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Letters to Her King

The Concubine

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"In this pregnant silence, with nothing in the air but the echoes of our spent passion fusing with the sweet scent of summer night, I feel foolish for loving you. The absurdity of it is a blow right between to my battered heart. A concubine in love with her king."

He rescued her from a fate worse than death and claimed her as his own. In the vast Norian palace, she is made concubine, one of many and is taught how to please the mighty Norian king. She knows she must keep her heart guarded, but how can she when his very touch sustains her soul? When a simple kiss from his lips evokes a burning desire that threatens to burn her alive? He is everything to her, but in her shadowed affections, bound as she is to him, she has little choice but to share him the countless women in his life.

In her shadowed affections, bound as she is to him, her heart burns every time she must share him with the many women in his life.

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First published December 20, 2013

13 people are currently reading
473 people want to read

About the author

Francette Phal

12 books1,302 followers
Francette lives in Massachusetts with her amazingly supportive husband of ten years and her darling two year old son. Reading amazing books has led her to writing and she’s dabbled in fan-fiction before self-publishing her own works. She’s constantly thinking up new stories to write and does her best work when music is playing in the background. Romance is where she’s most comfortable but she hopes to one day venture in mystery novels. She has a weakness for coffee ice cream, tropical fruits and a good glass of wine.

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5 stars
95 (25%)
4 stars
136 (37%)
3 stars
80 (21%)
2 stars
36 (9%)
1 star
20 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Candace.
1,179 reviews5,016 followers
October 4, 2015
This was a quick, angst-filled read. I enjoyed it, but it was in serious need of some editing. The number of grammatical errors was astounding, although my version is quite old and newer versions may have been edited more thoroughly.

My heart went out to Lea. Shunned by the King she loved, only to become the object of obsession for the cruel man that would overthrow him, she went from one sad existence to the next. In the end, she gets a HEA, but I can't help but think that it came at an unreasonable price for her.

Due to the short length of this book, I felt like the story was rushed and I wanted more character development. I feel like this story could have easily been an epic novel with more details and development. As it stands, it was okay but lacked the depth and captivating intangibles that make a story great.
Profile Image for CasPerfitz~SLiTsReaD.
649 reviews41 followers
November 27, 2014
4.5 Stars!

In her shadowed affections, bound as she is to him, her heart burns every time she must share him with the many women in his life.


Oh wow! The story is told through Lealin’s thoughts, she is the king’s favourite concubine… written in a kinda narrative poem style... and I’m digging it! Brings out the poet in me. lol… It is a refreshing change.

I didn’t expect I would easily like Lealin…. much more feeling her pain….

Will it always be this way? This unstoppable cycle of simple touches, softly whispered words, and I fall weak and wanting at your feet, never you’re equal, never your partner, always the wanton, weak willed concubine, slave, whore? I wear each title so well that I sometimes forget who I truly am.


It was just sad…



But I admired her love and devotion towards Marik.

Marik, one minute I was hating him, but then, understanding the time and age of the story, I adopt! Yet, I’d hate him again… but end up loving him in the end. I loved how the author redeemed his character.

There is so much more to the story… I never really knew where it was swaying to. I really am pleasantly surprised. And this is not a long read either but every page counts... with the perfect ending. The turning points, the highlights, they were breathtaking.

Here is one more of my favourite quote :

“You dare to address the King so informally?”

“What do you suggest I call him then when he seeks pleasure from me? It would hardly do if I were to pant and moan “Your Majesties” everywhere. Hardly romantic.”


Snap!!! Haha.

Thank you Silvana for recommending. Mwaaah! ❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Nikki ღ Navareus.
1,096 reviews63 followers
June 20, 2018

***FOUR STARS!***
This is such a great, angsty read. I cannot imagine being so devastatingly in love with someone, and having to watch him with his other wives, as told in this story. There was so much more story packed in this little gem, as well. I cannot believe I've never heard of this one before. So happy I had this recommended to me by one of my amazing GR friends (thanks for helping to get me out of my book slump!). This story is absolutely worth the read.
Profile Image for Sienna Gray.
3 reviews
January 4, 2014
PHENOMENAL!

I must add my two cents. I know there are plenty of book snobs out there that will only read a third person narrative but this book was excellent. The story is told from Lealin's perspective, the concubine of King Marik. The writing style was different, easy to follow and the writing...oh my word I need a tissue.



Ms. Phal has a way with her words and in this piece its almost poetic.


"In this pregnant silence, with nothing in the air but the echoes of our spent passion fusing with the sweet scent of summer night, I feel foolish for loving you. The absurdity of it is a blow right between to my battered heart. A concubine in love with her king."
Profile Image for Grisette.
661 reviews83 followers
July 3, 2022

4 stars
Will it always be this way? This unstoppable cycle of simple touches, softly whispered words, and I fall weak and wanting at your feet, never you’re equal, never your partner, always the wanton, weak willed concubine, slave, whore? I wear each title so well that I sometimes forget who I truly am.

