Jasmine Mas is answering our pleas for more. As we continue to obsess over her previous releases, she’s already coming back with a brand new series that is not only finally making our lady knight dreams come true, but is also absolutely going to be one of the wildest reads we’ll read this year.
Cosmopolitan has an exclusive first-look at Jasmine Mas’s The Emperor’s Enemy, which is set to be released on September 15, 2026. The novel follows Zora, a knight mage who is set on taking down the empire that has taken everything from her and her people. But with an emperor and an assassin coming after her, this twisted chase to get rid of each other first might bring unexpected results. Here’s some more info from our friends at MIRA:
An all-new delectably unhinged romantasy duet from New York Times bestseller Jasmine Mas set in a world full of dark magic, rebellion, and vicious rivalry. Pre-order your deluxe limited edition, with gorgeous cover art, full color endpapers with surprise artwork, and sprayed edges today!
WHEN THE HUNTER IS HUNTED, WHO BECOMES PREY?
The Emperor’s Enemy
She is Zora Ravenal: Knight Mage, Bear of the North, and only hope of her people against the ravenous empire.
The Hunter’s Mark
He is Aleksander the Sadistic: divinely ordained Emperor and Royal Mage, hellbent on capturing Zora once and for all. The Emperor will use everything and everyone in his power to possess her, even Tarantula, the deadliest assassin in the empire’s arsenal. But there is something they don’t realize— Zora is hunting them back…
The Most Dangerous Game
For each, this obsession might prove their downfall.
Who will bend the knee first?
The Unsurvivable Love Duet from Jasmine Mas, bestselling author of Blood of Hercules and Bonds of Hercules.
And while the long wait for the book might seem impossible, you can actually ease it a bit by checking out an exclusive excerpt below. Just make sure to pre-order The Emperor’s Enemy so you can read it on release and even check out some of Jasmine’s previous releases.
An Excerpt From The Emperor’s Enemy
By Jasmine Mas
An exclusive peek at The Emperor’s Enemy, book one of the Unsurvivable Love Duet, an all-new dark romantasy from Jasmine Mas coming September 15, 2026.
“Soooo,” Axel drawled. “Did you hear the big news? There’s been an—addition . . . to your daily training schedule.”
I wrenched my shoulders back, standing straight.
Axel stepped back at my expression. “You’re getting a new partner . . . sort of.” He grimaced.
Everything narrowed to a singular point.
It was happening.
Thoughts static, I backed away down the hall.
Axel continued, reciting the planned narrative mercilessly. “Apparently, he agreed because of some bargain. A pardon for his crimes.” He shook his head like he couldn’t believe it. Me neither.
“He’s in your room,” Axel said.“Waiting for you.” He pointed at my door.
Time moved like molasses, strange and suffocating, as I turned and walked stiffly down the white hall. I stared at the door handle. For some reason, I couldn’t lift my arm. The door swung open from the inside before I could move—bright morning light glowed around a towering silhouette—sharp wind gusted my hair back.
“Hello, brat . . . or should I say—partner.” A familiar, bold accent butchered the words.
Aurora’s murderer.
“Oh no, thee dirty whore,” Squire, my Pygmy owl companion screeched, hiding behind my braid.
The object of my demise leaned casually against the door frame, his wide shoulders completely blocking the entrance. A cyan arachnid tattoo spread across his hateful face. He smelled of decaying flesh, mass murder, and . . . I inhaled deeper . . . the complete absence of hope.
Backing away, holding my breath, I tried to forget the scent—the reek of a ruined world.
“No,” I whispered, and I wasn’t acting. The panic was real.
“Yes?” Squire hooted.
“Yes—indeed,” Tarantula purred, chains rattling as he raked his cuffed hands through his blond, gold-streaked curls.
