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Dark RomanceRomantasy
Counsel of the Wicked cover by Liz Butcher

Counsel of the Wicked 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Liz Butcher·6 hrs 40 min·Oct 22, 2026
For fans of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
BisexualGayStraight
Cinnamon RollLove TriangleForbidden Love
MasturbationGang BangConsensual Non-Con

READERS FELT™

Heartache (100%)
Like a hug (100%)
Felt seen (100%)

👍100%would recommend

They called him the Bastard. He was about to prove them right. Matthias, the bastard child of a fallen woman, has known nothing but judgment and hatred from the harsh, religious people of his enclave—except for Balthazar. The son and heir of the High Elder, Balthazar shows Matthias kindness, love, and desire, but when the High Elder discovers them, Matthias is arrested and sent to the School, a place of punishment and hidden horrors. There, Matthias learns the truth about his world, his heritage, his power—and love. Now, he must navigate a world of lies, cruelty, and forbidden desire to survive. But the real question is: Will he seek justice—or burn it all down? This is MM dark fantasy romance with enemies-to-lovers tension, religious hypocrisy, and a love that defies the world. Read Preview

Reader Reviews 4.0/5

Enjoyed the story and thought the author's note at the end of the book was quite illuminating (and refreshing). Well done!

— Anonymous
Reader's Felt™
My heart hurts

“He looked up at the miller, saw something he’d never seen before, and the words fell from his mouth before he could stop himself: “She had your eyes.”

The miller stopped, stared at him for a heartbeat, then roared in fury and”

Reader's Felt™
My heart hurts

““You were told you’re not welcome here, Bastard.”

Matthias froze in his tracks and held up the crock. “I’ve come to trade. I need porridge oats, and I have honey to offer in trade. I want nothing else.”

“I don’t care.” The miller came out into the yard. “I won’t have you here, spreading your taint like a disease to my children and to their children.”

Matthias bit his lip, knowing from dealing with the miller’s sons that if he rose to take the bait, he’d leave with nothing. He shook his head and held up the crock. “Honey. I

Reader's Felt™
My heart hurts
Emotionally wrecked

““Come here, good boy.”

Matthias looked up at the change in the Elder’s voice. He’d gone from sounding jovial, almost kind, to sounding ominous. “Elder?”

“Come here.” Elder Micah pointed to a spot directly in front of him. “Kneel, my good boy.”

Matthias hesitated, then slowly walked closer and went to his knees in front of the Elder, so close that the hem of the Elder’s robes touched Matthias’ knees. He still didn’t understand, but Elder Micah said he was a good boy. Maybe he’d tell the High Elder that, and Matthias would be allowed to leave the School? Matthias