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Tragic Kingdoms
Game of Thrones fans, meet your new obsession...
Potent in magic and pure of blood defines the power of Castle Astaseul, but decades of exile shadowed their existence with an obsession for vengeance. A sinister mating ritual with the demon of lust unlocks the key to their rampage of revenge, but they soon find out that every dark compromise comes with a heavy price.
Meanwhile, the kingdom that banished the twisted royals faces dark corruption of its own; lust, greed, and power will not only threaten the future of humanity but also of the gods that created them…
When the darkness creeps forth and drags you into its depravity, how do you expel its corruption?
"I'm stronger than you'll ever be."
Potent in magic and pure of blood defines the power of Castle Astaseul, but decades of exile shadowed their existence with an obsession for vengeance. A sinister mating ritual with the demon of lust unlocks the key to their rampage of revenge, but they soon find out that every dark compromise comes with a heavy price.
Meanwhile, the kingdom that banished the twisted royals faces dark corruption of its own; lust, greed, and power will not only threaten the future of humanity but also of the gods that created them…
When the darkness creeps forth and drags you into its depravity, how do you expel its corruption?
"I'm stronger than you'll ever be."
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2023
133 people are currently reading
1012 people want to read
About the author
Kell Frillman
29 books100 followersKell Frillman resides in Seattle. She works in animal rescue and enjoys spending time with her rescue pets, her horses, and her friends. She has been writing fiction since she was ten years old. The Surface Girl is her first published novel. She loves worldbuilding and her focus is on dystopian fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 5, 2024
If you make a drinking game for whenever this book makes you cringe, you'll be passed out under the table by chapter 3.
NOT because of the triggers! Just to be clear. My opinion has nothing to do with those, and everything to do with the fact that this might just be one of the most badly written books I have ever come across.
I picked it up because of the tagline: 'Game of Thrones fans, meet your new obsession...' The cover is pretty badass too, and I also loved the dedication. But from then on.... a train wreck as bad as it gets.
To avoid turning this review into a mean trashing, I decided to keep it simple and walk you through my impressions and reactions while reading the first chapters. Now don't get me wrong, those thoughts might still seem quite savage, since they are penned down with brutal honesty. But in the end, they are only MINE, and you can feel free to draw your own conclusions after reading them.
Let's take the first paragraph:
'The tantalizing effect of the demon’s touch swiftly penetrated the mind of Rayne Astasuel with its all-consuming desire. As her eyes rolled up, the colors that comprised her vision blurred together in a psychedelic swirl of ecstasy. Her back arched off of the chilled stone as elongated, tingling fingers brushed across her inner thighs.'
Me: Wait, what?! (*re-reading the paragraph*) - the tantalizing effect of the touch swiftly penetrated the mind with it's desire... Tingling fingers brushed across her thighs.... - maybe it's all in her mind. She's either stoned or the demon is messing with her mind. Moving on.
'Flickering candles surrounded the pair in an ominous warning, living flames that dreaded what horrors the ritual would lead to.'
Me: Huh?! Which pair? And the flickering candles were living flames that dreaded horrors?! Like .. seriously?!
As it turns out, the third paragraph makes it clear the pair was a young woman and a demon. And it was not all in her mind:
'Reaching for the demon, the young woman shrieked as he thrust his impossibly thick cock into her desperate, wet cunt, ramming into her cervix without a hint of mercy.'
Me: Oh, come on!
You've got to get your cocks right girl! Your cervix is not your G-spot!!
Your man, or demon, or whatever, needs a longer cock to reach your cervix and make you want to bash his head in because of pain! You want it to be thicker for all those yummy hot feels when it tickles your sweet spot!!
He rammed his impossibly thick cock into her cervix makes no sense from a medical/sexual perspective. And, since we're talking sense here, what's an impossibly thick cock? One as thick as a fist, or as the base of a 2l bottle? Impossibly thick is a very weird superlative as far as cocks go if you ask me.
Then there is the cunt! Her desperate, wet cunt! Are you shitting me?! That's just so yuck!!
Why would you, as a woman, choose to use the most vulgar and offensive term for vagina?! Extremely disparaging and offensive. this contemptuous term is also used to refer to a woman, or a very unpleasant or stupid person. It's just... NO!
But it might get better so... moving on to the next page, where:
The demon growled possessively into Rayne’s ear, causing the swirl of colors inside of and around her to intensify. intensify. Sharp nails raked across the back of his shoulder blades just above his protruding bones. Her voice rang out in unison with the visual sound an instant before every nerve in her body buzzed with an explosion so potent that it tore apart what little there was left of her human psyche.
Me: WTF is this shit?!
The colors are swirling INSIDE of her and the demon's growl caused them to intensify?! How can you see the colors inside her? I'm confused.
Her sharp nails raked across the back of his shoulder blades just above his protruding bones?! Does he have some protruding bones popping out of his shoulder blades?! That would be kind of cool.
And how is she still sane if the explosion tore apart what little was left of her human psyche?! Shouldn't she be a blubbering mess turned vegetable if that were the case?
Never mind, on to the next paragraph, when 'she grasped at his wings.' Where did the wings come from?! He has wings too, alongside protruding bones?!
But I think that's enough of weird smut. Let's skip to page 9 when the first hint of setting and history is given:
'The kingdom of Alta Silva belonged to Castle Astasuel for hundreds of years. When Rayne’s ancestors fled from the rising embers, they’d claimed the new, lush land as their own, so whoever chose to settle thereafter was forced to do so under their jurisdiction. The blood of Castle Astasuel and the family’s magic were connected to their presumed origin: a dark and mysterious void far beyond this earthly plane. Black magic was their home and their identity, but others always sought to covet what they didn’t naturally possess.'
