As a necromancer, Benoni has plenty of experience with raising the dead, wrangling angry ghosts, and hiding his powers—but he has no experience when it comes to love.

As the youngest child of deeply dysfunctional parents, Benoni learned to make himself invisible. This became useful when he developed the reviled gift of necromancy. Now, he's haunted by a trio of unruly orcs, alongside the ghost of his murdered brother, who, incidentally, is scared of other ghosts. Worse, Benoni has accidentally infected himself with a deadly necromantic rot.

Salvation appears in the form of the Dragon Emperor Julong. As a shapeshifting dragon, Julong can eat most of his problems, but not the army of angry ghosts running amok in his palace. In exchange for a cure for the rot, Julong commands Benoni to uncover who summoned the ghosts. The spiritual plague needs to be kept secret and Benoni needs authority in the palace—a pretend betrothal covers both.

Even a fake engagement draws Benoni into political intrigue and assassination attempts. The captivating, powerful, and handsome Julong serves as Benoni's protector and rock. But everyone keeps warning Benoni about an imperial curse, and Julong may have more to do with the ghosts than he's let on.

For a necromancer with only the dead for friends, no one living can be trusted—especially not a sexy dragon shapeshifter with literal ghosts in his closet.



Katy Nyquist's first two spicy, romantasy novels, A Holy Maiden's Guide to Getting Kidnapped and A Farm Girl's Guide to Ruling as a Bloodthirsty Tyrant, published with Podium in 2025. She has an upcoming cozy fantasy publishing with Headline Hachette in October 2026, The Purgatory Hotel for Wayward Ghosts. She's had short fiction published in Abyss & Apex Magazine, The Arcanist, Every Day Fiction, Strange Changes, and Magic, Mayhem, and Monsters.She works as an economist in Washington, D.C., and writes humorous, sexy fantasy novels. You can find her on Tumblr @aimportantdragoncollector, or on her website at www.katynyquist.com.



"This fantasy story is a wild ride, featuring a fascinating cast of characters that keep the story rolling. Ysabel is such a compelling character as she dodges corrupt leaders, warriors, and others who think they have a right to her… this story sucked me right in. A Holy Maiden’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped by Katy Nyquist is a fast-paced romp full of intrigue, adventure, and steam!"



"A Holy Maiden’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped 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."



"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!"



"Both [Ysabel and Kaine are] strongly drawn and very relatable."