Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about but haven’t yet read. Most of the time they’re books that have yet to be released, but not always. It’s based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme, which was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week my Can’t-Wait-For Book is House of Dusk by Deva Fagan!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC
Published on: 26th August 2025
Goodreads
A romantic epic fantasy featuring a fire-wielding nun grappling with her dark past and a young spy caught between her mission and a growing attraction to an enemy princess
With complex relationships, a rich and mythic world, and brisk pacing, this standalone novel is perfect for fans of Tasha Suri, Samantha Shannon, and Shannon Chakraborty
Ten years ago, Sephre left behind her life as a war hero and took holy vows to seek redemption for her crimes, wielding the flames of the Phoenix to purify the dead. But as corpses rise, a long-dead god stirs, and shadowy serpents creep from the underworld, she has no choice but to draw on the very past she's been trying so hard to forget.
Orphaned by the same war Sephre helped win, Yeneris has trained half her life to be the perfect spy, a blade slipped deep into the palace of her enemies. Undercover as bodyguard to Sinoe, a princess whose tears unleash prophecy, Yeneris is searching for the stolen bones of a saint. Her growing attraction to the princess, however, is proving dangerous, and Yeneris struggles to balance her feelings for Sinoe with her duty to her people.
As gods are reborn and spirits destroyed, the world trembles on the edge of a second cataclysm. Sephre must decide whether to be bound by her past or to forge a better future, even if it means renouncing her vows and accepting a new and terrible power. Meanwhile, when the true enemy makes their bid for power, Yeneris must find a way to remain true to her full self and save both her mission and her heart.
As dead gods rise and corruption creeps across the world, this sweeping standalone fantasy tale of forbidden sapphic love and dark betrayal will set your heart ablaze.
Listen, this was on my radar before the cover reveal – but gods DAMN, that is one HELL of a cover!!! Look at those mosaics!!!
Fire-magic feels very familiar, but when I stop and think, I can’t actually think of many examples, especially not recent ones. And if it’s a classic, it’s a classic for a reason: fire-magic is extremely cool! I would absolutely like to see more of it, especially from phoenix-nuns!
And who doesn’t love a sapphic spy??? Falling for a PRINCESS, no less??? While working on stealing the bones of a saint??? That could be a novel all by itself and I would eat it up.
Dead gods are something I always find really fascinating, because what does it do to a faith to know gods objectively exist and can die? And come back to life, from the sound of it (I’m guessing this isn’t going to be a particularly nice god??? PROBABLY NOT.) How many other gods are there, and do they have opinions on this dead god’s death? Or rebirth? That sounds very much under the remit of something called the Phoenix…
Also, hi: SECOND cataclysm??? What was the first one? (When the now-dead god died, perhaps?) How long has it been since the first cataclysm, and how has the world adapted to the aftermath? What WAS the aftermath? I’m very much hoping for really interesting worldbuilding now!
(Plus, did you see those four beings in the corners of the cover? Scarab/bird/snake/sphinx? I love that their placement reminds me of the World card in tarot, but even if the bird is meant to be the Phoenix, who are the other three???)
Extremely intrigued!
It is SO GOOD!
THAT IS SO GREAT TO HEAR! :D