Me: (after re-reading the paragraph twice): This makes just about as much sense as a headless chicken running an egg-laying competition. Apart from the atrocious grammar mistakes, that make this English professor want to bring out the red pen and start cutting, that is.
And they just keep coming.
I threw in the towel and called it quits at the end of chapter 3. Life's too short to read books like this.
NOT because of the triggers! Just to be clear. My opinion has nothing to do with those, and everything to do with the fact that this might just be one of the most badly written books I have ever come across.
I picked it up because of the tagline: 'Game of Thrones fans, meet your new obsession...' The cover is pretty badass too, and I also loved the dedication. But from then on.... a train wreck as bad as it gets.
To avoid turning this review into a mean trashing, I decided to keep it simple and walk you through my impressions and reactions while reading the first chapters. Now don't get me wrong, those thoughts might still seem quite savage, since they are penned down with brutal honesty. But in the end, they are only MINE, and you can feel free to draw your own conclusions after reading them.
Let's take the first paragraph:
'The tantalizing effect of the demon’s touch swiftly penetrated the mind of Rayne Astasuel with its all-consuming desire. As her eyes rolled up, the colors that comprised her vision blurred together in a psychedelic swirl of ecstasy. Her back arched off of the chilled stone as elongated, tingling fingers brushed across her inner thighs.'
Me: Wait, what?! (*re-reading the paragraph*) - the tantalizing effect of the touch swiftly penetrated the mind with it's desire... Tingling fingers brushed across her thighs.... - maybe it's all in her mind. She's either stoned or the demon is messing with her mind. Moving on.
'Flickering candles surrounded the pair in an ominous warning, living flames that dreaded what horrors the ritual would lead to.'
Me: Huh?! Which pair? And the flickering candles were living flames that dreaded horrors?! Like .. seriously?!
As it turns out, the third paragraph makes it clear the pair was a young woman and a demon. And it was not all in her mind:
'Reaching for the demon, the young woman shrieked as he thrust his impossibly thick cock into her desperate, wet cunt, ramming into her cervix without a hint of mercy.'
Me: Oh, come on!
You've got to get your cocks right girl! Your cervix is not your G-spot!!
Your man, or demon, or whatever, needs a longer cock to reach your cervix and make you want to bash his head in because of pain! You want it to be thicker for all those yummy hot feels when it tickles your sweet spot!!
He rammed his impossibly thick cock into her cervix makes no sense from a medical/sexual perspective. And, since we're talking sense here, what's an impossibly thick cock? One as thick as a fist, or as the base of a 2l bottle? Impossibly thick is a very weird superlative as far as cocks go if you ask me.
Then there is the cunt! Her desperate, wet cunt! Are you shitting me?! That's just so yuck!!
Why would you, as a woman, choose to use the most vulgar and offensive term for vagina?! Extremely disparaging and offensive. this contemptuous term is also used to refer to a woman, or a very unpleasant or stupid person. It's just... NO!
But it might get better so... moving on to the next page, where:
The demon growled possessively into Rayne’s ear, causing the swirl of colors inside of and around her to intensify. intensify. Sharp nails raked across the back of his shoulder blades just above his protruding bones. Her voice rang out in unison with the visual sound an instant before every nerve in her body buzzed with an explosion so potent that it tore apart what little there was left of her human psyche.
Me: WTF is this shit?!
The colors are swirling INSIDE of her and the demon's growl caused them to intensify?! How can you see the colors inside her? I'm confused.
Her sharp nails raked across the back of his shoulder blades just above his protruding bones?! Does he have some protruding bones popping out of his shoulder blades?! That would be kind of cool.
And how is she still sane if the explosion tore apart what little was left of her human psyche?! Shouldn't she be a blubbering mess turned vegetable if that were the case?
Never mind, on to the next paragraph, when 'she grasped at his wings.' Where did the wings come from?! He has wings too, alongside protruding bones?!
But I think that's enough of weird smut. Let's skip to page 9 when the first hint of setting and history is given:
'The kingdom of Alta Silva belonged to Castle Astasuel for hundreds of years. When Rayne’s ancestors fled from the rising embers, they’d claimed the new, lush land as their own, so whoever chose to settle thereafter was forced to do so under their jurisdiction. The blood of Castle Astasuel and the family’s magic were connected to their presumed origin: a dark and mysterious void far beyond this earthly plane. Black magic was their home and their identity, but others always sought to covet what they didn’t naturally possess.'
Me: (after re-reading the paragraph twice): This makes just about as much sense as a headless chicken running an egg-laying competition. Apart from the atrocious grammar mistakes, that make this English professor want to bring out the red pen and start cutting, that is.
And they just keep coming.
I threw in the towel and called it quits at the end of chapter 3. Life's too short to read books like this.
October 20, 2023
~ ARC REVIEW ~
I received this book as an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
Game of Thrones fans, meet your new obsession...
Potent in magic and pure of blood defines the power of Castle Astaseul, but decades of exile shadowed their existence with an obsession for vengeance. A sinister mating ritual with the demon of lust unlocks the key to their rampage of revenge, but they soon find out that every dark compromise comes with a heavy price.
Meanwhile, the kingdom that banished the twisted royals faces dark corruption of its own; lust, greed, and power will not only threaten the future of humanity but also of the gods that created them…
When the darkness creeps forth and drags you into its depravity, how do you expel its corruption?
“I’m stronger than you’ll ever be.”
Wow was this book incredible.. the first thing I will say is check trigger warnings. I have never been so hooked and devoured something so fast! It only took me a couple days from the day I received my arc! I couldn’t hate the King anymore if I tried ( no spoilers though 🤣) Allura I really loved and felt sorry for. I can’t list how many others I felt horrible and so sad for too! The way this book ended?! I can’t believe I have to wait until Valentine’s Day for the next book with that cliffhanger?! It’s not often I like the way an author writes as well as the story but I was again, pleasantly surprised! If you enjoy demons and a good bit of spice this is the one for you!
