by Ketley Allison is the first book in The Thorne of Winthorpe series, a dark high school bully romance set in a prestigious New England academy. It is intended for readers aged 17+ due to its mature themes and intense situations. Plot Summary
The story follows , a "poor girl" who discovers she is actually a legacy of the wealthy Weatherby family. Blackmailed by her biological father, Malcolm, she is forced to attend Winthorpe High to protect her adoptive parents. Upon arrival, she is branded an outsider who "stole someone's life" because she bears an eerie resemblance to a girl named Savannah who went missing.
, the school's "beautiful and vicious" ruler, targets Ember immediately. Blaming her for Savannah's disappearance or the loss of her position at the school, he subjects Ember to brutal trials and "wicked games" to break her. Ember must navigate the academy's dark corners and secret societies to survive, while simultaneously trying to win a prestigious fellowship. Key Content Details
: Ember Beckett (fierce and resilient heroine) and Thorne Briar (morally gray, master manipulator hero).
: Bully romance, enemies-to-lovers, secret societies (Noble and Virtues), forced proximity, and class difference.
: The book is written in dual POV and ends on a cliffhanger . Mature Themes & Content Warnings