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The Gailean Quartet #2
Serenade of Kings
"Once upon a time, a young girl fought fire with fire to overthrow the mad king who destroyed her home.
But little did she know, years before that, a courageous music mage fell in love with the man destined to become that mad king."
King Moragon, a skilled mental magician, will stop at nothing to harness the powers of musical magic. Among his subjects is Gailea, an aspiring music mage who dares to hone her rare gift in secret, right under his nose. But when the king's nephew, Prince Crispin, takes notice of Gailea, a dangerous game of politics and love unfolds.
Try as she might, Gailea can’t conceal her gift from the wicked king forever. What’s more, she also catches the eye of Moragon's brother, Alastair Ragnar, known as “the Snake.” As the scheming monarchs vie for access to Gailea’s magic, castle secrets unravel—exposing a crafty sorcerer, a murder plot, and a deadly spell.
Can Crispin protect Gailea from his conniving family, or will he succumb to his own fiery ambitions? And as war looms in the kingdom, can Gailea navigate the treacherous court and protect her heart? Or will she have to sacrifice her love for the good of the realm?
Serenade of Kings is an epic overture that sings an origin story of harmony and flame. Read it today to dive inside the adventure, court intrigue, and magic found in this second installment of The Gailean Quartet!
But little did she know, years before that, a courageous music mage fell in love with the man destined to become that mad king."
King Moragon, a skilled mental magician, will stop at nothing to harness the powers of musical magic. Among his subjects is Gailea, an aspiring music mage who dares to hone her rare gift in secret, right under his nose. But when the king's nephew, Prince Crispin, takes notice of Gailea, a dangerous game of politics and love unfolds.
Try as she might, Gailea can’t conceal her gift from the wicked king forever. What’s more, she also catches the eye of Moragon's brother, Alastair Ragnar, known as “the Snake.” As the scheming monarchs vie for access to Gailea’s magic, castle secrets unravel—exposing a crafty sorcerer, a murder plot, and a deadly spell.
Can Crispin protect Gailea from his conniving family, or will he succumb to his own fiery ambitions? And as war looms in the kingdom, can Gailea navigate the treacherous court and protect her heart? Or will she have to sacrifice her love for the good of the realm?
Serenade of Kings is an epic overture that sings an origin story of harmony and flame. Read it today to dive inside the adventure, court intrigue, and magic found in this second installment of The Gailean Quartet!
- GenresYoung Adult Fantasy
Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Christine E. Schulze
65 books407 followersHullo there, dear reader! Christine E. Schulze here, author of YA fantasy, as well as a few kids’ books about special needs. I’ve been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical romances and adventures since I was too young to even write of such stories. My collection of YA and children's fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books that can all be read separately but also weave together to create a single, amazing fantasy.
One of my main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create grand fantasy adventures with characters that connect with readers from diverse backgrounds. My current focus is to include racially diverse characters, as well as those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by my day job working with adults who have autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
I draw much of my inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in my life. Some of my exciting ventures include the publication of my award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet, my first series with Words Matter Publishing. My books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
I love connecting with new raeders! Come find me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or at my author website: http://authorchristineschulze.com
On that note, God bless, happy reading, and may you be truly inspired! I’ll see you in my next book.
- Christine E. Schulze
One of my main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create grand fantasy adventures with characters that connect with readers from diverse backgrounds. My current focus is to include racially diverse characters, as well as those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by my day job working with adults who have autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
I draw much of my inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in my life. Some of my exciting ventures include the publication of my award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet, my first series with Words Matter Publishing. My books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
I love connecting with new raeders! Come find me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or at my author website: http://authorchristineschulze.com
On that note, God bless, happy reading, and may you be truly inspired! I’ll see you in my next book.
- Christine E. Schulze
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
February 20, 2025
Tropes:
political intrigue
hidden identities
elemental magic
musical magic
mental magic
villain origin story
YA Fantasy
Serenade of Kings is the prequel story to Prelude of Fire. In Prelude of Fire, we watched as Ragnar destroyed multiple kingdoms in his quest for ultimate power. This time around in Serenade of Kings, we've gone back to the beginning to Ragnar's origin story and how he came to be the villain.
What I loved about Serenade of Kings is while we knew we'd see Gailea again (she was Ashlai's birth mother from PoF- and wife of Ragnar), it was great to see who she was, how she became trained in musical arcane, how she met Ragnar and how the fell in love. Her story is just as important as Ragnar's.... without Gailea, we never would have gotten Ragnar.
Ragnar.... now I'm not putting any spoilers here because while you may be thinking to yourself, spoiler? This is a villain origin story, how can there be spoilers? Oh, my friends... there can be. While we know Ragnar is the villain, who is Ragnar? For me, he could have been one of three different men! The whole time I'm reading the story, I'm guessing, it's this one. No wait, it's this one. Oh, it could be him instead. I loved that. That you're not sure until the last few chapters exactly who becomes or is THE Ragnar.
It was interesting how so many factors played into how Ragnar becomes the villan we all knew from PoF. However, he's not the only bad guy. Serenade of Kings will introduce you to a new one... or two?
Read it and see if you guess who Ragnar's true identity is!
political intrigue
hidden identities
elemental magic
musical magic
mental magic
villain origin story
YA Fantasy
Serenade of Kings is the prequel story to Prelude of Fire. In Prelude of Fire, we watched as Ragnar destroyed multiple kingdoms in his quest for ultimate power. This time around in Serenade of Kings, we've gone back to the beginning to Ragnar's origin story and how he came to be the villain.
What I loved about Serenade of Kings is while we knew we'd see Gailea again (she was Ashlai's birth mother from PoF- and wife of Ragnar), it was great to see who she was, how she became trained in musical arcane, how she met Ragnar and how the fell in love. Her story is just as important as Ragnar's.... without Gailea, we never would have gotten Ragnar.
Ragnar.... now I'm not putting any spoilers here because while you may be thinking to yourself, spoiler? This is a villain origin story, how can there be spoilers? Oh, my friends... there can be. While we know Ragnar is the villain, who is Ragnar? For me, he could have been one of three different men! The whole time I'm reading the story, I'm guessing, it's this one. No wait, it's this one. Oh, it could be him instead. I loved that. That you're not sure until the last few chapters exactly who becomes or is THE Ragnar.
It was interesting how so many factors played into how Ragnar becomes the villan we all knew from PoF. However, he's not the only bad guy. Serenade of Kings will introduce you to a new one... or two?
Read it and see if you guess who Ragnar's true identity is!
February 26, 2025
This is a prequel story to Prelude of Fire, and explores not only an intriguing villain origin story, but learning about unique powers, hidden identities and dangerous political and royal scheming.
I really enjoyed how it followed multiple characters and you get insight into their abilities, flaws and motivations, and they all have the potential to be a villain, but it isn't unveiled till the end who the true enemies are.
This keeps you guessing throughout, and shows how manipulation, dire stakes, choices and a need for power played into the character's darkness and influenced their fate.
I loved the worldbuilding and variety of magic with songspells, elemental and mental magic, and I enjoyed seeing how Gailea pushes to discover her magic abilities but battles with the need to remain hidden, and not reveal her true skills to the King.
There is a good balance of action, mystery, political intrigue and building romance that it's easy to get swept into the story, especially with the bonds of found family and friendships.
There are also dark themes of sacrifice, brewing rebellions, corruption, manipulation and betrayals. It's a gripping and powerful story showing a descent into madness, and the dangers of power.
🔥"Together, we shall be unstoppable"
🔥"It is a small thing to win a kingdom, it takes but a single battle. It is another to fight the lifelong war of keeping a kingdom"
🔥"It's often argued whether being feared or loved is most powerful. But you will be neither, you will simply be hated"
I really enjoyed how it followed multiple characters and you get insight into their abilities, flaws and motivations, and they all have the potential to be a villain, but it isn't unveiled till the end who the true enemies are.
This keeps you guessing throughout, and shows how manipulation, dire stakes, choices and a need for power played into the character's darkness and influenced their fate.
I loved the worldbuilding and variety of magic with songspells, elemental and mental magic, and I enjoyed seeing how Gailea pushes to discover her magic abilities but battles with the need to remain hidden, and not reveal her true skills to the King.
There is a good balance of action, mystery, political intrigue and building romance that it's easy to get swept into the story, especially with the bonds of found family and friendships.
