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Red Wood #1
To Reclaim a Kingdom
Two fallen kingdoms. Two fates intertwined. Who will rule?
A princess by birth and soon to be Queen by marriage, Brielle is eager to fulfill her great destiny; to rule the Southern Kingdom the way she rules her infamous ladies' court.
A prince by birth and soon to be King, Henri also has a great destiny; to rule the Northern Kingdom, a fate he resents and resists at every opportunity.
When both kingdoms are invaded and conquered by a foreign ruler, Brielle and Henri’s fates change. Forced to flee for their lives, their only sanctuary is the cursed Red Wood, rumored to be filled with vengeful spirits, lost souls and blood magic.
Surrounded by enemies and betrayed by those closest to them, both will have choices to make. Who can they trust? What will they fight for? And what are they prepared to sacrifice to reclaim a kingdom?
A fast-paced adventure full of intoxicating romance and high-stakes choices, To Reclaim A Kingdom will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.
If you like Mary E. Pearson, Danielle L. Jensen, and Adrienne Young you will love this debut series!
A princess by birth and soon to be Queen by marriage, Brielle is eager to fulfill her great destiny; to rule the Southern Kingdom the way she rules her infamous ladies' court.
A prince by birth and soon to be King, Henri also has a great destiny; to rule the Northern Kingdom, a fate he resents and resists at every opportunity.
When both kingdoms are invaded and conquered by a foreign ruler, Brielle and Henri’s fates change. Forced to flee for their lives, their only sanctuary is the cursed Red Wood, rumored to be filled with vengeful spirits, lost souls and blood magic.
Surrounded by enemies and betrayed by those closest to them, both will have choices to make. Who can they trust? What will they fight for? And what are they prepared to sacrifice to reclaim a kingdom?
A fast-paced adventure full of intoxicating romance and high-stakes choices, To Reclaim A Kingdom will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.
If you like Mary E. Pearson, Danielle L. Jensen, and Adrienne Young you will love this debut series!
209 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2023
24 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 10, 2023
I LOVED THAT ENDING! I was not expecting that, and it was so much fun to be shocked. This is a fun, fast-paced book, and I completely enjoyed it. It was freshing to read. I was hooked from chapter 1 because of Brielle's character. Brielle and Henri's character growth through the book is so good. A prince who doesn't want to be king and a fallen princess made for a great story. And Citric is just adding all the spice. I can't wait to read book 2 after that cliffhanger!
September 7, 2023
This might be the most unlikeable FMC I've ever read. DNF 39%.
I love flawed, complex, powerful, morally grey characters. Perfection is boring. The more multifaceted, the better. I live for that character development.
This FMC has zero redeeming qualities. She is hateful. Selfish, spiteful, cruel, jealous, pampered, immature, ignorant...for no good reason. It isn't bravado. She doesn't feel remorse, or question her actions or motives (which are entirely self-centred). That's her authentic self, and being in her head isn't pleasant. When the bad guy usurps her, I felt he was probably the better choice.
Now, this is entirely intentional. I guess the author will go on to teach her some much-needed lessons, and i'm sure she will eventually redeem herself. And, characters aside, the writing really is decent, but the execution of the plot just felt half-cooked. Everything happened too quickly. For me, the author needed to allow longer for everything to unfold and the different facets of her characters to show. I needed more time with them before everything went to hell. I need to CARE about the protagonist if I'm supposed to champion her cause. Otherwise, why am I reading?!!
Too many books, too little time, and this one was not for me.
I love flawed, complex, powerful, morally grey characters. Perfection is boring. The more multifaceted, the better. I live for that character development.
This FMC has zero redeeming qualities. She is hateful. Selfish, spiteful, cruel, jealous, pampered, immature, ignorant...for no good reason. It isn't bravado. She doesn't feel remorse, or question her actions or motives (which are entirely self-centred). That's her authentic self, and being in her head isn't pleasant. When the bad guy usurps her, I felt he was probably the better choice.
Now, this is entirely intentional. I guess the author will go on to teach her some much-needed lessons, and i'm sure she will eventually redeem herself. And, characters aside, the writing really is decent, but the execution of the plot just felt half-cooked. Everything happened too quickly. For me, the author needed to allow longer for everything to unfold and the different facets of her characters to show. I needed more time with them before everything went to hell. I need to CARE about the protagonist if I'm supposed to champion her cause. Otherwise, why am I reading?!!
Too many books, too little time, and this one was not for me.
April 17, 2023
Rating: 3.5✨
Spice: 0.5🌶
I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review will be voluntary & honest.
One thing I enjoyed from this book was the ending! So yes, it is a cliffhanger. BUT, it was one I feel was written so well & it sets up the plot for book two perfectly. Did I see some things coming, as in potential plot points or plot twists involving certain characters, yes. It did not take away the intensity of certain moments though. It was more of an "I KNEW IT!" kind of moment.
The reason why I finished the book with this rating is because personally, I am a character driven type of reader. I love connecting with certain characters, being fully into their story & rooting for them as the story progresses. With both the Brielle & Henri, I was unsure of how to feel by the end. With Henri, I feel like although we got his POV in all, if not majority of the chapters, I didn't know him all that well, besides him being a prince who did not wish rule.
With Brielle, we see a Princess who was spoiled & grew up entitled, without knowing what was happening outside her castle, and by the end, we were told her mindset had changed & she had changed a bit. But I don't feel I truly SAW a change besides being told she had. I wish I would have seen it more through more actions. I'm looking forward to possibly seeing that in book 2.
This book was fast-paced, which I enjoyed & I feel others will too! Citric and Eve were characters I truly enjoyed reading about. I am excited to see more of them in the series. I mean, Citric had me intrigued as soon as he was introduced & by the end, I had a smile on my face every time he was in a scene. He's so grumpy & yet so caring & alluring. Sienna & Jameson were adorable. Looking forward to seeing more of them too!