Again, just please check the trigger warnings for your own safety!! Overall Kell Frillman I loved this book and think you did amazingly with it!! 🫶🏻🩷
I received this book as an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
Game of Thrones fans, meet your new obsession...
Potent in magic and pure of blood defines the power of Castle Astaseul, but decades of exile shadowed their existence with an obsession for vengeance. A sinister mating ritual with the demon of lust unlocks the key to their rampage of revenge, but they soon find out that every dark compromise comes with a heavy price.
Meanwhile, the kingdom that banished the twisted royals faces dark corruption of its own; lust, greed, and power will not only threaten the future of humanity but also of the gods that created them…
When the darkness creeps forth and drags you into its depravity, how do you expel its corruption?
“I’m stronger than you’ll ever be.”
Wow was this book incredible.. the first thing I will say is check trigger warnings. I have never been so hooked and devoured something so fast! It only took me a couple days from the day I received my arc! I couldn’t hate the King anymore if I tried ( no spoilers though 🤣) Allura I really loved and felt sorry for. I can’t list how many others I felt horrible and so sad for too! The way this book ended?! I can’t believe I have to wait until Valentine’s Day for the next book with that cliffhanger?! It’s not often I like the way an author writes as well as the story but I was again, pleasantly surprised! If you enjoy demons and a good bit of spice this is the one for you!
Again, just please check the trigger warnings for your own safety!! Overall Kell Frillman I loved this book and think you did amazingly with it!! 🫶🏻🩷
October 20, 2023
⭐fantasy
⭐game of throne vibes
⭐first in series
🌶🌶🌶
Wow what brilliant book I really enjoyed the story keep me on the edge of my seat. It was beautifully written great world building. If you like fantasy with nice mix of spicy you love this book.
3/5 spice
⭐game of throne vibes
⭐first in series
🌶🌶🌶
Wow what brilliant book I really enjoyed the story keep me on the edge of my seat. It was beautifully written great world building. If you like fantasy with nice mix of spicy you love this book.
3/5 spice
January 5, 2024
DNF
I’m sorry I couldn’t continue 😭 I tried I tried
There was about a billion different povs that instantly had me confused and was so hard to follow
I’m sorry I couldn’t continue 😭 I tried I tried
There was about a billion different povs that instantly had me confused and was so hard to follow
November 1, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thanks so much!
First off: check👏your👏triggers👏
This novel is a multi-POV fantasy story that centers around multiple quests for power and the throne. The author stated she was inspired by Game of Thrones, and I see that for sure! I love GoT!! But unfortunately, this novel wasn't doing it for me. My main qualms come from the multi-POV set up. There are 19 different POVs--which is too many for a first novel in a series like this (any novel, really). I don't feel like I was able to connect with any of the characters because the story didn't dive deep enough into each one. It was almost like you got a shallow look at each person's role, and then the author switched it up. I want more 😭 I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if we had maybe five POVs and flushed out those plots more. I was really interested in Allura's, Esme's, and Elara's stories. These ladies struggled so much, and I wished I got to see more from them in this book💔
This one seems like more of a setup for future books, but IMO it struggles on its own until the last few chapters. Overall, I was really interested in the different subplots! There were just too many POVs for me to connect with any of the characters. I'm an emotional reader, so those connections are important for me. But there are clearly a lot of readers who love this book, so to each their own 🥰 Tragic Kingdoms was my first read from this author, and I would read other novels by them in the future. I might need to read Book 2 to see Allura grow into the badass she clearly is!!
First off: check👏your👏triggers👏
This novel is a multi-POV fantasy story that centers around multiple quests for power and the throne. The author stated she was inspired by Game of Thrones, and I see that for sure! I love GoT!! But unfortunately, this novel wasn't doing it for me. My main qualms come from the multi-POV set up. There are 19 different POVs--which is too many for a first novel in a series like this (any novel, really). I don't feel like I was able to connect with any of the characters because the story didn't dive deep enough into each one. It was almost like you got a shallow look at each person's role, and then the author switched it up. I want more 😭 I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if we had maybe five POVs and flushed out those plots more. I was really interested in Allura's, Esme's, and Elara's stories. These ladies struggled so much, and I wished I got to see more from them in this book💔
This one seems like more of a setup for future books, but IMO it struggles on its own until the last few chapters. Overall, I was really interested in the different subplots! There were just too many POVs for me to connect with any of the characters. I'm an emotional reader, so those connections are important for me. But there are clearly a lot of readers who love this book, so to each their own 🥰 Tragic Kingdoms was my first read from this author, and I would read other novels by them in the future. I might need to read Book 2 to see Allura grow into the badass she clearly is!!
November 7, 2023
I received this book as a ARC. Was not sure I was going to like it at first. Whoa! I was wrong! Turns and twists and the 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🥵🥵. I know these kind of books are not for everyone but I say give it a try! I loved this one! Can’t wait for more!
October 31, 2023
THIS!!!! This book was amazing. The characters (and there are many lol) are awesome, well written and all have their own quirks and darknesses but it just makes the book that much better! It has a great flow and pace and it’s an easy read. It is definitely GoT vibes and per usual is full of characters you love and Love to hate. It’s multi POV, and I mean very multi lol but it’s easy to follow along and it flows so well. Allura is so so mysterious and her mother is a savage lol don’t even get me started on the King (I’m trying to keep this spoiler free) lol but the book is dark and angsty and will keep you gripping the edge of your seat! I was sucked in from the very first page and when it was over I was CRAVING more! The spice is spicy and every scene had me sweating and wanting more. It’s a beautifully written and delicious read. Can’t wait for book two!