There are also dark themes of sacrifice, brewing rebellions, corruption, manipulation and betrayals. It's a gripping and powerful story showing a descent into madness, and the dangers of power.
🔥"Together, we shall be unstoppable"
🔥"It is a small thing to win a kingdom, it takes but a single battle. It is another to fight the lifelong war of keeping a kingdom"
🔥"It's often argued whether being feared or loved is most powerful. But you will be neither, you will simply be hated"
July 12, 2024
I was very iffy in the beginning if I was going to like this book and be able to fully read it, but I think that was due to a slight reading slump/depressive episode. Thankfully I got over both and was able to continue and finish reading.
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This book goes into detail about Gailea and King Ragnar from book 1. In this book it gives you insight about life before children and becoming king and queen of Adelar. Gailea who is 18 at the time is a scullery maid in the Adelar kingdom to King Moragon and Queen Marlis. Gailea is also a music mage meaning she can do magic or sorcery with her singing or playing an instrument. The soon to be King Ragnar is first known as Crispin and is the prince of the Adelar kingdom under his uncle Moragon. Crispin is a Fyre (which is basically a fire mage if you will) meaning he can produce fire/flames from his body.
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I enjoyed reading about two important characters from book 1 and how it all came to be. Their love was so strong and amazing that nothing was going to get in the way (so they thought…). Christine (author) gives us so many details while reading and gives the emotions of each character which I love. I don’t want to give too much away about this book before it’s published but all I have to say it that I thank you Christine for giving me the opportunity to read her book before it’s published, and that I think you all should look forward to the release date!
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This book goes into detail about Gailea and King Ragnar from book 1. In this book it gives you insight about life before children and becoming king and queen of Adelar. Gailea who is 18 at the time is a scullery maid in the Adelar kingdom to King Moragon and Queen Marlis. Gailea is also a music mage meaning she can do magic or sorcery with her singing or playing an instrument. The soon to be King Ragnar is first known as Crispin and is the prince of the Adelar kingdom under his uncle Moragon. Crispin is a Fyre (which is basically a fire mage if you will) meaning he can produce fire/flames from his body.
-
I enjoyed reading about two important characters from book 1 and how it all came to be. Their love was so strong and amazing that nothing was going to get in the way (so they thought…). Christine (author) gives us so many details while reading and gives the emotions of each character which I love. I don’t want to give too much away about this book before it’s published but all I have to say it that I thank you Christine for giving me the opportunity to read her book before it’s published, and that I think you all should look forward to the release date!
December 19, 2024
Serenade of Kings is the second installment in the Gailean Quartet, and this time, instead of following Ashali from book one, the story dives into the backstory of her parents before she was born. Making this prequel all the more intriguing.
Christine does an incredible job with this book, maintaining the same captivating writing style that made book one such a delight. While some chapters felt a bit lengthy to me, that’s more of a personal preference than a flaw. Unlike the first book, which was tailored more for younger readers, Serenade of Kings steps up in maturity, making it more suitable for ages 13+. There are themes of both physical and emotional abuse, but they’re handled in a way that doesn’t feel overly graphic or overwhelming for the younger people
Overall, it’s a brilliant continuation of the series, adding depth and context to the world Christine has created while still keeping readers hooked.
Christine does an incredible job with this book, maintaining the same captivating writing style that made book one such a delight. While some chapters felt a bit lengthy to me, that’s more of a personal preference than a flaw. Unlike the first book, which was tailored more for younger readers, Serenade of Kings steps up in maturity, making it more suitable for ages 13+. There are themes of both physical and emotional abuse, but they’re handled in a way that doesn’t feel overly graphic or overwhelming for the younger people
Overall, it’s a brilliant continuation of the series, adding depth and context to the world Christine has created while still keeping readers hooked.
February 5, 2025
Well I found my first 2025 favorite. Serenade of Kings is just what this bookish heart needed. I LOVE me a good backstory and man did this deliver. In Prelude of Fire (Book 1 in this series), I fell in love with the characters, their journey and their growth. We got a glimpse of Ragnar and his relationship with Gailea.
With Serenade of Kings, we get to see a much better, clearer picture of that relationship and how things progressed to the evil tyranny we see in Book 1. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and one particular scene had me stunned.
I thoroughly enjoy this author's writing. I love that it's character driven, full of emotion and depth. You can feel the tension and turmoil, not to mention the heartbreak. The action scenes are pretty great too. This is a must read for fans of YA Fantasy. I can't wait for the next book!
I sincerely appreciate the author for this review copy. These opinions are my own.
With Serenade of Kings, we get to see a much better, clearer picture of that relationship and how things progressed to the evil tyranny we see in Book 1. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and one particular scene had me stunned.
I thoroughly enjoy this author's writing. I love that it's character driven, full of emotion and depth. You can feel the tension and turmoil, not to mention the heartbreak. The action scenes are pretty great too. This is a must read for fans of YA Fantasy. I can't wait for the next book!
I sincerely appreciate the author for this review copy. These opinions are my own.
February 1, 2025
This book was the perfect prologue to Prelude of Fire. We get a glimpse into Gailea’s side of the story and how she became the person she is.
This book was full of whimsy, longing, and mystery. A story about how our lives and experiences shape us into who we become. And we can choose to become the people who hurt us, or the ones who were the light in the darkness.
This high fantasy was written beautifully! The author is amazing at writing very detailed descriptions that fully immerse you into the story!
My only complaint is that I found it a tad predictable but nonetheless it was an amazing read!! I definitely recommend this to my fantasy lovers!!!
This book is being rereleased on February 25th 2025. If you love fantasy definitely read this and Prelude of Fire!
This book was full of whimsy, longing, and mystery. A story about how our lives and experiences shape us into who we become. And we can choose to become the people who hurt us, or the ones who were the light in the darkness.
This high fantasy was written beautifully! The author is amazing at writing very detailed descriptions that fully immerse you into the story!
My only complaint is that I found it a tad predictable but nonetheless it was an amazing read!! I definitely recommend this to my fantasy lovers!!!
This book is being rereleased on February 25th 2025. If you love fantasy definitely read this and Prelude of Fire!
February 20, 2025
First, a big thanks to the author for giving me an Advanced Readers Copy, in E-book format, in exchange for an honest review.
"Serenade of Kings" is a prequel to the 1st book "Prelude of Fire, telling the origin story of Ashlai's parents. You can read it as a stand alone, but if you read the first book, you'll know that there's only one way this story can go.
Overall, I enjoyed this about the same as "Prelude if Fire" but for different reasons. While the 1st book is more adventurous & Exploritory. This book is more character driven and unravels the interworkings of the Castle.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and learning how King Ragnar came to power, but my biggest drawback was the last 20% of the book. There is a point in the book that I personally believe could have been a good way to end the story, which made the last 20% of the story feel like a drag. Granted, the events that follow are important, but I felt it was all rushed and that they were meant to be a different book or a sequel to this prequel.
I would recommend "Serenade of Kings" if you like the world of "Prelude of Fire", a clean fantasy genre and enjoy a clean villian origin story.
"Serenade of Kings" is a prequel to the 1st book "Prelude of Fire, telling the origin story of Ashlai's parents. You can read it as a stand alone, but if you read the first book, you'll know that there's only one way this story can go.
Overall, I enjoyed this about the same as "Prelude if Fire" but for different reasons. While the 1st book is more adventurous & Exploritory. This book is more character driven and unravels the interworkings of the Castle.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and learning how King Ragnar came to power, but my biggest drawback was the last 20% of the book. There is a point in the book that I personally believe could have been a good way to end the story, which made the last 20% of the story feel like a drag. Granted, the events that follow are important, but I felt it was all rushed and that they were meant to be a different book or a sequel to this prequel.
I would recommend "Serenade of Kings" if you like the world of "Prelude of Fire", a clean fantasy genre and enjoy a clean villian origin story.
January 30, 2025
Serenade Of Kings by Christine Schulze is the fiery,and powerful prequel story for the first book in the quartet Prelude Of Fire.Gailea's story is one that is filled with magic,music,and courage.🎶
The fmc Gailea is a strong,independent, and beautiful young woman that challenges the status quo with her courage,stubbornness,and her unwavering determination to stand up for her beliefs no matter the obstacles in her way.
The prequel story provided excellent background information about the mysterious pasts of Gailea,and a certain fiery king.Reader's who read book one will definitely have questions answered,and will be captivated again by Mrs.Schulze's mesmerizing world building with incredible attention to detail.
