close to your heart long after you turn the final page.
I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC reader, and I can confidently say I’ll still be buying a physical copy because it deserves a permanent place on my shelf. So when I say run, not walk, to preorder this book—I mean it. If you love fantasy romance, reverse harem, high-stakes action, and deeply emotional love stories, this book is made for you. Fantasy romance girlies, this one is calling your name.
It releases in April, and the preorders are live—go get it. You’re going to want this on your shelf.
As an ARC reader who leans toward darker fantasy with emotional depth and morally complex characters, War & Lies delivered a slow-burn, immersive experience that stayed with me long after I finished. This is not a light fantasy romance, and it does not pretend to be. It is tragic, layered, and unapologetically heavy in the best way.
Kiraly’s journey begins with heartbreak and only grows more complicated once she is torn from Earth and thrown into Atalan, a world where demons, vampires, and wolf shifters coexist on the edge of war. Atalan itself feels dangerous and alive, a place where survival often clashes with morality. The world building pulls you in steadily, revealing its rules, alliances, and fractures piece by piece, making the stakes feel increasingly real as the story unfolds.
The multiple POVs were one of the strongest elements for me. Seeing events through the eyes of various supernatural love interests added emotional complexity and depth, especially as themes of power, desire, loyalty, and corruption came into play. Romantic tension and emotional connections are woven deeply into the story, but this is not a happily ever after kind of book. Choices have consequences, and the characters feel painfully aware of that fact, which makes their struggles feel raw and believable.
This is a slow-dark fantasy that rewards patience. The pacing allows relationships and conflicts to simmer, and the emotional weight builds naturally. If you enjoy tragic love stories, morally gray characters, and fantasy worlds that don’t shy away from hard truths, War & Lies is absolutely worth the read. I’m very interested to see where this story goes next.
Tropes ✨ Vampires, Demons, Wolf shifter’s, Warlocks and more ✨ Multiple POV’s ✨ Slow Burn ✨ Epic Betrayal ✨ No HEA ✨ Trilogy
Ok I just finished this book and don’t know what to do with myself. The last half of this book had me in a choke hold. The amount of twists and betrayals that went down at the end of this book was crazy!! I did not see them coming it was heartbreaking 💔
Ok so this book follows the FMC Kiraly who got swept from Earth and pulled into a world called Atalan, where a war is currently raging between Demons, Vampires and Wolf shifters. And she is trying to find her way back home.
At the beginning of the book we have 4 MMCs we have Prince Tavish, Readas, Darren and Kain. Each character brings something different to the book and the character development is amazing!
But then towards the end we get introduced to more characters. And that changes everything. They all have big parts to play in the end of this book.
The world building in this book is out of this world. So beautifully descriptive. I could picture what the world and all the characters looked like.
This book is so fast paced. And I loved that, there was high stakes, twists and turns and so much betrayal!
I liked that we got Mulitple POV’s. Getting a look into how each of the characters was feeling and why they made the choices that they did. I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.
War and lies (Tales of Kiraly Book #1) by T.C. Havlok ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you T.C. Havlok for the opportunity to read this ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts.
This book/series has a very interesting world with a lot of potential. The beginning felt a bit choppy for me. I struggled to connect with the FMC throughout the book. To start out, I was kind of surprised by her reaction to the new world she was thrown into - it seemed very muted. If it were me, I would have been in denial for days, weeks, maybe even months. Kiraly was also very “damsel-in-distress” the entire book and while I think that’s fine in the beginning, she stayed weak throughout which was kind of a bummer. That said - I REALLY did enjoy the twist involving the FMC. It added so much to the story and will definitely make readers want to continue the series. I couldn’t really get on board with the immediate protectiveness and romantic interest from the guys. (With the set up I was fully expected a RH to develop but it did not.) Anyway, with the FMC personality being so subdued, the level of fawning from the male characters didn’t sit right for me. I also found the super emotional scenes to move too quickly for me, but about half way through the book I do feel the storyline became more fun and easier to read.
While this wasn’t a great fit for my personal likes, there are some really great ideas in this book! Readers who enjoy fantasy romance will find a lot to appreciate!
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for War & Lies. I have been highly anticipating this book and it did not disappoint!
Kiraly not only gets dumped by her boyfriend, she then gets dumped into the river when the bridge she's on collapses! And when Kiraly is pulled out of that water, she's shocked to find herself somehow thrown into another world. A world with a mind-reading vampire, a shape-shifting wolf, a seductive demon, and a human prince who seems very interested in Kiraly and her newfound skills and abilities since she arrived in Atalan.
