The Storms of Fury

Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles #2

by Isabella Khalidi

A prisoner of her own treacherous heart, the willing captive of a foreign kingdom.

She thought she had gained her freedom, only to be thrown back into another gilded cage. Locked away in the harem of her captor, Duna must hide her identity as a dangerous plan unravels right before her very eyes, one that if discovered could threaten the very foundation of the ancient Three Kingdoms.

He let her go once, she will not escape him a second time.

Her life hangs in the air as she makes a deal with a merciless ruler - one word from his beguiling lips and the monster from her nightmares will come for her. Her sanity and willpower are tested when the dark, enigmatic man of her past returns with a lethal determination - he will have his fill of her, no matter the cost.

The Storms of Fury is the second novel in an adult dark fantasy series the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles and is not meant to be read as a standalone. It contains strong language, explicit adult scenes, scenes of violence and death. It is intended for mature audiences only.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark, Fantasy Romance, Gods, Dark Romance

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2023

About the author

Isabella Khalidi is an adult dark romance & fantasy author. Her novels are deep and complex, filled with scorching romance that leaves the reader breathless and yearning for more. From an early age she has shown love for ancient lore and mythology, igniting her dream of one day becoming a successful author.

The Snows of Nissa is her first published novel, with the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles as her debut adult fantasy series.

Follow her on Instagram: isabellakhalidiauthor.

Reviews

[dani ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

”you will never be free of me, even when death takes you.” “i will follow you into the very pits of the underworld and drag you back into the land of the living if that is what it takes to have you by my side until the end of time.”

WOW. let me just tell you, i loved the snows of nissa and this sequel, the storms of fury did NOT disappoint!

the storms of fury begins directly after the snows of nissa ends, so if you haven’t read tson, do that first then come back to tsof to understand what is happening better!

the action and plot of this book begins from the very first page. duna is once again, a prisoner, at the mercy of someone else. duna would do absolutely anything to rid herself of her current circumstances. little did she know, her current situation would be a lot more complicated than she originally believed it to be.

struggling to keep from lashing out, cathal searches far and wide in order to find duna again. he would burn the world down if it meant he could one day find her and finally be hers once and for all.

little did duna know, their relationship would be a lot more complex than she ever thought to be possible. she would do anything to keep him safe. to keep him alive.

the storms of fury has a wonderful plot with tons of action, foreshadowing, and a romance full of spice! if you’re debating whether or not to read this series, i have a few words for you: the mmc wields shadows! that should be reason enough🫣

duna and cathal have a special place in my heart, and i flew through this book to continue to discover more and more about them and their story. i absolutely cannot wait to see where book three goes! isabella khalidi writes such a beautiful story, definitely go check this series out! <3

quotes i love:

“cathal was her one and only weakness, a brand on her heart and soul that she would forever carry with her wherever she went.” he’s my weakness too duna, it’s okay🫡

“haven’t you heard? they call me god.” REALLLLLL

“he didn’t have to voice his emotions for duna to realize that his heart belonged to her. just like duna’s heart belonged to him.”

“perhaps, she had always been his, even before their meeting, and her heart was finally just catching up.”

dunacathal my loves fr 🥹🩷

**major spoilers:**

I AM SO ANGRY. at duna. like i love the girl the so much but you’re telling me i had enough information to make a conclusion about cathal from their conversation, and she didn’t?? i hate miscommunication so much but i still love this book and the characters nonetheless.

cathal is my damaged baby and he deserves the world, hoping to see more of him in book three and getting himself and duna eternal mates?! and love confession/apology?? HOPING SO. i just need them to be happy and for duna to keep her promise she made to cathal ugh.

also, i wish madir was dead already. i already know he’s gonna end up playing a role again… and the ENDING?? i need to know what’s next. how dare we get left on another cliffhanger😩

[Rachel Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Storms of Fury picks up where The Snows of Nissa left off, with Duna being taken by Prince Faiz of the kingdom of Baqar to join his harem. She’s on the run from the abusive Prince Madir of the kingdom of Nissa. While General Cathal of the kingdom of Tyros, and secret god of death, looks frantically for her. Placing Duna at the intersection of three kingdoms, and playing a delicate balancing act. Prince Faiz seeks not a concubine, but a spy. With the agreement he won’t tell Prince Madir where to find her, Duna agrees. But Cathal doesn’t like to share…

The ending of the last book left me in such suspense! I was so happy to see Prince Faiz wasn’t an awful abusive prick like Prince Madir. Cathal is relieved to have found her, but as Duna refuses to reveal what she sees as weakness, she won’t tell him why she’s agreeing to the farce. She uncovers a plot by Princess Leila that involves Cathal directly, as the girl doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. I loved seeing Duna exploring and spying. It was a great way to explore the kingdom of Baqar. It also gave us more on the motivations of some characters like Princesses Leila and Arela.

Cathal and Duna remain entirely too hot together! I loved their scenes together and felt like I could just never get enough of them. They get a lot of page time together this book and the sex scenes! My god. Those sex scenes are phenomenal! They both seem to be the object of lust for many. Understandably! Cathal having Princesses of all kinds after him, not to mention every other woman who sees him. While Duna is being sought after by one Prince after another. Yet, they only want one another. Seeming to be drawn together. Like it’s fate, perhaps?

Only Princess Arela tells us quite the interesting story. One about eternal mates and how Fate herself will do anything to keep them apart, for they are too powerful together. Given Cathal’s visits to his mother and brother to uncover some truth he suspects of who Duna is, it’s left me with my own suspicions of what is going on here! I’m so excited to get more into the supernatural end of things. With the gods and goddesses we’ve caught glimpses of. Obviously, Cathal is front and center, but I feel like there’s much more here to explore!

Duna is also dealing with visions that keep happening. Causing her pain and seemingly transporting her elsewhere. It was a bit confusing at first, but it quickly made sense and left a tantalizing trail to follow to find out what is truly going on with Duna. We don’t know who, or what, she truly is. The visions gave us the groundwork, and the ending set things up for an explosive sequel, to be sure! I’m so excited to see what comes next after the revelation at the end!

