March has been an incredibly busy month for us over at The Honey POP’s book team. We’re halfway in and still have plenty of new book releases to share with you all. Today, we want to highlight a new adult fantasy: Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams.
Mayhem and the Mortal follows twenty-year-old Zaira, who must embark on a treacherous journey to The Shallows to save her sister from a curse. She enlists the help of one brooding sorcerer, Thane, whose job is to take her to The Shallows and back in one piece.
2026 is shaping up to be a great year for readers of new adult fiction and new adult fantasy in particular. Here are three of our favorite things about Shanora Williams’ Mayhem and the Mortal!
Book Overview: Mayhem And The Mortal
Content warnings: death, mentions of family member deaths, violence, blood, decapitation, dismemberment, physical injuries, explicit consensual sex, animal attacks, animal death, vomiting, graphic language (Please read at your discretion!)
Summary: Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon.
To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.
Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation.
He promises to help. He might even mean it.
But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.
She just doesn’t have a choice.
A Grand Adventure
The fantasy adventure in Mayhem and the Mortal begins as soon as you start reading. From Zaira discovering her sister’s curse to her first encounter with Thane, the plot kicks off quickly. And as they travel through Thelanor and make their way toward The Shallows, Zaira and Thane run into some of the most harrowing situations we’ve seen. Thane’s reputation and powers truly precede him in this novel, stirring trouble before they can even get settled into one place.
Zaira & Thane’s Romantic Tension
Another one of our favorite things about Mayhem and the Mortal is how much tension Zaira and Thane have. Both characters are a catch, and they know it. The proximity helps their growing attraction. The appearance of other characters who are also drawn to Zaira fuels Thane’s jealousy deliciously. Or, as he calls it, his territoriality. We can appreciate the gradual buildup and increasing banter as they learn more about each other. And the spice fits into the story so well!
Their Found Family
The found family in Mayhem and the Mortal really ties everything together. We meet Algar, a thief and charmer who happens to have known Thane when they were kids. His ability to teleport proves essential to Zaira’s safety, not to mention his connections and sea knowledge. Then there’s Rynthea, a Minotaur and warrior who stays ready to fight and protect. Everyone has a reason for going to The Shallows, and we can’t wait to see where they end up in the next book.
If you’re looking for a high-speed fantasy adventure with well-written tension and spice, Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams is the perfect read!
Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams comes out March 17th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of Shanora William’s new adult fantasy? Are you excited to read Mayhem and the Mortal? Let us know on Twitter! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SHANORA WILLIAMS:
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