Spice: 0.5🌶
I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review will be voluntary & honest.
One thing I enjoyed from this book was the ending! So yes, it is a cliffhanger. BUT, it was one I feel was written so well & it sets up the plot for book two perfectly. Did I see some things coming, as in potential plot points or plot twists involving certain characters, yes. It did not take away the intensity of certain moments though. It was more of an "I KNEW IT!" kind of moment.
The reason why I finished the book with this rating is because personally, I am a character driven type of reader. I love connecting with certain characters, being fully into their story & rooting for them as the story progresses. With both the Brielle & Henri, I was unsure of how to feel by the end. With Henri, I feel like although we got his POV in all, if not majority of the chapters, I didn't know him all that well, besides him being a prince who did not wish rule.
With Brielle, we see a Princess who was spoiled & grew up entitled, without knowing what was happening outside her castle, and by the end, we were told her mindset had changed & she had changed a bit. But I don't feel I truly SAW a change besides being told she had. I wish I would have seen it more through more actions. I'm looking forward to possibly seeing that in book 2.
This book was fast-paced, which I enjoyed & I feel others will too! Citric and Eve were characters I truly enjoyed reading about. I am excited to see more of them in the series. I mean, Citric had me intrigued as soon as he was introduced & by the end, I had a smile on my face every time he was in a scene. He's so grumpy & yet so caring & alluring. Sienna & Jameson were adorable. Looking forward to seeing more of them too!
September 25, 2023
4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this! It was a solid 4 for me throughout, but the ending twist bumped it up—it’s hard to surprise me these days, but this one absolutely did! There is a nostalgic fantasy vibe about this book that meant I really loved picking it up in those rare moments I actually have to eyeball read lately 🥰
Forgive the long review, I was making rough notes along the way and just don’t have the energy to edit for brevity 😂
The two main POV characters are Princess and Prince respectively of the southern and northern kingdoms, who exist under an old peace treaty that forbids their kingdoms to ever unite (i.e. they cannot marry). They are both bored, privileged elites—and I loved every minute of their utter horribleness 😂. Both play with those they consider beneath them, Brielle even seeks out people to berate as a distraction. They are truly unpleasant—but both extremely sharp and driven by their own goals.
This all serves as an excellent indictment on the privileged elite. The gendered way people perceive the characters of Brielle and Henri is also interesting to me—they are the same, yet he is more “likeable” and personable because he has not been sheltered and has been allowed to engage in worldly things (womanising, drinking, fighting etc.). And let’s face it, our collective appetite for people of unpleasant character being men and not women is as true of fiction as it is of real life (insert feminist rant here another time 😂). Brielle also receives quite the reality check when she wishes to stand firm as a queen. “You are a woman!” “Only a woman.” So even as we watch Brielle in her ignorance and self-aggrandisement—you can see the cracks of awareness starting to form early on.
I think it’s really ballsy as a debut author in this genre to craft an “unlikeable” FMC—and I say that as someone who LOVES an “unlikeable” FMC—I love women behaving badly, it is SO FREEING and cathartic. Not to mention it’s a bit of a red flag re: internalised misogyny when morally grey women are described this way when men rarely are. This story is an opportunity to follow an FMC as she unlearns what her insulated life of privilege has taught her—this doesn’t happen overnight, and rightly so. It’s life-long work, and this book only takes place over a few months.
This is not a “villain with a heart of gold” style of morally grey that is potentially more palatable to the passing reader—this is an FMC who has been raised in wealth and privilege, and it shows in her character and relationships—it’s not pretty. And it shouldn’t be! But the discomfort is GOOD. Needed even.
This was incredibly readable, the plot moves quickly and sweeps you into it immediately. I quite like a fast paced plot and shorter book, but I can imagine some readers might find it too fast—this would entirely come down to reading taste! Spice rating would be about a 1.5🌶️ I believe.
I must say the ending really caught me by surprise! I don’t often get hoodwinked by plot twists, but that was a good one. The last 10% was starting to baffle me (for spoilery reasons I cannot say 👀) but when the ending hit it all made sense! I am very much looking forward to book 2, have immediately preordered.
If you are looking for something a little different in the NA fantasy romance genre, and you enjoy complex characters, I highly recommend!
Forgive the long review, I was making rough notes along the way and just don’t have the energy to edit for brevity 😂
The two main POV characters are Princess and Prince respectively of the southern and northern kingdoms, who exist under an old peace treaty that forbids their kingdoms to ever unite (i.e. they cannot marry). They are both bored, privileged elites—and I loved every minute of their utter horribleness 😂. Both play with those they consider beneath them, Brielle even seeks out people to berate as a distraction. They are truly unpleasant—but both extremely sharp and driven by their own goals.
This all serves as an excellent indictment on the privileged elite. The gendered way people perceive the characters of Brielle and Henri is also interesting to me—they are the same, yet he is more “likeable” and personable because he has not been sheltered and has been allowed to engage in worldly things (womanising, drinking, fighting etc.). And let’s face it, our collective appetite for people of unpleasant character being men and not women is as true of fiction as it is of real life (insert feminist rant here another time 😂). Brielle also receives quite the reality check when she wishes to stand firm as a queen. “You are a woman!” “Only a woman.” So even as we watch Brielle in her ignorance and self-aggrandisement—you can see the cracks of awareness starting to form early on.