This book seems largely transitional, bridging the gaps and giving us much needed information, along with smut, of course! The climax of the book is a surprise that ties into Duna’s visions, as I mentioned. The plot of this book is basically working through visions and information. Discovering who people are, uncovering secrets, researching about the visions. I really enjoyed going along and uncovering things with Duna. I’m excited for the next books, as it seems like things are heating up! Cathal’s mother and brother are definitely going to have more of a part to play. It seems like they will be doing everything they can to keep the two apart. And then there is Cathal’s thoughts of sacrifice to unravel still…

I seriously ate this book up and finished it in one day. Isabella’s writing sucks you into the world and characters. Everyone feels real and complex. The world is wide and full of new things to discover at every turn. Especially with this book being less action and more discovery. Though, there are several action scenes involving panthers I absolutely loved! It all added to making this world feel well rounded. Including all the bits steeped in mystery involving the gods and Duna’s backstory. I can’t wait for the next book to get some answers!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia (teastarsandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

intriguing idea but confusing

Thanks to the author for allowing me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book. These are my honest opinions after reading and are purely for readers.

The Storms of Fury picks up right where The Snows of Nissa left off with Duna being forced into a brothel for the Crown Prince. The book reveals more into who Duna really is and her background, dives more into the truth about the ties between Duna and Cathal (that I wish desperately had been more elaborated on in TSON), and digs deeper with Cathal into the prophecy.

All in all, absolutely intriguing. And I can definitely see some growth in the author’s prose and writing style as compared to Snows of Nissa. And the spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. The lore and world building,as always, is phenomenal.

However, this book is just honestly confusing. The pacing is ragged. There’s constantly events that, to the reader, make zero sense as to why they are happening. Characters’ actions often do not line up with their already established personalities—Duna suffers heavily from this. There’s also WAY too many plot lines going to the point they were hard to keep track of and frankly to make sense of. Is their romance the main plot? Is Duna’s true identity the main plot? Is the prophecy and Cathal’s storyline the main plot?

The book honestly feels messy, lacks structure, and uses the word “organ” just way… way too much. (Please just say “heart”. I can’t begin to describe the level of discomfort the overuse of “organ” gives me)

[petite tortue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so angry at every character of this book.
Here's an non exhaustive list of things it made me want to shout, without context :

YOU'RE RIGHT YOU'RE NOT LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS. WE'RE BETTER THAN YOU!!

I DON'T WANT TO KNOW HOW SEXY THE LEGS OF THE LOVE INTEREST'S MOTHER ARE!! WHY WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEM??

WHY DO YOU SPEND 99% OF YOUR TIME TRAINING WHEN THE WHOLE CONTINENT IS AT PEACE??

THE SO CALLED LOVE OF YOUR LIFE IS AS INTERESTING AS A BLOCK OF MARBLE!!

omg, just read Flames Of Chaos and learn something

[Amanda Gruber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has taken me a while to decide what I felt.

The world building, characters, and religion is amazing as always. And this is why I will always come back to these books.

My issues feel nitpicky but here they are:

The amount of love triangles and everybody loves everybody thing is a little irritating and doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere.

Cathal and Duna talk about trust and honesty and they clearly don’t know what that means. The miscommunication thing is SO irritating.

Lastly, and my biggest problem, is it feels like the author writes with a thesaurus. I know what every word means but they’re not words used in common conversations. Instead of my eyes hurts it’s “the organ throbs painfully”. Or instead of I memorized her face it’s “I placed it in my cortex”. Not kidding. The words cortex, organ, and lest I found way overused.

[Madisyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found this book enjoyable but not quite as much as the first. I do appreciate that this is an actual slow burn book. They finally get together in book 2 which makes the tension in book 1 worthwhile when you get to the point here. The writing overall is okay (see below) and makes for a fast paced read.

When you read this you can see I have a lot of what I didn't like parts and they are all flaws but I still enjoyed this overall. It's not the best book but a fun read

What to expect:
✨Fated Mates
✨Multi POV
✨Unknown/Mystery Identity
✨Spicy 3/5
✨Shadow daddy
✨Telepathic talking
✨Connection to Animals
✨Miscommunication trope 🙃

What I liked:
✅I thought the pacing and overall writing was done well (there is con to this as well!). It's easy to read and understand, making you fly right through this book.
✅I am a sucker for animals, so anytime they are in a story it always gets a bonus for me.
✅This book is pretty spicy, book 1 seems tame compared to this! I think overall it is done well. I felt some tension and honestly I like that more than the spice sometimes!
✅Cathal is your definition of broody and morally morally grey. But he does care for Duna. Sometimes a bit too much but he ticks a lot of marks.

What I disliked:
🆗Duna, she annoyed me a bit in this book. She had growth with her self in how she acted at the end of book two so kudos there that I liked. But her relationship and her doubting of Cathal's feelings was annoying. I hate a miscommunication trope. Luckily it didn't last long but to me it's an easy way to add problems between MCs that isn't necessary.
❌I wish we had more going on in this book. It's highly focused on Cathal and Duna with some sprinkle of mystery on Duna's past. Which I love but we needed more of it + something else.
❌The ending was like a repeat of last time, which shows a lack of development in the story IMO.
🆗So there are some weird writing moments, words that aren't used often. Like organ for heart, or mushroom for p***s (LOL) and I think it has to do with the fact that this author is not a US native speaker so they could be trying to find words that match. It's weird and makes you pause but not an overall big issue IMO.
❌Cathal’s ex needs to stop and it’s an annoying subplot that should have ended before it started. I see some tie in but we saw too much of it

[sairs_readsandreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok well after reading the second book in the series my head is spinning!

There is so much going on in this book and although there is a strong romance, I’m actually just engrossed in the story more so!

I just need to know what’s going on! The plot has twists and turns and this book ended on a cliff, where we finally start to see a bit more about Duna and her past.

To me, it’s been a teensy bit frustrating as Cathal and Duna just cannot communicate and to be honest they are pretty toxic… in a different way to her and Madir. I wish they would just talk to each other rather than just keep getting the wrong end of the stick all the time! You just want to hit their heads together!

