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The LeNoir Legacy #1
The LeNoir Legacy
Princess Rosealyn LeNoir refuses to remain the sheltered heir. Studying and training in the comforts of the castle will not assist a country at war. When additional soldiers join her father at the border, she evades her personal guard, Captain Charles, to follow. Hoping to help her father discover those responsible for the blighted fields across their nation, Rosealyn finds herself thrust into a battle which leads to an unlikely answer.
For the past decade, Charles has adhered to an agreement which allowed him to leave his past behind. As Rosealyn continues to discover what is myth and what is reality, Charles worries the truths she learns will hurt more than they may help.
Between fantastical creatures, magic, the legendary Twin Blades, and the myth of the Lost Prince, Rosealyn fears that understanding the LeNoir Gift may cost more than her family’s legacy.
For the past decade, Charles has adhered to an agreement which allowed him to leave his past behind. As Rosealyn continues to discover what is myth and what is reality, Charles worries the truths she learns will hurt more than they may help.
Between fantastical creatures, magic, the legendary Twin Blades, and the myth of the Lost Prince, Rosealyn fears that understanding the LeNoir Gift may cost more than her family’s legacy.
- GenresFantasy
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
16 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Cristen J. Faulkenberry
5 books44 followersCristen Jennette (formerly Faulkenberry) is a fantasy author, avid reader, and high school English teacher. She’s spent many evenings with her nose stuck in a book, and almost as many at the computer. Cristen currently lives in Northwest Missouri with her young son.
Find her on Instagram or Facebook with the username @dragonheartbookworm. You can also check out her website where you can be the first to learn about her newest release.
Find her on Instagram or Facebook with the username @dragonheartbookworm. You can also check out her website where you can be the first to learn about her newest release.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 25, 2022
Princess Rosealyn wants to be more than a protected heir to the LeNoir throne, especially as there is a war raging on the borders. She decides to train and become as strong as she can, and despite her father’s warning, follows him to the war. As she begins to learn more information about the LeNoir Legacy and other myths, she finds herself becoming ever more embroiled in the war and her people’s plight.
I enjoyed the beginning of this work and was interested to see where the plot and character development was going to go. Unfortunately, the rest of the work did not live up to the beginning.
The characters were bland. So bland. There was nothing that made them stand out or feel relatable, their motivations just weren’t there or depicted in a good way, and there was no real emotion that came through in the dialogue or the writing, which made them feel like cardboard cutouts. Their reactions to certain things felt fake or overdramatic in a way that also detracted from them, and the romance had no chemistry and shouldn’t have been included. Unfortunately, the work was told from the POV of several different characters, all of whom felt the same and had the above-mentioned issues, which made this work really boring. The few things that I was actually interested in (e.g., the magic, dragons, etc.) weren’t really discussed or explained, which was disappointing.
The author’s writing left much to be desired. There was an excessive use of purple prose, repetition, and an overuse of the thesaurus. The author doesn’t seem to think that characters can do anything other than smirk and grimace, which began to really chafe after the first few chapters. There were many instances where things felt disorganized or were written in an abrupt, choppy way that made it impossible to become immersed in the work. On top of these issues, there were also many errors. This work could use a real editing to resolve most of these issues, which would make this a more enjoyable read.
The ending was also awful. Why make me sit through pages and pages watching Rosealyn train and become less useless just to have her be unconscious during the last major conflict so others could do everything for her? It was quite difficult to finish this work. Based off others’ ratings, I feel like I read a completely different book – other readers might enjoy this read, but I can’t recommend it. My thanks to BookSirens for allowing me to read and review this book.
I enjoyed the beginning of this work and was interested to see where the plot and character development was going to go. Unfortunately, the rest of the work did not live up to the beginning.
The characters were bland. So bland. There was nothing that made them stand out or feel relatable, their motivations just weren’t there or depicted in a good way, and there was no real emotion that came through in the dialogue or the writing, which made them feel like cardboard cutouts. Their reactions to certain things felt fake or overdramatic in a way that also detracted from them, and the romance had no chemistry and shouldn’t have been included. Unfortunately, the work was told from the POV of several different characters, all of whom felt the same and had the above-mentioned issues, which made this work really boring. The few things that I was actually interested in (e.g., the magic, dragons, etc.) weren’t really discussed or explained, which was disappointing.
The author’s writing left much to be desired. There was an excessive use of purple prose, repetition, and an overuse of the thesaurus. The author doesn’t seem to think that characters can do anything other than smirk and grimace, which began to really chafe after the first few chapters. There were many instances where things felt disorganized or were written in an abrupt, choppy way that made it impossible to become immersed in the work. On top of these issues, there were also many errors. This work could use a real editing to resolve most of these issues, which would make this a more enjoyable read.
