Terror at the Gates (Deluxe Edition)

By: Scarlett St. Clair

Published by Sourcebooks, Incorporated, 2026-05-12

The first in a seductive new romantasy series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair. Banished and betrayed, Lilith rises from the shadows of her past to claim forbidden power--and a destiny written in blood and desire.

She is the beginning and the end.

She is peace and chaos.

She is terror knocking at the gates.

Estranged from her powerful family, Lilith Leviathan finds refuge in Nineveh, a district in the city of Eden devoted to sin. There, she uses her magic to steal for a living, attracting the attention of the five governing families as well as the church, which expects women to remain pious and silent. When Lilith comes into possession of a beautiful blade, she thinks all her worries are over...until her usual buyer dies while inspecting it.

Frantic, Lilith turns to the only man who can help her: Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. His currency is information, and his power is extortion, though he's always had a soft spot for Lilith. But when the dagger appears, he isn't sure he can protect her from what's to come.

Together, they embark on a mission to discover the true power running their world. As their lives intertwine, Lilith realizes Zahariev is more than just a friend, but their devotion to each other is a threat--to the truth, to the church, and to those who want to tear it all down.

Perfect for fans of:

• Frenemies to lovers
• Slow burn but the sexual tension is...toe-curling
• He falls first
• Neo-noir mafia fantasy vibes

"In this sumptuous and steamy dark fantasy, bestseller St. Clair reimagines Eden as an intensely patriarchal, über-religious society... Determined to make her own way, (Lilith) relies on her power over men's desire to steal the things she needs--but, for some reason, gorgeous Zahariev is constantly in her path and swooping in to clean up her messes... A promising series launch." - Publishers Weekly