A Deck of Fates
Currently on Submission
If you are an interested editor please reach out to Emily Sylvan Kim at Prospect Agency
A Deck of Fates marries the gothic card-born magic of Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window with the rebellion and forbidden romance of Jennifer Armentrout's From Blood and Ash, set in a devilishly twisted Tim Burton–esque Wonderland where the true game isn’t the card you draw, but how you play it.
In the Kingdom of Cardonia, destiny is dealt with the pull of a card from the Deck of Fates. Bestowed by the gods, the deck assigns every citizen their place in society during the yearly Rite of the Dealing. Hearts command leadership, Diamonds gleam with wealth, Clubs toil the earth, and Spades defend the realm.
Each suit grants the drawer divine powers specific to their role, but when Elara, daughter of the Captain of the Queen’s guard, pulls the Joker, she’s thrust into the dangerous games of court politics. With no clear placement, and whispers of her draw being an omen, Elara finds herself under the scrutiny of the Queen of Hearts, who invites her to stay at the castle to determine if her unknown powers pose a threat or benefit to the kingdom. But her majesty is notoriously impatient, and Elara must race to uncover her Joker abilities or risk losing her head.
Enter Rowan Sterling, the frustratingly handsome Ace of Hearts, who seeks to evade his fate of a preordained marriage to the princess. But beneath his polished royal exterior lies a dark heart of defiance as the secret leader of the Fateless—rebels determined to destroy the Deck of Fates and bring down the structured order of the entire kingdom.
Their destinies collide when Elara discovers the revered Deck of Fates is nothing but an elaborate forgery crafted by the Queen to control her subjects, while the true deck remains hidden. United in their desire to change their fates, Elara and Rowan embark on a perilous quest to find the real deck and reclaim control over their futures, all while trying to deny the connection growing between them. But the Queen is harboring a colossal secret, one that could unravel the very fabric of the realms, and Elara and Rowan must decide how much they’re willing to sacrifice for freedom, justice, and each other. Because the most dangerous game of all is the one played by the heart.