The ending was also awful. Why make me sit through pages and pages watching Rosealyn train and become less useless just to have her be unconscious during the last major conflict so others could do everything for her? It was quite difficult to finish this work. Based off others’ ratings, I feel like I read a completely different book – other readers might enjoy this read, but I can’t recommend it. My thanks to BookSirens for allowing me to read and review this book.
February 27, 2023
I spent the weekend reading this fascinating book and I'm enjoying this world of magical creatures, royalty, and Captain Charles. This book had action, fantasy and a slow burn romance. I've gotten so immersed into this world, I can't wait to read the next book.
There's Dragons,
Elves,
Magical Swords,
Slow Burn Romance,
Friends to Lovers,
Battles scenes,
Adventure
There's Dragons,
Elves,
Magical Swords,
Slow Burn Romance,
Friends to Lovers,
Battles scenes,
Adventure
August 15, 2022
I received this book as an ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this book right from the beginning. Princess Rosealyn is thrust into uncertainty while bearing the weight of being the heir. We follow her journey of trying to make sense of her gift while everything she thinks she knows crumbles around her. I loved how Rosealyn was a strong character, not willing to be protected from the truth and the reality of her gift, to the point of defying her father's wishes and evading her guard, Captain Charles. The concept of the Twin Blades and the magical creatures added to the richness of the story. Cristen created an incredibly world with characters you can relate to and I look forward to seeing this story continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
From the moment I first read the synopsis for this story, I was instantly hooked. I absolutely LOVED this book. From the beautiful descriptions to the amazing dialogue to the characters themselves - everything was beautifully done and made me feel like I was in the world with them, and I love that feeling.
I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling it but YOU GUYS, YOU NEED THIS BOOK! I mean, like really NEED this book. I have been in and out of reading slumps these past two months and I couldn't put this book down for even a second! It was THAT good!
Definitely a ten outta ten for me (or even a 100😉)
I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling it but YOU GUYS, YOU NEED THIS BOOK! I mean, like really NEED this book. I have been in and out of reading slumps these past two months and I couldn't put this book down for even a second! It was THAT good!
Definitely a ten outta ten for me (or even a 100😉)
March 11, 2022
The LeNor Legacy Volume 1 by Cristen J Faulkenberry. I found this fantasy to be an epic tale. The story was interesting with wonderful characters. There were elfs, dragons, Knights, and some magic in the story. I found the LeNor Gift to be interesting as it passed from King Philippe to Princess Roselyn. I found the connection between the two dragon swords to be interesting. Although the pace was good, I thought the book was just a touch to long, but well worth reading. Volume 1 was so interesting that I can't wait to read volume 2. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
April 3, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book was complicated by many different characters wanting political power and main character was so out the loop that was unfair to her as a character.
I enjoyed the relationship between Charles and Rose. The Gift was a bizarre magic system but intriguing. There was dragons good and bad and elves.
Rose’s father did her no favours by keeping her in the dark and the many twists in plot made the story enjoyable.
Works building was good and look forward to seeing more in further books of the trilogy.
I will read book 2 which is a good sign
The book was complicated by many different characters wanting political power and main character was so out the loop that was unfair to her as a character.
I enjoyed the relationship between Charles and Rose. The Gift was a bizarre magic system but intriguing. There was dragons good and bad and elves.
Rose’s father did her no favours by keeping her in the dark and the many twists in plot made the story enjoyable.
Works building was good and look forward to seeing more in further books of the trilogy.
I will read book 2 which is a good sign
March 22, 2022
Interesting magical fantasy. Great character development. I enjoyed this authors writing style and look forward seeing where this story goes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 12, 2025
Epic
3.5 This was an interesting start to an epic fantasy series. There’s lots of political intrigue and secrets. There’s some dragons and elves too. I really liked Rosealyn and the slow burn romance with Charles. This book is a little slower in the beginning but by the end it felt like a solid set up for what will come in the next books. I’m interested to see what will happen to the characters next!
Robert Cagle III does a great job with narrating the audiobook and bringing this world to life. Fantasy books always have fun names so it’s nice to be able to hear them out loud. If you don’t mind a single narrator for multiple POVs then I recommend it!
3.5 This was an interesting start to an epic fantasy series. There’s lots of political intrigue and secrets. There’s some dragons and elves too. I really liked Rosealyn and the slow burn romance with Charles. This book is a little slower in the beginning but by the end it felt like a solid set up for what will come in the next books. I’m interested to see what will happen to the characters next!
Robert Cagle III does a great job with narrating the audiobook and bringing this world to life. Fantasy books always have fun names so it’s nice to be able to hear them out loud. If you don’t mind a single narrator for multiple POVs then I recommend it!
March 5, 2022
Contains Mild Spoilers...
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book to review.
I was nervous going into this book as I haven't read many self-published/Indie published books and I was worried it wouldn't be as good as a 'traditionally' published book, but boy was I wrong.