Well done, Kell! The king will haunt me forever. I hope you’re proud of yourself lol
Well done, Kell! The king will haunt me forever. I hope you’re proud of yourself lol
November 20, 2023
The first book in a new series, this dark and unapologetically brutal world holds within it a tangled web of deception, plotting and magic.
At times dark, this set up for the rest of the series shows the interconnected threads on the way to restore glory and ambition after sacrificing lives and realising some characters’ fate.
Each chapter unravels parts of the story with lots of plotting and tales that will presumably come together as the series progresses.
Check the triggers as this does have some game of thronesque incestuous family goings on that will not be for everyone!
Great read, quite complex at times and the different lives and characters are definitely ones you have to keep track of! Intrigued to find out what happens next!
I received an arc and this is my honest review.
At times dark, this set up for the rest of the series shows the interconnected threads on the way to restore glory and ambition after sacrificing lives and realising some characters’ fate.
Each chapter unravels parts of the story with lots of plotting and tales that will presumably come together as the series progresses.
Check the triggers as this does have some game of thronesque incestuous family goings on that will not be for everyone!
Great read, quite complex at times and the different lives and characters are definitely ones you have to keep track of! Intrigued to find out what happens next!
I received an arc and this is my honest review.
November 3, 2023
⚠️ I would describe this as a Caligula-esque dark fantasy. Not for the faint of heart, check the trigger warnings before reading.
My synopsis:
Allura is a princess of the family Astasuel, conceived by the joining of her mother Rayne and a demon. Rayne is cursed with an insatiable lust and uses the castles vassals to fill her need. One of her favorite vassals, Deacon, has eyes for the young Allura. Allura has supernatural power and can turn people to ice with a glance, causing her to be isolated and lonely, with only her vassal Syah as a friend.
Meanwhile prince Lando of family Eleod is living with his depraved and sadistic father, King Talaon. He is determined not to be trapped in a loveless marriage like his mother Elara.
My impressions:
I liked the relationships between Lando & Elara and Allura & Syah. The multiple storylines intertwined seamlessly.
For me it was difficult to emotionally connect to the characters because there were so many POVs. The story didn't feel romantacy to me, maybe the love stories on the back burner will be more prominent in the next book?
*I received an ARC copy from the author and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.*
My synopsis:
Allura is a princess of the family Astasuel, conceived by the joining of her mother Rayne and a demon. Rayne is cursed with an insatiable lust and uses the castles vassals to fill her need. One of her favorite vassals, Deacon, has eyes for the young Allura. Allura has supernatural power and can turn people to ice with a glance, causing her to be isolated and lonely, with only her vassal Syah as a friend.
Meanwhile prince Lando of family Eleod is living with his depraved and sadistic father, King Talaon. He is determined not to be trapped in a loveless marriage like his mother Elara.
My impressions:
I liked the relationships between Lando & Elara and Allura & Syah. The multiple storylines intertwined seamlessly.
For me it was difficult to emotionally connect to the characters because there were so many POVs. The story didn't feel romantacy to me, maybe the love stories on the back burner will be more prominent in the next book?
*I received an ARC copy from the author and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.*
October 24, 2023
*I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*
Definitely has some game of thrones vibes with the multiple character viewpoints. Third person but honestly I don’t think first person would have done well for all the viewpoints, so I thought that was very well done. Tons of smutty content. It was also a quick read despite being over 300 pages. I am seriously looking forward to how the story progresses in book number two early 2024!
Definitely has some game of thrones vibes with the multiple character viewpoints. Third person but honestly I don’t think first person would have done well for all the viewpoints, so I thought that was very well done. Tons of smutty content. It was also a quick read despite being over 300 pages. I am seriously looking forward to how the story progresses in book number two early 2024!
October 29, 2023
This book keeps you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns! The author has great world building and character development that draws you into their stories. This ends on a cliff hanger and I’m so curious to see where this journey goes. This definitely has game of thrones vibes and I recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading. I recommend this book if you’re into dark fantasy reads.
November 5, 2023
I was a very pleasantly surprised with this book. It came out immediately with spice, and the spice throughout was actually really good. I’ve had disappointment in the past with spicy books only having like one scene but this one is actually spicy AND has good plot. There’s multiple POVs, and I honestly got sucked in on the first page and had a hard time putting it down. The world building was great, and there’s a lot of POVs which I thought might get confusing but Kell does such a good job writing them that I didn’t have any problem with keeping them straight. Highly recommend if you’re looking for actual spice with a good plot combined.
November 13, 2023
A fantastic multi-POV with immense world building with spice.
The book had me hooked from the beginning. If you are not used to reading multi-POV books, this may throw you off. Fantasy lovers (GoT-esque) will greatly enjoy! Seriously devoured this book in a few short days! Can’t wait to see how the rest will unfold. The twists will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting so much more!
(Can we all collectively dislike King now?)
The book had me hooked from the beginning. If you are not used to reading multi-POV books, this may throw you off. Fantasy lovers (GoT-esque) will greatly enjoy! Seriously devoured this book in a few short days! Can’t wait to see how the rest will unfold. The twists will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting so much more!
(Can we all collectively dislike King now?)
October 22, 2023
Omg! I was lucky enough to be picked for an ARC and Kell DID NOT disappoint! This book was sooo *bleeping* good! It had me on the edge of my seat wanting more the entire time! It was so hard to put the book down when i had to get back to work and such! This is definitely a 10/10 read! YOU WONT regret it!
November 9, 2023
I absolutely loved this book!! If you love Game of Thrones you will want to read this!! It will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time! It will definitely keep you guessing! Please make sure to check the trigger warnings before you get started.
