Broken Ones

by Mallory Bautsch

When Evalyn Impur was fifteen, her parents tried to kill her. But unlikely rescue arrived, and the girl spent years unraveling her purpose and identity in the wake of a tragic childhood. It's on the cusp of turning twenty that she finds Evalyn is a Faerie. Not only that-but the Lost Princess of the Kingdom of Faylinn, prophesied to be the grandest monarch in history. Guidance from the alluring Walfien Pax, Hand of the Queen, and the captivating Kalan Lupien, Alpha of Faylinn's wolf allies, makes Evalyn's identity easier to digest... but too good to be without a catch. The malicious King Oberon of Braena has been searching for Evalyn for two decades. His endeavors to reach Evalyn bring terror and anguish to her new home, and her eventual capture unearths a reality that is darker than her worst nightmares. As the truth of the King's desires are revealed, she must bear the heavy weight of making an impossible who was she? The same shattered soul she's always been, willing to risk unlikely victory in a continental war? Or, despite her brokenness, a leader worthy and able to save all that she's come to know and love-including herself? - The first novel in Mallory Bautsch's debut fantasy series, Broken Ones explores a journey of finding hope in pain, life in suffering, and joy in sorrow. Because we all need a way to piece ourselves back together.

371 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2023

Reviews

[mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Ones is everything I need in a YA fantasy novel! The characters all felt real and nuanced, every conversation, every interaction felt real and meaningful. The pacing of the book was perfect for me, it was fast paced, and yet nothing felt rushed or cut short. The politics were complex and Bautsch succeeded at explaining everything in a way that didn't feel "info-dumpy," or boring. The love interests were swoon-worthy, and complex in their own ways, and I appreciate greatly that Evalyn's relationship with both was genuine and completely different with each. Her relationships with her mother, and with her chamber maids were a delight to witness. I loved seeing Evalyn's development, and seeing her grow into her new roles, new friendships, and into new challenges. She's a character I quickly cared about, and she is certainly someone I found myself relating to. Broken, compassionate, curious, and above all brave. This world is incredibly interesting, I couldn't stop turning pages, I couldn't stop making theories on what would happen next, on what each character was up to. I had a blast reading this, and I am she excited to see what happens next in this series, because the cliffhanger at the end had me screaming silently in my room at 3am. Mallory Bautsch is an incredible story-teller, and I cannot wait to see how her writing grows, and how this story develops as more books come out! Five stars for me!!

[Della Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literally incredible. I was so lucky to read this book ahead of time, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity. Broken Ones is full of twists and turns, and is not what you'd expect from a YA fantasy novel. The characters were real and personable, and there was a balance between the characters' relationships and plot/politics. This book reminds me of ACOTAR and Girl, Serpent, Thorn for all the right reasons. The only reasons it didn't get 5 stars are because the names were a little hard to read and because there's room to grow in terms of writing style. I can't wait to see what Mallory Bautsch does in the future, considering this is her debut novel! I see so much potential and am so excited to see what she does next!

[Sarah Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the arc of this by the beautiful Mallory herself! First off all this was my first ever fantasy book so not sure what to expect but it took me off on a journey right from the start!! All the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!! Definitely an a million out of 5 stars for me! Mallory is a talent writer who knows how to write an entertaining, engaging and amazing fantasy book and I can’t wait to read more from her hopefully soon!! This will definitely be a highly anticipated book of the year in my opinion so if it’s not on your TBR I highly recommend you add it because this is probably one of my favorite books TO DATE!!!

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book so much and I think it was well executed. I am a really picky reader and thought Mallory did amazing job with her characters. While it was not perfectly written (most books aren’t) it sucked me in and had me emotionally invested in the characters and their journeys. I can’t wait for the second book to see their journey even more. I feel so thankful that ai had the opportunity to read this book early and think it is a great choice for a quick read with emotional impact.

[Maranda Bautsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Ones is one of the most well-written YA fantasy books I have ever read. It tells a beautiful story of overcoming brokenness through vivid emotion, thorough conflicts, dramatic and hooking action, and extremely well-developed characters. Mallory Bautsch's debut novel dives into Fae, romance, politics, war, and so much more. It will reel you in from the very first line. Be ready to be heart broken...and discover what it takes for hearts to mend.

[Nicole Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads all year long. Unlike a lot of other fantasy romance books, this one has more than just the relationship between the FMC and men. I absolutely adore the relationship between Evalyn and her mom. This was such a good read and I cannot wait for the sequel to come out!!