I think it’s really ballsy as a debut author in this genre to craft an “unlikeable” FMC—and I say that as someone who LOVES an “unlikeable” FMC—I love women behaving badly, it is SO FREEING and cathartic. Not to mention it’s a bit of a red flag re: internalised misogyny when morally grey women are described this way when men rarely are. This story is an opportunity to follow an FMC as she unlearns what her insulated life of privilege has taught her—this doesn’t happen overnight, and rightly so. It’s life-long work, and this book only takes place over a few months.
This is not a “villain with a heart of gold” style of morally grey that is potentially more palatable to the passing reader—this is an FMC who has been raised in wealth and privilege, and it shows in her character and relationships—it’s not pretty. And it shouldn’t be! But the discomfort is GOOD. Needed even.
This was incredibly readable, the plot moves quickly and sweeps you into it immediately. I quite like a fast paced plot and shorter book, but I can imagine some readers might find it too fast—this would entirely come down to reading taste! Spice rating would be about a 1.5🌶️ I believe.
I must say the ending really caught me by surprise! I don’t often get hoodwinked by plot twists, but that was a good one. The last 10% was starting to baffle me (for spoilery reasons I cannot say 👀) but when the ending hit it all made sense! I am very much looking forward to book 2, have immediately preordered.
If you are looking for something a little different in the NA fantasy romance genre, and you enjoy complex characters, I highly recommend!
September 26, 2024
4⭐️
To Reclaim A Kingdom is a fun, fast paced book that was so intriguing, I still have so many unanswered questions!! The book follows Brielle and Henri, the sole heirs to their separate kingdoms after a quick and brutal coup. To survive, they flee into the surrounding Red Woods, a mysterious and seemingly sentient woods that houses a small community that is just as mysterious.
Brielle was such a flawed and frustrating character, but we were able to see her grow and change throughout this book, and I am interested to see how she further evolves in the next book.
Henri was our reluctant Prince, was definitely flawed in his own way, and I can't wait to see how he improves in the next book. I LOVED his relationship with Brielle, I enjoyed their friendship but there is definitely potential for more if their lingering gazes tells me anything... until Citric came onto the scene...
Citric, a mysterious, wild outlaw is also so interesting, I neeeed to know more about him and his motivations. He also brings a definite heat to this book 😍
The book had great social commentary on the expectations of women and individuals that don't cater to the norm and their perceived places in society which I also really appreciated.
Overall, I would consider the book to be definitely more character driven than plot driven, until the end where everything started to come to a head. The stakes were high and my heart was racing so fast in those last two chapters I was so stressed 🙃
The cliffhanger it ended on has me so keen to read the final book in the duology, To Reforge A Destiny next month!!
To Reclaim A Kingdom is a fun, fast paced book that was so intriguing, I still have so many unanswered questions!! The book follows Brielle and Henri, the sole heirs to their separate kingdoms after a quick and brutal coup. To survive, they flee into the surrounding Red Woods, a mysterious and seemingly sentient woods that houses a small community that is just as mysterious.
Brielle was such a flawed and frustrating character, but we were able to see her grow and change throughout this book, and I am interested to see how she further evolves in the next book.
Henri was our reluctant Prince, was definitely flawed in his own way, and I can't wait to see how he improves in the next book. I LOVED his relationship with Brielle, I enjoyed their friendship but there is definitely potential for more if their lingering gazes tells me anything... until Citric came onto the scene...
Citric, a mysterious, wild outlaw is also so interesting, I neeeed to know more about him and his motivations. He also brings a definite heat to this book 😍
The book had great social commentary on the expectations of women and individuals that don't cater to the norm and their perceived places in society which I also really appreciated.
Overall, I would consider the book to be definitely more character driven than plot driven, until the end where everything started to come to a head. The stakes were high and my heart was racing so fast in those last two chapters I was so stressed 🙃
The cliffhanger it ended on has me so keen to read the final book in the duology, To Reforge A Destiny next month!!
October 14, 2023
I have finally read it ! And fortunately, it means I don't have to wait for the conclusion to the duology because it just came out and I can start it now. I was pretty surprised to stumble upon Brielle, she starts off as a very flawed FMC, and her character growth is very interesting to witness. My first thoughts were "wow, she's a brat, that's going to be interesting !". Henri is quite flawed too, but in a different way. I love thick books but it's so good to have a shorter one every once in a while, the pacing was fast and it kept me engaged in the story. The twists and turns, in particular at the end, have me so ready to jump into book 2. I recommend !
November 13, 2023
What a refreshing new story
The main female character gave me queen Charlotte from Bridgerton vibes, and I was here for it. She was written to be disliked, and the author did an amazing job throughout this story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
The main female character gave me queen Charlotte from Bridgerton vibes, and I was here for it. She was written to be disliked, and the author did an amazing job throughout this story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
March 9, 2024
This is the first book in lower new adult Red Wood series (which I believe is a duology). This is the story of a prince and princess from neighboring kingdoms who are forced to flee when tragedy strikes. Tropes include betrayal, court intrigue, morally gray MCs and a love triangle. There is one spicy scene and it is minimal in detail.
The Lovely: I loved the plot and how the story developed. For as short as this book is (appx 200 pages) a lot happened but it never felt rushed or forced. Some of the earlier plot twists were a bit predictable but one in particular did surprise me.
The Mundane: I felt like for something billed as a fantasy romance this was quite light on the romance. There was some angsty pining, a couple intimate moments and one short spicy scene (with limited detail). There really wasn’t anything resolved on the romantic front by the end, so all in all, to me, this was more fantasy than fantasy romance.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Recommendation: Overall, I liked the plot and flow of this book and will read the next book in the series (available now) to learn what happens next.inam hoping the romance picks up in the next book as that is something I personally like to have in fantasy stories I read. If you like new adult fantasy with a solid plot and pacing, I think you would like this book.