The spice is good but honestly I’m here for the plot and the way it’s unfolding. I think Duna has been so oblivious at times and some of her reactions seem silly to me, but it’s such a gripping, evolving story it’s entertaining. The author does warn that at times these characters will make decisions we might not agree with! They are definitely messy at times.

I can’t wait to find out what happens next though, the backstory is really interesting and makes me want to keep reading, we’ve had some more political intrigue, definitely some betrayals, plots going on in the background, so jam packed! The plot reveals are slow but its been so fun to find out more as we go along and it not just be laid out for the reader.

The writing style has improved from the first book, I have still seen some unusual phrasing and unfamiliar terms to me but I have got used to the author's style now and it definitely flows well and gripped me anyway.

I thought there were potentially inconsistencies in the story but I am hoping as it has become clearer before, that this will be resolved as we go along. Some of Duna’s back story seemed different, however as she gets visions and flashbacks, I’m thinking there is a reason to those gaps in her memory and it will all play out as the series progresses.

I’d still say the shadow daddy action is quite low for me although there is more shadow time in this book! The scenes between Cathal and Duna are getting progressively steamier, I am really enjoying there burn across the books and I feel like there is so much more to come! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles by Isabella Khalidi, and it picks up exactly where book 1 leaves you. This series continues to follow Duna and all her adventures into the different areas of the Kingdom.
This novel brings her into the Kingdom of Baqar with Prince Fiaz and his harem of women. Duna becomes kidnapped and is thrust into the life of the Royal Concubine, but her job is not what you may expect.
Prince Fiaz proves to Duna that not all men are evil or assholes. For as big of a part that he plays in this novel, he wasn't in the book enough for me. I would've enjoyed reading more with him present in the book.
Duna returns with her strength that I loved about her from the 1st book. Although through this book I started to question ..... who really is Duna? What's her past?
Cathal and Duna build their relationship with the foundation that they started in book one. The spice was heightened between them. I feel like there is more to a past together, or they have some kind of similar past history. Are they "fated mates"?
As we get answers to some questions, when we start to get glimpses of their pasts, we end up with more unanswered ones. Bring on the cliffhanger ending again... book 3.... where are you?!
Thank you to Isabella Khalidi for the ARC. This is 100% my own opinion and review.

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storms of Fury by Isabella Khalidi is the second book in the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles and is a dark fantasy romance story. It features a female warrior who finds herself in the middle of male leaders of competing kingdoms and myths that encompass all the kingdoms. Tropes include forbidden romance, shadow daddy, touch her and die, and a possessive MMC. Trigger warnings for graphic and explicit content on page - this is a book where you really do need to check the trigger warnings list before reading because there is a lot of explicit content.

The Lovely: I loved the new kingdom we were introduced to - the writing really let the reader experience being in the world. In general, the author’s writing is descriptive and lush.

The Mundane: There is a lot more world building in the second bike and it did start to get a bit confusing, especially the tie between Duna and Cathal. I felt like I needed to keep notes about the prophecies and myths.

The Dreadful: Much more so than book one, I felt like the pacing and ensuing had some starts and stops that felt sudden or like it lurched. Some of this I think had to do with what scenes were intended to do. Some were world building, some were relationship focused. I would have liked to see more continuity in the tension.

Rating: 4/5 Stars 3/5 Flames

Recommendation: This book delivers as a dark and spicy fantasy romance. Books one and two are currently available (Nov 2023) and the next two books are due out in early/mid 2024. It is quite spicy with the number and content of explicit scenes. I cannot wait for book three to come out next year, especially given the cliffhanger ending. If you like spicy fantasy romance with a strong FMC and gods and myths, I think you would like this book.

[Hillary Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC, so I won’t spoil anything. I’ll just say…OH. MY. GOD.

The Storms of Fury was INCREDIBLE. The action, the mystery of what’s going on with Duna, the friendships, AND THE SPICE are all so fantastic.
Duna is a great FMC because she has flaws like the rest of us. If there’s a conclusion to be made about anything, girlie is straight JUMPING. But she’s brave, charming, even if she doesn’t know what a filter is, and an extreme badass.
Prince Faiz is a fun addition to the story. I really liked his character and would absolutely love a story just about him.
BUT CATHAL 🥵 dear, sweet baby Jesus. That man is just another addition to the Shadow Daddy list. He is utter perfection. And the mouth on him 🫠
Leila can kick rocks and stub her big toe over and over and over. I hope her pillow is always warm and her bed filled with crumbs.
Both books are written in a way that you just have to keep reading.. adult responsibilities be damned. Everything going on in Kingdom of Tyros and also Cathal’s background was interesting to learn about. Just know going in that Isabella’s specialty seems to be cliffhangers, which she does so well 🤣
I need books 3&4 ✨NOW PLEASE✨

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start off right where book one ended and for me this is amazing. It's like you've never been away from the characters.

At the end of book one I had questions, so many questions and I'm happy that some of those were answered in book two. We get so much more information about Dunas past and I'm here for it!

The spice, the angst, the slow burn and the moment where the enemies finally become more is ** chefs kiss ** we all love a MMC with a filthy mouth and this one ticked all those boxes for me.

We get so much more worldbuilding and detail in this book. It really helped me picture the surroundings, and the new side characters that were introduced were amazing.

As always due to being an unfinished series this one ended on a major cliffhanger.. so I need book three ASAP!

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘
• forbidden romance
• forced proximity
• dual pov
• angsty
• curses
• shadow daddy

[Sammar Fawaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my initial experience reading an advance reader copy (ARC). Unfortunately, I encountered some difficulties accessing my accounts after acquiring a new phone, resulting in this delayed review.

Let me begin by expressing my deep admiration for the first book. It resonated with me on multiple levels. Regarding this particular installment, I found the middle and ending sections quite enjoyable. However, I must confess that the beginning failed to captivate me enough to finish it in a single day. Nevertheless, I am committed to reading the entire series because it genuinely piques my interest. If you were a fan of the first book, I wholeheartedly recommend this one as well. It belongs to that category of literature that leaves you yearning for more. I eagerly anticipate the release of the next installment.

