Philomela, a flower nymph haunted by her painful past, has spent her life hidden away in a pleasure house, caring for children of the escorts and avoiding the men who remind her of the dark memories she wishes to forget. But when her path crosses with Royland, a rugged Oromund soldier, and later the cold, calculating second prince of the Fae, Syrian, her world is turned upside down.
The men offer her an escape, but at what cost? As Philomela struggles to reclaim her freedom and uncover the secrets of her true parentage, she finds herself torn between her fears and desires. The world of essence-an addictive drug derived from the very lifeforce of her fellow fae-offers power, pleasure, and pain. Will she succumb to the temptations of those who offer her a way out, or will she stand her ground against those who would use her?
A story of love, betrayal, and the quest for freedom, The Essence of Us is a dark, enchanting fantasy where every choice could bind Philomela closer to the men she loathes... or free her from a lifetime of bondage.