[PRE-ORDER] The Sweetest Fiend (Played by the Piper, #1) by Raven Kennedy

Release Date: 9/22/2026

dark fantasy romance • fae • enemies-to-lovers • forbidden magic

A deadly plague. A mysterious Pied Piper. And a woman whose very blood carries a secret that could change everything.

When a devastating Plague descends upon her city, Esti knows death is coming. Then the Pied Piper arrives, offering salvation at a terrible price. Among those taken as payment is Esti, who is determined to escape and return home to the family who needs her. But the Piper has no intention of letting her go, and the strange pull between them becomes impossible to ignore.

The Vibe

The Sweetest Fiend is a lush, dark romantasy inspired by the legend of the Pied Piper, filled with fae magic, monstrous Banes, deadly Plagues, and secrets waiting beneath the surface. Raven Kennedy creates a dangerous world where magic is seductive, survival comes at a cost, and nothing is quite what it seems.

Esti is half Bane and half fae, an outsider in a world that already fears her. The Piper is mysterious, powerful, and impossible to escape. Their dynamic brings plenty of tension, banter, and forbidden attraction as Esti struggles to understand his intentions and the strange connection drawing them together.

Atmospheric, dangerous, and deliciously dark, this is a fantasy romance for readers who love morally complicated characters, enemies-to-lovers tension, fae, seductive magic, and fairy-tale retellings with an adult edge.

Tropes & Tags

• Dark fantasy romance
• Romantasy
• Fae
• Pied Piper retelling
• Fairy-tale retelling
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Forbidden attraction
• Forced proximity
• Dangerous magic
• Dark magic
• Morally gray hero
• Plague-ravaged world
• Secrets and mystery
• Adult romance
• Explicit romance
• High-stakes fantasy

Books in Series (In Order)

• #1, The Sweetest Fiend
• #2, Title to be announced

Please note: This is a pre-order item and will not be available for pickup or shipment until the official release date. You’ll receive a notification as soon as your order is ready.

This Deluxe Edition is available only while supplies last. If it becomes unavailable, we'll contact you before shipping with the option to switch to the standard print edition or cancel for a refund.