Oh the hurt and love that a woman's heart can silently withhold! This short book was a wonderful painful glance into the feminine condition in patriarchal societies. Lealin's story is not the story of every woman since the dawn of time but hers has facets that many women will find reflection in. The propensity of heroines to suffer in their love has always been an appealing notion for an angst enthusiast as me, though I do acknowledge the unfairness of it when occuring out of fiction.
You don’t seem to willingly want to hurt me and yet you accomplish the feat with such acute flourish it makes me ill. Another person for me to share you with, how do I bear it?

And the blindness that many heroes seem to be prone to! Evidently, delicious fodder to my inner angst whore 😅. As a huge fan of concubine stories, esp. in Ancient Asia, this book was doomed to appeal to me. That silent and insidious heartache of always being loved only as an object, never to be valued, respected and cherished as 'the one' and always being imprisoned into a stifling and shameful lower rank... *heart squeeze* Of course, I expect that the blind H will somehow get his head out of his big prideful arse and grovel his way back to the h!

So, I cheered when Lealin raged at the cruel words of Marik when they are reunited and gave him good direct to his face.
My life has never been my own. Everything I have done since the age of seventeen has been for you! Only and always for you! I have loved you, how I have loved you! You left me for wives. You left me for your whores! And yet my heart remained true to you. You left me in search of your precious war! For five years! And still I took no one to my soul, only meant for you…
---

My angst knows no bounds, my ire falls at an eternal second, like gaping wounds I allow them to fester deep within the fibers of my being, they have become kin to me and I welcome them wholeheartedly.

You are beyond my contempt 

Stupid, insufferable man! Idiotic, arrogant swine! What have I ever done to deserve your hate? Loved you? I am to be hated for foolishly loving you? Even now, my heart yearns for you! It bleeds for your comfort, and yet you are incapable of providing it!

Am I to be hated for protecting the only thing we’ve ever done right? Our sons live and breathe because of me! And yet in your self-righteous ire you failed to see what is so obvious.
---

“Is that all I have ever been to you?” I am flying at you now, my fist pounding at your chest. I hated myself for my tears. “Chattel, you have treated me like chattel in all the years I have known you! Just a pretty piece to play with and put back on your damnable pedestal! Did my feelings not matter? Did I not matter?” I have fallen to the floor crying, I am always crying for you, because of you!


I do think that in the end, Marik redeemed himself and showed to Lealin that he really loved her. He needed the time apart to really come into himself and realised that he loved her and that she deserved so much more that what he gave her before. He did not have to try hard to earn her back because Lealin was too in love with him, but he was sincere in his words and actions. It hurt when Lealin at one point felt that Lucian really loved her compared to Marik who only ever lusted after her. I am glad that Marik got his act together and made her his Queen. Though part of me will not forget the years of him having Lealin in his collar and chains and his careless blindness to the hurt he negligently infliged on her everytime he was with another. He is so lucky that Lealin's heart is so deep and forgiving.

All in all, the concept of the story is exactly what I love in angsty romance reads and that I crave to see in many books (too few of which deliver though 😑). I only wish that the book was a bit longer and with more grandiose angst, and that the book was better edited (like seriously!).

P.S.: Similar feels book that I heartily recommend: The Lotus Palace, which has better developed story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Raquel.
414 reviews
July 25, 2016

~4.5~

What a pleasant surprise this was.

Despite being a short novella, it really packed on the intensity and emotions.

The book does have lots of editing errors which is a shame. But despite that I couldn't put it down, really enjoyed it and absolutely loved the story.


Thanks Ash for the rec! Mwah!

Profile Image for DeeReads.
2,284 reviews
August 11, 2019
Everlasting Love meant for a Queen

The Concubine by Francette Phal in ways reminded me of the prose in the Book of Solomon.

Lealin, King Marik's favorite concubine loves her King but an enemy to the king loves Lealin and his name is Lucian! The kingdom is taken over due to Marik's second wife, Krea's jealousy and betrayal. Lea is pregnant with King Marik's child but Lucian still wants her. The king is gone for five years but still Lea loves him although she is branded and forced to marry Lucian. Love always finds a way and they are reunited but she misses her third son, Liam!

Read this one; it's a beautifully written second chance tale where the concubine becomes the true Queen!

4.5 love times love stars!
Profile Image for Delaney Diamond.
Author 106 books9,772 followers
February 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this story, surprising since it was written in present tense, which I would normally avoid.

The sample pulled me in and for the next couple of hours I was riveted, loathed to move as I turned the electronic pages to see what would happen next. And boy, does a lot happen in this novella! It takes place over a period of more than five years and is filled with lies, betrayal, and murder.

