When the Light Returns

The Winter Dark, Book 2

By: Joanna Ruth Meyer

Narrated by: Kimberly Woods

A deposed king and the powerful captive of a corrupt queen join forces in a sweeping fantasy of romance, magic, and redemption in this sequel to While the Dark Remains.

The long winter dark has been banished for good, and the mountain palace of the late king should be a sanctuary for Ballast Vallin, who has just assumed the throne. Instead, it’s a torment. Held to account for the sins of his father, Ballast must relinquish his crown and all claim to Daeros, the kingdom for which he risked so much. Worse, Brynja—his father’s former captive, the woman he loves—is the one who forces his hand.

Disgraced, Brynja is sent to Iljaria, a kingdom imbued with ancient magic. There she finds herself at the mercy of Queen Valrún, and is forced to aid in the queen’s quest to claim all the magic long thought irrevocably bound to the gods.

But then a shocking revelation about Ballast’s past brings him to Iljaria—and to Brynja. Together, amid secrets, magic, and betrayal, they must challenge the power-hungry queen to a battle that could ruin the world or remake it. For Brynja and Ballast, their most invaluable weapon is hope.

©2026 by Joanna Ruth Meyer. (P)2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Meyer outdoes herself in this sequel! The stakes start high and keep you on the edge of your seat, and the characters feel real with believable relationships and struggles. As always, Meyer is a master of twists; there will always be something you don't see coming.”—Charlie N. Holmberg, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author