Cristen J. Faulkenberry built intrigue from the very beginning through every word and paragraph. I fell in love with the characters, each of which told their side of the story. The strong female lead, took no stick from anyone, which I can 100% relate to. She wanted to be treated as an equal and make her own decisions, without being sheltered from any of the problems facing her kingdom. I am fond of indeoendent female characters in a book and it was spot on in The LeNoir Legacy, consistent the whole way through. Plot twists throughout the book kept me gripped and needing to know what happened next.
I only have one criticism for this book... I felt that sometimes, there was a jump in the time of the book and some things were not explained when this happened. I felt that some things were missing and it perhaps made reading it a little choppy. There were also a few grammatical errors in the first few chapters too which was a shame.
Despite this though, I still loved the book and would definitely recommend. I can't wait for the second book in the series.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book to review.
I was nervous going into this book as I haven't read many self-published/Indie published books and I was worried it wouldn't be as good as a 'traditionally' published book, but boy was I wrong.
Cristen J. Faulkenberry built intrigue from the very beginning through every word and paragraph. I fell in love with the characters, each of which told their side of the story. The strong female lead, took no stick from anyone, which I can 100% relate to. She wanted to be treated as an equal and make her own decisions, without being sheltered from any of the problems facing her kingdom. I am fond of indeoendent female characters in a book and it was spot on in The LeNoir Legacy, consistent the whole way through. Plot twists throughout the book kept me gripped and needing to know what happened next.
I only have one criticism for this book... I felt that sometimes, there was a jump in the time of the book and some things were not explained when this happened. I felt that some things were missing and it perhaps made reading it a little choppy. There were also a few grammatical errors in the first few chapters too which was a shame.
Despite this though, I still loved the book and would definitely recommend. I can't wait for the second book in the series.
April 6, 2022
The LeNoir Legacy is beautifully written with an intricately woven plot that kept me guessing what was going to happen next.
This book is filled with plotting royals, warring kingdoms, dragons, and magic and I loved it. Each chapter of this book had me discovering another secret or plot twist that had me devouring the book. I was so intrigued by The LeNoir gift because there was so much mystery surrounding it. There were so many revelations in this book that had me gasping.
The friendship and slow burn romance between Charles and Rose was perfection and it was one of my favorite parts of the book. I cannot wait for more of them in book two. The plot and cast of characters that the book follows gave me throne of glass vibes and I loved it.
I really enjoyed reading The LeNoir Legacy and getting to know the characters and exploring the beautiful world that Cristen J Faulkenberry wrote.
You would enjoy this book if you like:
✨Intricately woven plots
✨Plotting royals & warring thrones
✨Dragons
✨Slow, slow burn romance
✨Hidden identities
This book is filled with plotting royals, warring kingdoms, dragons, and magic and I loved it. Each chapter of this book had me discovering another secret or plot twist that had me devouring the book. I was so intrigued by The LeNoir gift because there was so much mystery surrounding it. There were so many revelations in this book that had me gasping.
The friendship and slow burn romance between Charles and Rose was perfection and it was one of my favorite parts of the book. I cannot wait for more of them in book two. The plot and cast of characters that the book follows gave me throne of glass vibes and I loved it.
I really enjoyed reading The LeNoir Legacy and getting to know the characters and exploring the beautiful world that Cristen J Faulkenberry wrote.
You would enjoy this book if you like:
✨Intricately woven plots
✨Plotting royals & warring thrones
✨Dragons
✨Slow, slow burn romance
✨Hidden identities
August 21, 2022
Oh my what a rollercoaster! This is one the most unpredictable books I've read so far!
So the book started slow, as epic tales, do but then the plot picked up and it was like a never ending roller coaster.
The book is written from multiple POVs and all the POVs were so seamlessly connected - where one person's POV ended, the next one's picked up and continued the story right after. What I loved about this writing is that the author managed to avoid repeating the story/dialogues as POVs shifted which is the usual case in multiple POVs.
There is a variety of characters and each character kept their own individuality and had a growth curve throughout the book. Too many characters seem daunting to me, but this is probably the first book that I didn't get confused about characters because of how well it was written. What I loved about the main character, Rosealyn, was that her character development and her actions were all realistic. Once she gains the gift, her character is not shown as this ultra-powerful or undefeatable. Instead she's being eased into her powers. Things do not just align for her, she struggles and faces failure. I can not wait to read her character development in the next book! And Charles, ah I don't want to say much and spoil it but he took my heart the moment he unbuttoned his top buttons in the first chapter. Ifykyk ;)
Now the plot, as I mentioned it's slow in the beginning but once the mood is set and the reader's are familiar with the world, the author did not hold back. It was punch after punch of plot twist and secrets.
The best thing is that there are so many characters and the author makes you feel like the readers know more things than other characters. But then there's something completely unpredictable that happens and suddenly the reader feels like they're in the dark again. There are so many mysteries, it keeps you on your toes.
Lastly, the romance. While the romance was not the main plot it still seemed like some parts of the plot was being steered by the romance. There's angst, there are fleeting touches, eye contacts, and deep care. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but I have a feeling the main characters are going to have an epic romance story of their own, aside from the major plot.
