The King's Weapon

Of Fire and Lies #1

by Neena Laskowski

Kallie's next assignment from her father, the king of Ardentol:

Choose a suitor,
Capture his heart, then
Take his throne.

Although the Great War that split Vaneria into seven kingdoms ended one hundred years ago, its shadow looms over the people. Due to her unique gift from the gods, Kallie has become her father's errand girl and his key to uniting the kingdoms once again. For years, she has trained her body, her mind, and her ability to manipulate people, but she wishes to be more. To have more control over her life and more power. The success of this assignment will finally prove that she is capable of just that.

However, the mission quickly goes awry when an enemy kingdom captures Kallie on her way to her chosen suitor's palace. As her captors drag her across Vaneria, she must face the truth that there might be more to her story than she once thought. And while she may be a master of manipulation, she is not immune to it.

Now Kallie must decide: is she the one doing the manipulating or is someone else manipulating her?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Young Adult, Enemies To Lovers, Ebooks

402 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2023

About the author

Neena Laskowski lives in Michigan with her husband and dog, Penny. She earned her master’s in Secondary Education and bachelor’s degree in English and Classical Languages and Literature from the University of Michigan. She is passionate about the written word and sharing stories.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So for me this just fell flat..I feel like I’ve read that same story 100 times over. The characters weren’t overly exciting, the plot was kinda predictable and the romance was cheesy and boring. I cared for neither the MC or the love interest. It felt like this was heavily influenced by other YA fantasy romance that the author has read and and they were just going off of a check list.. and so to me this read like more like a fanfic.

The book was fine, but I’ll have forgotten about it by tomorrow so really have zero interest in continuing with the series.

The cover is pretty and this is on kindle unlimited, so you do you💫

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending kind of ruined it for me. We went through all of that... for what? By the end, all of the "realizations" that Kallie comes to are basically thrown out the window so that she can seem like a badass. "They would never forget that I was the Kings Weapon." Give me a fucking break, Barbra. You're 20 with maturity issues. Have a bit of perspective please.

It kind of disgusted me. I guess I could say that all the rage I feel right now is an indication of the authors ability to really pull me into a setting but also fuck that. I wasted like 8 hours on nothing. I feel like I went to a 5 star restaurant and someone gave me canned spaghetti instead.

This also reminded me so much of Rise of the Dawnbringer that I was a little uncomfortable. Now that book is perfection.

[Olivia Compton]

So, I was blessed to receive this book as an ARC and let me tell you, I devoured this. From the strong female character who would sacrifice anything for her kingdoms strength and for her own freedom/power to the mysterious MMC who gives you 🥵 vibes, and the ending which I did not see coming, I loved this book. It was a good introduction to the world and I’m on edge waiting for the second book!

[L.B. Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for an eARC of this fabulous debut! I genuinely fell in love with this story, these characters, and this author! Neena is now an auto-buy for me. I will read everything she publishes! This story is captivating and leaps off of the page. Gray.. you guys aren’t ready! I can’t wait to watch this unleash on the world. 🗡️ Congratulations on the new release! 🤍

[Sam Bremmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Read it twice and loved it more the second time. I loved the characters and the plot was one I haven’t seen before! Can’t wait to read the rest.

[Tess Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am speechless after finishing this book, and I mean that in the best of ways. I have never felt so conflicted over characters in all my time of reading. I almost can't put it into words. I already know that this series will be one of my all-time top 5. Like Throne of Glass obsession level. This is a book I will be thinking about every day until the next book comes out.

Neena Laskowski created a world I didn't want to leave.I was entranced by the games these characters played, thinking I was keeping up and knew what was going to happen... I was SO wrong.

The FMC, Kallie, has so much depth to her character. I don't know how Laskowski wrote a character that I identify with so much, but I also really don't understand and at times don't like but also love. Like how?

The tension and flirtatious banter between her and the MMC was exactly what I wanted in a book. It wasn't forced and happened in a natural, slow burn way that leaves you wanting more.

The world building wasn't complicated, making it easy to follow the history that was given, which is important to the storyline. It allows the reader to understand the world without overshadowing what is current with the characters. It was very well balanced, which is something I appreciate as a reader who can get easily bored of super, super in-depth world building.

100% recommend this book, especially if you're a reader who enjoys falling so deeply in love with a book only to have your heart ripped out and stomped on and begging for more.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and it is such a good read. I liked how we got right into the story - some fantasy books are slow at the beginning with all the world building but I really enjoyed how Neena incorporated the world building throughout. The story does have several cliches but the cliches are why I love fantasy/romance books in the first place! I really loved how Neena interwove cliches with new plot lines and fantasy concepts! The FMC is an absolute BADASS and the MMC is 🔥🔥🔥. Kallie is the sole heir to her father’s crown and has spent her life training so she can fulfill her duties. Kallie also has a gift - she can manipulate others, and she has received her next task from her father. Can she handle it? This book is enemies-to-lovers and SLOW BURN!! It’s also filled with betrayals and plot twist. The ending honestly made me gasp and I did NOT see it coming (but it still makes sense story-wise!) It does end on a cliffhanger and I cannot WAIT for the sequel. I gave the book 4.5⭐️.

