{"title":"Katy Nyquist","description":"Katy Nyquist is an economist in Washington, DC, who writes humorous fantasy novels to take a break from the constant math jargon. She has had short fiction published in Abyss \u0026amp; Apex Magazine, The Arcanist, Every Day Fiction, Strange Changes, and Magic, Mayhem, and Monsters.","products":[{"product_id":"a-farm-girls-guide-to-ruling-as-a-bloodthirsty-tyrant-an-epic-fantasy-adventure-paperback","title":"A Farm Girl's Guide to Ruling as a Bloodthirsty Tyrant: An Epic Fantasy Adventure - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen Bora swaps bodies with a homicidal duchess, the sweet-tempered wallflower must embrace her inner villainess to survive and save her country.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWithin an hour of Bora's arrival in Arahasnor, she runs into her toxic ex-boyfriend, offends a malicious noblewoman, and narrowly escapes from the city guards. Never the type for adventures--unlike her sister, Holy Maiden Ysabel, who left the family farm and scandalously eloped with Dark Lord Kaine--Bora intends to quickly return home and settle back into her usual role as the plain, boring sister. That is, until there's a freak magical accident.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuddenly, Bora finds herself in the life--and body--of the Blood Duchess, a woman who once threatened to have her killed. Now a noblewoman in a kingdom on the verge of economic collapse, the citizenry hangs her in effigy, and her staff spits in her food. It's too much for a farm girl without a mean bone in her body to handle. Unfortunately, the previous ruler sold Arahasnor to three different foreign powers, and only their crippling fear of the Blood Duchess is holding them off . . . as long as Bora can successfully embody the ruthless villainess. At least she's not alone in this bizarre charade; she has the support of Countess Donya, her heroic celebrity crush.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd she'll need it. Because if Bora's real identity gets uncovered, she'll die. But after an assassin named Ari mistakenly targets her for revenge, she strikes a deal with him: she'll help find the \u003ci\u003eactual\u003c\/i\u003e duchess in exchange for his protection. As someone who struggles with body-image issues, Bora feels drawn to Ari's confidence, rakish charm, and gender queerness. But a love triangle may be a distraction she can't afford, especially when it turns out her sister is among the enemies coming to town to challenge the Blood Duchess.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter spending years obsessing over her weight, the death threats scare Bora less than showing off her extremely generous curves in the Blood Duchess's low-cut dresses. But if she can embrace the beauty of her new body, she might just learn to love her true self as well. Though, appearances will be irrelevant if the duchess's adversaries remove her head from her shoulders . . .\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50102258434271,"sku":"9781039482494","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/k0nK6TnKtw9781039482494.webp?v=1781079235"},{"product_id":"a-holy-maidens-guide-to-getting-kidnapped-an-epic-fantasy-adventure-paperback","title":"A Holy Maiden's Guide to Getting Kidnapped: An Epic Fantasy Adventure - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Holy Maiden should never drink, get kidnapped, nor kiss a Dark Lord, but Ysabel is breaking all the rules to escape her fate as a human sacrifice.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a world where magical powers are commonplace, Holy Maiden Ysabel is revered as a goddess among her people. She's the only one able to heal the sick and injured with a simple touch. But her spectacular gift comes at a steep price. For each person she saves, she loses a day of her own conscripted life. To add insult to injury, she's supposed to maintain a pure image even though she'd rather drink and play dominatrix until her sorrows fade away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter the corrupt Head Cardinal Jiang abuses her gift, forbids her from leaving the city, and takes her brother hostage, Ysabel doesn't dare drag anyone else into her problems--especially since it won't change her fate. But when Dark Lord Kaine arrives at her clinic doorstep grievously wounded, she's touched by his refusal to accept her healing lest it cost her another day of her life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe mysterious and sexy Dark Lord awakens forbidden desires in Ysabel, and the nagging survival instinct she tried to drown with booze and drugs comes back with a vengeance. She's less impressed, however, when he threatens to sack her city in return for his injuries. Fortunately, she can flirt her way to an alliance against the Head Cardinal instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArmed with only a ferociously loyal female bodyguard named Alzira, Ysabel attempts to make the most of her mere months left to live, protect the refugees around her city, prevent a war, and hide her face blindness. But before her life flickers to its sad end, she must decide: either die a proper Holy Maiden or risk it all to run off with Kaine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"[A Holy Maiden's Guide to Getting Kidnapped\u003c\/i\u003e features] a protagonist with a strong voice and unique character facets like face blindness and a healing gift . . . and some nice worldbuilding, both in broad strokes and specific detailing.\" \u003cb\u003e--Elayne Audrey Becker, author of the Forestborn duology\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"I . . . absolutely fell in love with Ysabel and Kaine . . . The 'opposites attract' trope worked so well for this story . . . The stakes are high throughout . . . Great craft and storytelling!\" \u003cb\u003e--April L. Wood, author of the Season of the Witch series\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Both [Ysabel and Kaine are] strongly drawn and very relatable.\" \u003cb\u003e--Bogi Takács, author of \u003ci\u003ePower to Yield\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50103184359647,"sku":"9781039482463","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/sxhYPsQM0z9781039482463.webp?v=1781090448"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/katy-nyquist.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}