Although this is a romance, it’s not your typical romance. The story takes place during an unknown time in history where people still use cannons, swords, and arrows to fight battles. With their formal speech and robe-wearing, it reminds me of the Middle Ages. The setting is in the fictional country of Noria. The story was told in what felt like journal entries, written by the favorite slave/concubine of the ruling king, Marik. Her name was Lealin.

Although race is not mentioned, the hero and heroine were clearly of different races. She was dark, her skin color described as earth-toned, while the hero was described as blond, with grey eyes and white skin.

I enjoyed all the characters, and even felt a bit of pity for the villain. (Yeah, I know, crazy, right?) He loved Lealin so much. I enjoyed Kivar, the king’s grumpy advisor who was also good with medicinal potions. He came to the rescue at the end during a particularly heart-breaking scene. Somia, the king’s second wife, who turned out to be a friend and ally to Lealin.

This was truly great storytelling, marred only by the lack of editing. Half of the sentences didn’t begin with a capital letter and the author didn’t properly punctuate the lines of dialogue. There were also miscellaneous typos throughout.

I hate to end on a negative note. I enjoyed the story, and in some instances, the way the author chose to put words together was almost like reading poetry. But I would have enjoyed The Concubine even more without the numerous editing issues. It was really good stuff!
Profile Image for Mspraise50.
1,597 reviews65 followers
December 31, 2013
The story is about King Marik and Lealin she is the King's Concubine. It has 102 pages but this story was more like 300 plus as far as I am concerned. The story is told from Lealin's prospective. I am lost for words to describe it. It has drama, full of emotional turmoil, love, deception, totally engrossing and draws you in. Absolutely riveting! This story is so totally different to anything I have read before. This is definitely a 5 star read. You have to get it! I totally, without any reservations recommend this story! I Loved it!

Francette Madou Phal the same author who wrote the Bet Series
Profile Image for Alexandria.
137 reviews
January 15, 2016
I am beyond confused about this book... For one thing, it was terribly written. Like wtf?? And I hated both the hero's. Actually, I thought Lucian was going to be the better of the two, but unfortunately, he went insane, so that was a moot point. But overall, I just don't see the romance between her and Marik.... I really don't. I don't think Marik ever loved her, and tbh I just think she has a hero-complex or something with Marik because he saved her from slavery. Bleh... This book started off okay, but then veered into wtf-is-going-on territory way too fast. Good thing if was so short, or it would have been dnf for sure.

What a mess.
Profile Image for DarkDamsel.
229 reviews26 followers
August 11, 2019
Short and Sweet

4 stars for this irr fantastical second chance romance. Ms Phal has a way of drawing you into the worlds she creates. Lea and Marik young lovers from different stations in life one a slave and the other a king. It was only through time and life’s ups and downs did they grow into the love that was meant to be.
Profile Image for Flocharda.
465 reviews12 followers
May 27, 2020
¿Cómo puede ser que un libro corto se me haga tan aburrido? xD Este lo logró

Pero el malo me gustó, no su parte obsesionada y todo eso. Sino que se me hizo más interesante que el mismo prota
Profile Image for Maura.
3,883 reviews113 followers
September 24, 2016
Rounding up from 3.5. This is some concentrated angst. As if reading about a favorite concubine who is in love with her king, but has to sit by without comment as he continues to sleep with his wives and other concubines isn't angsty enough. Then we add in another man, a kidnapping, unwillingly becoming this other guy's wife while fearing her king (and love of her life) is dead and then having to deal with his anger at her betrayal once he returns. Ouch. My heart hurt. It really was a read that you couldn't put down. It took me a while to get used to the format, written as if she's talking to her king (which gets confusing at times), I'm not sure I wholly enjoyed it, but it definitely needed a first person perspective. It also didn't quite feel like the king (Marik) and Lealin (the concubine) really aired out all their anger and bitterness. I think that section needed to be a bit more drawn out and detailed. It wrapped up quickly. The epilogue was really nice and definitely lightens up the mood after all that angst.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for PJ.
609 reviews156 followers
August 30, 2014
3.5 to 4 Stars

I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first. It's definitely a scorcher and has loads of potential, but it needs a thorough edit, mostly for streamlining of content. I don't read very many "historical" romances, if that's what this is. The story takes place in the fictional Norian Kingdom and is about a passionate affair between a King Marik and his beloved concubine Lealin. The book is a lyrical letter from Lealin to Marik. The title indicates letters from Lealin to Marik and I feel it would have worked better if it had followed that form in separate chapters as it wound its way from searing love scenes to cries of desperate sorrow at her predestined role in Marik's life. After I finished it I thought it was kind of "light", but it's stayed with me--mostly because of the lovely Lealin and her long letter full of longing.