I honestly can not wait to read the next book. And I feel so happy to already have it because after that ending I can not wait anymore!
*Thank you to the author and between the spines tours on Instagram for the review copy*
So the book started slow, as epic tales, do but then the plot picked up and it was like a never ending roller coaster.
The book is written from multiple POVs and all the POVs were so seamlessly connected - where one person's POV ended, the next one's picked up and continued the story right after. What I loved about this writing is that the author managed to avoid repeating the story/dialogues as POVs shifted which is the usual case in multiple POVs.
There is a variety of characters and each character kept their own individuality and had a growth curve throughout the book. Too many characters seem daunting to me, but this is probably the first book that I didn't get confused about characters because of how well it was written. What I loved about the main character, Rosealyn, was that her character development and her actions were all realistic. Once she gains the gift, her character is not shown as this ultra-powerful or undefeatable. Instead she's being eased into her powers. Things do not just align for her, she struggles and faces failure. I can not wait to read her character development in the next book! And Charles, ah I don't want to say much and spoil it but he took my heart the moment he unbuttoned his top buttons in the first chapter. Ifykyk ;)
Now the plot, as I mentioned it's slow in the beginning but once the mood is set and the reader's are familiar with the world, the author did not hold back. It was punch after punch of plot twist and secrets.
The best thing is that there are so many characters and the author makes you feel like the readers know more things than other characters. But then there's something completely unpredictable that happens and suddenly the reader feels like they're in the dark again. There are so many mysteries, it keeps you on your toes.
Lastly, the romance. While the romance was not the main plot it still seemed like some parts of the plot was being steered by the romance. There's angst, there are fleeting touches, eye contacts, and deep care. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but I have a feeling the main characters are going to have an epic romance story of their own, aside from the major plot.
I honestly can not wait to read the next book. And I feel so happy to already have it because after that ending I can not wait anymore!
*Thank you to the author and between the spines tours on Instagram for the review copy*
March 28, 2022
As someone who hasn't read much in the fantasy genre since childhood, this book takes credit for drawing me back into fantastical worlds with powerful characters, amazing creatures, and all of the heart and soul I love in great books of any genre.
First and foremost, beyond the stunning cover, The Lenoir Legacy is, in my opinion, at once a classic fairytale, complete with castles, dragons, knights, and a princess, but so much more. In Faulkenberry's world, the princess, Rosealyn, comes to life as a full human being, flaws and all. She is beautiful, but she also wields a sword and fights for her family, her home, and herself. She's well-trained in the art of being a lady, but loves a dress that lets her move and spar with her guard, Charles. She's smart and cunning, but also rash and sensitive and sometimes a little unsure of herself.
There is a simmering romantic tension between Rosealyn and Charles that burns slowly and doesn't rush to make this a love story. There are gorgeous descriptions of the lands, castles, dragons, elves, and the other elements that make up the world of Ebios. There are carefully interwoven POVs that slowly reveal political tensions and mysteries that unfold into an epic battle, the outcome of which is at once satisfying and surprising.
Unlike many of the fantasy novels I recall reading as a child, The LeNoir Legacy kept me wondering what would happen next. Faulkenberry avoids cliche and has instead created something new and wonderful and magical that has left me anxious for the next book in the series.
Faulkenberry is one of the few authors that will be on my auto-buy list. I can't wait to read Book 2!
First and foremost, beyond the stunning cover, The Lenoir Legacy is, in my opinion, at once a classic fairytale, complete with castles, dragons, knights, and a princess, but so much more. In Faulkenberry's world, the princess, Rosealyn, comes to life as a full human being, flaws and all. She is beautiful, but she also wields a sword and fights for her family, her home, and herself. She's well-trained in the art of being a lady, but loves a dress that lets her move and spar with her guard, Charles. She's smart and cunning, but also rash and sensitive and sometimes a little unsure of herself.
There is a simmering romantic tension between Rosealyn and Charles that burns slowly and doesn't rush to make this a love story. There are gorgeous descriptions of the lands, castles, dragons, elves, and the other elements that make up the world of Ebios. There are carefully interwoven POVs that slowly reveal political tensions and mysteries that unfold into an epic battle, the outcome of which is at once satisfying and surprising.
Unlike many of the fantasy novels I recall reading as a child, The LeNoir Legacy kept me wondering what would happen next. Faulkenberry avoids cliche and has instead created something new and wonderful and magical that has left me anxious for the next book in the series.
Faulkenberry is one of the few authors that will be on my auto-buy list. I can't wait to read Book 2!
June 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this epic fantasy by Cristen J. Faulkenberry. It's the first time I've picked up one of her books (except the prequel novella she was kind enough to send me along with this volume!) but it certainly won't be the last.
