And So The Breaking Begins: Mindbreaker Duet, Book 1 (An Age of War and Prophecy 3)
Lacey Lehotzky
4.2
The Hunchback
by Regine Abel
About this book
Her heart’s desire would be her downfall.
After spending her life in training, Esmeralda still can’t believe she’s been appointed to serve as the Vestal of Our Lady of Paris—the greatest temple on any planet in the Nine Circles. Her beauty and unrivaled ability to manipulate energy quickly catch the attention of Praetor Frollo, the grand magistrate of Paris, and High Seraph Phoebus, the greatest winged warrior in the solar system. But her dream of becoming the consort of one of those handsome, powerful males is forgotten the moment she lays eyes upon the hunchback secretly living in the temple.
Kwazeem feels Esmeralda’s power as soon as she lands in his city. She awakens the primal energy that has lain dormant within him—and a possessive hunger that demands he claim her. But he’s a Fallen, a monster that would be destroyed on sight if the citizens of Paris discovered his existence. Worse still, Esmeralda’s Divine Light inflicts agony upon his already tortured body if he basks in it for too long. And yet… he cannot stay away from her.
With Kwazeem’s mysterious condition and Esmeralda torn between her duties to the people and the sinful desires of her heart, is there any chance of them sharing a future?
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B07YF2BNYG
Reader Reviews
December 21, 2023
A unique take on an old fantasy fairytale the hunchback of Notre Dame. Regine you have done it again. I love your books.. I would love to see your books come to life as an audio book. )
June 12, 2025
What do you get when you merge the well-known and loved characters of the Hunchback of Notre Dame with a futuristic sci-fi world? A highly entertaining twist on a classic, that’s what! While technically part of Ms Abel’s “Dark Tales” duo, this story is a complete standalone. It’s also a shorter read (a little under 3hrs for me) so would be a great palate cleanser for someone looking for a break in a larger series, such as I was currently seeking. I thought the world created for our hunchback...
October 30, 2019
What a wonderful example of love conquering all in this futuristic but still heavy fantasy adaptation of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It's so very hard for me to express my opinion without giving out spoilers. Suffice it to say that in the absence of spoilers I can only say that the author was extremely talented/creative in turning a normally depressing story/tale into a much deserving HEA. This rendition was smooth and exciting in its flow turning it into an enjoyable page turner. ) 3 people...
December 9, 2019
Wow, so much better than I was expecting. This author amazes me every time a read one of her books! Kwazeen has been hidden away all of his life because of his hunchback condition and that fact that he is one of the 'fallen\". Esmeralda is one of the people that is filled with \"Divine Light\" that can be emptied into a receptacle then distributed throughout the city to be used as power. When she discovers Kwazeem and all the pain that he endures she strives to fo what ever she can to alleviate...
October 30, 2019
Really this book would have received a 4 star review from me, if based solely on plot and characters, however, right from the beginning, we are plunged into a world that is confusing, with very little explanation. It goes on to explain more throughout the book but I continued to feel slightly confused all the way through. I struggled to figure out how this world worked and don't feel as if I ever grasped it completely. The romance was an instalove story and the only thing I could conclude was...