The Lovely: I loved the plot and how the story developed. For as short as this book is (appx 200 pages) a lot happened but it never felt rushed or forced. Some of the earlier plot twists were a bit predictable but one in particular did surprise me.
The Mundane: I felt like for something billed as a fantasy romance this was quite light on the romance. There was some angsty pining, a couple intimate moments and one short spicy scene (with limited detail). There really wasn’t anything resolved on the romantic front by the end, so all in all, to me, this was more fantasy than fantasy romance.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Recommendation: Overall, I liked the plot and flow of this book and will read the next book in the series (available now) to learn what happens next.inam hoping the romance picks up in the next book as that is something I personally like to have in fantasy stories I read. If you like new adult fantasy with a solid plot and pacing, I think you would like this book.
July 22, 2025
This was surprising. I am one of the few readers who started with the Divine Tapestry duology (which is the spinoff sequel to this series) - I can now confirm at least that yes you can start with that one, but I do think the story overall starts here. Reading this added a lot to understanding Henri's story arc in the divine tapestry, it even made me a bit emotional at some points.
That being said, this book is a solid read on its own too. While Brielle does grow as a character throughout the book she is quite insufferable for a long time. It is written in a way that you really don't have much sympathy for her but that also makes it hard to root for her until she has those moments of character growth. This did make me realize that this is actually a micro-trope I actually really love (there is probably a better way to call it than "spoiled bratt learns about being a nice person and a valuable member of society" but that's what im calling it for now). Anyway, I had a great time with this story, I really liked the characters and finally seeing where this story started.
The ending was really explosive, I would advice that you have the second book ready because in true Claire Butler Fashion this does end in a cliffhanger.
That being said, this book is a solid read on its own too. While Brielle does grow as a character throughout the book she is quite insufferable for a long time. It is written in a way that you really don't have much sympathy for her but that also makes it hard to root for her until she has those moments of character growth. This did make me realize that this is actually a micro-trope I actually really love (there is probably a better way to call it than "spoiled bratt learns about being a nice person and a valuable member of society" but that's what im calling it for now). Anyway, I had a great time with this story, I really liked the characters and finally seeing where this story started.
The ending was really explosive, I would advice that you have the second book ready because in true Claire Butler Fashion this does end in a cliffhanger.
December 12, 2023
This book was only 200 pages and it was not good. The main characters were spoiled annoying children and when we got to the chapters where we would start to see some character growth it just wasn't believable because it happened so quickly. I have no idea who the love interest is supposed to be for either of them I thought it was supposed to be each other but things happen that confused the crap out of me. It just all seemed very rushed and not well executed. I have so many questions about the world because there was not proper development and the only reason I finished it is because it was only 200 pages. I will admit that the twist at the end I did not see coming so that's why it got two stars instead of one. Unfortunately that twist was not enough to keep me interested so I will not be reading the second book
August 13, 2023
3.75⭐️
This was a quick and enjoyable read! It has medieval, Robin Hood vibes with some romance, and just a little spice! I really appreciate when authors make characters unlikeable with growth throughout the story- Claire did this sooo well with both MCs! The world building and story line were unique! There’s a bit of a cliffhanger at the end so prepare yourself for that!!
What you can expect:
Bratty, being humbled and growing into herself FMC
Reluctant prince, also growing into himself MMC
Renegades 👀
Enemies to lovers (to enemies?!)
Medieval vibes
Mild spice 🌶️
This was a quick and enjoyable read! It has medieval, Robin Hood vibes with some romance, and just a little spice! I really appreciate when authors make characters unlikeable with growth throughout the story- Claire did this sooo well with both MCs! The world building and story line were unique! There’s a bit of a cliffhanger at the end so prepare yourself for that!!
What you can expect:
Bratty, being humbled and growing into herself FMC
Reluctant prince, also growing into himself MMC
Renegades 👀
Enemies to lovers (to enemies?!)
Medieval vibes
Mild spice 🌶️
April 27, 2023
The book was really enjoyable and fast-paced. Although it used few really common tropes it managed to give them a fresh spin. The plot twist and the cliffhanger at the end of the book made me excited for the sequel.
April 30, 2023
Brielle is the princess of the Southern Kingdom. Henri is the prince of the Northern Kingdom… But one day both kings are killed and both kingdoms are invaded by a foreign ruler... She has to escape...
I enjoyed “To reclaim a kingdom” it was fast-paced with lots of adventures, I didn't want to put it down. The world building was intriguing with the blood magic.
Brielle the FMC has grown so much from the beginning of the book to the end. She was such a spoil girl and now she is a strong woman. I am more than excited to read more of her story. I liked having multiple pov, I enjoyed the MMC they were Intriguing, one of them is a morally gray character. I also liked the side characters.
And the slow buuuuurn tension 🔥 between the characters, I could feel it! (I recommend to sign-up for Claire’s newsletter to have a bonus scene) 👀
The ending left me speechless! I didn’t except it! I still don’t know how to process, how to feel, how to think! I need book 2 asap.
To reclaim a kingdom was a great first book! I’m sure it will lead to a great fantasy serie.
I enjoyed “To reclaim a kingdom” it was fast-paced with lots of adventures, I didn't want to put it down. The world building was intriguing with the blood magic.
Brielle the FMC has grown so much from the beginning of the book to the end. She was such a spoil girl and now she is a strong woman. I am more than excited to read more of her story. I liked having multiple pov, I enjoyed the MMC they were Intriguing, one of them is a morally gray character. I also liked the side characters.
And the slow buuuuurn tension 🔥 between the characters, I could feel it! (I recommend to sign-up for Claire’s newsletter to have a bonus scene) 👀
The ending left me speechless! I didn’t except it! I still don’t know how to process, how to feel, how to think! I need book 2 asap.
To reclaim a kingdom was a great first book! I’m sure it will lead to a great fantasy serie.