[Mailise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues the amazing romantasy that is the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles. The book picks up right where The Snows of Nissa stops, and we get some answers to our burning questions.

More is revealed about Duna's past. We get to see more of the heavenly gods and find out why the general is living amongst humans. We also finally find out what went on with the Princess and more about her family's history. Most importantly we finally get the moment we've all been waiting for between our favorite characters (iykyk)🌶

As always, this book is so spicy hot that you should probably drink some milk as you read. I love the absolute filth that the men in these books say to their women. Absolute perfection 🖤

This book ends on a cliffhanger that, of course, leaves you anxiously awaiting the next book. I hope we get it soon because I need more answers!!

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

One month after having been left in a tricky situation in the cliffhanger ending of the Snows of Nissa, Duna's main priority remains to stay hidden. Her determination in doing so means that even being groomed for Navajo's royal harem feels like an acceptable compromise. As far as hiding and anonymity go, is doing such good work that even the no longer betrothed Cathal has no idea of his proximity to her, in spite of having stayed in the city just to find her. Things get further complicated as the next time they lay eyes on each other happens to be Crown Prince Faiz's birthday, during which Duna, among other recently acquired women, is presented to the heir for his selection of a personal concubine.
As Duna's headaches, visions, strange sensations and even stranger dreams intensify, she is offered a bargain, which will allow her to achieve two main priorities: to remain hidden and to be able to train her mind and body to once again become the formidable warrior that she had allowed herself to leave behind in the White City as Madir's plaything. But this bargain will also place an obstacle in the way of Duna's and Cathal's need to belong to each other. As Duna and Cathal are pushed together by an inexplicably deep connection, secrets are kept and clues to their very existence are revealed.
This book is the second in a series (Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles).
🔞 Author's TW: contains strong language, explicit sexual scenes, scenes of violence and death. It is intended for mature audiences only.❌⚠️

💭Just like in the first book in this series, the wonderfully descriptive, flowy writing is cemented as the gateway that brings scenery and backdrops, in this case the warm and seductive city of Navajo, to life in all its colourful splendour. The beautifully visual writing style further benefits the more fantastical scenes as it allows readers, particularly those who may not be very used to fantasy, to dive in and visualise these.
Character building is once again on point. Not only are new, multi-layered characters introduced, but the existing ones are developed further as the series' main plot unfolds.
Although there are some fighting scenes, including flashbacks to war scenes, the main plot isn't as action packed as it could be, but nevertheless, it is well balanced alongside character and world building.

Where in my opinion this book falls short of the top mark is in its sub-plots. There is potential, but it fizzles out into what feels like slightly moot loose ends. Also worth mentioning that the language and very explicit adult scenes prevent maximum accessibility. Duna and Cathal's relationship is again mainly physical, which made me crave some more development on an emotional level. It would also have been good to get more of an insight into Faiz's character as he shows promise, but as this is somewhat lacking, I found his final scene a bit rushed and not very believable.

On a personal note, I devoured this story in under a day, which is always a great sign. The Storms of Fury is a book packed with intrigue and obstacles, which work wonderfully within a muti layered storyline that sets enough fires blazing to reward all the frustrating slow burn from The Snows Of Nissa.

For full disclosure, I received this book for free in exchange for a voluntary and unbiased review.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

BE WARNED! You need to have read The Snows of Nissa before this book and if you haven’t read that yet, there may be spoilers ahead for Book One!

So much has happened since we left Duna and Cathal Ragnar, The General, at the end of Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles Book One The Snows of Nissa. This book picks up a little bit after Duna was taken captive by the agents of Prince Fiaz’s Court. In these months she has been tutored and prepared to be presented to him as his Official Royal Concubine. In that time, Cathal has not seen Duna and, according to reports and not so subtle jabs from his friends and confidants, the man has been miserable trying to find her. Although this is a wonderful romantic read, this book is filled with what I enjoy in a fantasy: court intrigues, mythologies, world building, as well as royal and personal histories that always remind me that this is a world in turmoil.

Cathal has ended his betrothal to the Princess, and she is actually hunting him down now to prove her love and desire for him. There is an obsessed Prince hunting Duna down for daring to defy him and escape his control. There is a new Princess who feels prophecy has named her as Cathal’s fated mate. There is a mysterious library, new animal familiars, and a war happening in the heavens, along with a collection of aging Kings whose sons are just waiting to ascend their fathers’ thrones. This is a world in which prophecy and passion, feuds and friendships, personal missions and public mythologies all commingle to keep the balance between Chaos and Order. Does that sound complicated enough? But it all works together to establish the tensions and rising passions that make this book work so well. As you can guess, the stakes in this book are getting higher as we move into Book Three. Lovers are meeting and parting. New friends are being found while forging new alliances, and old allies are nowhere to be seen. Everything is being called into question and nothing can be said to be known anymore. Characters I thought I knew and understood are doing things that make me wonder about them and their motivations. And family loyalties are being questioned and tested in ways that I never thought were possible.

The only thing that I can truly be sure of in the world of The Forgotten Kingdom is that Isabella Khalidi’s power as an author has grown tremendously since Book One. She has a prose style that is even tighter than before which hooked me from the first chapter. Her visual writing style makes the action of this book play out as vividly in my mind as if I’m watching a movie. Her command of the complexities of how all these different cultures, courts, characters, and intrigues connect and diverge draws me deeper into seeing how this world has been built. And finally, her command of the mythology that forms the backbone of this book brings an eerie quality to this story with subtle hints and references to stories I remember from my childhood. And yes, I saved the last point to be about her sensual, inventive and jaw droppingly hot off the charts open door scenes that showcase the power which Duna and Cathal create when together. In a simple phrase : This is a book that I couldn’t stop reading and I cannot stop thinking about!

I read this as an ARC and this is my own review!

[Razzle Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚ARC REVIEW📚

The Storms of Fury by Isabella Khalidi
(The Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles, Book 2)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/3
Genres: fantasy, romance
Tropes: fated mates, secret identity, alpha MMCC

This book is a dual POV between Cathal (MMC) and Duna (FMC)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think this book is stronger than the first in the series, which makes me think they’ll just keep getting better as the series goes on. Duna was pretty funny in this book, and we get to learn more about her background. Cathal felt less annoying in this book, but he also wasn’t around for as much.

