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Lauren Lee Merewether
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Lauren Lee Merewether

Goodreads Author


Born
The United States
Website

Twitter
llmbooks

Genre
Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Member Since
April 2012

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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, grab a free series starter, and stay current with Lauren’s latest releases at www.Lau ...more

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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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Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.36 · 2,518 ratings · 466 reviews · 29 distinct works • Similar authors
Salvation in the Sun (The L...
4.09 avg rating — 540 ratings — published 2018 — 3 editions
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Secrets in the Sand (The Lo...
4.32 avg rating — 272 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions
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Scarab in the Storm (The Lo...
4.43 avg rating — 235 ratings — published 2020 — 3 editions
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Wife of Ay (The Lost Pharao...
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The Valley Iris (The Lost P...
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Egypt's Second Born: A Lost...
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Paaten's War: A Lost Pharao...
4.49 avg rating — 94 ratings — 4 editions
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The Fifth Prophet: A Lost P...
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The Darkest Oath: A Histori...
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Series by Lauren Lee Merewether

Salvation in the Sun Secrets in the Sand Scarab in the Storm Silence in the Stone
(4 books)
by
4.24 avg rating — 1,272 ratings

The Valley Iris Wife of Ay Paaten's War: A Lost Pharao... The Fifth Prophet: A Lost P... Egypt's Second Born: A Lost...
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by
4.46 avg rating — 566 ratings

Exiled: A Lost Pharaoh Chro... King's Daughter Nefertiti's Legacy: A Lost ...
(3 books)
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4.53 avg rating — 212 ratings

The Darkest Oath: A Histori... The Thornwyck Rose: A Medie...
(2 books)
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4.45 avg rating — 86 ratings

The Curse of Beauty
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4.47 avg rating — 72 ratings

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Lauren is Currently Reading

Sky Without Stars
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by Jessica Brody (Goodreads Author)
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May 29, 2026 06:07PM
Revenge on the Se...
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Lauren 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.

Revenge on the Seas is a dark pirate romantasy woven with betrayal, myth, and blood-soaked a ...more "

 
May 31, 2026 12:17PM  · see review
The Thornwyck Ros...
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Lauren Lauren said: " If you've found your way to The Thornwyck Rose, then perhaps you're looking for more than a simple romance.

This story is set in the shadowed borderlands of a fantasy world inspired by the Welsh Marches after the Norman Conquest—a land of stone keeps, ...more "

 
Jun 02, 2026 07:22AM  · see review

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The Darkest Oath by Lauren Lee Merewether
The Darkest Oath: A Historical Romance of Forbidden Love and Immortality in Revolutionary France (The Sacred Honor Collection, #1)
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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
Jun 26, 2026 10:26AM  · 8 likes ·   · see review ·  preview book
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Toshio: My Nisei Father's Journal
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A beautiful memoir-style novel about life almost 80 years ago during a wonderful, gritty, tragic time in American history. Seko brings the world to life through the eyes of her late father. A compelling must-read for any one who loves real history ro ...more
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The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible
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Companion Workbook: Extreme Ownership How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win
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Quotes by Lauren Lee Merewether  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“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
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“The older a man gets, the wider their eyes become,”
― Lauren Lee Merewether, Secrets in the Sand
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“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
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Around the World ...: Det - Circumnavigator Continuing 2021 49 164 May 20, 2021 04:45PM  
You'll love this ...: Odette: Challenging Crossword Puzzles 2023 139 42 Nov 05, 2023 06:34PM  
You'll love this ...: * 2023 Crossword Puzzle - REQUEST BADGES 563 162 Jan 07, 2024 05:42PM  

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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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