June 3, 2024
Book 1 in the Red Wood Series centers around Brielle, Princess of the Southern Kingdom and Henri, Prince of the Northern Kingdom.
Both of their Kingdoms have fallen and Brielle and Henri are forced to flee and hide from those who hunt them in the Red Wood. Henri wants no part of reclaiming his lands while Brielle is determined to take back what is hers! But knowing who to trust is complex and betrayal and death lurks around every corner!
This was an action packed read full of twists and turns and ends in an ‘are you kidding me’ cliffhanger!
Not going to lie though, I found Brielle a difficult main character to like to start with. She was spoilt, entitled, conniving, self-centered and downright mean, which also made her very naive.
Henri on the other hand uses booze and women to escape the pressure placed on him by his father. He has no desire to rule and would prefer to disappear and live a normal life.
The character development for them both was really well written and thankfully has you rooting for Brielle in the end. There a romance subplot full of angst and even a one bed situation.
I can’t wait to dive into Book 2 and see where the story goes!
Both of their Kingdoms have fallen and Brielle and Henri are forced to flee and hide from those who hunt them in the Red Wood. Henri wants no part of reclaiming his lands while Brielle is determined to take back what is hers! But knowing who to trust is complex and betrayal and death lurks around every corner!
This was an action packed read full of twists and turns and ends in an ‘are you kidding me’ cliffhanger!
Not going to lie though, I found Brielle a difficult main character to like to start with. She was spoilt, entitled, conniving, self-centered and downright mean, which also made her very naive.
Henri on the other hand uses booze and women to escape the pressure placed on him by his father. He has no desire to rule and would prefer to disappear and live a normal life.
The character development for them both was really well written and thankfully has you rooting for Brielle in the end. There a romance subplot full of angst and even a one bed situation.
I can’t wait to dive into Book 2 and see where the story goes!
August 3, 2023
4 ⭐️/ 1.5 🌶️
This book was recommended to me by a friend whom I trust with my LIFE. And I wasn’t disappointed. This was a quick, fun read and the ending will definitely have me back for more.
The FMC starts off as kind of bratty (she gave me Alessandra from The Shadows Between Us vibes which I did NOT hate), but we get to see her growth and navigate conflict.
I say give this book a chance. WHAT DO YA GOT TO LOSE?
My chief gripe is just the chapters felt really long and if a chapter is more than 30 seconds I get intimidated
This book was recommended to me by a friend whom I trust with my LIFE. And I wasn’t disappointed. This was a quick, fun read and the ending will definitely have me back for more.
The FMC starts off as kind of bratty (she gave me Alessandra from The Shadows Between Us vibes which I did NOT hate), but we get to see her growth and navigate conflict.
I say give this book a chance. WHAT DO YA GOT TO LOSE?
My chief gripe is just the chapters felt really long and if a chapter is more than 30 seconds I get intimidated
April 25, 2023
Loving yourself despite what others may think of you is sometimes the hardest battle of all."
Brielle is a spoiled princess of the Southern Kingdom who is used to getting everything she's wanted and has always known she is going to become Queen. Henri is a prince of the Northern Kingdom who has always known he wasn't going to become king, constantly belittled by his father Henri only wants to escape his life. When both current Kings are killed Henri has his chance to escape and Brielle is thrust into the harsh outdoors. Brielle is set on reclaiming her kingdom and while Henri doesn't want to rule, he reluctantly assists her in their jounrey.
I was very surprised by this book! Despite it being a debut novel I thought Butler's writing was amazing and really brought me into the story to connect with the characters! The world wasn't fleshed out as a lot of other fantasy worlds are but it was still enough for me to understand the main parts of the story. The plot was intriguing and it was fun to guess the little plot twists, which could be labelled as predictable, but in my opinion just left enough to keep me guessing.
Brielle and Henri are both interesting characters, both have a lot of flaws. But I did enjoy seeing Brielle grow from the selfish princess into someone who saw the truth of the world, I am very interested to see how her character hopefully grows more into the warrior princess I would love to see in the next book! Henri was a character who didn't reveal much in his POVs. I still don't know that much about his character even though it was explained, in a way I think he could use a little more depth. The side characters really brought this book together! I loved Sienna and Jameson, I thought the dynamic between Jameson and Brielle was really interesting and just improved the reading experience because they had to learn to get along, both of them had to put aside their feelings and come together, mostly Brielle though. I think that was the starting point of her realization about herself and that scene was written so well! Citric and Eve are also very good characters and omg I cannot wait to see what the author does with them in the next book!
This was a great fast-paced NA fantasy novel, perfect for those in the mood for a quick read, with a strong character journey. It has royals, bandits, a secret "haunted" forest, a slowburn romance, a strong spicy scene and very good side characters who I can't wait to learn more about! The ending was perfect, it was such a good place to leave it! Even though it was a cliffhanger I thought the author couldn't have done it better and has left me eagerly anticipating the next book!
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!
Brielle is a spoiled princess of the Southern Kingdom who is used to getting everything she's wanted and has always known she is going to become Queen. Henri is a prince of the Northern Kingdom who has always known he wasn't going to become king, constantly belittled by his father Henri only wants to escape his life. When both current Kings are killed Henri has his chance to escape and Brielle is thrust into the harsh outdoors. Brielle is set on reclaiming her kingdom and while Henri doesn't want to rule, he reluctantly assists her in their jounrey.
I was very surprised by this book! Despite it being a debut novel I thought Butler's writing was amazing and really brought me into the story to connect with the characters! The world wasn't fleshed out as a lot of other fantasy worlds are but it was still enough for me to understand the main parts of the story. The plot was intriguing and it was fun to guess the little plot twists, which could be labelled as predictable, but in my opinion just left enough to keep me guessing.
