Melissa Caruso

melissacaruso.net @melisscaru

Fantasy

Melissa Caruso is a fantasy author best known for her debut trilogy, Swords and Fire, which began with THE TETHERED MAGE, published by Orbit Books.
She has since written two additional well-received fantasy trilogies before launching The Echo Archives series with The Last Hour Between Worlds.
Caruso's work typically features complex worldbuilding, political intrigue, and strong character dynamics.
Her writing style incorporates elements of urban fantasy, mystery, and innovative magical systems.
The Echo Archives marks a departure into more contemporary-styled fantasy with elements of time loops and alternate dimensions, showcasing her versatility as a storyteller while maintaining her signature attention to intricate plot construction and imaginative world creation.

Books by Melissa Caruso

The Tethered Mage

by Melissa Caruso • 2017

A merciful impulse binds a scholar to a fire warlock. Now the Empire owns them both.

3.80

7k+

🏛️ Political Fantasy ⛓️ Magically Bound 🤝 Reluctant Allies 📚 Scholar Heroine 🔥 Fire Wielder

The Tethered Mage

A merciful impulse binds a scholar to a fire warlock. Now the Empire owns them both.

by Melissa Caruso 2017 438 pages

3.80

7k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Fantasy ⛓️ Magically Bound 🤝 Reluctant Allies 📚 Scholar Heroine 🔥 Fire Wielder

The Last Hour Between Worlds

by Melissa Caruso • 2024

Death keeps resetting a party into darker realities, and only a new mother remembers the carnage.

3.79

5k+

🖤 Rivals To Lovers 🔄 Time Loop Tension 🌑 Cosmic Horror Fantasy 🎭 Deadly Party Game 💕 Sapphic Fantasy Romance

The Last Hour Between Worlds

Death keeps resetting a party into darker realities, and only a new mother remembers the carnage.

by Melissa Caruso 2024 432 pages

3.79

5k+ ratings

🖤 Rivals To Lovers 🔄 Time Loop Tension 🌑 Cosmic Horror Fantasy 🎭 Deadly Party Game 💕 Sapphic Fantasy Romance

The Obsidian Tower

by Melissa Caruso • 2020

Her killing touch and a sealed door: a visitor's betrayal opens it, unleashing ancient evil.

3.79

4k+

🏰 Gothic Fantasy 🖤 Found Family 💀 Cursed Touch 👹 Demonic Possession 🃏 Political Intrigue

The Obsidian Tower

Her killing touch and a sealed door: a visitor's betrayal opens it, unleashing ancient evil.

by Melissa Caruso 2020 528 pages

3.79

4k+ ratings

🏰 Gothic Fantasy 🖤 Found Family 💀 Cursed Touch 👹 Demonic Possession 🃏 Political Intrigue

The Defiant Heir

by Melissa Caruso • 2018

To stop annihilation, a scholar-noble wins over Witch Lords with diplomacy and a bold courtship.

4.30

3k+

🏛️ Political Fantasy 🎭 Court Intrigue 💍 Courtship As Politics 🔥 Weaponized Magic ⚔️ Reluctant Allies

The Defiant Heir

To stop annihilation, a scholar-noble wins over Witch Lords with diplomacy and a bold courtship.

by Melissa Caruso 2018 515 pages

4.30

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Fantasy 🎭 Court Intrigue 💍 Courtship As Politics 🔥 Weaponized Magic ⚔️ Reluctant Allies

The Unbound Empire

by Melissa Caruso • 2019

A heiress fights a body-stealing warlord to save her empire, her friends, and her soul.

4.36

2k+

🏛️ Political Fantasy 💔 Love Triangle 🫂 Friends To Lovers 🤝 Dangerous Ally 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

The Unbound Empire

A heiress fights a body-stealing warlord to save her empire, her friends, and her soul.

by Melissa Caruso 2019 505 pages

4.36

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Fantasy 💔 Love Triangle 🫂 Friends To Lovers 🤝 Dangerous Ally 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

The Quicksilver Court

by Melissa Caruso • 2021

A deadly-touch exile joins flawed mages to stop demons from unleashing a doomsday weapon.

4.17

1k+

👻 Demon Possession 🫂 Found Family 🏛️ Political Intrigue 💥 Uncontrollable Power 🌀 Psychological Horror

The Quicksilver Court

A deadly-touch exile joins flawed mages to stop demons from unleashing a doomsday weapon.

by Melissa Caruso 2021 559 pages

4.17

1k+ ratings

👻 Demon Possession 🫂 Found Family 🏛️ Political Intrigue 💥 Uncontrollable Power 🌀 Psychological Horror

The Last Soul Among Wolves

by Melissa Caruso • 2025

Old friends at a haunted mansion. A childhood blood oath. Only one walks out alive.

4.17

1k+

🎭 Deadly Inheritance Game 🏚️ Trapped Together Curse 👻 Gothic Haunted Mansion ✨ Gods Playing Mortals ⚡ Dark Wish Bargain

The Last Soul Among Wolves

Old friends at a haunted mansion. A childhood blood oath. Only one walks out alive.

by Melissa Caruso 2025 384 pages

4.17

1k+ ratings

🎭 Deadly Inheritance Game 🏚️ Trapped Together Curse 👻 Gothic Haunted Mansion ✨ Gods Playing Mortals ⚡ Dark Wish Bargain

The Ivory Tomb

by Melissa Caruso • 2022

To stop three ancient demons, she must become the fourth.

4.31

1k+

🫂 Found Family 👁️ Demon Possession 🏰 Sentient Castle 🗡️ Political Intrigue 🥀 Bittersweet Ending

The Ivory Tomb

To stop three ancient demons, she must become the fourth.

by Melissa Caruso 2022 528 pages

4.31

1k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family 👁️ Demon Possession 🏰 Sentient Castle 🗡️ Political Intrigue 🥀 Bittersweet Ending

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