The worldbuilding here is very rich. Readers will definitely get the sense that they're being invited into a fully developed world. One of the most rewarding things for me about this book was exploring the world Faulkenberry has created and getting to know its history and its politics. The concept of the LeNoir gift is so interesting and original.
Rosealyn is a great main character. She's relatable, dynamic, and very likeable. Her motivations were strong enough to drive the whole story forward. Really a beautiful story, and well-told!
The worldbuilding here is very rich. Readers will definitely get the sense that they're being invited into a fully developed world. One of the most rewarding things for me about this book was exploring the world Faulkenberry has created and getting to know its history and its politics. The concept of the LeNoir gift is so interesting and original.
Rosealyn is a great main character. She's relatable, dynamic, and very likeable. Her motivations were strong enough to drive the whole story forward. Really a beautiful story, and well-told!
April 8, 2022
Patience is required with this one, and the unfolding of this story occasionally was bumpy. I felt the beginning was a bit disorganized. A few times I almost considered not finishing the book, but I'm glad I stuck this one through. It doesn't really pick up the pace until you're about halfway through, so coffee up, snuggle up and dig in. In the end I really fell in love with this story. There's dragons, and politics, elves, magic, and a slowest of slow burn romance that refreshingly isn't the center of the book. The world building gradually unfolds by the end of the book, making for a charming read.
March 23, 2022
Let me just say, I'm extremely disappointed I can't just step through the pages of this book and into the rich world Faulkenberry has created. I loved the characters, and the descriptions were so vivid, it was like watching a movie as everything unfolded. Rosealyn is a great heroine - not perfect, but strong in the face of uncertainty. I really don't want to give too much away, but fantasy lovers, you don't want to pass this one up!
April 2, 2022
The LeNoir Legacy is a fantastic start to this fantasy series. Princess Rose, adored heir to the thrown and beloved daughter, has been protected by her father until she was taught to fight by her body guard and soldier Charles. Charles is much more than he seems and has the complete trust of the King. This is a story of political intrigue, honour, and fantasy. Great writing and great main characters. Rose and Charles are beautifully complex characters . 5/5 stars.
March 22, 2022
I love this series book one has amazing character development and really paints a picture of everything for you. The best part was seeing the charters grow and change from how they started to how they ended. Gaining hope and trying to keep everything from collapsing. The stakes get more and more challenging. Amazing read 10/10 would read again and 10/10 recommend reading.
November 4, 2022
The LeNoir Legacy is an interesting start to the series - the world building and especially the LeNoir gift, stuck out to me as very intriguing and I can’t wait to learn more about it. This book has a bit of everything fantasy lovers adore - there is a super slow burn romance, dragons, elves, magic, a big bad villain, battle scenes, etc. The characters are interesting and plentiful, though I do wish we could’ve gone more in depth with the main characters, they do have some personality, it’s just there was several POVs in this book and I would’ve liked to spend more time with the MMC and FMC. I love good character arcs and I can definitely feel the author is planning for a lot of development and I just wish I had a better grasp on who they were before they started developing. I also feel like this would’ve helped me connect to them more and get a better feel of the romance between them. The romance is real slow burn but, as is, it also kinda comes out of nowhere - I feel like the chemistry isn’t super obvious, there isn’t much tension built and suddenly the reader is being told that there’s something more there.
Moreover, I have to admit that this took longer for me to read than I expected, unfortunately despite the fast pace, the world building and cool magic, it didn’t grip me as much as I would’ve liked. Arguably, this can be blamed on the fact I’m a mood reader but sometimes I felt like things were a bit disorganized and scenes were a tad choppy. Time jumps and also jumping between many POVs made the plot a little confusing/ hard to follow, especially at first.
All that being said, I do really feel this series has potential and am looking forward to reading book two to see how the story develops.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Content warnings: Violence, blood/some gore though not super descriptive, parental death, grief, mentions of domestic abuse but no on page depiction.
A huge thanks to the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Moreover, I have to admit that this took longer for me to read than I expected, unfortunately despite the fast pace, the world building and cool magic, it didn’t grip me as much as I would’ve liked. Arguably, this can be blamed on the fact I’m a mood reader but sometimes I felt like things were a bit disorganized and scenes were a tad choppy. Time jumps and also jumping between many POVs made the plot a little confusing/ hard to follow, especially at first.
All that being said, I do really feel this series has potential and am looking forward to reading book two to see how the story develops.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Content warnings: Violence, blood/some gore though not super descriptive, parental death, grief, mentions of domestic abuse but no on page depiction.
A huge thanks to the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.
October 24, 2022
Kings 👏🏻 princess' 👏🏻 Dragons 👏🏻 magic 🪄 YES YES YES YES! Count me in! I love a good fantasy!
I'm just gonna start off by saying 👏🏻👏🏻 I LOVE PRINCESS ROSEALYN!!!
The blurb caught my attention (and I loved it just as much as I loved this book)👏🏻 but Princess Rosealyn kept it 😍
As I read the book, I loved her more and more. I love powerful women characters! 👏🏻👏🏻 The details as we follow along with her journey of learning about her gift is so one of my favorite things.