The music inspired magic called song spells is very interesting,and I loved learning about the unique history behind it.🎶 Watching Gailea start off as unsure of herself,and then gradually becoming more confident throughout the story is truly inspiring.
The found family trope is a main theme of the story,and the important role it plays throughout the story is truly memorable.Also the strong sisterhood moments between Gailea,and her sister are truly heartwarming moments.
Add Serenade Of Kings to your tbr if you love fantasy stories with:
1.Found family
2.Court intrigue
3.Friends to lovers to enemies romance.
4.Musical inspired magic🎶
5.Strong,and stubborn fmc
6.Fiery,and dangerous mmc
7. Cool elemental magic
8.Stunning world building
Serenade Of Kings by Christine Schulze releases on February 25th 2025.🔥⚔️🎶
Thank you Mrs.Schulze for the opportunity to read Gailea's prequel story,and I look forward to reading the next book in the quartet.✨️
The fmc Gailea is a strong,independent, and beautiful young woman that challenges the status quo with her courage,stubbornness,and her unwavering determination to stand up for her beliefs no matter the obstacles in her way.
The prequel story provided excellent background information about the mysterious pasts of Gailea,and a certain fiery king.Reader's who read book one will definitely have questions answered,and will be captivated again by Mrs.Schulze's mesmerizing world building with incredible attention to detail.
The music inspired magic called song spells is very interesting,and I loved learning about the unique history behind it.🎶 Watching Gailea start off as unsure of herself,and then gradually becoming more confident throughout the story is truly inspiring.
The found family trope is a main theme of the story,and the important role it plays throughout the story is truly memorable.Also the strong sisterhood moments between Gailea,and her sister are truly heartwarming moments.
Add Serenade Of Kings to your tbr if you love fantasy stories with:
1.Found family
2.Court intrigue
3.Friends to lovers to enemies romance.
4.Musical inspired magic🎶
5.Strong,and stubborn fmc
6.Fiery,and dangerous mmc
7. Cool elemental magic
8.Stunning world building
Serenade Of Kings by Christine Schulze releases on February 25th 2025.🔥⚔️🎶
Thank you Mrs.Schulze for the opportunity to read Gailea's prequel story,and I look forward to reading the next book in the quartet.✨️
January 28, 2025
Serenade of Kings by Christine E. Schulze
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to author Christine E. Schulze for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
__________________________________________
This book is a thrilling prequel to the Gailean Quartet that pulls you in with its rich world-building, captivating characters, and twists.
The book lets you experience the story through the eyes of multiple characters which was enjoyable and exactly what was needed.
Just like in Prelude of Fire, the plot is full of surprises and the world building and magical elements leave nothing to be desired - It is so well written.
The characters are also as engaging as I had hoped for following Prelude of Fire. Gailea’s backstory is fascinating, and seeing how she evolved is an emotional ride. On the other hand, King Moragon is a complex and intriguing character, or should I say villian - sometimes very infuriating, but it all adds to a great story.
The book also dives into some slightly heavier topics which does add some depth to the series, but can be triggering to some, so be sure to read triggers before getting into it.
I can also add that the book stands out in the sense that it leans ever so slightly towards a slightly older audience which was refreshing, but don’t fear, it remains very much within the YA genre.
My only comment would be that I found the book to start off too slow for my personal preference, and then it seemed to be a bit rushed towards the end with some time lapses that I again personally don't care for.
Other than that, this series is a fantastic read and very well crafted for younger readers, or those who prefer all the fantasy without the spice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to author Christine E. Schulze for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
__________________________________________
This book is a thrilling prequel to the Gailean Quartet that pulls you in with its rich world-building, captivating characters, and twists.
The book lets you experience the story through the eyes of multiple characters which was enjoyable and exactly what was needed.
Just like in Prelude of Fire, the plot is full of surprises and the world building and magical elements leave nothing to be desired - It is so well written.
The characters are also as engaging as I had hoped for following Prelude of Fire. Gailea’s backstory is fascinating, and seeing how she evolved is an emotional ride. On the other hand, King Moragon is a complex and intriguing character, or should I say villian - sometimes very infuriating, but it all adds to a great story.
The book also dives into some slightly heavier topics which does add some depth to the series, but can be triggering to some, so be sure to read triggers before getting into it.
I can also add that the book stands out in the sense that it leans ever so slightly towards a slightly older audience which was refreshing, but don’t fear, it remains very much within the YA genre.
My only comment would be that I found the book to start off too slow for my personal preference, and then it seemed to be a bit rushed towards the end with some time lapses that I again personally don't care for.
Other than that, this series is a fantastic read and very well crafted for younger readers, or those who prefer all the fantasy without the spice.
January 25, 2025
This is an ARC review, thank you to the author Christine E. Schulze for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I was so excited to read this book knowing it explores more of Gailea and Ragnar's relationship and already loving Gailea's character so much. I found this book to be a lot slower than Prelude of Fire, I didn't feel like much was happening before the 35% mark and it really started picking up midway through the book. Overall this instalment was a lot more character driven when the first one was plot driven, with the quest starting at the beginning of the book. I started the book absolutely loving Crispin and how he viewed things, I was rooting for him to get to the throne because he'd be a good king. It was so interesting how torn he was between Alistor and Moragon, both his uncles were pulling at him, trying to make him go their way. I genuinely did not expect him to change the way he did and that was truly heartbreaking. I love Gailea so much and I'm so glad we get to read more about her in this book!! I missed her!! However, Moragon when I catch you, he was infuriating throughout the whole book, there's not one of his appearances that did not upset me, I think he should say silent. I also really enjoyed Chevalier's character and his backstory, it made him a more complex character than I thought he would be and I really enjoyed it! Overall, I really enjoyed this book even though I found the first half to be a quite slow, getting to see more of Gailea made it all worth it though.
I was so excited to read this book knowing it explores more of Gailea and Ragnar's relationship and already loving Gailea's character so much. I found this book to be a lot slower than Prelude of Fire, I didn't feel like much was happening before the 35% mark and it really started picking up midway through the book. Overall this instalment was a lot more character driven when the first one was plot driven, with the quest starting at the beginning of the book. I started the book absolutely loving Crispin and how he viewed things, I was rooting for him to get to the throne because he'd be a good king. It was so interesting how torn he was between Alistor and Moragon, both his uncles were pulling at him, trying to make him go their way. I genuinely did not expect him to change the way he did and that was truly heartbreaking. I love Gailea so much and I'm so glad we get to read more about her in this book!! I missed her!! However, Moragon when I catch you, he was infuriating throughout the whole book, there's not one of his appearances that did not upset me, I think he should say silent. I also really enjoyed Chevalier's character and his backstory, it made him a more complex character than I thought he would be and I really enjoyed it! Overall, I really enjoyed this book even though I found the first half to be a quite slow, getting to see more of Gailea made it all worth it though.
January 25, 2025
This is an ARC review, thank you to the author for sending me an early e-copy of this book.
I found this book to be both different and similar to the first book in the series. It was similar in the sense of the world and the familiar characters and prose, but there were some interesting elements that marked a difference for me. This book felt more character driven, we spend a lot of time with the political side of this world and the differences in moral right and wrong. It was still very much YA, but it felt a bit more grown, which I enjoyed. Gailea was such a delight to read about, I already loved her in Prelude of Fire, but now reading her as a young adult made me love her even more. Her sense of justice and power was very evident. Reading about Crispin, Ragnar and Moragon was also very fascinating. I spent a lot of time hating on the latter two, then the switch up with Crispin as he starts to lose his sanity towards the end was just a lot of fun to read about. It almost reminded me a little of reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in that sense. Overall, I think this was a great prequel and I had a lot of fun reading this ARC.
I found this book to be both different and similar to the first book in the series. It was similar in the sense of the world and the familiar characters and prose, but there were some interesting elements that marked a difference for me. This book felt more character driven, we spend a lot of time with the political side of this world and the differences in moral right and wrong. It was still very much YA, but it felt a bit more grown, which I enjoyed. Gailea was such a delight to read about, I already loved her in Prelude of Fire, but now reading her as a young adult made me love her even more. Her sense of justice and power was very evident. Reading about Crispin, Ragnar and Moragon was also very fascinating. I spent a lot of time hating on the latter two, then the switch up with Crispin as he starts to lose his sanity towards the end was just a lot of fun to read about. It almost reminded me a little of reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in that sense. Overall, I think this was a great prequel and I had a lot of fun reading this ARC.