This harem of males surrounds her and offer their help as she tries to navigate both her new abilities and this strange new world. Kiraly is told she can only escape this world with the help of a warlock, and this warlock can only be found on the other side of a raging war! Has her harem trained her well enough to survive the war so she can return home?
This fast-paced fantasy pulled me in from the start, and just when I thought knew where the story was going to go, plot twist, plot twist, plot twist! This unique, enjoyable read that has me so excited to see what happens next!
This book is a wild ride from start to finish! Kiraly's journey from heartbroken Earthling to a central figure in a supernatural war is captivating. The world-building is fantastic, with vampires, demons, and wolf shifters all vying for power in Atalan. Is there romance? A love interest? Multiple love interests? A love triangle? Why choose? Multiple men?? You’ll have to read it to find out 🤭😉
What really sets this book apart is Kiraly's personal growth. Her struggle to accept her changing body and the truth behind her arrival in Atalan kept me hooked. And let me tell you, this book gave me whiplash with all the twists and turns! Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, another secret would be revealed. I also loved and devoured Kain and Darren’s part of this story. The looming threat of a powerful, unknown enemy adds a layer of suspense that had me on the edge of my seat.
Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and paranormal romance. It's a perfect blend of action, romance, and mystery, with a strong female lead that you'll be rooting for until the very end. I can't wait to see what happens next!
This has the beginnings of an epic tale that leaves us on a cliffhanger. I felt bad for our FMC. She was literally tossed around, fell for the guy and lost the guy. On repeat...It made her seem weak. Thats the reason I gave 4 stars. She goes from one MMC to the next like a lost puppy and when all the guys who showed interest are gone, she goes back to the one that actually put his pack before her. We dont see that cause...cliffy. Dont get me wrong the writing was good. The world building was epic. The plot IS there and if you are wanting a multi-book series, you are well on your way. I also get that our FMC was ripped out of her world and was thrown into a world with all these supernatural creatures and magic so it SHOULD take her time to come around, hence the "weak" persona. She doesn't seem weak in mind as she accepted the fact magic and supers existed in this new world. Maybe she was raised to always have a man around to protect her, idk. I just can't get over that weakness in her...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Kiraly, whose life unravels after a painful breakup and a harrowing plunge into the ocean when a bridge collapses. Miraculously, she finds herself in a fantastical new world, barely clinging to consciousness. Here, she encounters an intriguing cast of characters: Kain, a brooding vampire; Tavish, a charming prince; Darren, a fierce wolf shifter; and Readas, a mysterious demon.
Confusion envelops Kiraly as she navigates this strange realm, grappling with her new circumstances and questioning her purpose. As she uncovers her natural talent for archery, she begins to suspect that her presence in this world is no coincidence. Each of the four remarkable men feels a magnetic attraction to her, further complicating her journey of self-discovery.
Dive into this magical adventure to unravel the mysteries surrounding Kiraly and the unique bond she shares with these extraordinary beings. It’s a spellbinding story filled with intrigue, romance, and the exploration of what it truly means to be special.
War & Lies is a high-stakes, shadow-drenched tale of deception, forbidden desire, and the cost of power. T.C. Havlok spins a story where loyalty is fragile, hearts are weapons, and every secret could ignite both love and ruin.
The plot follows characters trapped in a web of political scheming and war, where nothing is as it seems and betrayal lurks in every corner. Amidst the tension, a charged romance burns slowly but dangerously, fraught with mistrust, longing, and temptation. Every stolen glance and hesitant touch is loaded with danger, making the romance pulse with intensity.
Havlok’s world is immersive and unforgiving. Battlefields, court intrigues, and shadowed corridors create a gothic and suspenseful backdrop for a romance that is as thrilling as it is risky. The characters’ struggles with power, desire, and morality make their choices feel weighty and the stakes feel real.
Well that was a fun roller coaster ride....with my emotions! This was a fast paced, hard to put down Romantasy and I loved it! I giggled at Kiraly's constant inner thoughts around Kain. "It's nothing to be ashamed about. We all have our desires, urges, craving." Just when you think you have it figured out and know who to trust, you're wrong. There is magic, wolf shifters, vampires, a prince, war, demons, betrayal, forced proximity, yearning, reverse harem, multiple POVs, trials...need I go on?!