😂 okay but who else loved when she evaded her guard? Captain Charles! (I loved him 😂😭 so much I loved him with my whole heart)
With a slow start I was shocked when it started to pick up pace 😍 I honestly couldn't put this down and I wish I didn't read it as fast as I did
I loved the magical creatures, and I need to know more about the Twin blades because 👀 I'm intrigued BEYOND intrigued and I'm so excited to read the second book 😭
I'm just gonna start off by saying 👏🏻👏🏻 I LOVE PRINCESS ROSEALYN!!!
The blurb caught my attention (and I loved it just as much as I loved this book)👏🏻 but Princess Rosealyn kept it 😍
As I read the book, I loved her more and more. I love powerful women characters! 👏🏻👏🏻 The details as we follow along with her journey of learning about her gift is so one of my favorite things.
😂 okay but who else loved when she evaded her guard? Captain Charles! (I loved him 😂😭 so much I loved him with my whole heart)
With a slow start I was shocked when it started to pick up pace 😍 I honestly couldn't put this down and I wish I didn't read it as fast as I did
I loved the magical creatures, and I need to know more about the Twin blades because 👀 I'm intrigued BEYOND intrigued and I'm so excited to read the second book 😭
August 27, 2023
Slow start, but the ending was well worth it.
Though slow to get going (as the first book for many epic fantasies are), once things got going it was very game of thrones with a touch more magic. The main character doesn’t know who to trust, especially since people keep lying or failing to tell her stuff.
It did end on a cliffhanger, so we’re still not sure how the story ends. So got to check out the next book.
I’ll have a video review on my YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/@thequill
Though slow to get going (as the first book for many epic fantasies are), once things got going it was very game of thrones with a touch more magic. The main character doesn’t know who to trust, especially since people keep lying or failing to tell her stuff.
It did end on a cliffhanger, so we’re still not sure how the story ends. So got to check out the next book.
I’ll have a video review on my YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/@thequill
June 25, 2023
Strong princess and fun world!
June 7, 2025
I loved falling into the world Orda'an and the LeNoir family. Roselyn and Charles were relatable main characters that had me rooting for them the entire time. I loved all the twists and turns this book took and I cannot wait to dive into book 2!
March 21, 2022
Okay I loved this book as I always do love warring kingdoms tossed with dragons and elves. Who doesn’t love that? The main agenda of the book was presented starting the first chapter and I could say that there’s no irrelevant chapter or pov as every page contributes to the building of the plot. However, I’m not giving it 5 stars because I don’t understand why 90% of the book (and I know this coz I read it in kindle and it shows how far on the book you have read already), the story is building Princess Rosealyn’s character - her training, her experiencing the passing, her even escaping the castle just so she could try and help in a battle and most importantly her, not letting her gender define her strength - only to leave her incapacitated during the last 10% of the book when the most action happened. I believed that the whole book was building her so that she can defeat the kingdom’s nemesis in the end. I loved the book from the beginning because it always showed how Princess Rosealyn had bodyguards to protect her as instructed by her father, the King, but the princess always wanted to evade her armed shadows and prove the king and actually herself, that she doesn’t need protecting after all the training she had. So yeah, I felt kinda disappointed when during the climax because she was unconscious and of course, men defeated the evil dragon 🤷🏻♀️ anw, disregarding that part, the book is really good, it’s characters were built and are true to their personalities, everything is relevant and their fictional world is nicely built. Also, this is the first book in a series so I’m hoping that in the next ones, the princess will be given her time to shine and prove that she’s the heroine the story is building since the very first page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2022
A Princess with gumption, an education and combat training makes for a delightful main character. Add in a magical gift through inheritance, one that she does not fully understand, and a great plot this story is interesting until the very last page.
August 24, 2023
I beta-read this book and greatly enjoyed it. The dynamics between the two main characters were great - they had fantastic romantic tension and clear goals. Cristen's world-building is expansive and interesting. I finished the book wanting more!
April 7, 2022
The LeNoir Legacy is the start of a new fantasy series. It has dragons, court intrigue, adventure, and romance. I will definitely read the next book.
June 30, 2022
The thing that really struck me about this book was its originality. Sure, there are dragons, magic swords, elves, kings, princesses, lost princes and many more characters and themes often found in fantasy, but Faulkenberry gives them a slightly different twist and the result is an engaging story which draws you into her world.
It's a well-fleshed out world, too, the world-building was excellent. So were the relationships between her characters, and their motivations. I loved the obvious affection between Princess Rosealyn and her father, and the more nuanced and difficult relationship with her mother. Also her obvious but not quite acknowledged attraction to Charles, who was one of my favourite characters, if not my ultimate favourite. Rosealyn herself annoyed me a little at times, but she's young, sheltered and found herself the recipient of a 'gift' which some could view more as a curse. So I suppose she had some excuse.