January 31, 2025
I just finished the book!! Or did the book finish me?
Serenade of Kings was absolutely incredible, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. I loved getting to see Gailea’s past and learning more about her and Lord Ragnar’s life before they had children and became king and queen. The way the story evolved was just so good—there were twists I never saw coming, but somehow, everything made perfect sense in the end.
And the magic?? I’ve never seen anything like it! The song spells were especially fascinating, and the way they were woven into the story was just beautiful. Christine E. Schulze’s writing is stunning, and one of my favorite quotes—“but as a man loving the beautiful soul of a woman”—has been living in my head rent-free ever since I read it.
The pacing was perfect, the emotions hit hard, and that ending?? I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Now I just have to survive until October because I need the next book!!
A huge thank you to Christine E. Schulze for allowing me to read this book before its release, I feel so lucky to have experienced this story early!
If you love unique magic, beautifully written fantasy, and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish, Serenade of Kings is a must read!
Serenade of Kings was absolutely incredible, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. I loved getting to see Gailea’s past and learning more about her and Lord Ragnar’s life before they had children and became king and queen. The way the story evolved was just so good—there were twists I never saw coming, but somehow, everything made perfect sense in the end.
And the magic?? I’ve never seen anything like it! The song spells were especially fascinating, and the way they were woven into the story was just beautiful. Christine E. Schulze’s writing is stunning, and one of my favorite quotes—“but as a man loving the beautiful soul of a woman”—has been living in my head rent-free ever since I read it.
The pacing was perfect, the emotions hit hard, and that ending?? I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Now I just have to survive until October because I need the next book!!
A huge thank you to Christine E. Schulze for allowing me to read this book before its release, I feel so lucky to have experienced this story early!
If you love unique magic, beautifully written fantasy, and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish, Serenade of Kings is a must read!
January 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great second installment to the Gailean Quartet, and was really well written.
I love the unique magic system, involving music is such a different take on magic and is really interesting to read about!
I enjoyed getting the insight on the two characters (Gailea and King Moragon) from book 1! I also enjoyed the romance between Crispin and Gailea! I do feel it was a tiny bit rushed however, things happened quite quickly and without too much build-up.
King Moragon was an in-depth villain and his powers were also really interesting to read about.
I will say, the random time skips around 80% of the way into the book, threw me off quite a bit, I'm not a fan of random time-skipping in books, as I find it difficult enough to keep up with the plot most of the time without things like that, that's just a me problem though 😅
The ending was a shock and was written well, so I'm definitely excited to see what happens in the next book!
Overall, this was a great book, written really well, with such a cool concept and story!
There are some trigger warnings you should search if you decide to read this one however!
I love the unique magic system, involving music is such a different take on magic and is really interesting to read about!
I enjoyed getting the insight on the two characters (Gailea and King Moragon) from book 1! I also enjoyed the romance between Crispin and Gailea! I do feel it was a tiny bit rushed however, things happened quite quickly and without too much build-up.
King Moragon was an in-depth villain and his powers were also really interesting to read about.
I will say, the random time skips around 80% of the way into the book, threw me off quite a bit, I'm not a fan of random time-skipping in books, as I find it difficult enough to keep up with the plot most of the time without things like that, that's just a me problem though 😅
The ending was a shock and was written well, so I'm definitely excited to see what happens in the next book!
Overall, this was a great book, written really well, with such a cool concept and story!
There are some trigger warnings you should search if you decide to read this one however!
June 18, 2024
Please read these trigger warnings for the book
Sexual assault
Domestic abuse/violence
Mentions of Torture
Murder
As the prequel of Prelude of Fire, the writer world-building at the beginning of the book is amazing. Felt like I understood what was going on and was immersed within the story. I love the way Schulze describes the world and creates dialogue between characters. You get a really sense of how each character is feeling and viewing one another.
The writer's use of duo pov is done really well, keeping you invested within the story.
The plot-twist in this book was absolutely crazy I definitely not got expect it to turn out the way it did.
Finding out Gailea backstory was sad as well as interesting. It was really nice to get to see more of her character from the first book, as well as getting to meet new characters and the people for her past.
Learning how she and Ragnar both came to be who they were was an emotional rollercoaster. It gives you a completely different outlook on the first book.
Just like the first book, the epic fantasy battle that happens in a book is really easy to read and nice to follow. While still feeling tension and fast-paced
The book itself was paced really nicely the I found this book a quick read, which for me and fantasy novels is rare. The last 20% are an absolute whirl-wind of plot twists and shocking resolutions.
I would highly recommend this series. Just keep the trigger warnings in mind.
Sexual assault
Domestic abuse/violence
Mentions of Torture
Murder
As the prequel of Prelude of Fire, the writer world-building at the beginning of the book is amazing. Felt like I understood what was going on and was immersed within the story. I love the way Schulze describes the world and creates dialogue between characters. You get a really sense of how each character is feeling and viewing one another.
The writer's use of duo pov is done really well, keeping you invested within the story.
The plot-twist in this book was absolutely crazy I definitely not got expect it to turn out the way it did.
Finding out Gailea backstory was sad as well as interesting. It was really nice to get to see more of her character from the first book, as well as getting to meet new characters and the people for her past.
Learning how she and Ragnar both came to be who they were was an emotional rollercoaster. It gives you a completely different outlook on the first book.
Just like the first book, the epic fantasy battle that happens in a book is really easy to read and nice to follow. While still feeling tension and fast-paced
The book itself was paced really nicely the I found this book a quick read, which for me and fantasy novels is rare. The last 20% are an absolute whirl-wind of plot twists and shocking resolutions.
I would highly recommend this series. Just keep the trigger warnings in mind.
October 3, 2024
✨ ARC review ✨
4⭐️!
I absolutely loved reading this prequel to Prelude of Fire as I had already grown to love Gailea’s character in the previous book. In this prequel we get to know more about her life and how she got to be who she is in Prelude of Fire (without spoiling tooo much). I was also very intrigued by Ragnar and this book did NOT disappoint with his backstory!!
It did take me a while to read this compared to Prelude as I had trouble getting into the story in the beginning. However, the further into the book I got, the more I could NOT put this down 🥹. The ending was definitely an emotional roller coaster but I would not have it any other way! Definitely recommend this read if you love a good epic fantasy, with musical magic and betrayals left and right.
Once again thank you to the wonderful author for letting me read and review this ARC ♥️
4⭐️!
I absolutely loved reading this prequel to Prelude of Fire as I had already grown to love Gailea’s character in the previous book. In this prequel we get to know more about her life and how she got to be who she is in Prelude of Fire (without spoiling tooo much). I was also very intrigued by Ragnar and this book did NOT disappoint with his backstory!!
It did take me a while to read this compared to Prelude as I had trouble getting into the story in the beginning. However, the further into the book I got, the more I could NOT put this down 🥹. The ending was definitely an emotional roller coaster but I would not have it any other way! Definitely recommend this read if you love a good epic fantasy, with musical magic and betrayals left and right.
Once again thank you to the wonderful author for letting me read and review this ARC ♥️
January 7, 2025
First of all I want to thank Christine for giving me an ARC reading of her second book! 🩷
This was really hard to review. I like the book, I like the series, and if I was 11/12 I would be in LOVE with them, I think due to reading so much fantasy this last year and my age I wasn't 100% into the book and sadly and it at around 40% Although it is YA and definitely on the younger scale of YA Christine goes into great detail throughout the book and I really appreciate that. .
I do want to make it clear though, my DNF has absolutely nothing to do with Christine, the book etc, I think maybe I'm just "too old" for it! I'd recommend it for any YA who wants a fantasy without harsh scenes such as language, smut etc.
I do know though, that I definitely want to try and re-read it in the future!
Even though I DNF it, this book still deserves a good rating for the bit I did read.
(I actually rate it a 3.5)
This was really hard to review. I like the book, I like the series, and if I was 11/12 I would be in LOVE with them, I think due to reading so much fantasy this last year and my age I wasn't 100% into the book and sadly and it at around 40% Although it is YA and definitely on the younger scale of YA Christine goes into great detail throughout the book and I really appreciate that. .
I do want to make it clear though, my DNF has absolutely nothing to do with Christine, the book etc, I think maybe I'm just "too old" for it! I'd recommend it for any YA who wants a fantasy without harsh scenes such as language, smut etc.
