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The Shifter Queen #1
To Kill a King
Control the magic…
Some people would kill for the kind of magic eighteen-year-old Aliya possesses. The first in line, her cunning new husband—the king. Once he steals her power, he’ll be invincible against the elves.
Kill the King…
Aliya must learn to control her magic, even if it means allying with her enemy—the elves. On her wedding night, she barely escapes with her life, thanks to help from elven spy, Elessan. The human queen would make a perfect political hostage to force an end to his people's slaughter, until then she makes a convenient ally.
Assume the throne…
To beat the evil king at his own game, Aliya must join forces with the elves and face her destiny. But with her husband’s assassins hot on her trail, everyone who helps her becomes collateral damage in a war she can’t escape… no matter how far she runs.
Save the Kingdom…
When they expose her true identity and unleash her powers, Aliya must decide how much she will sacrifice to unite the broken portions of the realm before it tears her apart… starting with her shattered heart.
To Kill a King is a fast-paced swords-and-sorcery romantic fantasy featuring enemies to lovers, morally gray characters, reluctant heroes, and found family.
Some people would kill for the kind of magic eighteen-year-old Aliya possesses. The first in line, her cunning new husband—the king. Once he steals her power, he’ll be invincible against the elves.
Kill the King…
Aliya must learn to control her magic, even if it means allying with her enemy—the elves. On her wedding night, she barely escapes with her life, thanks to help from elven spy, Elessan. The human queen would make a perfect political hostage to force an end to his people's slaughter, until then she makes a convenient ally.
Assume the throne…
To beat the evil king at his own game, Aliya must join forces with the elves and face her destiny. But with her husband’s assassins hot on her trail, everyone who helps her becomes collateral damage in a war she can’t escape… no matter how far she runs.
Save the Kingdom…
When they expose her true identity and unleash her powers, Aliya must decide how much she will sacrifice to unite the broken portions of the realm before it tears her apart… starting with her shattered heart.
To Kill a King is a fast-paced swords-and-sorcery romantic fantasy featuring enemies to lovers, morally gray characters, reluctant heroes, and found family.
445 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2024
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 26, 2024
I had the privilege of serving as an ARC reader for To Kill a King. I received an advance copy of the book in return for sharing my honest review.
This book was absolutely EXCELLENT! To start, every fantasy book should start off with a pronunciation guide! This book really has everything you could ask for in a romantasy; magic, action, and a sassy cat. What more could you ask for? The slow unraveling of the main casts’ backgrounds kept me invested across every page. I felt like I was walking through the world with the characters because the world building was so descriptive and in depth. I haven’t even mentioned how beautiful the cover is! I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but you can with this one cause the story is just as amazing as the cover is. The ending left me eagerly awaiting the next book, I can’t wait to see how this journey continues!
This book was absolutely EXCELLENT! To start, every fantasy book should start off with a pronunciation guide! This book really has everything you could ask for in a romantasy; magic, action, and a sassy cat. What more could you ask for? The slow unraveling of the main casts’ backgrounds kept me invested across every page. I felt like I was walking through the world with the characters because the world building was so descriptive and in depth. I haven’t even mentioned how beautiful the cover is! I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but you can with this one cause the story is just as amazing as the cover is. The ending left me eagerly awaiting the next book, I can’t wait to see how this journey continues!
October 7, 2024
This was an amazing fantasy book. The book starts right away with action and drama, and it continues through the entire book. The female lead is a strong independent character but also relies on those around her to get things done. I loved this book so much and can't wait to see what happens next.
September 6, 2024
I absolutely LOVED this book! It was a great first book in the series. I cannot wait until the next book. This is a romantic fantasy, enemies to lovers, and morally grey characters. I was invested from the very beginning. The world building was great, and easy to follow. I felt like I was actually in the book, it felt that real and immersive in that world. I highly recommend this book!
August 15, 2024
Surprised me from the get-go
I wish I was lying. I got such a pleasant surprise the moment I opened the book. I don’t even know if I want to tell you. But I will.
However, be forewarned to some possible triggers. Such includes, graphic mentions of torture and death and gore.
Michelle started us off with a character glossary! There’s little to few books, fantasy especially, that I’ve read that’s actually done that for us. It was complete with brief one-liner descriptions and name pronunciation! I referred to those two pages way more than I did any fantasy map. It was amazing and definitely helped me feel more included in the world because I wasn’t second-guessing how to pronounce their names. Worrying that I’ve made my own iteration and somehow butchered it. There was none of that here!