Brielle and Henri are both interesting characters, both have a lot of flaws. But I did enjoy seeing Brielle grow from the selfish princess into someone who saw the truth of the world, I am very interested to see how her character hopefully grows more into the warrior princess I would love to see in the next book! Henri was a character who didn't reveal much in his POVs. I still don't know that much about his character even though it was explained, in a way I think he could use a little more depth. The side characters really brought this book together! I loved Sienna and Jameson, I thought the dynamic between Jameson and Brielle was really interesting and just improved the reading experience because they had to learn to get along, both of them had to put aside their feelings and come together, mostly Brielle though. I think that was the starting point of her realization about herself and that scene was written so well! Citric and Eve are also very good characters and omg I cannot wait to see what the author does with them in the next book!
This was a great fast-paced NA fantasy novel, perfect for those in the mood for a quick read, with a strong character journey. It has royals, bandits, a secret "haunted" forest, a slowburn romance, a strong spicy scene and very good side characters who I can't wait to learn more about! The ending was perfect, it was such a good place to leave it! Even though it was a cliffhanger I thought the author couldn't have done it better and has left me eagerly anticipating the next book!
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!
May 2, 2023
4 ⭐️
i absolutely loved the journey that this book took me on, claire writes her debut in such an attention-grabbing way that left me unable to stop thinking about it!
the story follows brielle, the princess of the southern kingdom who is used to getting everything she wants, so how will she react when there are traitors amongst her court who murder the king and force her into hiding? will she sulk and wait for a prince to save her? or will she armour up in order to reclaim her kingdom?
this book has it all; action scenes, morally grey characters, world building, political intrigue and my most favourite aspect of all… brielle’s character development!!!!!! it blew my mind how much i disliked her character from the beginning but fast forward to now and i can thankfully say that she’s one of my favourite characters from the book! claire really outdid herself with the redemption arc and i can’t wait to see how brielle grows further in book two <3
and you guys, i’ve never been a massive fan of love triangles and whilst this book only has a mini one (bc the romance is more of a subplot), i really enjoyed it and i know that i’m probably wrong for this but i’m on team redwood 🙈
i highly recommend this one for my fantasy lovers who thrive in action-packed storylines 👑⚔️🌳🐎✨
i absolutely loved the journey that this book took me on, claire writes her debut in such an attention-grabbing way that left me unable to stop thinking about it!
the story follows brielle, the princess of the southern kingdom who is used to getting everything she wants, so how will she react when there are traitors amongst her court who murder the king and force her into hiding? will she sulk and wait for a prince to save her? or will she armour up in order to reclaim her kingdom?
this book has it all; action scenes, morally grey characters, world building, political intrigue and my most favourite aspect of all… brielle’s character development!!!!!! it blew my mind how much i disliked her character from the beginning but fast forward to now and i can thankfully say that she’s one of my favourite characters from the book! claire really outdid herself with the redemption arc and i can’t wait to see how brielle grows further in book two <3
and you guys, i’ve never been a massive fan of love triangles and whilst this book only has a mini one (bc the romance is more of a subplot), i really enjoyed it and i know that i’m probably wrong for this but i’m on team redwood 🙈
i highly recommend this one for my fantasy lovers who thrive in action-packed storylines 👑⚔️🌳🐎✨
April 16, 2023
4.5⭐️ I loved this book and flew through it in 2 sittings! I loved the writing and am so amazed that this is a debut novel!
The book is filled with adventures, slow burn tension, morally grey characters and a strong female lead.
~ the characters: although I felt the beginning had a little bit of a character dump, I grew to absolutely love the main characters. I adored the friendships and family that formed between them! I also loved how Brielle (fmc) was portrayed. I hated her character at the start of the book, but the character development that occurred was fantastic. She became a strong female lead and I was rooting for her throughout the rest of the book.
~ the setting: there was also amazing world building and I loved that a large portion of the book took place in the Red Wood.
~ the ending had me on the edge of my seat and left me shook!
I cannot wait to read more of Claire’s work, particularly the next book in this series!
Thankyou Claire Butler for the advanced copy of this book! 🫶🏼
~ on kindle unlimited April 29
The book is filled with adventures, slow burn tension, morally grey characters and a strong female lead.
~ the characters: although I felt the beginning had a little bit of a character dump, I grew to absolutely love the main characters. I adored the friendships and family that formed between them! I also loved how Brielle (fmc) was portrayed. I hated her character at the start of the book, but the character development that occurred was fantastic. She became a strong female lead and I was rooting for her throughout the rest of the book.
~ the setting: there was also amazing world building and I loved that a large portion of the book took place in the Red Wood.
~ the ending had me on the edge of my seat and left me shook!
I cannot wait to read more of Claire’s work, particularly the next book in this series!
Thankyou Claire Butler for the advanced copy of this book! 🫶🏼
~ on kindle unlimited April 29
April 18, 2023
4.5 rounded up
When I say I couldn’t put this book down! I literally devoured it in one sitting!!
The story follows a spoilt princess and reluctant prince who both lose their kingdoms to a foreign king. They journey into the cursed Red Wood and plot to reclaim their kingdoms with the help of some new and unexpected allies.
This book is full of unique and compelling characters, a quick paced and intense plot line, witty dialogue, a sprinkling of hot af romance and gob smacking plot twists - that ending has truly left me SHOOK
One of my favourite things about this novel was the arcs of Brielle and Henri’s characters (particularly Brielle who goes from spoilt princess to avenging warrior in the realest way).
I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more world building, but either way I thoroughly enjoyed this and urge anyone who wants a quick read NA romantasy to pick this up! It’s the first in a coming series that I will definitely be continuing!!