I do know though, that I definitely want to try and re-read it in the future!
Even though I DNF it, this book still deserves a good rating for the bit I did read.
(I actually rate it a 3.5)
March 1, 2025
Serenade of Kings is a book full of political intrigue, secrets, and magic. Diving into the origin of Ragnar and Gailea was such a great way to add even more depth to the story and its characters. I loved meeting Gailea in a different setting, learning how she became who she was in PoF. It was intriguing to learn who Ragnar was before he became the villain, and why he became the man we (let’s admit it) all hated. I love a good villain origin story, and Serenade of Kings definitely sated my desire for it. This book was so well written, with care for detail and depth. Another amazing epic fantasy from Christine E. Schulze. ❤️
February 3, 2025
A huge thank you to Christine for sending me this ARC to read and review!
This was such a great continuation of the Gailean Quartet! Galiea was one of my favorite characters in Prelude of Fire, so I loved being able to read about her backstory. Christine is an incredibly immersive writer. She has a way of making you feel like you’re right there with the characters—feeling their feelings, fighting their battles, and seeing the scenery through their eyes. Also, she handles even the maturest of topics with such grace. I’m already excited for Book 3!
This was such a great continuation of the Gailean Quartet! Galiea was one of my favorite characters in Prelude of Fire, so I loved being able to read about her backstory. Christine is an incredibly immersive writer. She has a way of making you feel like you’re right there with the characters—feeling their feelings, fighting their battles, and seeing the scenery through their eyes. Also, she handles even the maturest of topics with such grace. I’m already excited for Book 3!
February 24, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC read
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Serenade of Kings by Christine E. Schulze is an enchanting fantasy novel that will capture your heart and imagination from the very first page. The author has crafted a rich and immersive world filled with magic, intrigue, and complex characters that readers will quickly come to care for. The story follows a prince on a journey of self-discovery, love, and responsibility, with plenty of twists and emotional moments to keep you turning the pages.
Schulze’s writing is beautiful, lyrical, and evocative, creating vivid descriptions that transport you to a realm where every detail feels alive. The relationships between the characters are especially well-developed. The pacing is perfect, balancing moments of action and reflection with ease.
The themes of loyalty, duty, and the struggle between personal desires and the greater good are woven throughout the story, making it a thought-provoking read that lingers long after you’ve finished. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with a deep emotional core, Serenade of Kings is a must-read. It’s a tale of hope, sacrifice, and the power of music and love to heal even the deepest wounds. Highly recommended!
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Serenade of Kings by Christine E. Schulze is an enchanting fantasy novel that will capture your heart and imagination from the very first page. The author has crafted a rich and immersive world filled with magic, intrigue, and complex characters that readers will quickly come to care for. The story follows a prince on a journey of self-discovery, love, and responsibility, with plenty of twists and emotional moments to keep you turning the pages.
Schulze’s writing is beautiful, lyrical, and evocative, creating vivid descriptions that transport you to a realm where every detail feels alive. The relationships between the characters are especially well-developed. The pacing is perfect, balancing moments of action and reflection with ease.
The themes of loyalty, duty, and the struggle between personal desires and the greater good are woven throughout the story, making it a thought-provoking read that lingers long after you’ve finished. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with a deep emotional core, Serenade of Kings is a must-read. It’s a tale of hope, sacrifice, and the power of music and love to heal even the deepest wounds. Highly recommended!
February 9, 2025
ARC of Serenade of Kings written by Christine E. Schulze. This book has been highly anticipated. by me since reading Prelude of Fire in October 2024, so thankfully not a long time to wait. @author_christinee.schulze
In Prelude of Fire, we are first introduced to Gailea and her relationship with Ragner, getting small details throughout the book on how their relationship fell apart. So in Serenade of Kings we get to explore their relationship from how they meet as teenagers up until Gailea escapes from Ragner and how that comes to be.
From love to loss, the heartbreak and struggle she endures to decide what is best for her children. Seeing the man she loves grow from a young, hopeful prince and the father of her children to becoming a mirror of the man he claimed he’d never become.
I can’t wait for book 3 in this series to be released. I adore the writing style, and for YA readers, this is a must-read series full of drama, heartbreak, friendship, and found family.
✨Ya Fantasy
✨Battle/War
✨Magic
In Prelude of Fire, we are first introduced to Gailea and her relationship with Ragner, getting small details throughout the book on how their relationship fell apart. So in Serenade of Kings we get to explore their relationship from how they meet as teenagers up until Gailea escapes from Ragner and how that comes to be.
From love to loss, the heartbreak and struggle she endures to decide what is best for her children. Seeing the man she loves grow from a young, hopeful prince and the father of her children to becoming a mirror of the man he claimed he’d never become.
I can’t wait for book 3 in this series to be released. I adore the writing style, and for YA readers, this is a must-read series full of drama, heartbreak, friendship, and found family.
✨Ya Fantasy
✨Battle/War
✨Magic
May 30, 2024
✨Serenade of Kings✨
Back into the High fantasy world with Christine Schulze and it was good to be back!
In book 2, we get to experience the past and what lead us to book 1 following the parentage of Ashlai. Two POVs guide us: Prince Crispin and Gailea, a servant with a secret lineage. As Gailea rises in the court due to her rare music magic, which the King is obsessed with, she and Crispin navigate politics with a secretive alliance. Crispin is heir to the throne if the King doesn’t produce an heir, but his two uncles, the King and Alistor, both have plans for Crispin and they all rely on him falling under his influence. A coup or war is on the horizon and a new King or Queen is bound to rise, but there’s so many lies… who can they trust?
SOK is full of unique and intricate magic systems and world building. The characters are well fleshed and the storyline is plot driven with a romance subplot. It’s also a prequel of sorts and helps provide a lot of deeper understanding relating to book 1, Prelude of Fire.
Tropes you may find in Serenade of Kings are plot twists, political intrigue, elemental magics, sweet romance, betrayals, forced proximity, hidden identities, and slow burn.
Thank you so much for this gifted arc, Christine. It was such a wonderful ride.
Back into the High fantasy world with Christine Schulze and it was good to be back!
In book 2, we get to experience the past and what lead us to book 1 following the parentage of Ashlai. Two POVs guide us: Prince Crispin and Gailea, a servant with a secret lineage. As Gailea rises in the court due to her rare music magic, which the King is obsessed with, she and Crispin navigate politics with a secretive alliance. Crispin is heir to the throne if the King doesn’t produce an heir, but his two uncles, the King and Alistor, both have plans for Crispin and they all rely on him falling under his influence. A coup or war is on the horizon and a new King or Queen is bound to rise, but there’s so many lies… who can they trust?
SOK is full of unique and intricate magic systems and world building. The characters are well fleshed and the storyline is plot driven with a romance subplot. It’s also a prequel of sorts and helps provide a lot of deeper understanding relating to book 1, Prelude of Fire.
Tropes you may find in Serenade of Kings are plot twists, political intrigue, elemental magics, sweet romance, betrayals, forced proximity, hidden identities, and slow burn.
Thank you so much for this gifted arc, Christine. It was such a wonderful ride.
February 1, 2025
Thank you Christine for the eARC!
3.5🌟/5
This series so far is really fantastic for the actual target audience.
I feel like personally this prequel book wasn't my type of fantasy, but I'm still excited to see what happens next in the series.
The author has a really good writing style that will work for many people, and the plot twists, even if more predictable for adults, would be epic for a younger audience. The magic system is so much fun.
My biggest negative for this book comes from using certain shocking moments. Yes, it's important for kids to understand the ugliness of the world, but r*pe is one of those things that shouldn't be in YA books. Even if this book is mentioned to be more in the NA category, it's put into YA instead, and for that reason, I felt a bit meh about this book in the end.
3.5🌟/5
This series so far is really fantastic for the actual target audience.
I feel like personally this prequel book wasn't my type of fantasy, but I'm still excited to see what happens next in the series.
The author has a really good writing style that will work for many people, and the plot twists, even if more predictable for adults, would be epic for a younger audience. The magic system is so much fun.
My biggest negative for this book comes from using certain shocking moments. Yes, it's important for kids to understand the ugliness of the world, but r*pe is one of those things that shouldn't be in YA books. Even if this book is mentioned to be more in the NA category, it's put into YA instead, and for that reason, I felt a bit meh about this book in the end.
