House Ilizana Romances

The House Ilizana Romances (and related works) are written by hafnia and Shadaras as a collaborative project wherein we fell in love with our blorbos and then just kept making more and more words about them.

This is a high fantasy setting with a great deal of queer themes (the main characters can all shift physical presentation through use of magic or innate biology), polyamory, and people learning how to work through their trauma and communicate with each other. It cares about people, and happy endings, and the importance of family, friends, and community. And, y'know, kinky sex as a form of intimacy and pathway to better understanding oneself.

Overall, this story is mostly Porn With Plot and Feelings, with a greater proportion of Things That Aren't Porn as the story goes on. It has a happy ending, though the characters do need to work to get there! There are content warnings in the main trilogy for slavery (including sexual slavery), rape, nonconsensual body modification, physical dysphoria, abusive families, kidnapping, nonconsensual drugging, and quite possibly other things I'm forgetting. Also the main characters all have trauma feelings of some sort that manifest in depression, anxiety, and other forms of not being great at processing their own emotions.

Pregnancy is also a massive thread throughout the main story. The need to conceive an heir is an early driving force in the plot, and this leads everyone to rather a lot of feelings and relevations about themselves and each other. It is a positive experience in the end, though it leads to a lot of angst. If pregnancy (and, eventually, a baby!) isn't something you want to read about, I'd recommend not reading the mainline series.

The Stories

The Main Trilogy

In the Lord's Manor (E, 131k) - At the time, Lord Ilizana saw his cousin's gift of a concubine for what it was: a clear, unsubtle dig at his spouse and their sham marriage. Later, however (and to Matty's eternal annoyance), he would thank her for her thoughtfulness and generosity: "Benny really has changed our lives for the better."
On the Lord's Estate (E, 231k) - With Benny rescued from Winter's Edge, El thought the worst of their problems were over, and that after a time of healing and comfort, the three of them -- Benny, Mal, and El themself -- could return to some form of normalcy. Alas, things in the city are never so simple.
Of the Lord's Family (E, WIP) - After the events at the Winter Solstice, it's clear that the marriage contract must be renegotiated, especially as House Ilizana prepares for a change to the lordship, and all three -- El, Mal, and Benny -- prepare for their new arrival.
Of course, the path to "happily ever after" is never entirely smooth...

Short Works Set During the Main Trilogy

Sometimes, After Midnight (E, 4.4k) - Three middle-of-the-night wakings, and what they lead to.
The Lake's Desires (E, 1.6k) - Alternate take on Benny fucking the lake.

Works Set Before or After the Main Trilogy

The Question of Crushes (G, 2.4k; post-trilogy) - It's very hard to be a teenager with a not!crush, especially when your not!crush's little sibling is asking if you have a crush on their older sibling.
The Return (WIP; pre-trilogy) - After eight thrilling years at sea, Jastira is forced to return to Winter's Edge. There, in the midst of boring noble parties, she meets Tollith Ilizana.
The Pirate's Maiden (T, 4.5k; pre-trilogy) - Standalone. A short about pirates, nomenclature, and escaping from an unwanted engagement.

Art Works!

In the Lord's Manor - Cover Art (G) - you'll need to scroll up slightly to see it! The three of them as they begin the story.
On the Lord's Estate - Cover Art (G) - you'll need to scroll up slightly to see it! The three of them as they are near the end of the second book.
In the Heart of the Lake (G, non-explicit nudity) - Benny and his baby in the lake
Riverside (M for nudity) - Rhei and Ames kissing by a waterfall
On the Balcony (G) - Rhei and Ames on the balcony at House Ilizana

Alternate Universes and Other Fun Things
aka the bit where we admit this started as an AU for our D&D characters and then it became its own giant thing

Pyrescience (E, 24k) - The Benny/Matty enemies-to-lovers AU that's really about grief, second chances, and learning to live again after terrible events. They find a place of happiness and love together; it just takes some time to mutually reach that place as they keep pushing each other to do better and be better.
A Delicate Balance (E, 9.9k) - Vaeril Elra knows exactly how to get what she wants from Matheinne Feywinter. And in this case, what she wants is a marriage. (And some kinky sex. Mustn't forget that!)
Acquiesce (E, 3.2k) - Vae and Matty have some nice kinky sex.
Nightengale (T, 5.2k) - In another world, the curse takes a different form. (Or, what if Elion Qinro had wings, and the curse stripped them away.)
The Most Beautiful Rose (E, 3k) - Vae invites Benny over for tea. Surely there's no ulterior motive. (There's always an ulterior motive.)

COVER ART

FURTHER ART REFERENCES

okay mostly this is THE KIDS and stuff that I [Shadaras] haven't put on ao3 for whatever reason. it is also going to often show them in more modern-ish clothes than is perhaps canon, because I often cannot be assed to make sure I get good references for the vague regency-era vibes that the stories are pulling from when they aren't going for general high fantasy/medieval era.