Kiraly is a women that finds herself in another realm where she has to decide quickly who to trust and learn how to survive. As she learns more and more about the realm and creatures that exist, things become more complicated for her. There is steady world building throughout the story that easily immersed me into the world of War & Lies.
And that ending...TC Halok, girl, what are you doing to me?! You got my emotions messed up on this one! I can't wait to see where Kiraly ends up next....
If you're someone who likes multiple povs from a variety of supernatural love interests, this is the perfect story for you. Romantic feelings, and interactions, are a big part of the book, but don't expect a happily ever after here. There are a few open door spicey scenes (maybe one of them would be considered dark due to the nature of the male character, but for the most part it's on the vanilla side of things). This book does seem to emphasis a little more on dialogue, which I didn't mind because of the different character personalities, but also, a lot of the worldbuilding details blended into the characters' conversations which was fun to read.
Overall, I enjoyed reading through this novel and I'm looking forward to following the heroine's journey into the next installment of this trilogy.
This book is fully immersive, tantalizing, morally gray and raw emotions, mixed with a side of darkness. I was hooked from chapter one. Havlok setup this world so fantastically that you feel like you’re there, you’re just as disoriented as the FMC and invested in finding a way to help her.
FMC: Kiraly is taken from her world and thrown into Atalan. She must figure out how to survive.
This story had me on the edge of my seat. It left me wrecked emotionally, but I guess war can do that do you. The multiple POVs setup the characters mindsets so brilliantly. This is definitely not your average HEA novel. It is battles with death, tournaments with grit, and some slow burn thrown in just to heat things up.
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Thank you for an awesome read T.C. Havlok.
This book follows Kiraly. A woman from our world who is transported to another realm. I did like that you get MPOV. Kiraly was a likeable MFC. I liked the tournament portion of this story the most. It kind of came out of no where but it ended up being my favorite part of the book. You find out some new and interesting information towards the end and get introduced to a new character. It was also well written.
Thank you T.C. Havlok for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book in advance. There were a lot of twists and turns that I enjoyed. When the description said "tragic" love, it was no joke! I was expecting some loss in a book with the word "war" in the title but I was unprepared for what would truly happen!
There are a lot of fun details that have me very curious about what will happen next. And looking forward to getting a physical copy because the cover is beautiful!
Wow…. What a world wind of crazy! Soo many twists it’s hard to even put into words how to describe this book. Did I enjoy it?? Yes and no! I mean I loved the character building and all the players. But I did not like how my heart feels ripped out. Super depressing but I need to know how it ends. I did spend two late nights trying to read one more chapter. Definitely worth the read!
PS the whole book is literally about War and lies! Backstabbing, conniving, who can you trust, lies upon lies.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Just when I thought I knew what was happening and what to expect, BAM. Plot twist. This book definitely kept me on my toes and ready for book 2! Loved getting to know our FMC and the absolute twist we learned about her life on earth at the end!!
I felt this book took me on an emotional magical roller-coaster. I loved how the author introduced each character and described them. By the end of the book I could picture this book as a movie. Honestly I never read fantasy romance but this book made me want to read more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a fast paced story set in a well built universe. The characters are interesting and their interactions are realistic and at times explosive. There are a lot of twists and turns but the story is not difficult to follow at all. I’m looking forward to the next book to follow Kiraly’s ongoing journey!
This was such a fun read. Easy to follow and plenty of action and romance. I, however, found I wanted more. More descriptions, more emotion, more worldbuilding. But, if you are after an easy-to-read, fast-paced and romantic story….this is for you.
A reverse harem you don't want miss! I enjoyed how all the different guys interacted with the female lead, Kiraly. This story is easy to follow with some great twists. I had a lot of good laughs and even cried a few times! The ending had me SHOOK. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book!
Standing Ovation 👏 This book had me all feeling lovey dovey until plot twist after plot twist that had me questioning everything. It brought me to tears and had me on the edge of my seat. I could barely put it down. Very excited to see where Kiraly’s story goes next. Great Job T.C. Havlok
Couldn't put this book down. A little slower in the beginning, but once war is declared, there is no stopping. It becomes a fast paced adventure with twist after twist. Loved all the guys that Kiraly interacted with.
OMGGGG!!! I was SCREAMING!!! That ending THREW me out the flipping window. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions and tension... Thank you so much for the ARC!!
(eARC received from the author through Booksirens.)
If you like tragic romance, a world FULL of shifters and a books that is character forward this is for you. Very entertaining read i want to see where this goes.