February 25, 2025
Serenade of Kings
Let me tell you, there is just something about a character driven magic world with court intrigue that just bewitches me constantly.
While I enjoyed Prelude of Fire because of the adventure, characters and world building, it had felt slightly too juvenile for my personal liking, so I was hesitant about picking up this one
I THANK GOD THAT IN A DM CONVERSATION, CHRISTINE REMINDED ME THAT THE ARCS WERE STILL OPEN!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of your ARC readers!
I will try to express what I feel about this book without giving spoilers. Enough said that I went back to a particularly painful chapter of Prelude of Fire just to read it in a better, albeit significantly more heart-wrenching, light.
This book was absolutely amazing. Within the first chapter I realized how much I was going to thoroughly enjoy this book. It deals with much darker themes like various types of abuse, manipulation, grief, and it is done very well and without it being obscene to read.
I believe Christine’s writing fits my liking MUCH more when the themes and characters are much more mature. It was one of those YAs that don’t FEEL like a YA while still maintaining the age appropriate content. I applaud her.
The writing was the perfect balance between eloquent and readable. The myriad of characters we see are all so very compelling and unique in their own right, but my heart was completely taken by Crispin….yeah guess how much pain I’m in.
Knowing the plot of Prelude of Fire, I was prepared for tragedy between the young Prince Crispin Volaire and our beloved Gailea, knowing that we meet her as the runaway wife and queen of King Ragnar. I was most definitely NOT prepared for exactly how that tragedy came about.
Please do not go into this believing a happily ever after will come…it will not. Think Star Wars. That’s the only hint of what truly happens that I will give.
I am absolutely a character driven person, so this book had me hooked. It reminded me of how I felt reading the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, a beloved author of mine.
The court intrigue was so perfectly done. The challenge of trying to identify friend from foe is not solely shared by our main characters but also by the reader.
I loved the deeper dive into the significance of musical magic, or as called by its true name, Musica Arcana, and the peril it truly puts young Gailea in.
I loved all these characters, Gailea, Crispin, but also Darice, Tytonn, Lady Aline, Elda, Marlis and of course even Chevalier and Moragon.
Overall, I am utterly heartbroken and at the same time in awe at the strength that Gailea showed through it all, holding on to love and her faith.
I am excited to read the third book coming out in October 2025!
Let me tell you, there is just something about a character driven magic world with court intrigue that just bewitches me constantly.
While I enjoyed Prelude of Fire because of the adventure, characters and world building, it had felt slightly too juvenile for my personal liking, so I was hesitant about picking up this one
I THANK GOD THAT IN A DM CONVERSATION, CHRISTINE REMINDED ME THAT THE ARCS WERE STILL OPEN!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of your ARC readers!
I will try to express what I feel about this book without giving spoilers. Enough said that I went back to a particularly painful chapter of Prelude of Fire just to read it in a better, albeit significantly more heart-wrenching, light.
This book was absolutely amazing. Within the first chapter I realized how much I was going to thoroughly enjoy this book. It deals with much darker themes like various types of abuse, manipulation, grief, and it is done very well and without it being obscene to read.
I believe Christine’s writing fits my liking MUCH more when the themes and characters are much more mature. It was one of those YAs that don’t FEEL like a YA while still maintaining the age appropriate content. I applaud her.
The writing was the perfect balance between eloquent and readable. The myriad of characters we see are all so very compelling and unique in their own right, but my heart was completely taken by Crispin….yeah guess how much pain I’m in.
Knowing the plot of Prelude of Fire, I was prepared for tragedy between the young Prince Crispin Volaire and our beloved Gailea, knowing that we meet her as the runaway wife and queen of King Ragnar. I was most definitely NOT prepared for exactly how that tragedy came about.
Please do not go into this believing a happily ever after will come…it will not. Think Star Wars. That’s the only hint of what truly happens that I will give.
I am absolutely a character driven person, so this book had me hooked. It reminded me of how I felt reading the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, a beloved author of mine.
The court intrigue was so perfectly done. The challenge of trying to identify friend from foe is not solely shared by our main characters but also by the reader.
I loved the deeper dive into the significance of musical magic, or as called by its true name, Musica Arcana, and the peril it truly puts young Gailea in.
I loved all these characters, Gailea, Crispin, but also Darice, Tytonn, Lady Aline, Elda, Marlis and of course even Chevalier and Moragon.
Overall, I am utterly heartbroken and at the same time in awe at the strength that Gailea showed through it all, holding on to love and her faith.
I am excited to read the third book coming out in October 2025!
June 24, 2024
Another great read by Christine E. Schulze! Serenade of Kings is set before the events of Prelude Of Fire. I enjoyed getting the backstories of a few characters from book one, and finding out why the bad guy became evil.
I thought that this book was a lot easier to follow than the first one since the whole story stayed pretty much in one kingdom. The magic was really cool! This story focused a lot more on music magic than the other forms of elemental magic. This book didn't have as many plot twists as the first, but there were quite a few deaths that I was not expecting.
Let me just say, this author is very good at writing very bad villains!😂 There were so many times where I wanted to reach through the page (or, I guess screen in this case) and punch him! He was so nasty to his wife, insulting her, mocking her, even saying that if she gave him a strong son it might finally make it worth him marrying her, and he hopes the baby doesn't look like her because if he cut her hair, it would be like waking up next to a man every morning. Ms. Shultze definitely created a character that you love to hate!
I think this book is a good reminder to be careful who you trust and get advice from, because there was a character who Crispin definitely should not have trusted as much as he did. He would have been much better off if he found a better source of advice.
I was surprised, and a bit disappointed to find that this book had some cursing, because the first book had no language. It also had a sexual assault, but it was, if I recall correctly, only three sentences that were not very descriptive.
An animal is shot, then has its' throat slashed. Several people are beheaded. A couple people are burned, one accidentally, and others as a means of torture. Someone gives birth to a stillborn baby. People are poisoned. A character kills people who were very close to him. The word d**n is used several times, one time in context. Someone calls a baby a ba****d. A man conceived out of wedlock is known as the ba****d snake. Talk of men who seduce servants and have mistresses. Someone accuses more than one man of being his wife's lover. The king threatens his brother, saying that all the ladies that come to his brother's chamber will be disappointed because the king will make him like another knight who is a eunuch. A man basically r*pes his wife. (Very few details, but enough that you know what is happening.)
Overall, although I didn't love this book as much as the first, I think it is a great fantasy with high stakes, a little romance, and a lot of adventure!
I was provided with an ARC copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is book 2 of the Gailean Quartet series. Book 1 Prelude Of Fire releases October 25th!🔥
I thought that this book was a lot easier to follow than the first one since the whole story stayed pretty much in one kingdom. The magic was really cool! This story focused a lot more on music magic than the other forms of elemental magic. This book didn't have as many plot twists as the first, but there were quite a few deaths that I was not expecting.
Let me just say, this author is very good at writing very bad villains!😂 There were so many times where I wanted to reach through the page (or, I guess screen in this case) and punch him! He was so nasty to his wife, insulting her, mocking her, even saying that if she gave him a strong son it might finally make it worth him marrying her, and he hopes the baby doesn't look like her because if he cut her hair, it would be like waking up next to a man every morning. Ms. Shultze definitely created a character that you love to hate!
I think this book is a good reminder to be careful who you trust and get advice from, because there was a character who Crispin definitely should not have trusted as much as he did. He would have been much better off if he found a better source of advice.
I was surprised, and a bit disappointed to find that this book had some cursing, because the first book had no language. It also had a sexual assault, but it was, if I recall correctly, only three sentences that were not very descriptive.
An animal is shot, then has its' throat slashed. Several people are beheaded. A couple people are burned, one accidentally, and others as a means of torture. Someone gives birth to a stillborn baby. People are poisoned. A character kills people who were very close to him. The word d**n is used several times, one time in context. Someone calls a baby a ba****d. A man conceived out of wedlock is known as the ba****d snake. Talk of men who seduce servants and have mistresses. Someone accuses more than one man of being his wife's lover. The king threatens his brother, saying that all the ladies that come to his brother's chamber will be disappointed because the king will make him like another knight who is a eunuch. A man basically r*pes his wife. (Very few details, but enough that you know what is happening.)
Overall, although I didn't love this book as much as the first, I think it is a great fantasy with high stakes, a little romance, and a lot of adventure!