I was also intrigued by Charles' younger brother, and will be interested to see what his ultimate role turns out to be. The lost prince, Xannan, is also one to watch, as is the queen, and of course the dragons. I really did love the dragons.
The elves didn't enthrall me as much. They didn't seem markedly different to humans, although they played a fairly minor role in this first book. Perhaps we'll get to know more about them in the sequels. I hope so, anyway.
The book was certainly fast-paced, a little too much so at times, and the pacing was a little rough in some parts. I also found the multiple POV's a bit off-putting, but that's just personal preference.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to continuing with the sequel.
I'm giving it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I received this book as an ARC and this is my unbiased review.
It's a well-fleshed out world, too, the world-building was excellent. So were the relationships between her characters, and their motivations. I loved the obvious affection between Princess Rosealyn and her father, and the more nuanced and difficult relationship with her mother. Also her obvious but not quite acknowledged attraction to Charles, who was one of my favourite characters, if not my ultimate favourite. Rosealyn herself annoyed me a little at times, but she's young, sheltered and found herself the recipient of a 'gift' which some could view more as a curse. So I suppose she had some excuse.
I was also intrigued by Charles' younger brother, and will be interested to see what his ultimate role turns out to be. The lost prince, Xannan, is also one to watch, as is the queen, and of course the dragons. I really did love the dragons.
The elves didn't enthrall me as much. They didn't seem markedly different to humans, although they played a fairly minor role in this first book. Perhaps we'll get to know more about them in the sequels. I hope so, anyway.
The book was certainly fast-paced, a little too much so at times, and the pacing was a little rough in some parts. I also found the multiple POV's a bit off-putting, but that's just personal preference.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to continuing with the sequel.
I'm giving it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I received this book as an ARC and this is my unbiased review.
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July 11, 2022I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. You can also find this review + character Q&A and quote graphics at The Reader and the Chef!
Agony, discomfort, and misery tortured her until she relinquished control, knowing she would never be without pain again. A white dragon. A shimmering sword.
As we enter the world of The LeNoir Legacy, we quickly find out the country of Orda’an’s future is turbulent and what the people believed to be myth, can actually be reality! 👑 Full of court intrigue and secrets, The LeNoir Legacy kept me guessing until the very end. Princess Rosealyn and Captain Charles were my favorite from this story, their slow burn romance and friendship was a definite highlight for me. ♥️✨ As the story progresses, we start discovering a few well kept secrets that proved me so wrong as to the theories I had created 😂, but it was fun trying to guess all the same!
I was intrigued about the LeNoir Gift, Princess Rosealyn knows very little about it at the beginning of the story so we start learning along with her what it truly is about. We also get to meet a few magical/mythological creatures such as dragons and elves, which I’m a fan!! 🐉✨ Plus the land and battlefield descriptions were amazing, I was in awe and heartbroken by them.
Such an amazing read, I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to read it! ♥️ Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous, I’m in love!! So if you’re looking for an epic fantasy series with court intrigue, magical gifts and slow burn romance, this one might be for you!! 🙌📚
Agony, discomfort, and misery tortured her until she relinquished control, knowing she would never be without pain again. A white dragon. A shimmering sword.
As we enter the world of The LeNoir Legacy, we quickly find out the country of Orda’an’s future is turbulent and what the people believed to be myth, can actually be reality! 👑 Full of court intrigue and secrets, The LeNoir Legacy kept me guessing until the very end. Princess Rosealyn and Captain Charles were my favorite from this story, their slow burn romance and friendship was a definite highlight for me. ♥️✨ As the story progresses, we start discovering a few well kept secrets that proved me so wrong as to the theories I had created 😂, but it was fun trying to guess all the same!
I was intrigued about the LeNoir Gift, Princess Rosealyn knows very little about it at the beginning of the story so we start learning along with her what it truly is about. We also get to meet a few magical/mythological creatures such as dragons and elves, which I’m a fan!! 🐉✨ Plus the land and battlefield descriptions were amazing, I was in awe and heartbroken by them.
Such an amazing read, I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to read it! ♥️ Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous, I’m in love!! So if you’re looking for an epic fantasy series with court intrigue, magical gifts and slow burn romance, this one might be for you!! 🙌📚
October 8, 2025
3.5/5 stars
The LeNoir Legacy is an ambitious and richly imagined fantasy that feels like a love letter to classic epic fantasy. It is full of political intrigue and a complex, rich world teeming with magic. The scope is impressive, and Cristen Jennette’s writing is vivid and confident, pulling readers into a setting that feels truly lived in.
That said, this is very much a world-first kind of fantasy. The plot moves quickly, sometimes with time leaps and shifting perspectives, and while that builds scale, it also creates distance for me. I found myself admiring the complexity rather than being immersed. The characters, though well-rounded and interesting, never quite broke through that emotional barrier for me. I never felt especially emotionally attached, even though the writing itself is polished and clearly crafted by a talented author. Rosealyn and Charles’s relationship develops slowly and makes sense within the story, but it lacks the spark I usually crave in a romance; likely because we don’t sit long enough in their inner worlds. That said, this feels like the start of much bigger character arcs, and I can easily see later installments delivering more emotional payoff.