I felt that the characters were a little more consistent than they were the last book, but still had instances where their actions/reactions didn’t feel realistic or consistent with their established personalities.

There is this weird dynamic between the two different POVs. Duna’s feels very immature (“I like this boy, does he like me back?”) while Cathal is more serious (concerned with figuring out the prophecy and the opening of gateways). It almost makes you feel like you’re reading two different books at times.

There are still discrepancies/things that don’t make sense with the plot. I try not to “double dip” (like if something doesn’t make sense in book 1, I try not to mark down for it in book 2) but it was difficult because a lot of the plot issues I had with book 1 have reoccurring discussions about them in book 2.

Overall, the plot is intriguing but I just can’t get in to it for some reason.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this to read ✨




‼️‼️ book specific notes, may contain spoilers ‼️‼️

-I don’t understand why Duna didn’t want Cathal to recognize her at the harem? Does she not realize he would likely be able to help her?

-I’m confused about the animal stuff. It seems like there are quite a few that are drawn to her, or can communicate with her, or whatever. But not all? What is it so random?

-the fact that Duna thought Cathal wouldn’t recognize her with a veil over only half her face is concerning

-Duna has a moment towards the middle of the book where she freaks out because she doesn’t think Princess Leila will just let Cathal leave her. However, Duna has not been privy (at that point) to any of the crazy things the princess has been doing, so why would she jump to the conclusion?

-they talk so much about getting headaches/sweats/heart palpitations/chills whenever they are near each other. How come Cathal didn’t sense Duna spying in the hallway when Leila kissed him?

-the change of heart Mikella has when she starts helping Duna (as opposed to Madir, who she was supposed to be super loyal to) doesn’t make a ton of sense. Towards the end of the book, she tells Duna that she felt bad he was hurting her but it still feels a bit inconsistent with her character

-Cathal describes his mom’s breasts as “perfectly shaped” 🤮 seek therapy, my dude

-why would Duna not tell Cathal that she say his crazy ex purchasing what is essentially a love potion (that could kill him in high doses)?

[Bellaturnsthepage · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5/5 | 🌶️ 4/5 | Dark Fantasy Romance | Forbidden Romance | Possessive MMC | Fantastical Beasts |Hidden Identity | Gods & Myths

First off, just a reminder of the explicit spice and how the characters are flawed, immoral, possessive, and unashamed. Storms of Fury starts right of where Snows of Nissa ended. There was a lot of anticipation as to how Duna’s story would unfold. Personally, I liked Snows of Nissa better because I felt more empowered reading Duna’s POV, she was such a badass in book 1 that I wanted that to keep going. Don’t get me wrong, we still get a little bit of it as she will always be a fierce warrior, but you get more of the romantic aspect of Duna and Cathal’s relationship here. This sequel was also more focused on continuing that world building aspect and learning the mythology that involves Cathal and Duna’s identity which was definitely VERY intriguing. A lot of information to process, enough for me to see the direction where it’s going but also leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions.

All the torture we got from Duna and Cathal not able to be together FINALLY ends and we get it all – of course not without complications as it still is a forbidden romance. The reunion between the two as expected was intense and smoldering. We get to see a lot more of the general and his vulnerable side which was devastatingly delicious – and despite that romance soaring to new heights, we do not lose Cathal’s filty mouth. Yay for the smut lovers. LOL

I wish Duna would stop internalizing so much. This will be her demise, but you do get the understanding why she is the way that she is, it just got infuriating towards the end. I also wanted more of a revelation as to her connection with the fantastical beasts, her interactions with them though were so beautifully described that I was getting emotional just like towards the end of Nissa.

As for the secondary characters, I feel like a lot them floated through the book. Missed opportunity? Possibly or maybe, we get to see more of them in Book 3. I’m talking specifically about the Princes Faiz, Edan and Valen.

We are left once again with a torturous ending! I will say that Khalidi’s writing is very engaging – there was a lot of information being loaded into me, yet I did not feel overwhelmed. I look forward to the next book because I know that with how this one ended, it will be packed with so much.

[Melinda T · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is getting better, but it still needs better editing


Overall, the storyline is decent. I really really want to like this series more, but the writing is so messy that I kept getting jerked out of the story. The grammar and overall editing desperately need several honest beta readers to help tighten everything up.

l'll still continue reading the series


**Spoilers below**


- In the first book, I did my best to ignore Duna's inconsistent personality. But it just continues in this book. She was supposedly the best elite warrior in the army, who was able to keep up while sparring with Cathal, who happens to be a literal god. Then, during the course of the first book, and well into the second book, Duna becomes a naive little girl who seems to have forgotten how formidable she was in the army. I understand her trauma from how her grandmother died, and I absolutely know how mental and physical abuse from a partner can ruin years of self-esteem, but Duna didn't even try to reclaim anything when she escaped Madir and made it to Baqar, she just gave up when another prince claimed her. Duna didn't try to escape the harem (and I am sure she could have very easily), AND she hid from Cathal, the General of the army she serves in, instead of using his status as her military superior to get her out of the harem. There are so many obvious holes in Duna's story.

⁃ Cathal is acting like an idiot who forgot he is a LITERAL GOD. He can manipulate shadows, shadow travel great distances, is a powerful warrior, and, oh yeah, HE. IS. A. GOD! He can hear Duna's thoughts, yet he was unaware when she was nearby when Leila came to his room. He has so much power at his command, yet he allows the mortal kings and princes to boss him around all the time, even when he could easily use his influence as General who has aided the royals several times, to make them listen. He has been around for countless centuries, yet he thinks and acts as though he is his supposed age of 30-something.

⁃ I really hope Leila's subplot has a point beyond her just being a complete spoiled brat who is obsessed with Cathal. And what the heck is with the whole fated-mate thing. It just doesn't feel like it is being used properly.