Morning light reflected off a profile that regularly haunted my nightmares: platinum mask, harsh jawline, malicious maroon lips. A black shock collar with diamonds stretched across a throat that I knew from experience was covered in gruesome scars. Metal clinked together, a long chain hung between the cuffs on his wrists and ankles granted him limited mobility, as he took a dangerous step toward me.
“I am Royal, and thou art a lowly Knight—bow to me.” His accent distorted each word, the corner of his lips twitching as if trying to fight a smirk. His tendency to use thou instead of you was just as jarring as the first time I’d heard it. He spoke like written, archaic poetry, all posh consonants and cruel intonations.
“What?” I whispered, genuinely confused why he thought I’d obey such a ridiculous request.
He straightened, a muscle ticking in his jaw, as surprise flashed across his steely gaze. The delusional megalomaniac apparently assumed I’d be engaging in some bizarre Mage hierarchy.
“On—thou—knees, Zora,” Tarantula ordered as he glared down at my legs, as if waiting for me to buckle. “Now.”
I stood taller.
He looked perturbed, like he’d genuinely expected that to work. Is this man for real right now? His audacity was almost inspirational.
“On thee knees,” Squire hooted back at him. “Wretched whore” (helpful).
“Silence, dirty bird,” Tarantula said.
“Don’t you dare speak to him like that.”
Squire screeched louder. “Ugly spider whore!”
“That’s right, dear.” Trying to act unaffected, I stroked his tawny feathered head with one trembling finger.
If an expression could kill, we’d both be dead.
Tarantula stepped forward, and the top of his curls brushed against the door frame—he towered so much taller than I remembered, all lean muscles and jagged striations. Every inch of his flesh radiated deadliness. His heavy lidded, dark-rimmed gaze magnified the sense of danger.
He’s not blinking.
“BOW, vassal,” Tarantula said quietly, magic glittering around him in a haze.
“No.”
“On thee knees hideous whore man,” Squire squawked back, growing more verbose, and agitated, by the second (very helpful).
“You hideous whore man,” I corrected him, forcing my voice to stay strong. “Unlike him, we’re not living in the dark ages.”
Tarantula’s right eye twitched. “I order thou to bowto your royal liege, peasant.”
A flush burned across my sternum, ribs creaking with rage. “I order you to shut the fuck up.”
“Never,” he intoned. Silver gushed from his pores like magic had found an endless source in him and the sharp scent burned my sinuses.
I gestured behind him at my room. “Get out.” Screw the Marshall’s plan. I couldn’t do this.
Tarantula stared at my throat, and I raised my fingers to the tooth ridges, protecting my jugular. His eyes narrowed, lingering, then slowly traveled up to my face.
“Have you not heard the news?” he asked slowly, like he was making a concerted effort to not use archaic language. “I have agreed to work with the Red Army, for a full pardon… Say hello to your new magic trainer.” He held his cuffed hands wide, chain glinting. His accent lingered, more guttural than I remembered.
I took another step back.
“No.”
“Oh—yes,” Tarantula purred.
My skull slammed against the wall. Aurora screamed at the top of her lungs. I choked, lungs spasming on endless panic. Gasping shallowly, I barely stayed upright.
If he had any mercy, he would walk away and give me space.
Tarantula stalked across the hall in two big steps, and loomed above me, even closer than before.
“This is a great honor for thou,” he said coldly. “They are forcing this farce on me.”
“I will kill you,” I whispered. “For Aurora . . . for Mom.”
He chuckled. “If thou wanted to, you already would have, Knight,” he said my title like it was a joke.
The world was up in flames. I lunged forward, going chest-to-chest, shoving him back across the hall with all my strength. “If you harm a single hair on my mom’s head, I willnot hesitate. I will end you—Empire scum.”
“No, you shan’t.” He bared rows of perfect white teeth. “Have thou not heard? The wicked live forever.”
Copyright © 2026 by Jasmine Mas.
The Emperor’s Enemy, by Jasmine Mas will be released on September 15, 2026 from MIRA. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice:
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