I was provided with an ARC copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is book 2 of the Gailean Quartet series. Book 1 Prelude Of Fire releases October 25th!🔥
January 28, 2025
This book is my favorite in the series (so far) and I am so glad I got to read it! Christine Schulze is really great at writing intrigue and making the book feel like a journey that I am on. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I was surprised by the how.
If you read Prelude of Fire, which came out October of last year, you probably know and love Lea. In this book, we get her origin story, as well as that of King Ragnar (the villian). It was actually pretty interesting to read it knowing how their life was years later in the first book. This book illuminates some things from the first book which I found really enlighting. Though, if you haven’t read Prelude of Fire, you can still read this book and enjoy it!
It was interesting to read about Gailea as a younger woman, before age gave her wisdom and strength. But I also really enjoyed watching her blossom over the book’s story. She is so loving and caring for all those around her no matter how they have treated her or others. It is inspring to have that type of love and forgiveness. I learned a lot from her.
Crispin was also a real curious character. I thought he was so kind and also caring matching Gailea’s personality. For someone raised by manipulative and controlling uncles, he really had become such a kind person. I genuinely rooted for him and Gailea, even through all the shocking plot twists and the fact that I knew what happens from the first book. That’s all I can say without spoilers, but ugh, my heart.
There is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this one, so I really look forward to the release of the third book! If you enjoy YA Fantasy with intrigue, faith, and suspense, this book is for you! Thank you to Christine Schulze for trusting me with her work, it was an honor to read this book!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
Content Guide:
Language: None
Spice: Level 1
TW: Hunting, affairs, physical abuse, child loss (stillborn), fire/burn injuries, execution by beheading (not graphic), poisoning, battle scenes, sexual assault (closed door), killing/death
Content Considerations: Magic
If you read Prelude of Fire, which came out October of last year, you probably know and love Lea. In this book, we get her origin story, as well as that of King Ragnar (the villian). It was actually pretty interesting to read it knowing how their life was years later in the first book. This book illuminates some things from the first book which I found really enlighting. Though, if you haven’t read Prelude of Fire, you can still read this book and enjoy it!
It was interesting to read about Gailea as a younger woman, before age gave her wisdom and strength. But I also really enjoyed watching her blossom over the book’s story. She is so loving and caring for all those around her no matter how they have treated her or others. It is inspring to have that type of love and forgiveness. I learned a lot from her.
Crispin was also a real curious character. I thought he was so kind and also caring matching Gailea’s personality. For someone raised by manipulative and controlling uncles, he really had become such a kind person. I genuinely rooted for him and Gailea, even through all the shocking plot twists and the fact that I knew what happens from the first book. That’s all I can say without spoilers, but ugh, my heart.
There is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this one, so I really look forward to the release of the third book! If you enjoy YA Fantasy with intrigue, faith, and suspense, this book is for you! Thank you to Christine Schulze for trusting me with her work, it was an honor to read this book!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
Content Guide:
Language: None
Spice: Level 1
TW: Hunting, affairs, physical abuse, child loss (stillborn), fire/burn injuries, execution by beheading (not graphic), poisoning, battle scenes, sexual assault (closed door), killing/death
Content Considerations: Magic
July 3, 2024
Serenade of Kings by Christine E. Schulze Review
4/5 ⭐️
This was my second ever ARC read! And it’s the second book to Prelude of fire, which I reviewed not too long ago. Firstly thank you so much to Christine for allowing me to review the second book in her new and upcoming series, The Gailean Quartet.
I would definitely recommend reading Prelude of Fire before reading this book, as it would spoiler some of the plot twists in Prelude of fire. This book follows the main villain from Prelude of Fire and the events leading him to becoming a villain, providing a backstory and context to his character. This book has a strong FMC, romance, betrayal, friendships, unique magic and politics.
I felt that this book had a better pace to the story line and plot twists, compared to the first. It also didn’t feel as drawn out as book 1 felt, however at times I did feel that some scenes were too in depth and over complicated, which I struggled to get through at times. However the storyline was easier to follow and I really enjoyed reading about the main characters in this book!
I was so fascinated by how the MMC became a villain and I think the author demonstrated this effortlessly, and in a way that made him more relatable at times. By the end of the book I didn’t hate his character as much as I understood the events that had caused him to become a villain.
Gailea was a strong FMC, who was used and hurt by so many in such a short time. However I adored how she never let that change who she was and she remained kind and loyal to her friends and family. I love how unique and different her magic is, and how responsible she was with it knowing it could cause a lot of destruction.
This book was an emotional roller coaster, with stunning world building, captivating characters, plot twists for days! So much fun to read !!
4/5 ⭐️
This was my second ever ARC read! And it’s the second book to Prelude of fire, which I reviewed not too long ago. Firstly thank you so much to Christine for allowing me to review the second book in her new and upcoming series, The Gailean Quartet.
I would definitely recommend reading Prelude of Fire before reading this book, as it would spoiler some of the plot twists in Prelude of fire. This book follows the main villain from Prelude of Fire and the events leading him to becoming a villain, providing a backstory and context to his character. This book has a strong FMC, romance, betrayal, friendships, unique magic and politics.
I felt that this book had a better pace to the story line and plot twists, compared to the first. It also didn’t feel as drawn out as book 1 felt, however at times I did feel that some scenes were too in depth and over complicated, which I struggled to get through at times. However the storyline was easier to follow and I really enjoyed reading about the main characters in this book!
I was so fascinated by how the MMC became a villain and I think the author demonstrated this effortlessly, and in a way that made him more relatable at times. By the end of the book I didn’t hate his character as much as I understood the events that had caused him to become a villain.
Gailea was a strong FMC, who was used and hurt by so many in such a short time. However I adored how she never let that change who she was and she remained kind and loyal to her friends and family. I love how unique and different her magic is, and how responsible she was with it knowing it could cause a lot of destruction.
This book was an emotional roller coaster, with stunning world building, captivating characters, plot twists for days! So much fun to read !!
February 5, 2025
Thank you so much to Christine E. Schulze for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release!! Release date is February 25th!
I was delighted to read Serenade of Kings, the second book in the Gailean Quartet series by Christine E. Schulze. After reading the first book I was intrigued as to the backstory of the characters from Prelude of Fire. Upon beginning to read the book, I was immediately struck by the similarities of characters in both books despite them happening in different timelines. As spoiler free as I can get, the three royal men in this book all had striking similarities and differences to the king in the first book. I was torn between characters and their dueling personalities and morals, as was Gailea.
I did feel that the book started off a bit slow. I appreciate the worldbuilding we got through this more careful approach to leading us into the story. But in the moment i felt that certain scenes were a bit lengthy. After finishing I do understand the reasons all the plot points needed to be included, but I still felt there were a few scenes that dragged a bit.
One of my wishes from the last book was that i had time to see Ashlai grow in her abilities, as we were kind of thrown into her story and expected to just accept that she was a teen with the most powerful fire magic. In Serenade of Kings, we did get to see training sequences both in fire and music magic. I was pleased to be more immersed in this part of the characters’ lives because learning to control these powers took a toll on themselves and those around them, both mentally and physically!
Overall I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than the first installment. Although still geared towards a YA audience, I did feel it was more mature in tone and in plot. I also felt it was more believable in these two aspects. I would love to go back and read Prelude of Fire with my newfound knowledge but I fear I will have to wait until the series is completely published.
Also the last 25% was so Revenge of the Sith coded… Tytonn, Crispin, and Gailea are so Padme, Anakin, and Obi Wan 🤭
I was delighted to read Serenade of Kings, the second book in the Gailean Quartet series by Christine E. Schulze. After reading the first book I was intrigued as to the backstory of the characters from Prelude of Fire. Upon beginning to read the book, I was immediately struck by the similarities of characters in both books despite them happening in different timelines. As spoiler free as I can get, the three royal men in this book all had striking similarities and differences to the king in the first book. I was torn between characters and their dueling personalities and morals, as was Gailea.
I did feel that the book started off a bit slow. I appreciate the worldbuilding we got through this more careful approach to leading us into the story. But in the moment i felt that certain scenes were a bit lengthy. After finishing I do understand the reasons all the plot points needed to be included, but I still felt there were a few scenes that dragged a bit.