Time to start book 3 and hope for more clarification and better editing

[Ashley Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Storms of Fury
Author: Isabella Khalidi
Series: Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles #2
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Spice:🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

If you like:
• Forced Proximity
• Forbidden romance
• Dual POV
• Curses
• Angsty
• Spicy AF
• Shadow Daddy
• Mythology / legends

The Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles is a dark fantasy series filled with action, mystery, and an intricate plot will have you on the edge of your seat.

Duna escapes the Kingdom of Nissa and becoming Prince Madir's prisoner only to end up running right into the arms of the Kingdom of Baqar and Prince Faiz's royal harem.

General Cathal spends months searching high and low for Duna, going mad at the thought of not being able to find her. Losing her isn't an option. Cathal will stop at nothing short of burning the world to ashes just to have her in his arms and by his side. When Duna and Cathal finally come together, it's explosive and full of lust. I couldn't get enough of them. They way they're pulled towards one another constantly. I love that even though they both have others interested in them, they only have eyes for each other. The spice in this book is carnal and erotic. I couldn't get enough of broody General Cathal and his shadows.

I love that Duna is a badass warrior woman who trains with soldiers, captains and panthers every single day. I also like that she has a bond with any animal or beast she comes across. I can't wait to see what bigger part Duna has to play in future books.

Things really start to change when Duna begins to have dreams and visions of someone's memories. She's doesn't understand what's going on, but she starts trying to do research about the past and figure out what she's seeing in her dreams. Then she ends up finding out about General Cathals past and some of the secrets. Things begin to unfold and even though Duna doesn't remember, she won't be able to outrun fate. Duna's destiny is coming for her!

Isabella Khalidi did a fantastic job with The Storms of Fury. From beginning to end, I was completely enthralled. The way this author sets up each book is phenomenal. The author has done a fantastic job with the in depth world building leaving the reader completely captivated! I can not recommend this series enough, it's a 10/10.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆｡°✩ Spoiler Free Reviews ⋆｡°✩

4.5 stars.

Oh wow. Oh shit.. that was A LOT.

Okay so if you’re reading reviews, it’s cause your hesitant to read book 2. I say: do it. Read the book. Don’t take my word for anything, read the book for yourself!

This book focuses on Duna and her life in the Kingdom of.. fuck knows. Honestly there are so many Kingdoms and royal families and characters that my head spins. The King of this place (or Crown Prince? Idfk) is Faiz, and Duna is back in Navajo. She’s been taken into Faiz’s court.

We see how she fares there, how her and Mikella interact (she get more tolerable I promise!) we see Cathal, and the deception and lies and lore and talk of Gods that we were hinted to in book 1.

There was more smut in this book, more possessiveness and more.. what’s the word for it? The trope where there is an obstacle at every corner? Isabella Khalidi does VERY well at keeping the plot moving - I can see (for now) how this series goes on for 5 books cause I feel like in 350+ pages, we simultaneously uncovered SO much and did SO little. But that ending.. wow even though it was 2 chapters at most, it spoke volumes!

I didn’t think I wanted to read book 3, The Sands Of Time, once I’d finished this one.
2 days ago I started reading this book, got to 9% and was struggling so I was gonna DNF. The following morning I’d forgotten my decision, and started reading again, where I then devoured up to 52%! Okay, so clearly I wanna keep reading it. I then devoured it all of last night, and then reluctantly left the last 8% of the book to this morning because it was hella late.

I was still hesitant when I left it last night, I’d enjoyed this book but wasn’t going to continue, happy to leave it at the end of book 2.. and then I read the final 8% this morning. And DAMN IT I’m a sucker for the trope that features at the end. I want more lore, I want more angst and I definitely want to see more of the plot (and of Cathal cause phew that man..)

All that to say, I’ve downloaded book 3, The Sands Of Time from KU already, so after a brief respite to read another book, I’ll resume this series I think!

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Storms Of Fury (TSOF) is the second book in the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles, an adult dark fantasy series. It picks up where The Snows Of Nissa (TSON) left off. Our FMC, Duna, has been forced into Prince Faiz's harem. She's not keen on being a concubine but she appreciates being within the Kingdom of Baqar, far away from Prince Madir and the Kingdom of Nissa.

While being presented to Crown Prince Faiz during a celebration of his 34th birthday (as a gift from his mother), she is shocked to see General Cathal and uses her face covering to try and hide from him, but he would know her anywhere! He has been trying to find her, and will not let her go.

"I will not share you with anyone, Duna. I've let you have your little fun with that princeling of yours, but no more. You are mine. It is time you finally accepted it, once and for all."

Fortunately, the Prince wants Duna (aka Shebez) as his spy. He knows she's running from Madir and promises to keep her hidden as long as she agrees.

While Duna endeavours to keep a low profile in order to be able to spy for the Prince, she also resumes her training. One day she sees something which catches her eye, and when she pursues the trail, she sees Cathal with his ex-fiance. It seems that while she and Cathal were getting reacquainted, they were both keeping secrets from each other.

In addition to all of that, we are also clued in to Duna's visions and her background, as well as provided insight into the royal family in the Kingdom of Tyros, and more.

In a word, this book is... delectable! There is so much going on, as well as a ton of chemistry and spice between Duna and Cathal. The book ends in a cliffhanger, and The Sands of Titans (book 3) is not expected until March 2024. Khalidi is such a tease!

You must read this book. Until you do, I'll leave you will a just a few of my favourite lines:

"Enough with the talking. Are we fighting or having a tea party?"

"You want to play, kitty cat? Let's play."

"Are you trying to make me angry, woman?"
"Are you going to answer my question, man?"

"Haven't you heard? They call me God."

[Mollie Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAAAAAH.

Now listen. I LOVED TSON, I really did. But this? This has just stepped up the game. The intricacies of the plot that Isabella weaves are so incredibly well done. I love that my brain was working as I was reading, I was piecing together the details alongside Duna and it gave me such a feeling of being right there beside our ferocious warrior. The way this woman worldbuilds has me in awe. I have such a vivid image in my head of every single setting she takes us to, and it is stunning. Its a real pleasure to read and it just enhances the reader experience no end.

