Los Angeles, California Dec 30, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - Indie romantic fantasy author Whitney Welsh Gibbs continues to gain recognition for The Land of Frost, the first novel in The Steel Citadel Series, a dark romantasy that blends political intrigue, morally gray romance, and immersive worldbuilding.
Originally published in March 2025 and later re-released independently, The Land of Frost was nominated in 2025 for multiple BookTok Indie Author Awards, including Best Indie New Adult and Most Underrated Indie. The nominations have fueled reader discussion around the novel’s themes of identity erasure, authoritarian power structures, and survival under oppressive systems.
Additional information about The Land of Frost, including series details and retailer reading options, is available at https://www.whitneygibbsauthor.com/steel-citadel
Set in a kingdom reshaped by violence and secrecy, The Land of Frost follows Princess Maeve Moran, a fallen royal forced into hiding after a brutal coup annihilates her family. Stripped of her magic and imprisoned under a false identity, Maeve must navigate a world where silence is survival and loyalty is dangerous. As unrest spreads and long-buried truths emerge, she faces impossible choices about who she must become to endure.
The novel combines slow-burn romantic tension with epic fantasy stakes, appealing to readers who favor character-driven stories, morally complex heroes, and political fantasy. It has been compared favorably to works by Sarah J. Maas and Carissa Broadbent for its darker tone and emphasis on systemic power rather than traditional good-versus-evil narratives.
The Land of Frost is available in ebook and paperback formats through major online retailers and is currently offered via Kindle Unlimited.
Media Contact
Whitney Welsh Gibbs — Author whitneygibbsauthor@gmail.com http://www.whitneygibbsauthor.com