October 31, 2023
This was my first fantasy ARC read and I loved it. There was a lot going on and my ADHD Brain loved it! I can't wait to see how this series plays out. Definitely check your triggers!
- Magic
- Demons
- Rivalry
- Revenge Plots
- Multi POV
- Game of Thrones Vibes
- Spice (3/5 🌶️) this was hard to decide due to story line but well written
When the exiled castle has been plating their comeback for years and the castle that exiled is falling apart from the inside out there are many ways both con fall.
I enjoyed the world building and getting to see both sides of the rivalry and the different POVs from both sides. 1 rally love the plot and can't wait to see it play out!
- Magic
- Demons
- Rivalry
- Revenge Plots
- Multi POV
- Game of Thrones Vibes
- Spice (3/5 🌶️) this was hard to decide due to story line but well written
When the exiled castle has been plating their comeback for years and the castle that exiled is falling apart from the inside out there are many ways both con fall.
I enjoyed the world building and getting to see both sides of the rivalry and the different POVs from both sides. 1 rally love the plot and can't wait to see it play out!
November 9, 2023
Tragic Kingdoms
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
~Magic
~Demons
~Spice
~Royalty
~Multiple POV
~Dark
~Violence/Murder
Review:
If you like Game of Thrones, then Tragic Kingdoms is for you!
This was such a good read. I was fascinated right from the start!
I would suggest looking at trigger warnings.
The plot, characters and world building were absolutely perfect!
This was my first book by the author, and it definitely will not be my last- not only because I can’t wait to see what happens next in book 2, but also because there are other books that have been published that are right up my alley!
*I received this as an ARC, and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
~Magic
~Demons
~Spice
~Royalty
~Multiple POV
~Dark
~Violence/Murder
Review:
If you like Game of Thrones, then Tragic Kingdoms is for you!
This was such a good read. I was fascinated right from the start!
I would suggest looking at trigger warnings.
The plot, characters and world building were absolutely perfect!
This was my first book by the author, and it definitely will not be my last- not only because I can’t wait to see what happens next in book 2, but also because there are other books that have been published that are right up my alley!
*I received this as an ARC, and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*
October 18, 2023
This book right here is how you do dual point of view! (Multiple points at a time)
The is spice was right out the gate , the GOT like plot, the characters are definitely layered and it blends so well!
I can not wait for the second one!
The is spice was right out the gate , the GOT like plot, the characters are definitely layered and it blends so well!
I can not wait for the second one!
November 2, 2023
ARC Review. Read this as my first full read of an ARC. I was so excited for it. It gave everything it promised. I highly recommend getting a copy as soon as it hits shelves especially if you are into cliffhangers and things setting into motion and a steady yet fast pace.
December 6, 2023
Wow she did it again 👏 loved this so much
November 30, 2023
Raunchy, dirty, & utterly addicting! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
October 29, 2023
ARC review
Tragic Kingdoms is a gripping and complex novel that delves into the depths of power struggles, and the consequences of dark bargains. Reminiscent of the epic scope of "Game of Thrones," this book takes readers on a tumultuous journey through two intertwining storylines, each with its own set of characters, motivations, and tragic outcomes.
The narrative opens with a royal family that, desperate to reclaim their throne, strikes a deal with the devil himself. From this point onward, the story plunges into a world where morality is blurred, and the consequences of one's actions are devastating. The author fearlessly explores the darkest aspects of human nature, crafting a tale that is both thrilling and disturbing.
One of the standout features of Tragic Kingdoms is its extensive cast of characters. The author has intricately developed each individual, ensuring that they possess their own unique interests, motivations, and flaws. The sheer number of characters may be daunting to some readers, but it ultimately adds to the richness and complexity of the narrative. It is a testament to the author's skill that they manage to maintain a balance between the numerous storylines and characters, keeping readers engaged and invested.
This book is not for the faint of heart, as it delves into incredibly dark themes. The story explores the depths of human depravity, touching on topics such as power abuse, manipulation, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The author unflinchingly portrays the horrors of these themes, making it a challenging and emotionally intense read. It is important to note that Tragic Kingdoms contains explicit and disturbing scenes, including non-consensual and dubiously consensual encounters. Readers who are sensitive to such content should approach this book with caution.
The pacing of Tragic Kingdoms is relentless, plunging the reader into a whirlwind of political intrigue, treachery, and machinations. From the very first page, the story grabs hold of your attention and doesn't let go. The author's ability to maintain tension and suspense throughout the novel is commendable, as it keeps readers eagerly turning the pages, desperate to uncover the next twist or revelation.
Tragic Kingdoms is a gripping and complex novel that delves into the depths of power struggles, and the consequences of dark bargains. Reminiscent of the epic scope of "Game of Thrones," this book takes readers on a tumultuous journey through two intertwining storylines, each with its own set of characters, motivations, and tragic outcomes.
The narrative opens with a royal family that, desperate to reclaim their throne, strikes a deal with the devil himself. From this point onward, the story plunges into a world where morality is blurred, and the consequences of one's actions are devastating. The author fearlessly explores the darkest aspects of human nature, crafting a tale that is both thrilling and disturbing.
One of the standout features of Tragic Kingdoms is its extensive cast of characters. The author has intricately developed each individual, ensuring that they possess their own unique interests, motivations, and flaws. The sheer number of characters may be daunting to some readers, but it ultimately adds to the richness and complexity of the narrative. It is a testament to the author's skill that they manage to maintain a balance between the numerous storylines and characters, keeping readers engaged and invested.
This book is not for the faint of heart, as it delves into incredibly dark themes. The story explores the depths of human depravity, touching on topics such as power abuse, manipulation, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The author unflinchingly portrays the horrors of these themes, making it a challenging and emotionally intense read. It is important to note that Tragic Kingdoms contains explicit and disturbing scenes, including non-consensual and dubiously consensual encounters. Readers who are sensitive to such content should approach this book with caution.