The spice? Scorching. Several times I had to take a minute to cool down once Duna and the General finally got down to business. 🥵🥵🥵 the sexual tension between those two could be cut with a knife at all times and I LOVE IT.

My favourite thing about this series is how it just absolutely does not shy away from the hard stuff. I've read so many books where trauma is just magically forgotten, but even after months we are still seeing the knock on effects of what Duna endured at the White Palace. It's so true to life and gritty and it shows that even badass strong warriors can struggle and that nobody is immune to feeling. As a therapist, this is something that is really important to me - i need more authors to take a leaf out of Isabella's book and show the real life impact of trauma/mental health when writing - even in a romantasy novel. Thank you for doing it justice.

Being a part of Isabella's Street Team is an absolute joy. This woman works so damn hard to do her stories and her readers justice and this absolutely stunning book is the proof of that. I'm so proud and honoured to be supporting you whilst you're writing these incredible books, and I already cannot wait to read the next one.

If The Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles isn't on your TBR, then get it on there because it is everything you want and need and more.

[Jennifer Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been anticipating this book for months now, because let’s face it…Isabella had me hooked on these characters with book 1. After the ending of book 1 I have been dying to know what happens with Duna, Cathal and Faiz. Thankfully we don’t have to wait long because this book picks up right where The Snows of Nissa leaves off. Duna is now unwillingly a part of the prince’s harem and biding her time to find a way to escape. Unbeknownst to her, Cathal has been searching for her, and is beating himself up for leaving her in Nissa. Surprisingly he discovers that she’s been in Faiz’s Kingdom where he himself has been for weeks. When he realizes that she’s part of the harem he almost loses it, but what he doesn’t know is that Faiz and Duna have come to an arrangement. She will be his spy, and he will keep her location a secret from Prince Madir of Nissa in exchange for her becoming his choice concubine. She accepts the deal, and begins to piece herself back together after how broken she felt when she ran from Madir. She begins her training again, and of course Cathal insists on handling that himself. Things only escalate from there. So many of our questions from book 1 are answered, but we are left with so many more! Things are revealed concerning Duna and Cathal that will change things for them in the future. But these two together are explosive! There’s an undeniable chemistry and pull between them that defies everything they’ve ever known! This storyline and plot were so well written and executed that it kept me turning the pages for more. And these characters are just outstanding! Faiz was really an unsung hero for me. And getting more insight into the three princes of Scythia was just amazing! I cannot wait for me on these characters! But Cathal…without a doubt that man is THE Shadow Daddy! I highly recommend this book and this series! I can’t get enough!

[theromantasybookcorner._ · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝙼𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝙵𝚄𝚁𝚈 𝙱𝚈 𝙸𝚂𝙰𝙱𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝙺𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙳𝙸
☆𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️//𝟻
☆𝙶𝙴𝙽𝚁𝙴: 𝙰𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢
☆𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂: 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟸 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙶𝙾𝚃𝚃𝙴𝙽 𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶𝙳𝙾𝙼 𝙲𝙷𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙸𝙲𝙻𝙴𝚂 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂

Ahhhhh!! Another amazing read from the incomparable Isabella Khalidi! The Storms of Fury is Book 2 in The Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles and picks up right where Book 1 leaves off.

I loved getting back into this world😍 I really loved getting to know more about Duna and I think this book was a really good set up for the future of the series. I could see the way Isabella was placing all the pieces of the puzzle together! I loved the expansion of the world building and the lore/mythology of their world. Isabella really does such a fantastic job of using imagery so you feel like you are actually there with Duna in Baqar.

And let’s talk about the General. We all love a dirty-talking Shadow Daddy and Cathal DELIVERS. Oh my god this man has me BLUSHING. Isabella is a true master at writing spice and the spice in this book will have you SWOONING! I was SO happy when two of our characters finally got together 😍😍😍😍 I’m not gonna say who because… spoilers but it was everything I hoped it would be and more! I lived for the moments in this book when Cathal showed his softer side, too🩷

This was such an amazing continuation of Duna and Cathal’s story 🥰 I loved it so much and already need Book 3 because this one ends on a cliffhanger!! I can’t wait to see where the story goes and to find out more about my favorite characters!!

Thank you so much Isabella for having me on your ARC and Street Team! I received an ARC of this book but am leaving this review voluntarily 🥰🩷

꧁★☾★꧂

🔥𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜🔥
☾𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
☾𝙶𝚘𝚍𝚜 & 𝚖𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚜
☾𝙲𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚜
☾𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢
☾𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎
☾𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝
☾𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚢
☾𝙳𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝙾𝚅
☾𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚜
☾𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜
☾𝚂𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝙵𝙼𝙲 & 𝙼𝙼𝙲

꧁★☾★꧂ꕥ꧁★☾★꧂

[Jojos_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️“𝙈𝙮 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙮 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜.” 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧. 𝙎𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙞𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙚’𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙮𝙨𝙨.”

⚔️The Storms of Fury by Isabella Khalidi, book 2 in the Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles series, is an epic adventure from beginning to end.

The foreshadowing in this book was on point. I loved how Duna’s character was raw and experienced real emotions. The love story in this one will make you melt, but is not for the faint of heart. 🫠

Cathal is such a complex well written character and I love seeing these two interact. The twists and turns in this book will have you on the edge of your seat. I loved the side characters, the good and bad ones.

That ending!!!🧗🤯 I can't wait to see where book three takes us, and to learn more about these characters tragic back stories.

Read if you enjoy: epic world-building, strong heroines, morally grey MMCs, dark spicy romances, fantasy with all the magical creatures, and action-packed fight scenes.

Genre: Dark Adult Fantasy
Series: Forgotten Kingdom Chronicles - Book 2
Publication Date: September 18th, 2023
Pages: 364
⭐-4.5
🌶️-3.5

Tropes:
✔️Hidden Identity
✔️Sassy Strong FMC
✔️Possessive Brooding MMC
✔️Big Size Difference
✔️Dark & Intense
✔️Fantastical Beasts
✔️Dual POV
✔️Gods & Myths
✔️Shadow Daddy
And More…

Included with Kindle Unlimited!