I’m not unfamiliar with multiple POVs in a book, but it’s amusing that I’ve been reading a lot of them quite recently. However, the thing about multiple POVs is that you’re often forced to stop at an interesting point because of the sudden change in perspective. You’d even sometimes feel uninterested in the new character’s POV because you haven’t had a considerate amount of time getting attached to them before being introduced to their POV on the other side of the realm. Michelle did it beautifully though. Every POV change was done smoothly and not at all abrupt, allowing me to digest it properly before starting up another perspective. Each character’s POV helped me learn so much more about them while keeping me interested in their role in the story, regardless of them being a protagonist or an antagonist.
The world-building!! We get to learn so much about the world due to the many characters with different life experiences. We can find such rich storytelling and much lore throughout this entire book, while leaving so much more for its sequels to flesh out! I’m a D&D player so seeing this book’s fantasy creatures made my heart so happy. Especially when most books with elves I’ve read don’t really delve into their archetypes like To Kill a King does.
Aliya was a breath of fresh air. She was competent but aware of her flaws, being a sheltered kid and all that. She wasn’t entirely a damsel in distress that constantly needed saving, if she finds an opportunity, she will. But she won’t deny help either, when she knows she needs it. She goes through a very realistic development that isn’t an insta-switch from not being able to do anything for herself to immediate competency, and I’m all for it. When you see the world through her eyes, it’s clear that she’s unaware about many things in the world but that doesn’t let it stop her. She’s very clear about what she does not want to be or to do, but she understands why it has to be her that could do it.
Elessan. This amazing mountain elf has my heart. He’s loyal and careful. He’s long-lived but not jaded, he’s wary but not completely distrustful. He’s filled with secrets and mysteries, but when he breaks down his walls he’s the most adorable thing ever and all I want to do is just hold him. He easily tugged at my heart strings and now if anything happens to him I’m throwing hands (not at you Michelle, I promise).
Side characters. Man. They were very engaging, very dynamic. There’s so much depth to them than just “oh this person is that”, “she is just this”, “oh they’re this”. I’m very much invested in everyone’s story already from what I know and what’s been revealed. There’s so much room for them to be fleshed out in the upcoming sequels and I’m sitting here patiently for them.
Now, to the romance. It’s very organic, and I love that for them, especially for characters of two (ongoing) warring races. There’s curiosity, exploration, and many instances of denial. But there’s chemistry. There’s intimacy. There’s trust. The spice was beautiful. The sexual tension was palpable. It fades to black but there’s no denying how hot the events leading up to it were :’>
The plot. It’s a very straightforward, swords-and-sorcery fantasy that is jam-packed as much as it is fast-paced. Though you don’t feel at all smothered by information or plot-points. It all flows very organically and not at all forced or awkward. There’s enough intrigue to hook you in from the very start and keep you there. There’s a lot of mystery about major events that still hasn’t been explained, but this is a first book to a (hopefully? hehe) long series and it’d be a waste to have all that information come out now. I just want more and the second book can’t come any faster ;^;
Are there other things I love about the book? Oh definitely. But that is very much leading into spoiler content and I’d rather you experience them yourself! I assure you, there’s a whole lot of lovable things here. I, for one, am obsessed. There’s so many parts of the book that speak to me as a person, in terms of my interests and preferences. But if that’s not for you, that’s completely understandable! To each their own, just don’t crucify others for differing opinions. But one thing I will definitely mention is how Michelle talks about a specific subject. It was tasteful and filled with care. To all who have gone through those experiences, I wish them all the love and peace that can be given to them.
To the author, Michelle A. Darnell. I’ve thanked you multiple times over already but let me say it again. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity and privilege to read your book before release. Thank you for trusting it with me. And thank you for making such an amazing book. I desperately love your writing style and how you create your characters. This is a great start to the series and I can’t wait for the next!
I wish I was lying. I got such a pleasant surprise the moment I opened the book. I don’t even know if I want to tell you. But I will.
However, be forewarned to some possible triggers. Such includes, graphic mentions of torture and death and gore.
Michelle started us off with a character glossary! There’s little to few books, fantasy especially, that I’ve read that’s actually done that for us. It was complete with brief one-liner descriptions and name pronunciation! I referred to those two pages way more than I did any fantasy map. It was amazing and definitely helped me feel more included in the world because I wasn’t second-guessing how to pronounce their names. Worrying that I’ve made my own iteration and somehow butchered it. There was none of that here!
I’m not unfamiliar with multiple POVs in a book, but it’s amusing that I’ve been reading a lot of them quite recently. However, the thing about multiple POVs is that you’re often forced to stop at an interesting point because of the sudden change in perspective. You’d even sometimes feel uninterested in the new character’s POV because you haven’t had a considerate amount of time getting attached to them before being introduced to their POV on the other side of the realm. Michelle did it beautifully though. Every POV change was done smoothly and not at all abrupt, allowing me to digest it properly before starting up another perspective. Each character’s POV helped me learn so much more about them while keeping me interested in their role in the story, regardless of them being a protagonist or an antagonist.
