The Song of Sunrise by Monica J DeLoy

Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, Fall of Ruin and Wrath and The Witcher, THE SONG OF SUNRISE is a plot-forward fantasy romance with enemies-to-lovers, open door spice, deadly trials, and found family set at a magical war academy in a distant post-apocalyptic North America.

The alliance between humans, elves, and underlings is beginning to fracture, and yet, apprentice bard Akemi Nox never expected her biggest performance to end in a bloodbath.
Fueled by vengeance, Akemi enrolls in a brutal military academy that trains the most lethal human magic channelers. There, a ruthless championship begins, with a legendary relic promised to the victor. Winning isn’t just a chance at justice—it’s the only way to protect what little she has left.

As political tensions flare and an unexpected attraction threatens her focus, Akemi finds herself surrounded by enemies and haunted by the past she can’t outrun. Her only path forward is through the arena.
To survive, she must win.
To win, she’ll have to become something far more dangerous than anyone ever expected.