One of my wishes from the last book was that i had time to see Ashlai grow in her abilities, as we were kind of thrown into her story and expected to just accept that she was a teen with the most powerful fire magic. In Serenade of Kings, we did get to see training sequences both in fire and music magic. I was pleased to be more immersed in this part of the characters’ lives because learning to control these powers took a toll on themselves and those around them, both mentally and physically!
Overall I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than the first installment. Although still geared towards a YA audience, I did feel it was more mature in tone and in plot. I also felt it was more believable in these two aspects. I would love to go back and read Prelude of Fire with my newfound knowledge but I fear I will have to wait until the series is completely published.
Also the last 25% was so Revenge of the Sith coded… Tytonn, Crispin, and Gailea are so Padme, Anakin, and Obi Wan 🤭
March 2, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨
A huge thank you to Christine for having me along for the ride for her second book in the Gailean Quartet.
I loved Prelude of Fire so I was super excited to dive into Serenade of Kings 🔥🎶
Serenade of Kings is a prequel to Prelude of Fire, bringing us the origin story of Gailea.
If you’ve read Prelude, you know how the story ends which made reading Serenade so enticing - HOW did we get THERE?!
Gailea, a talented music mage, is our FMC and she is a breath of fresh air. Whilst she is strong, it’s her kindness and empathy for all that makes her strong. Her unwavering belief in good is what leads her to join with Prince Crispin, a new fyre mage and nephew of the tyrannical King Moragon.
The King is a powerful mental mage who will stop at nothing to control Gailea and her musical gifts. Alistor Ragnar, his half brother, also wants Gailea and her gifts.
Gailea must battle against the scheming men of the castle, political upheaval, mastering her musical gifts, keeping those she loves alive, and protecting herself and her true secret.
As Gailea navigates this new world, can she keep herself and Crispin safe - protecting him from outside influences and corruption?
Christine E. Schulze writes such compelling fantasy. The story is spice free, no swearing, and is so rich in detail.
The elemental magic, the musical magic and world building have been so well thought out and beautifully described. There were so many twists and turns and I spent the entire book trying to deny what I knew was going to happen.
This is a great YA read (probably more suitable to 14 year olds due to some heavier themes).
I absolutely loved reading this, even though it left me heartbroken.
Serenade of Kings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A huge thank you to Christine for having me along for the ride for her second book in the Gailean Quartet.
I loved Prelude of Fire so I was super excited to dive into Serenade of Kings 🔥🎶
Serenade of Kings is a prequel to Prelude of Fire, bringing us the origin story of Gailea.
If you’ve read Prelude, you know how the story ends which made reading Serenade so enticing - HOW did we get THERE?!
Gailea, a talented music mage, is our FMC and she is a breath of fresh air. Whilst she is strong, it’s her kindness and empathy for all that makes her strong. Her unwavering belief in good is what leads her to join with Prince Crispin, a new fyre mage and nephew of the tyrannical King Moragon.
The King is a powerful mental mage who will stop at nothing to control Gailea and her musical gifts. Alistor Ragnar, his half brother, also wants Gailea and her gifts.
Gailea must battle against the scheming men of the castle, political upheaval, mastering her musical gifts, keeping those she loves alive, and protecting herself and her true secret.
As Gailea navigates this new world, can she keep herself and Crispin safe - protecting him from outside influences and corruption?
Christine E. Schulze writes such compelling fantasy. The story is spice free, no swearing, and is so rich in detail.
The elemental magic, the musical magic and world building have been so well thought out and beautifully described. There were so many twists and turns and I spent the entire book trying to deny what I knew was going to happen.
This is a great YA read (probably more suitable to 14 year olds due to some heavier themes).
I absolutely loved reading this, even though it left me heartbroken.
Serenade of Kings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 30, 2024
✨🔥ARC-Review🔥✨
After reading and reviewing the first book in this series I got the amazing chance to read and review the second book of the Gailean Quartet as well. At this point I want to thank the author Christine Schulze again for this opportunity!
Even though Serenade of Kings is the second installment of the series it is a prequel. So going into the book I kind of knew what was bound to happen somewhere along the way and that Ragnar had to turn villain at some point. Still the events at the end of the book really messed with me and left me devastated for Gailea! It reminded me of watching an accident. You know something really bad is happening but you’re unable to change anything about it.
I loved reading Gaileas story and rooted for her the whole time. She’s such an amazing character that you simply want her to find her happy ever after and she ALMOST gets it.
Serenade of Kings is written in Dual Point of View and follows Gailea, a young music mage and Crispin a fyre mage and prince. They both live in the floating castle of Crispin’s uncle Moragon who is both cruel and powerhungry. With his mental magic he surpresses and violates his suspects. Gailea and Crispin try to survive the court intrigues and save the kingdom from its vicious regent.
Like in the first book there is quite some world building in the story but the themes are definitely darker and include domestic abuse, torture and mention of sexual assault. That being said I liked the second book even better than the first book in the series!
Serenade of Kings: The Gailean Quarter, Book 2 will be published in February 2025.
After reading and reviewing the first book in this series I got the amazing chance to read and review the second book of the Gailean Quartet as well. At this point I want to thank the author Christine Schulze again for this opportunity!
Even though Serenade of Kings is the second installment of the series it is a prequel. So going into the book I kind of knew what was bound to happen somewhere along the way and that Ragnar had to turn villain at some point. Still the events at the end of the book really messed with me and left me devastated for Gailea! It reminded me of watching an accident. You know something really bad is happening but you’re unable to change anything about it.
I loved reading Gaileas story and rooted for her the whole time. She’s such an amazing character that you simply want her to find her happy ever after and she ALMOST gets it.
Serenade of Kings is written in Dual Point of View and follows Gailea, a young music mage and Crispin a fyre mage and prince. They both live in the floating castle of Crispin’s uncle Moragon who is both cruel and powerhungry. With his mental magic he surpresses and violates his suspects. Gailea and Crispin try to survive the court intrigues and save the kingdom from its vicious regent.
Like in the first book there is quite some world building in the story but the themes are definitely darker and include domestic abuse, torture and mention of sexual assault. That being said I liked the second book even better than the first book in the series!
Serenade of Kings: The Gailean Quarter, Book 2 will be published in February 2025.
January 22, 2025
Gailea is an aspiring music mage serving in King Moragon's castle. Gailea is trying to improve her skill without the king finding out. Soon, she is promoted to a ladies maid of the Queen. Crispin is the nephew of the king and is working to keep Gailea safe. But with the King's brother, Alastair Ragnar guiding Crispin, seemingly with an agenda of his own, will he manage to keep Gailea from the grasps of the wicked King Moragan?
I've had the pleasure of reading two books by this author, and both of them had such intricate world building and magic systems. Serenade of Kings is full of political intrigue. Set mostly in a palace with a court with several people with their own agendas, the author sets the scene for a high stakes story with lots of twists and turns. The ending of this book had me shocked.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, and it really felt like a character study of Gailea, Crispin, and Alastair set against a backdrop of political tension. The magic system, particularly Gailea's musical powers, was interesting and well done. The relationships in this book were done so well. You root for people and mourn the loss of others.
This book has more mature themes than the first book, so please check the trigger warnings as there are a few parts of the book that could be uncomfortable to read. I had a great time reading this and reading about Gailea and Ragnar from Prelude of Fire. It was interesting to see how their stories began and how they ended up where they did. This was an epic fantasy story with great worldbuilding and a compelling magic system.
I would recommend this book to any high fantasy/YA fantasy reader. There were so many twists and things I didn't see coming. It's a really great read.
Thank you so much to the author for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've had the pleasure of reading two books by this author, and both of them had such intricate world building and magic systems. Serenade of Kings is full of political intrigue. Set mostly in a palace with a court with several people with their own agendas, the author sets the scene for a high stakes story with lots of twists and turns. The ending of this book had me shocked.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, and it really felt like a character study of Gailea, Crispin, and Alastair set against a backdrop of political tension. The magic system, particularly Gailea's musical powers, was interesting and well done. The relationships in this book were done so well. You root for people and mourn the loss of others.
This book has more mature themes than the first book, so please check the trigger warnings as there are a few parts of the book that could be uncomfortable to read. I had a great time reading this and reading about Gailea and Ragnar from Prelude of Fire. It was interesting to see how their stories began and how they ended up where they did. This was an epic fantasy story with great worldbuilding and a compelling magic system.
I would recommend this book to any high fantasy/YA fantasy reader. There were so many twists and things I didn't see coming. It's a really great read.
Thank you so much to the author for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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