Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen (review)

To secure peace for her people and halt their bloody war with the neighboring Bone Lands, Shalia willingly marries the Bone Lands' king. Her new husband, Calix, holds true to the bargain, leaving her desert-dwelling tribe alone, but he continues his efforts to search out and destroy the Elementae, wielders of magic. Utterly non-magical until this point, Shalia begins to display powers to control earth and stone, and now she must figure out how to hide her still untamed abilities from her husband while she attempts to convince him to cease his cruel treatment of the Elementae. Complicating matters are her feelings for Calix's brother Galen and the possibility of her family's connection to a resistance group. A formidable heroine, Shalia is unafraid to make bold choices and she rarely settles into self-pity, instead looking for ways she can gain power despite Calix's sexual and emotional abuse; she is cunning in her altruism as she stealthily guides her husband to better practices toward his people, if not toward her. Though the world building starts somewhat slowly, it gains steam as the story moves along, especially when Shalia's benevolence to her servants make her privy to certain information. The romance between Shalia and Galen is absolutely swoonworthy, but it's a relationship of equals with Shalia demanding a partner rather than a protector. Fans of Chokshi's The Star-Touched Queen (BCCB 4/16) will appreciate Shalia's confidence, sense of agency, and ultimate defiance of Calix and his reign. KQG