Spotlight & Giveaway: Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Karina Halle’s new release: Realm of Thieves

Two thieves vie for dominance in the illegal dragon-egg trade, putting both their lives and their hearts on the line in this scorching romantasy from New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle.

For Brynla Aihr, crime and survival have always gone hand in hand. Ever since she escaped the fanatical dragon-worshipping cult that controls her homeland, she’s had to carve out a life doing the unthinkable: stealing dragon eggs. Egg theft is illegal and, in most cases, fatal. To breach a dragon’s nest means a harrowing journey through the ancient wards spelled to keep the monstrous beasts confined. Dragons can’t get out and only those with a death wish can get in.

Despite the risks, dragon eggs are highly coveted for their magic. An illegal trade flourishes under competing criminal empires, and Brynla’s loyalty has always been to the highest bidder. Until she finds herself kidnapped and blackmailed by Lord Andor, a formidable lieutenant of House Kolbeck, and thrust into the dangerous political games of rivaling dynasties.

Brynla and Andor clash at every turn, sparking heat in ways Brynla’s never felt before. But in a world that’s prophesized to return to the dragons, and rife with betrayal and secrets at every turn…how close to the flames is she willing to stand?

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from Realm of Thieves 

REALM OF THIEVES by Karina Halle
Ace Trade Original | June 10, 2025
Excerpt

Toombs pulls out chairs for Brynla and me and we sit down at the card table. I slow down with my drinking and wish Brynla would do the same, but maybe she needs to do this. She’s been through a lot and after everything she admitted, I know that much.
The boys seem to be in good spirits regardless. I’m starting to think that most of them were probably relieved to not have to go to the Dark City. Brynla may look fondly upon it, but it’s a place with a harsh reputation for a reason and one that would probably eat my crew alive.
The card game continues, with Brynla being roped in for some of it before she loses all the money she doesn’t have and has enough sense to bow out.
And the ship sails on.
The drinking continues.
The card games come to an end.
And eventually the crew disperses, leaving just Brynla and me sitting side by side at the empty table, our chairs pressed next to each other.
My hand on her thigh.
Her head shoulder.
Closer than we should be.
But I’m not moving an inch.
“Well, what do you think?” I ask her, my lips moving against the top of her head. “Time for bed?”
She giggles. She’s been giggling all night.
“Only if we’re sharing one,” she says in a breathy voice.
I gulp, my body stiffening at the totality of her words, the implications in her tone.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” I tell her, trying to keep things light. “Cabins are too small for those shenanigans.”
“The floor will do,” she says, tilting up her head to meet my eyes. “Even standing up.”
I bite my lip, hard. Fuck. I don’t think I’ll survive this.
“I think we’re both a little drunk,” I tell her.
She frowns, pouting slightly. “Don’t you want me?”
Is she seriously asking me this?
“What do you think?” I manage to say.
“I think you should kiss me,” she whispers, her inebriated gaze flicking over my features. “I think you should show me.”
I swallow the brick in my throat. “I think it would be ungentlemanly of me to take advantage of a rum-drunk woman.”
She smiles and it’s so fucking beautiful I can barely breathe. The carnality in her eyes, the playfulness of her lips. A side of her I’d only dreamed of late in the night, one I imagined over and over again.
“Who says I need a gentleman?” she a sultry tone. “Maybe
I’m the kind of rum-drunk woman appreciates an animal.”
My nostrils flare at that, hunger panging through me, my cock painfully hard and straining against the fly of my trousers. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Or what?” she asks, reaching up and lightly running her fingers over the half-healed cuts on my cheekbone. “What happens if I succeed? What will do to me?”
I close my eyes, needing a break from the lust in her gaze. “A good spanking, for one,” I say, my voice coming out in a growl. “Maybe a good choking while I’m at it.”
She goes silent, her fingers pausing on my skin.
I open my eyes, expecting to see her look horrified at my answer.
Instead there’s something like curiosity. And want. Her mouth is open slightly as she breathes hard, showing the pink of her tongue beyond the soft swell of her lips, and I know if I don’t do something soon, I’m going to end up doing something I regret.
It’s not always easy to be a man of honor.
“Am I interrupting something?” Toombs says as he enters the cabin, the mug of ale spilling over onto his hand, his eyes bouncing between the two of us.
“Just bringing Brynla to her quarters,” I tell him, carefully getting up so that she doesn’t slump over.
She grins and looks at Toombs, sticking her tongue out at him.
“You are interrupting something,” she says, slurring her words slightly. “I’m trying to corrupt him.”
Toombs glances at me, a merry look on his face. “Corrupt him? I would like to see you try. The only honest Kolbeck left, if you don’t mind my saying. He can afford to have his morals dragged under for a bit.”
I sigh and reach down under Brynla’s arms, pulling her unsteadily to her feet. “No one is corrupting anyone tonight. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“You taking me to bed?” she asks. If I weren’t holding her up she’d be flat on the floor.
“I am,” I tell her, half making her walk, half dragging her past Toombs and toward her cabin. Lemi gets up and follows us, looking at his master in concern. From what I’ve learned about Brynla over the last month, rarely lets her guard down, rarely lets herself be loose and vulnerable. And with that in mind, it only strengthens my
resolve to do right by her so that she isn’t regretful tomorrow. “You need your sleep,” I tell her. “We all do.”
“Bye, Toombs,” she says, waving at him lazily and blowing him a kiss.
“My goodness,” I hear Toombs mutter as we leave the galley behind, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” she says as I kick open the door to her cabin.
“Oh, nothing much, just that Toombs is probably in love with you now.”
“At least someone is,” she says, giving me a crooked smile.
My skin immediately feels flushed, like the ship has gotten too stuffy and hot suddenly. I need fresh air. I need to dunk my head in the sea. And I need Brynla to go to bed lest she lead me down a path I’ll regret.
Oh, but what a beautiful path it would be.
It doesn’t help that her cabin feels unbearably small. Lemi goes and sits patiently by her berth, his body taking up half the floor. I lead her over to the edge of her bed and sit her down. She wavers slightly, rocking back and forth for a moment as I crouch down at her feet and attempt to pull off her boots. But just before I can do so, she starts pitching backward.
I act fast, grabbing her shoulders and the back of her head before it crashes into the wall.
She giggles and leans forward, her forehead pressed against mine, her fingers looped around my neck.
“Goddesses,” I can’t help but whisper, our mouths too close together.
“They can’t help you now,” she says softly.
Then she leans up, just enough to place her lips on mine.
My eyes fall closed, my decorum slipping, the wait finally over.

Excerpted from Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle Copyright © 2025 by Karina Halle. Excerpted by permission of Ace. All rights reserved.

Excerpt. ©Karina Halle. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: One copy of REALM OF THEIVES for a U. S. only winner.

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Meet the Author:

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Realm of Thieves, River of Shadows & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you’re into, she’s probably written an HEA for it. When she’s not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their not-haunted condo in Los Angeles.

Buy link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769865/realm-of-thieves-by-karina-halle/