Still, the world-building is incredibly rich, and you can feel that this is just the start of something larger. For readers who love detailed, lore-heavy fantasy with a touch of mythic grandeur, this will absolutely hit the spot. Personally, I just wanted a bit more emotional intimacy to balance all that epic scale.
The world is rich and fascinating, though the story’s structure sometimes works against it. The fast pace, time jumps, and multiple POVs made the plot a little confusing at times, and the ending felt abrupt. Some scenes also came off slightly choppy. Still, the imagination on display here is undeniable. I listened to the audiobook, and I thought the narrator did a great job bringing clarity and personality to such a layered story.
Thanks to the author and Hidden Hollow for the ALC. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The LeNoir Legacy is an ambitious and richly imagined fantasy that feels like a love letter to classic epic fantasy. It is full of political intrigue and a complex, rich world teeming with magic. The scope is impressive, and Cristen Jennette’s writing is vivid and confident, pulling readers into a setting that feels truly lived in.
That said, this is very much a world-first kind of fantasy. The plot moves quickly, sometimes with time leaps and shifting perspectives, and while that builds scale, it also creates distance for me. I found myself admiring the complexity rather than being immersed. The characters, though well-rounded and interesting, never quite broke through that emotional barrier for me. I never felt especially emotionally attached, even though the writing itself is polished and clearly crafted by a talented author. Rosealyn and Charles’s relationship develops slowly and makes sense within the story, but it lacks the spark I usually crave in a romance; likely because we don’t sit long enough in their inner worlds. That said, this feels like the start of much bigger character arcs, and I can easily see later installments delivering more emotional payoff.
Still, the world-building is incredibly rich, and you can feel that this is just the start of something larger. For readers who love detailed, lore-heavy fantasy with a touch of mythic grandeur, this will absolutely hit the spot. Personally, I just wanted a bit more emotional intimacy to balance all that epic scale.
The world is rich and fascinating, though the story’s structure sometimes works against it. The fast pace, time jumps, and multiple POVs made the plot a little confusing at times, and the ending felt abrupt. Some scenes also came off slightly choppy. Still, the imagination on display here is undeniable. I listened to the audiobook, and I thought the narrator did a great job bringing clarity and personality to such a layered story.
Thanks to the author and Hidden Hollow for the ALC. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
November 12, 2022
There was so much going on and even with all the different perspectives we get to see, there's still some unanswered questions that make me ready to dive into book W!
The beginning was a little slow but it did pick up as more and more conflict happened between attacks from outside forces and conflict among themselves, a lot was going on. Rose can seriously fight and I love it! She didn't really have to rely on Charles for anything besides the time she kinda couldn't refuse help. She did what needed to be done, only lost her head a little bit, but was pretty much set on attacking the main issue head on. Charles was the perfect bodyguard who I did not expect to have the backstory he did. I knew there was something but not that. I can't wait to see how both of their relationship develops because I wonder if that ship is gonna sail or sink based on the ending of the book.
I really enjoyed the world building in this! With all the different perspectives it allowed for more history behind certain things to be revealed and showed how much everything going in affects more than just Rose and Charles. The way the dragons and the swords work was really intriguing and I really wanna see how a certain dragon is gonna mature and how the end is affecting them and what the swords were meant for. We mainly saw the goings on of two ruling places but I wanna see what the others are up to since we got perspectives from places that we saw some issues happening that didn't pertain to the dragons or blades.
Overall loved this and am taking a small hour or so break before I dive into book 2 because I have to finish today so I know what else is happening!
The beginning was a little slow but it did pick up as more and more conflict happened between attacks from outside forces and conflict among themselves, a lot was going on. Rose can seriously fight and I love it! She didn't really have to rely on Charles for anything besides the time she kinda couldn't refuse help. She did what needed to be done, only lost her head a little bit, but was pretty much set on attacking the main issue head on. Charles was the perfect bodyguard who I did not expect to have the backstory he did. I knew there was something but not that. I can't wait to see how both of their relationship develops because I wonder if that ship is gonna sail or sink based on the ending of the book.
I really enjoyed the world building in this! With all the different perspectives it allowed for more history behind certain things to be revealed and showed how much everything going in affects more than just Rose and Charles. The way the dragons and the swords work was really intriguing and I really wanna see how a certain dragon is gonna mature and how the end is affecting them and what the swords were meant for. We mainly saw the goings on of two ruling places but I wanna see what the others are up to since we got perspectives from places that we saw some issues happening that didn't pertain to the dragons or blades.
Overall loved this and am taking a small hour or so break before I dive into book 2 because I have to finish today so I know what else is happening!
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