When I say I couldn’t put this book down! I literally devoured it in one sitting!!
The story follows a spoilt princess and reluctant prince who both lose their kingdoms to a foreign king. They journey into the cursed Red Wood and plot to reclaim their kingdoms with the help of some new and unexpected allies.
This book is full of unique and compelling characters, a quick paced and intense plot line, witty dialogue, a sprinkling of hot af romance and gob smacking plot twists - that ending has truly left me SHOOK
One of my favourite things about this novel was the arcs of Brielle and Henri’s characters (particularly Brielle who goes from spoilt princess to avenging warrior in the realest way).
I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more world building, but either way I thoroughly enjoyed this and urge anyone who wants a quick read NA romantasy to pick this up! It’s the first in a coming series that I will definitely be continuing!!
April 24, 2023
Rating: 3,5
In "to reclaim a kingdom," we follow the story of Princess Brielle and Prince Henri. Princess Brielle is the arrogant and spoiled crown princess who thinks she is best for her kingdom and that everyone loves her. Prince Henri in contrast does not want to be king and does everything he can to escape his responsibilities. But what happens if their fathers are murdered and they both have to flee? Brielle wants to reclaim her kingdom at any cost, but there are some unexpected adversaries. This story shows how a spoiled princess pushes her limits and tries to become the best queen for her kingdom.
To reclaim a kingdom is a fast paced adventure story, with a cliffhanger that makes you long for the sequel. I enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.
In "to reclaim a kingdom," we follow the story of Princess Brielle and Prince Henri. Princess Brielle is the arrogant and spoiled crown princess who thinks she is best for her kingdom and that everyone loves her. Prince Henri in contrast does not want to be king and does everything he can to escape his responsibilities. But what happens if their fathers are murdered and they both have to flee? Brielle wants to reclaim her kingdom at any cost, but there are some unexpected adversaries. This story shows how a spoiled princess pushes her limits and tries to become the best queen for her kingdom.
To reclaim a kingdom is a fast paced adventure story, with a cliffhanger that makes you long for the sequel. I enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.
April 30, 2025
Brilliant, fast paced, action packed story. I loved reading the character development of the FMC. The writing great and the words just flew off the page. The world building was rich and I felt completely absorbed. Highly recommend this little story as the perfect palette cleanser. BUT, have book 2 ready to go before you start. Trust me.
June 23, 2023
A great read for any fantasy lover! It starts out a little slow but picks up very quickly and I couldn't put it down!
March 10, 2024
Um, excuse me, that ending?! Review to follow later because book 2 must be started.
August 18, 2024
1 ⭐️ Loathed the FMC. It was boring. Felt low stakes. Characters were meh and the plot was okay.
October 16, 2023
Book Review: This is a medieval fantasy and romance story about how two royals lose their kingdoms, and try to reclaim all that they have lost. This is the first book in the Red Woods Series.
Politically, the Northern and Southern kingdoms are allied to one another, but not allowed to unify as a result of a longstanding treaty. Brielle, Princess of the Southern Kingdom, and Henri, Prince of the Northern Kingdom, are the picture perfect representation of entitled, spoiled royals. You are almost certain to dislike both of them immensely for how they behave.
Brielle has done nothing to show she is capable of leading the Southern Kingdom, but acts like her ascension to the throne is a forgone conclusion. She is catty and petty, and excels at belittling the ladies of her court. Henri shows no interest in being king of the Northern Kingdom and is most happy drinking and womanizing his way through a court life that he detests.
The kingdoms are thrust into war when an enemy gathers an army at the border. An unexpected act of betrayal during the war forces both Henri and Brielle to flee for their lives as they lose their kingdoms, all the privileges afforded to them as royals, and so much more.
Hunted by the royal guard, Henri and Brielle run into the dreaded Red Forest, which is rumored to be cursed and haunted by blood magic. There, they meet the enigmatic outlaw Citric and his small community, and are taken under his protection. During their time in the Red Forest, both Brielle and Henri show immense personal growth. After learning how oppressive life has become under the new king, they vow to overthrow the king and take back their kingdoms.
This is a fast read, that has unexpected twists and turns, betrayal, revenge, a bit of just right spicy romance, and court intrigue.
Politically, the Northern and Southern kingdoms are allied to one another, but not allowed to unify as a result of a longstanding treaty. Brielle, Princess of the Southern Kingdom, and Henri, Prince of the Northern Kingdom, are the picture perfect representation of entitled, spoiled royals. You are almost certain to dislike both of them immensely for how they behave.
Brielle has done nothing to show she is capable of leading the Southern Kingdom, but acts like her ascension to the throne is a forgone conclusion. She is catty and petty, and excels at belittling the ladies of her court. Henri shows no interest in being king of the Northern Kingdom and is most happy drinking and womanizing his way through a court life that he detests.
The kingdoms are thrust into war when an enemy gathers an army at the border. An unexpected act of betrayal during the war forces both Henri and Brielle to flee for their lives as they lose their kingdoms, all the privileges afforded to them as royals, and so much more.
Hunted by the royal guard, Henri and Brielle run into the dreaded Red Forest, which is rumored to be cursed and haunted by blood magic. There, they meet the enigmatic outlaw Citric and his small community, and are taken under his protection. During their time in the Red Forest, both Brielle and Henri show immense personal growth. After learning how oppressive life has become under the new king, they vow to overthrow the king and take back their kingdoms.
This is a fast read, that has unexpected twists and turns, betrayal, revenge, a bit of just right spicy romance, and court intrigue.