‼️🔞⚠️Series contain strong language, explicit sexual scenes, scenes of violence & death. It is intended for mature audiences only 18+. ⚠️🔞‼️

[Samantha Howard-Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom! There it is! The perfect continuation to where we left the story from The Snows of Nissa.
Quick recap, we saw the mighty female warrior Duna, go on a search for a kidnapped princess and finds herself in a bit of a love/lust triangle, during which she slowly gets manipulated and loses herself, only to escape and end up in another cage in a completely different setting.

Well we find out that our suspicions about the princess are just but we still don’t entirely know what exactly she is capable of.

Finally Duna and Cathal find each other, but both keep secrets from one another close to their hearts in order to protect the other, not realising the damage they are actually doing.

It is at this point you may find yourself screaming at the characters as if they can hear you.

The spice element in the book, equally rivals that of the first, but this time I was ready for it, I practiced staring at the sun so my eyes could handle the heat and boy it doesn’t disappoint, yes it’s steamy but it’s all relevant to the story and the characters personalities, the possessiveness and touch her and you die, you belong to me now! Wow, it honestly has you on the edge of your seat.

What I loved most about this story, is that all the way through here and there are the extra bits of detail woven through, like the exquisitely bright colours and golden thread of the outfits that the harem wear.
You get snippets of background information just when you need it the most, to change your perspective of a character just like that of Prince Faiz.

I do not want to spoil anything for those of you who read this, but the ending! I need the third book asap is all I’m going to say.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally getting around to my review of this awesome book. (It's been a week)

If you haven't read Snows of Nissa (Book 1) by @isabellakhalidiauthor
Go ahead and add it to your TBR, because Book 2 is just as good, if not better.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5 Read
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 Spice that was SPICING!

Book 2 picks up right where we left off, and builds into the most intricate world. The details in this book were amazing.
Our female protagonist, Duna, is fighting her demons and pushing through some trauma. She is in a new place with new obstacles. And she overcomes it, no matter what. I loved reading as she goes through the works.
Enter Shadow Daddy, Cathal, running to the rescue for a girl that DOESN'T NEED A MAN. He is grumpy, broody, and possessive. But do we still fall more in love with him, YES WE DO.

I loved how this story developed. It really dove into the world even more and laid the story out in really good detail. With this book, you get more on background characters, the story, the lore, all of it. I also liked that she pulled in some juicy betrayals with some of the background characters as well 👀

I especially loved the oriential elements of the books. You could feel the different cultures pouring into the story and it was really well done.

It left me with several questions that I have no doubt Book 3 will answer (hopefully 🤣)

This is an incomplete series, but it is well worth the cliffhangers.

Also, I would like to say, Miss Isabella is the kindest author 🫶 She put in the work and it shows.

[Jacklyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duna is in a bit of a pickle...again.  She managed to escape Prince Madir only to be captured by Prince Faiz and became a member of his royal harem.  Prince Faiz surprises Duna when he tells her that he wants to use her as a spy....better than the royal concubine, right? 

General Cathal has been searching for Duna for months now.  He will stop at nothing to find her...and when he sees she is a member of Faiz's royal harem, he is not happy.  When Duna uncovers a plot that involves Cathal, what will she do with this information?  Will she keep him safe?

Things get a little interesting when Duna starts having dreams of someone else's memory...or are they really dreams?  As she starts searching for answers, she discovers Cathal's past and some of his secrets.

"I will follow you into the very pits of the underworld and drag you back into the land of the living if that is what it takes to have you by my side until the end of time."

There are a lot of mysteries and secrets in this story.  The complex world building continues here from book 1 - but we are starting to get enough information to see the bigger picture. There were a few times when I wanted to grab Duna and yell at her!  I feel like she should be able to put more pieces of the story together at this point. I did like seeing her spying and exploring the kingdom of Baqar. We did get to hear an interesting story about fated mates...hmmm?  Duna and Cathal continue to have amazing chemistry - there are some great spicy scenes.  This one ends on another cliffhanger!

Tropes
Dual POV
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance
Curses/Mythology

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storms of Fury picks up straight after the ending of The Snows of Nissa so you must read them in order.

Duna has traded one cage for another and is part of Prince Faiz’s harem as his concubine. Although this doesn’t necessarily entail what you would expect…

Our girl is back!! I am so so glad Duna pulled out of the woe is me phase from book 1 and is back to being her sassy and bad ass self. I have thoughts on what I think is going on with her but I don’t want to share because, you know.. spoilers! I love her affinity with the animals and I just love the interactions she has with them.

Now on to Cathal… that man has a filthy mouth! He is a tortured soul but knows what he wants! I would have loved to see more emotional connection between the two rather than just spice. But he can certainly dish it out.

In full transparency because I like to be 100% honest in my reviews, the reason this isn’t 5 stars is because I did find some of the spicy scenes a tad cringy. I just didn’t vibe as much with them as other spicy books and found some of it was quite repetitive in the descriptions. However, the plot is so good that I can see past that and enjoy it for what it is. I do wish the plot had deepened more and taken forefront over the spice as it is so interesting and I just have to know more!

Isabella is building a magical world full of intrigue and wonder and I cannot wait to see what she ahs in store next for Duna.

I received an ARC and my opinions are my own.

[Christina Paine · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙽𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚊 / 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚞𝚛𝚢
[𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜]
𝙸𝚜𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝙺𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚍𝚒
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

•𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺
•𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦
•𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘴
•𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦
•𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴
•𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴
•𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴!

Thank you to for a copy of your arc to read! It has been a wild ride so far. Looking for a new dark fantasy series that puts the S in spice and doesn’t clog your brain with the world building? Look 👀 no further! Isabella’s debut series keeps getting better with each installment- I’m patiently awaiting the arc for the third book (four in total).

The story takes you on a beautiful, visually striking journey throughout the three major kingdoms on the continent. Duna, badass assassin FMC meets her equal in the General Cathal. But there is so much more than meets the eye. The fantasy aspect is slowly revealed throughout the read, as more secrets of their pasts intertwine with events of the present and future. I also LOVED the majestic animals and creatures of this world who form strong bonds with humans.

Some of the writing felt a little haphazard with some holes here and there, but everything gets better as the books go on. I am ready for the rest of this series!

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.”