The pacing of Tragic Kingdoms is relentless, plunging the reader into a whirlwind of political intrigue, treachery, and machinations. From the very first page, the story grabs hold of your attention and doesn't let go. The author's ability to maintain tension and suspense throughout the novel is commendable, as it keeps readers eagerly turning the pages, desperate to uncover the next twist or revelation.
November 9, 2023
Dark & Twisted With Game Of Thrones Vibes
Quote:📖
I’m stronger than you’ll ever be.
Thoughts: 💡
I decided to read this one on a whim after the author posted about it. I was not expecting the ride it took me on. The first chapter was super spicy and every chapter after was short but exciting. It kept me on the edge of my seat. There are many, many POVs here which makes the plot very intricate and a challenge to piece together, kind of like Game of Thrones. You don’t get how all the pieces work together right away; and some things don’t seem as important until later, then you just have to sit in shock for a minute to absorb it. The dark themes and destructive things that happen in this book are even more shocking. If things make you squeamish and degradation and torture ruin a book for you, then skip this one. This book is for my dark and twisted lovers.
Writing Mechanics: ✍️
I love Freeman’s style. She’s very elegant and articulate and her word choices are beautiful. It flowed well and was very engaging. Her characters had depth, but because the story changes POVs so often it’s hard to get a clear picture on each character. I’m sure over the span of the series we’ll get to know more about each one, but it’s a lot to handle for the first book.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Game of Thrones Vibe
⚜️ Warring Kingdoms & Political Intrigue
⚜️ Opens With Spice
⚜️ Dark and Twisted
⚜️ Smexy Ritualistic Demon Spice 🥵
⚜️ Dark Magic
⚜️ Intricate Plot With Many Pieces
Important Note:✨
This is book 1 and ends on a cliffhanger. The next book is tentatively scheduled to release Feb 14, 2024.
Content Warning:⚠️
violence, murder, slavery, starvation, cannibalism (nondescript), dubcon, & noncon, physical & psychological abuse, power dynamics exploited in relationships, Threats & mentions of ca / csa
Stats:📊
Spice Scale: 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5
Character Dev: 4 💙💙💙💙/5
Genre: Dark Fantasy (Romantasy & Horror)📕
Tropes: Revenge Plots, Royalty/ Political Schemes (GOT Vibes), Demons 📘
Release Date: Oct 31, 2023🗓️
POV: Multi (19)💃🏻🕺
Quote:📖
I’m stronger than you’ll ever be.
Thoughts: 💡
I decided to read this one on a whim after the author posted about it. I was not expecting the ride it took me on. The first chapter was super spicy and every chapter after was short but exciting. It kept me on the edge of my seat. There are many, many POVs here which makes the plot very intricate and a challenge to piece together, kind of like Game of Thrones. You don’t get how all the pieces work together right away; and some things don’t seem as important until later, then you just have to sit in shock for a minute to absorb it. The dark themes and destructive things that happen in this book are even more shocking. If things make you squeamish and degradation and torture ruin a book for you, then skip this one. This book is for my dark and twisted lovers.
Writing Mechanics: ✍️
I love Freeman’s style. She’s very elegant and articulate and her word choices are beautiful. It flowed well and was very engaging. Her characters had depth, but because the story changes POVs so often it’s hard to get a clear picture on each character. I’m sure over the span of the series we’ll get to know more about each one, but it’s a lot to handle for the first book.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Game of Thrones Vibe
⚜️ Warring Kingdoms & Political Intrigue
⚜️ Opens With Spice
⚜️ Dark and Twisted
⚜️ Smexy Ritualistic Demon Spice 🥵
⚜️ Dark Magic
⚜️ Intricate Plot With Many Pieces
Important Note:✨
This is book 1 and ends on a cliffhanger. The next book is tentatively scheduled to release Feb 14, 2024.
Content Warning:⚠️
violence, murder, slavery, starvation, cannibalism (nondescript), dubcon, & noncon, physical & psychological abuse, power dynamics exploited in relationships, Threats & mentions of ca / csa
Stats:📊
Spice Scale: 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 5
Character Dev: 4 💙💙💙💙/5
Genre: Dark Fantasy (Romantasy & Horror)📕
Tropes: Revenge Plots, Royalty/ Political Schemes (GOT Vibes), Demons 📘
Release Date: Oct 31, 2023🗓️
POV: Multi (19)💃🏻🕺
November 8, 2023
4.3⭐
🖤Thanks to @AuthorKellFrillMan for providing me an Arc of the book.
🖤This book is not for faint heart , as it doves into really dark themes such as r@pe(a lot), cannibalísm, incest, murder, slavery, violence. Aside from TW, everything was to the point and amazing. This book is a dark fantasy with vengeance, lust, deception, secrets and interesting twists and turns.
🖤 Kell FrillMan did an incredible job at twisting the story in a way that will keep its reader hooked till the end. The world building is good, it's not detailed but you can see each scene unfolds in front of your eyes. Honestly, the character development, world building and secrets are the reason why it's a high rating book for me.This series has a lot of potential and I see this series as top fantasy book in the future.
🖤 Intrigue storyline full of twists & turns and secrets that draws you in and keep you wanting more in the end and this ends on a f*cking cliffhanger...how am I supposed to wait till next book releases in the series.
🖤The only issue I had with it was because of it's too many different POVs ( 19 POVs) that alternate throughout whole book. It was pretty hard to connect with their character, and
remember their name and who they were.
This may not be the problem for some readers.
🖤 Overall, I'm so in love with Kell FrillMan's writing and I'm going to read more of her works. I'm recommending you to read this ASAP.