October 11, 2023
⚠️Trigger Warning: explicit sexual scenes, sexual assault and violence
Claire introduces us to the medival realm of kingdoms to be reclaimed, destinies to be reforged, and a splash of magic. Brielle is a spoiled princess who is willing to fight for what she believes is her legacy and what she is owed. Henry is a prince who just wants to be free to do as he pleases. Citric is the outlaw looking to reclaim what belongs to his people. Claire builds characters that steal your heart. I had to question my loyalties to the characters frequently, gasp from shock as Claire added so many twists and turns, and scream at the book when I was scared or overwhelmed.
All I can say is that I wish I could spend some more time in the Red Wood.
Claire introduces us to the medival realm of kingdoms to be reclaimed, destinies to be reforged, and a splash of magic. Brielle is a spoiled princess who is willing to fight for what she believes is her legacy and what she is owed. Henry is a prince who just wants to be free to do as he pleases. Citric is the outlaw looking to reclaim what belongs to his people. Claire builds characters that steal your heart. I had to question my loyalties to the characters frequently, gasp from shock as Claire added so many twists and turns, and scream at the book when I was scared or overwhelmed.
All I can say is that I wish I could spend some more time in the Red Wood.
March 1, 2024
WAIT WHAT?! That ending though!!! I absolutely loved how quick this read was, it was a refreshing break. I started this thinking I would hate Brielle but she had the most amazing character arc and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes her in the next one. I’m also hoping Henri steps up and realizes he can’t just let everything be taken from them. The twists and turns in this book were so good.
August 21, 2023
3.5 stars
Rtc!
Rtc!
March 7, 2024
The ending!?!?!?!?!
On to start the second book immediately!
It took me a while to enjoy the FMC but she definitely grew on me and this love triangle has me in a chokehold !
On to start the second book immediately!
It took me a while to enjoy the FMC but she definitely grew on me and this love triangle has me in a chokehold !
September 19, 2023
Brielle is a princess from birth and soon to be a Queen by marriage. She is eager to rule the Southern Kingdom, the same way she rules her court of ladies. Henri is a prince from birth and soon to be King of the Northern Kingdom - a fate he resents. Both kingdoms are invaded and conquered by a foreign ruler, forcing Brielle and Henri to flee for their lives to the cursed Red Wood - their only sanctuary. Now Henri and Brielle are faced with many choices while surrounded by enemies.
Many thanks to the author, Claire Butler, for having reached out to me and introduced me to her debut novel, TO RECLAIM A KINGDOM. This is a short read ringing in at 206 pages, but while the pages are short, the action and adventure are ample.
TO RECLAIM A KINGDOM is told in third person, alternating through Brielle's, Henri's, and a third unidentified voice. Brielle is a wholly unlikeable main character with her bratty, selfish, and entitled outlook on life. She demonstrates great character growth over the course of the novel so I am curious how book 2 will continue to transform her. Henri is a prince by birth but shirks the idea of ruling a kingdom. He is preferring to be on the outskirts and doesn't love being in the spotlight; his perspectives do not truly reveal much about him as a character though. The third unidentified voice is one that I would have loved to have had more context and exploration of. I am hoping this is further evolved in book 2. The remaining supportive characters (Sienna, Jameson, Eve, and Citric) really draw the story together. I'm hoping they all make a presence in book two as their dynamic with the main characters was quite interesting, adding depth to the relationships.
The Red Wood is rumoured to be cursed but this character/entity is not explored very much - I have hunches about it, but nothing I can confirm based on this book alone. I am really curious to learn more and hoping that book 2 will enlighten more about the history of Red Wood and its purpose in this fantasy.
The world building and magic is minimalistic in nature but highly intriguing. Again, there are aspects of this fantasy world and magic that I would like to learn more about. But this is definitely a book a novice to fantasy would enjoy as it is not highly detailed nor confusing.
The plot is one that is easy to follow, albeit fairly predictable with many of the twists becoming obvious before their reveal. That ending though! I swear I didn't see that coming and was thoroughly shocked by its delivery. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I am very thankful to have book 2 To Reforge A Destiny: A New Adult Medieval Fantasy Romance waiting for me as an ARC copy!
Many thanks to the author, Claire Butler, for having reached out to me and introduced me to her debut novel, TO RECLAIM A KINGDOM. This is a short read ringing in at 206 pages, but while the pages are short, the action and adventure are ample.
TO RECLAIM A KINGDOM is told in third person, alternating through Brielle's, Henri's, and a third unidentified voice. Brielle is a wholly unlikeable main character with her bratty, selfish, and entitled outlook on life. She demonstrates great character growth over the course of the novel so I am curious how book 2 will continue to transform her. Henri is a prince by birth but shirks the idea of ruling a kingdom. He is preferring to be on the outskirts and doesn't love being in the spotlight; his perspectives do not truly reveal much about him as a character though. The third unidentified voice is one that I would have loved to have had more context and exploration of. I am hoping this is further evolved in book 2. The remaining supportive characters (Sienna, Jameson, Eve, and Citric) really draw the story together. I'm hoping they all make a presence in book two as their dynamic with the main characters was quite interesting, adding depth to the relationships.
The Red Wood is rumoured to be cursed but this character/entity is not explored very much - I have hunches about it, but nothing I can confirm based on this book alone. I am really curious to learn more and hoping that book 2 will enlighten more about the history of Red Wood and its purpose in this fantasy.
The world building and magic is minimalistic in nature but highly intriguing. Again, there are aspects of this fantasy world and magic that I would like to learn more about. But this is definitely a book a novice to fantasy would enjoy as it is not highly detailed nor confusing.
The plot is one that is easy to follow, albeit fairly predictable with many of the twists becoming obvious before their reveal. That ending though! I swear I didn't see that coming and was thoroughly shocked by its delivery. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I am very thankful to have book 2 To Reforge A Destiny: A New Adult Medieval Fantasy Romance waiting for me as an ARC copy!
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