[sadallthetime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually 2.5 stars

SPOILERS

I mean like literally at the 50% line, the FMC is drinking and playing a card game with the people who captured her… nothing really happened plotwise. FMC didn’t accept the truth (the plot twist which was good!) but then like the 70%, she’s all buddy buddy with everyone and freely calling them “brother” and “sister in law”…

And honestly I can’t believe I read a literal “getting dressed to go out drinking” scene in a fantasy book which took quite a few pages that was unnecessary. I skimmed through the bar scene

I think I needed more plot in this one sadly

I did enjoy certain aspects of FMC personality, the map, and the worldbuilding. The ending was super ballsy! But left too many questions

[Xedotic · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really can’t get past the writing. It’s not very good and takes me away from the story. The cadence of the sentences, sentence order, and general prose just doesn’t flow well and almost feels like underdeveloped/childish writing.

[kate. · Rating 4 out of 5]

what the f was that ending! wtf! stop killing off my favourite characters!

[Tori Ahlquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pissed. That’s all I can say.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ATE this book up! 😍

5/5⭐️
1/5 🌶️

The slow burn! The banter?! Gray?! 😍😍😍

This was a book that I did not want to put down! I can’t wait to read book 2.

I feel like this book hit the mark on character development and the plot as well!

I can’t recommend this book enough. If it’s not on your tbr list it needs to be!

[Andrea Bush · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wouldn't recommend it. Whilst the majority of the book was enjoyable, if not a little familiar, the plot twist at the end absolutely ruined the book entirely as it made no sense and felt like it was added it as a tick box quota to have a sequel needed.
Without spoiling it, it was the equivalent of reading a book from the point of view of the MC and her friend is being stalked and then boom at the end you find out that the MC is the stalker but nothing in the chapters you read from her POV which had her thoughts had any stalker thoughts or even hints. Y'know, like if you are reading the characters' thoughts, then it would have to have the full thoughts. Don't know if I explained it well, but never mind

Rant over. I would highly recommend Rise of the Dawnbringer instead.

[Victoria Navarrete · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought for 60% of this book I would rate it pretty high. It was quick paced and easy to understand. I loved the new characters as they got introduced.

Slowly, the fmc really started to really frustrate me. Then the last 10% of the book pushed me over the edge. I understand a morally grey character, but she went too far for me. I can’t go into the second book knowing I’m not rooting for her at all.

[Ashley Bees · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was good!

4💫

the beginning and middle of this was delicious. i loved the fierceness of the fmc and the devotion the mmc had. i however did really enjoy the plot twist and how that played out. i feel like this kind of twist is quite uncommon and i wish it was more common!! it has a unique edge to it. and the world itself is quite immersive. we have gods and old stories about the gods that i always enjoy. i can’t really explain it, i just really enjoyed the vibe of this!

however, i feel like the ending really knocked this down a half-star to full star for me. it kind of felt off like we did all of this just for that to happen? it obviously made sense in a way but i don’t know how we can move on from that. like that is genuinely something you don’t move on from so how is this going to play out??? it definitely did its job of being a cliff hanger and needing to read the next one immediately, but it also really pissed me off 😀

i would definitely recommend this! i hope this stays true throughout the series

[April Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the world building in this, and I did like Kallie. I liked Greyson and their banter, and some of the growing relationships between the characters and the twists that were revealed. But I didn't feel that we got to see that much of the world. Maybe this will happen in future books in the series? But it seemed that we had a lot of them travelling and building up to going somewhere, and then them getting to the big reveal and meeting the person with the big twists (trying not to give spoilers here), but then it fell flat when the ending took us somewhere completely different. I did enjoy this but it was a bit slow going and I found myself losing interest towards the end, and a bit confused at the way the ending happened.

[Olivia Rodrigues · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too long, terribly written, and almost anti-feminist with all the exaggerated references to “I don’t need a man”. The only thing I highlighted was a sentence that used the word crawled twice and the word knee and grass thrice. It honestly didn’t even make sense. The ending to this book, the cliff hanger we were left on was a total plot twist that readers never would have seen coming; readers are supposed to be able to predict some things, they’re supposed to see the foreshadowing and the clues, this was completely out of the blue. The only reason i’m rating it a two is because I want to see what happens between the love interests and i’m going to read the next book, which I will also probably dislike but I want to know.

[Alicyn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this little gem. I stumbled across the author on TikTok and immediately knew I had to read this. I really did not know what to expect, but it far exceeded my expectations. This was just…great! Absolutely amazing. The banter, the tropes, the tension…🥵. Congratulations, Neena. You have done it.