And that's just the beginning, read on to discover plots to overthrow the kingdom and plans to tear their love apart.
Profile Image for Formerly Known as Spoiler W.
1,515 reviews342 followers
February 17, 2014
I love the way the story is told in almost journal like fashion. The Concubine, Leilan is hopelessly in love with her master/slaver/lover and King Marik. You can feel the emotions she has for him. Her words are beautiful, heart breaking and sorrowful. She knows that he has others and is married, twice later on in the story but she also knows that she is his favorite. He proudly shows her off to his court. Circumstances occur which they are separated for many years but they thought of each other and in the end, you see that their love is endless.

*I would have enjoyed the story much more if it wasn't for the editing issues.*
Profile Image for ✮ rach ✮.
688 reviews113 followers
July 4, 2015
Left feeling somewhat flat...

Maybe I expected too much but Marik disappointed me. In the end he made it all ok but I think that was only due to Lea's annoyingly forgiving nature. She was his whore for so long (his words, not mine) and only when he lost everything did he want her as his wife. It was an ok read but I just wasnt feeling it.
Profile Image for Mojo_Mama.
1,593 reviews832 followers
January 25, 2024
3.5 stars

Really enjoyed, honestly wished it was longer. Huge chunks of time were glossed over, it was almost too fast. The writing kept the reader at a distance, very dreamlike.

Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Crystal Moody.
269 reviews5 followers
October 20, 2014
Loved this book! It was different and so good! Very creative writing.
Profile Image for Rosalinda Herrera Erazo.
206 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2017
No se ustedes pero MUERTE A TODOS, menos a los niños
Ninguno de los dos me agrado y Lea Dios quise matarla siempre.
A Quien le miento... era TeamLucian,
Maldito Lucian, nooooo odio a la autora por hacerlo mal al final busco que odiamos a Lucian para poder aceptar que Malik se quedara con Lea.

Lea... Te odio te mereces que te digan mascota nunca aspiraste a más
Malik... que te jodan sos un egoista ojala te hubieras quedado solo
Lucian... No lo odio, te odio a ti Francette Phal por querer hacerme odiarlo, pero sabes que nop

Una buena historia algo dificil de leer pero al final buena, pero no de mis favoritas.
El mensaje es confuso, para mi el no aspirar a nada y conformate es muy marcada en la historia una narración de alguien que no se ama ni se valora. Como amar a alguien que no te valora, eso no lo entendí en esta historia.

La recomiendo si pero prepárense para odiar algunas partes
Profile Image for Risadris♥.
424 reviews44 followers
September 5, 2021
Una historia cortita pero con mucho sentimiento.
El libro esta contado en primera persona por Lealin, la concubina del rey.
Ella nos plasma, a modo de diario o cartas, todos su pensamientos, sentimientos y todo el amor que tiene hacia Malik, el nuevo rey.
A través de su narración, casi poética, nos cuenta sus encuentros, sus miedos a ser reemplazada y el dolor que siente cuando tiene que tratar con su nueva esposa.
Pero todo da un giro cuando el reino es tomado por un enemigo y la voluntad de Lealin es puesta a prueba.
Me gustó como creció la protagonista porque al final ella ya no estaba dispuesta a ser la "segunda" de nadie.
Profile Image for Extension_literaria Gabs.
19 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2022
Es un libro con una propuesta interesante , se lee rápidamente.
Me mantuvo entretenida e intrigada la trama y los personajes; me hubiera gustado que hubiese más detalles y se abarcaran algunas cosas que considero esenciales, como por ejemplo el conocer más del pasado de Lealin antes de que sucediera todo con el rey.
Que su pasado se detallase, al igual que el pasado de Marik.

De igual forma es una historia que me ha entretenido mucho de principio a fin.
Profile Image for Sara.
722 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2017
I was just about to delete this book from "To be Read" shelf, when I read the symposis again and decided to give it a try. It's a short but OK.

It was written like she was writing a letter to her king. A little magic mixed in kind of surprised me. I won't be moving on to the next book in this series
Profile Image for rrbookverse.
325 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2022
Me gustan y disfruto mucho los libros así cortos, pero con una trama intensa que te engancha desde la primera página.

Los personajes Lealin y Marik, ¿amor no correspondido? Ya se verá a lo largo de la historia.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Diana's.
1,053 reviews126 followers
November 12, 2016
3.5 stars
Totally not what I was expecting but since it was such a different kind of read it kept me engaged.
Profile Image for Ty.
364 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2021
Loved it

I can't believe 😪 there are no more books by this author I loved each one and wish more were coming. But I can say I enjoyed each one in there own unique way.
Profile Image for Chanti Jardines Meza.
147 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2025
No puedo concebir que una mujer base su felicidad en que la ame un hombre, nada más lo termine por compromiso.
Profile Image for Prac Agrl.
1,355 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2025
It was ok
Marik disappearing and she living and sleeping with lucian did not sit well with me and suddenly in the end she is his queen, then why not before!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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