🖤Thanks to @AuthorKellFrillMan for providing me an Arc of the book.
🖤This book is not for faint heart , as it doves into really dark themes such as r@pe(a lot), cannibalísm, incest, murder, slavery, violence. Aside from TW, everything was to the point and amazing. This book is a dark fantasy with vengeance, lust, deception, secrets and interesting twists and turns.
🖤 Kell FrillMan did an incredible job at twisting the story in a way that will keep its reader hooked till the end. The world building is good, it's not detailed but you can see each scene unfolds in front of your eyes. Honestly, the character development, world building and secrets are the reason why it's a high rating book for me.This series has a lot of potential and I see this series as top fantasy book in the future.
🖤 Intrigue storyline full of twists & turns and secrets that draws you in and keep you wanting more in the end and this ends on a f*cking cliffhanger...how am I supposed to wait till next book releases in the series.
🖤The only issue I had with it was because of it's too many different POVs ( 19 POVs) that alternate throughout whole book. It was pretty hard to connect with their character, and
remember their name and who they were.
This may not be the problem for some readers.
🖤 Overall, I'm so in love with Kell FrillMan's writing and I'm going to read more of her works. I'm recommending you to read this ASAP.
October 30, 2023
✨ARC REVIEW✨
Do you miss Game of Thrones as much as I do? Look no further! Tragic Kingdoms will satiate that hunger for more!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
-GOT Vibes
-Dark Magic
-Multi POV
Triggers: Many, def not for the faint of heart. Please check the triggers before moving on to this book.
Our story starts off with Castle Astasuel: the fallen from grace family seeking revenge. Their goal: to overtake what was once theirs, the Kingdom of Alta Silva. By mating with the Demon of Lust, the castle now has their ultimate weapon a Hybrid child with the power to destroy. But will she allow her family to force her into submission to complete the task at hand? Or will she create her own destiny?
Tragic Kingdoms has great potential to be the next great Fantasy Saga. I loved the world building, although not excessive in detail, it was easy to build it in my mind. The characters were fantastic and you could read their emotions off of the screen (or page if you’re reading the physical copy). I loved that I was able to read what each of them were thinking and feeling. Again, very game-of-thronesy. The only thing I wish I’d seen more of was the magic system that everyone in this book was talking about. But, I can’t be mad because it leaves me wanting more.
Do you miss Game of Thrones as much as I do? Look no further! Tragic Kingdoms will satiate that hunger for more!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
-GOT Vibes
-Dark Magic
-Multi POV
Triggers: Many, def not for the faint of heart. Please check the triggers before moving on to this book.
Our story starts off with Castle Astasuel: the fallen from grace family seeking revenge. Their goal: to overtake what was once theirs, the Kingdom of Alta Silva. By mating with the Demon of Lust, the castle now has their ultimate weapon a Hybrid child with the power to destroy. But will she allow her family to force her into submission to complete the task at hand? Or will she create her own destiny?
Tragic Kingdoms has great potential to be the next great Fantasy Saga. I loved the world building, although not excessive in detail, it was easy to build it in my mind. The characters were fantastic and you could read their emotions off of the screen (or page if you’re reading the physical copy). I loved that I was able to read what each of them were thinking and feeling. Again, very game-of-thronesy. The only thing I wish I’d seen more of was the magic system that everyone in this book was talking about. But, I can’t be mad because it leaves me wanting more.
November 2, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐️(4/5 Stars)
🌶️ It’s spicy
Kell Frillman’s dark fantasy romance, Tragic Kingdoms, gave me Game of Thrones and The Tudors vibes. It is written in a multiple POV format….like a LOT of POVs. Interestingly though, I found that fact to be less of a distraction and more of an attention grabber. There are some dark and gruesome aspects to the story, but none that I personally found intolerable. I felt they were in line with what most movies of this genre/era would also depict. Check your trigger warnings. I savored in this story and am very much anticipating the release of the second book in this series….expected February 2024. I hope you give this one a go, especially if you’re a fan of the Fantasy genre.
👑 BLURB: Potent in magic and pure of blood defines the power of Castle Astasuel, but decades of exile shadowed their existence with an obsession for vengeance. A sinister mating ritual with the demon of lust unlocks the key to their rampage of revenge, but they'll soon find out that every dark compromise comes with a heavy price. Meanwhile, the kingdom that banished the twisted royals faces dark corruption of its own... - First in a series - Multi POV - violence, murd3r, sl@very, st@rvation, cann1bal1sm (nondescrip) - d3mon sp1ce, dubc0n & n0nc0n - physical & psychological abus3 - power dynamics
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available Now on Amazon
⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
* Cannibalism
* Rape
* Incest
* Murder
🌶️ It’s spicy
Kell Frillman’s dark fantasy romance, Tragic Kingdoms, gave me Game of Thrones and The Tudors vibes. It is written in a multiple POV format….like a LOT of POVs. Interestingly though, I found that fact to be less of a distraction and more of an attention grabber. There are some dark and gruesome aspects to the story, but none that I personally found intolerable. I felt they were in line with what most movies of this genre/era would also depict. Check your trigger warnings. I savored in this story and am very much anticipating the release of the second book in this series….expected February 2024. I hope you give this one a go, especially if you’re a fan of the Fantasy genre.
👑 BLURB: Potent in magic and pure of blood defines the power of Castle Astasuel, but decades of exile shadowed their existence with an obsession for vengeance. A sinister mating ritual with the demon of lust unlocks the key to their rampage of revenge, but they'll soon find out that every dark compromise comes with a heavy price. Meanwhile, the kingdom that banished the twisted royals faces dark corruption of its own... - First in a series - Multi POV - violence, murd3r, sl@very, st@rvation, cann1bal1sm (nondescrip) - d3mon sp1ce, dubc0n & n0nc0n - physical & psychological abus3 - power dynamics
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available Now on Amazon
⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
* Cannibalism
* Rape
* Incest
* Murder
November 8, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a surprisingly gripping read full of lust, betrayal, magic, power, and secret agendas. You can definitely see the Game of Thrones influence in some aspects of the story. Multiple POV and moderately spicy (lots of sexual scenes but not many explicit details). Definitely check the trigger warnings if there are any topics you don’t like reading about as this story involves a lot of darker actions among the many characters.
