Costa Leona Series List Novels & Stories

Okay, so the Costa Leona series. That first book is 'The Edge of the Sea' by Marion Harmon. I almost passed it over because the title made me think it was just coastal nature writing, but it's actually this great political fantasy set in this fictional Mediterranean-esque kingdom.

It absolutely works as a starting point. You get dropped right into the palace intrigue with Elara, the queen's spymistress, as she's trying to uncover a conspiracy. The world-building doesn't feel like an info dump; you learn about the magic system and the rival noble houses through the plot. I picked it up on a whim from a library shelf and got hooked, finished it in two days.

Some lists might suggest starting with the prequel novella, but honestly, you can skip that and go straight to 'The Edge of the Sea'. The main story stands alone perfectly.

I can think of one direct spin-off, 'The Gilded Cage', which follows a side character from the third main book who becomes a revolutionary. It's set in the same city-state but a few decades later, and it feels more like a political thriller than the main series' epic fantasy tone. The author's website lists it under 'Costa Leona Stories'.

There's also a collection of short stories called 'Tales from the Merchant Quarter' that expands on some of the background lore, but it's more of a companion piece. I wouldn't really call it a spin-off series in the same way.

Honestly, the main sequence of five novels feels complete, and these extra books are nice bonuses for fans who want to spend more time in that world. I read 'The Gilded Cage' last month and thought the change in perspective was refreshing, even if the magic system took a backseat to trade disputes and espionage.

Man, I wish there were a concrete answer on this one. I've been scouring the author's socials and publisher updates for months, and it's radio silence. The last book, 'The Gilded Cage', came out what feels like ages ago, and that ending was a massive cliffhanger! You'd think there'd be at least a working title or a tentative release window by now.

Part of me wonders if the series is just on a longer hiatus. The world-building got incredibly dense by the third installment, and maybe the author is taking time to map everything out properly. I'm trying to be patient, but my book club is starting to get antsy. We keep checking the usual pre-order sites, but nada.

Honestly, I'm half-tempted to just re-read the old ones and look for foreshadowing I missed the first time around.