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly expected more from this. Instead this felt drawn out beyond necessary, and the first 65% of book was quite boring. Not to mention the plot twist at the end honestly just pissed me off.
Kalisandre also wasn't a very likeable character to me, but actually just came off as bratty, arrogant and annoying.

It's a shame, but I don't see myself reading the second book.

[Gabriella Roosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

IM SO MAD. This book was actually so good until the ending😭😭 LIKE WHY DID IT END LIKE THAT UGHHH

[shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5
That ending was wild I need the next one NOW

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin with how amazing this book was.

I received this book as an ARC and I know I will be immediately buying it on its release day for my bookshelf.

The writing style of Neena is among some of my favorite I’ve read so far. The world building was rich and immersive. The plot kept me hooked from the very beginning and when I did have to put it down—I could not stop thinking about it!

But most of all, the best thing about this book was the characters. I’ve never connected with characters so quickly, and not just the main character Kallie, but everyone you meet along the way. Found family vibes of Six of Crows, Acotar, TOG. You come for the plot when you read a book, but you stay for the characters—and that was 100% true for this book.

And might I add—the ending wrecked me. The ultimate endorsement.

[lady Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and thus, the review will be honest. First I'll start with the bad. The book was too short. I need more story, I need answers. But that's all the bad there is. It's a good story with a good plot. it took me a chapter or two to get sucked in but when I read, "Who did this to you?", i was hooked. Love, heartbreak, revenge, plot twists. I read this book in about three days (personal life got In the way) but probably could have finished in a single night. I'm sad I'll have to wait for the second book to be released but I'm so excited to read it when it's ready. Neena did a great job building a world and characters to follow. This journey is exciting and I'm ready to see what else comes.

[꧁ Brutally Honest ꧂ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oof

[Klarisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! While the ending to me felt a little rushed- it was good! It got 3 stars due to the way the ending was sped along and I felt like we deserved a little more info. I’m assuming there’s another book coming, and I’ll happily be reading it!

[Brittany Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ARC read and when I say I devoured this book.. I mean DEVOURED. I started reading before bed and now it’s 1:52 in the morning and I just finished it. I didn’t take a single break from reading this and read it from cover to end in one sitting. I was hesitant about reading this because usually I don’t like reading in third person pov but this was so easy for me to get into. From the beginning of the book I thought I knew what the plot twist were going to be (because I knew there was going to be one) but I DID NOT. I’ve only recently gotten into reading fantasy (mostly the SJM universe) but this book has me hooked on the genre. The ending has me in AGONY. I am hurt and too upset to even sleep now. I already know this will be one of those books that I think about frequently in my day to day life. I have so many questions still & since I’m reading this before the book even comes out - who knows how long I’ll have to wait for book two?! I can’t wait to buy a copy of this for my personal library & re read it in my free time. It’s also worth mentioning that this book pulled me out of the reading slump I was in.

[Harper Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. It took forever to read because I got into a slump but it was so worth it

[linds *✧･ﾟ · Rating 1 out of 5]

no bc the main character clearly thinks she’s some girlboss or something…when she’s not. idk how she could go back to someone who literally stole her away from her family and be like “this was my plan all along! and it was kept from the readers even though the story is through my POV and the readers know everything else i think!”

also her power isn’t as good as she thinks it is, she can’t even use it that often. wayyy too much smirking and sneering from a girl who’s being completely used by her “father” and is OK with it! giving me second-hand embarrassment for her

[Mimi Daniell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an arc for an honest review of this book.

this book exceeded my expectations by a landslide! I was first introduced to this book through booktok and I was hooked by the first few tik toks. I also devoured this book in a few days and I could not put it down.

I loved the strong fmc, kallie, so much and loved that she wasn’t focused so much on love. Kallie is such a badass and wants the best for her kingdom. She and the king know what they want and they will do everything to get what they want. With her power of manipulation, Kallie can really get everything she wants.

the one thing that always makes fantasy books 1000x better is a map! I love when maps are added to books because I am terrible at forming images in my head. the world building in this book is simplistic and easy to follow which I love sometimes. this book does not necessarily need a complicated world and then I could focus more on the story than where the story is.

the slow burn between kallie and the mmc was intense and the nickname for her… OMG!!! I could not get over them and their back and forth bantering.

just a heads up, this book is not a hea and you’re heart will be ripped out multiple times. I was unwell by the end of this book and I am impatiently waiting for book two to come out to learn what comes next.

tropes:
-enemies to found family/ enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-one horse/ one tent
-special powers
-strong fmc

[Alianna Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thankfully given an e-ARC for this book back in March and totally have forgotten that i never submitted my review however i did also just finish my e ARC of the following book and i cannot recommend this series enough! From world building to character development, Laskowski has an amazing writing style and i would recommend her books to anyone. especially this series! thank you so much for letting have ARC’s for this book!