The story did start to get confusing when it was slowly revealed that almost every character had ulterior motives and secret plans that were piggybacking off of someone else’s plans and/or actions, but I’m hoping those will become more clear in the second book. I think that the author tried to put too many different ideas into the story at the same time and that made it a little hard for me to keep interest but overall the story drew me in and I look forward to reading the next book!
This was a surprisingly gripping read full of lust, betrayal, magic, power, and secret agendas. You can definitely see the Game of Thrones influence in some aspects of the story. Multiple POV and moderately spicy (lots of sexual scenes but not many explicit details). Definitely check the trigger warnings if there are any topics you don’t like reading about as this story involves a lot of darker actions among the many characters.
The story did start to get confusing when it was slowly revealed that almost every character had ulterior motives and secret plans that were piggybacking off of someone else’s plans and/or actions, but I’m hoping those will become more clear in the second book. I think that the author tried to put too many different ideas into the story at the same time and that made it a little hard for me to keep interest but overall the story drew me in and I look forward to reading the next book!
November 9, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
👑Dark Magic
👑Multiple POV
👑Demon Spice
👑Lust/Greed/Revenge
👑Royalty
👑Violence
👑Murder
👑Dark Fantasy
𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒔 reminds me a lot of Game of Thrones, but with dark magic changing the story up! I’ve already marked my calendar for book 2 coming out on Valentine’s Day!!
This book is told from many POVs but the author is really good at slyly reminding you who the person is as to not confuse you. It ends up feeling like third person, but I like this better in my opinion.
⭐️ It had me excited to start the next chapter every time! I was dying to know how the different POVs will all pull together. I was nervous, excited, sad, all of the things!!
🌶️ Right out of the gates were thrown into demon spice!! The author is not shy about the spicy scenes 😆.
⚠️⚠️ 𝙿𝙻𝙴𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙶𝙶𝙴𝚁 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶! 𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘. ⚠️⚠️
👑👑👑👑👑
𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 @kellfrillman 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 #giftedarc 🥰. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
👑Dark Magic
👑Multiple POV
👑Demon Spice
👑Lust/Greed/Revenge
👑Royalty
👑Violence
👑Murder
👑Dark Fantasy
𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒔 reminds me a lot of Game of Thrones, but with dark magic changing the story up! I’ve already marked my calendar for book 2 coming out on Valentine’s Day!!
This book is told from many POVs but the author is really good at slyly reminding you who the person is as to not confuse you. It ends up feeling like third person, but I like this better in my opinion.
⭐️ It had me excited to start the next chapter every time! I was dying to know how the different POVs will all pull together. I was nervous, excited, sad, all of the things!!
🌶️ Right out of the gates were thrown into demon spice!! The author is not shy about the spicy scenes 😆.
⚠️⚠️ 𝙿𝙻𝙴𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙶𝙶𝙴𝚁 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶! 𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘. ⚠️⚠️
👑👑👑👑👑
𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 @kellfrillman 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 #giftedarc 🥰. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗.
November 7, 2023
ARC review ✨ I’ll start off by saying that checking the trigger warnings is a must. There’s r*pe, incest, m*rder, etc. The plot was intriguing and fast-paced, and I found myself wanting to know more about the characters and their lives as the book went along. It shifted from one POV to another with each chapter, which I liked, but I did feel that there were too many characters’ points of view that we saw. I would have liked if it were a bit more simple and if maybe there were only the main five or six rather than about ten or so. Another thing that kind of ruined it for me was the really intense sex scenes. I’m here for some good smut, but some of the scenes had ~weird vibes~. This is not due to any triggers; I just feel that they could have been written differently. For example, a character falls in love after following someone around for a few weeks & giving them oral exactly one time. It felt a bit unrealistic to me. Other than those few things, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
If you’re looking for a sweeping, epic tale full of lust, greed, revenge, magic, dark bargains, lecherous patriarchs, demons, Royal intrigue, and palace politics — Tragic Kingdoms is for you!
There are a lot of characters in this tale, and its violence and pacing are very reminiscent of Game of Thrones. If you have any triggers, be sure to check for trigger warnings on this one— the sexual violence found within is pretty prevalent but is relevant to the story and moves it forward towards its cliffhanger ending.
The multiple viewpoints within the book are deftly handled, and lend great impact to the overall story. I’m still a little overwhelmed after reading about Rayne, Allura, Asmodeus, Elara, the horrible King Talaon, Lando, Deacon, Mecia, Syrah, Kora, Esme, Moira, Iris, Godfrey, and more. This is truly set to be an epic saga and I’m DYING that we won’t have the next book until February of 2024.
There are a lot of characters in this tale, and its violence and pacing are very reminiscent of Game of Thrones. If you have any triggers, be sure to check for trigger warnings on this one— the sexual violence found within is pretty prevalent but is relevant to the story and moves it forward towards its cliffhanger ending.
The multiple viewpoints within the book are deftly handled, and lend great impact to the overall story. I’m still a little overwhelmed after reading about Rayne, Allura, Asmodeus, Elara, the horrible King Talaon, Lando, Deacon, Mecia, Syrah, Kora, Esme, Moira, Iris, Godfrey, and more. This is truly set to be an epic saga and I’m DYING that we won’t have the next book until February of 2024.
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