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A Light So Blinding

by Emma Hamm

Book 2 in The Kingdom Below

Bjorn is a scarred troll berserker with every reason to hate humans, and Astrid is the priestess who trusts him with her freedom. The heat arrives late and burns hot, but his devotion starts the second he breaks his chains for her.

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goodreads 4.23/5 3,733 ratings

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A decision-first view of the reading experience.

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Content warnings: Sexual content, Human trafficking, Captivity, Imprisonment, Graphic violence, Blood, Gore, Death, Murder, Torture, Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault (referenced), Kidnapping, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Racism/bigotry, Grief, Suicidal ideation, Scars, War

Length450 pages

Series statusOngoing series

Spice4/5 · Emotional / vulnerable intimacy

PacingMedium

Story profile

What the story promises

The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.

Romance promise

Hurt/comfort
Male/female pairing (M/F)
Slow burn
High
Emotional / vulnerable intimacy
The angst delivered

Beast / monster
Protective love interest
Tender / sweet explicit
Cathartic release
Warrior/fighter
Only soft for them
Slow burn with late spice
Romantic fulfillment
Gladiator / arena fighter
Feral devotion
Possessive / claiming
Found family feels
Dark/tortured soul
Reluctant allies to lovers
Size difference focus
Secretly soft
Touch starvation
Possessive/protective
Survivor
Growling / possessive sounds
Bonding/claiming/marking
Possessive

Fantasy promise

Romantasy
Monster romance
Prison / captivity
High fantasy
Trolls
Forced proximity

Underground / underworld
Captive romance
Forest / wilderness
Rescue romance
Interspecies romance
Magic bond
Survival romance
Beauty and the beast

Reading experience

Dual POV
Medium
Dark
Immersive
Heavy
Disabled MC

Adventurous
Emotional
Soft/gentle
Scarred main character or love interest (MC/LI)
Raw
Witch/mage
Hopeful
Atmospheric
Tense
Intense
Character-driven
Sensual
Healing
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Forbidden desire

Similar in ways that matter

Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.

506 pages Completed

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Interspecies romance · Healing · Monster romance

Different because

Spice is higher (5/5 vs 4/5).

Completed

Edin

Lily Mayne

Similar because

Survival romance · Monster romance · Beast / monster

Different because

Spice is higher (5/5 vs 4/5).

556 pages Completed

A Soul to Heal

Opal Reyne

Similar because

Soft/gentle · Interspecies romance · Healing

Different because

Spice is higher (5/5 vs 4/5). A longer read (556 vs 450 pages).

Book details

Length: 450 pages
Publisher: Emma Hamm
Language: English
Format: Book