The world-building!! We get to learn so much about the world due to the many characters with different life experiences. We can find such rich storytelling and much lore throughout this entire book, while leaving so much more for its sequels to flesh out! I’m a D&D player so seeing this book’s fantasy creatures made my heart so happy. Especially when most books with elves I’ve read don’t really delve into their archetypes like To Kill a King does.
Aliya was a breath of fresh air. She was competent but aware of her flaws, being a sheltered kid and all that. She wasn’t entirely a damsel in distress that constantly needed saving, if she finds an opportunity, she will. But she won’t deny help either, when she knows she needs it. She goes through a very realistic development that isn’t an insta-switch from not being able to do anything for herself to immediate competency, and I’m all for it. When you see the world through her eyes, it’s clear that she’s unaware about many things in the world but that doesn’t let it stop her. She’s very clear about what she does not want to be or to do, but she understands why it has to be her that could do it.
Elessan. This amazing mountain elf has my heart. He’s loyal and careful. He’s long-lived but not jaded, he’s wary but not completely distrustful. He’s filled with secrets and mysteries, but when he breaks down his walls he’s the most adorable thing ever and all I want to do is just hold him. He easily tugged at my heart strings and now if anything happens to him I’m throwing hands (not at you Michelle, I promise).
Side characters. Man. They were very engaging, very dynamic. There’s so much depth to them than just “oh this person is that”, “she is just this”, “oh they’re this”. I’m very much invested in everyone’s story already from what I know and what’s been revealed. There’s so much room for them to be fleshed out in the upcoming sequels and I’m sitting here patiently for them.
Now, to the romance. It’s very organic, and I love that for them, especially for characters of two (ongoing) warring races. There’s curiosity, exploration, and many instances of denial. But there’s chemistry. There’s intimacy. There’s trust. The spice was beautiful. The sexual tension was palpable. It fades to black but there’s no denying how hot the events leading up to it were :’>
The plot. It’s a very straightforward, swords-and-sorcery fantasy that is jam-packed as much as it is fast-paced. Though you don’t feel at all smothered by information or plot-points. It all flows very organically and not at all forced or awkward. There’s enough intrigue to hook you in from the very start and keep you there. There’s a lot of mystery about major events that still hasn’t been explained, but this is a first book to a (hopefully? hehe) long series and it’d be a waste to have all that information come out now. I just want more and the second book can’t come any faster ;^;
Are there other things I love about the book? Oh definitely. But that is very much leading into spoiler content and I’d rather you experience them yourself! I assure you, there’s a whole lot of lovable things here. I, for one, am obsessed. There’s so many parts of the book that speak to me as a person, in terms of my interests and preferences. But if that’s not for you, that’s completely understandable! To each their own, just don’t crucify others for differing opinions. But one thing I will definitely mention is how Michelle talks about a specific subject. It was tasteful and filled with care. To all who have gone through those experiences, I wish them all the love and peace that can be given to them.
To the author, Michelle A. Darnell. I’ve thanked you multiple times over already but let me say it again. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity and privilege to read your book before release. Thank you for trusting it with me. And thank you for making such an amazing book. I desperately love your writing style and how you create your characters. This is a great start to the series and I can’t wait for the next!
August 30, 2024
I have to say that I received this book as an ARC. The cover, title and description were enticing enough for me to want to read this...my initial expectation is that this was a YA fantasy with a bit of romance.
From the moment I opened this book, it held my attention until the very end. Riveting! I've not read anything by this author, but I will say that the story is very well written. The characters both main and secondary were all developed well, as you went chapter to chapter, that roped you in, as the reader, and had me invested in all of their wellbeing.
There's alot happening in this story, but ultimately the plot is simple. The king was out to amass as much power as he could and didn't care how he got it or who died in the process. The unfortunate young girl that became his queen was doomed from the start of the book.
What unfolds is a story of war, kingdoms that have risen and fallen, friendships tested, and trust lost with a touch of romance woven in, while the people are the ones who suffer the most. This is a book that shows that even in this fictional world, the differences between the haves and the have-nots. The ones who are easily sacrificed. The lack of compassion for life, human or otherwise.
I love books that have all the realms involved from humans, elves, dwarves, and then some...where the stories showcase their differences ... and question whether you could really co-exist in the same world. Although this is a work of fiction and fantasy, you can take these themes into the world we live in today and draw similarities in regards to our global political and religious conflicts.
Back to the story :) This book was a blast to read! I found myself laughing and cursing at various points throughout the story.
The only negative I have is that I wished the author would've given Aliya a bit more spine at least half way through, but she doesn't seem to get any at all. Maybe it's just me, since I like female characters who are stronger or at least can learn to be strong, and she was pretty helpless. Women who cower and hide or run when the going gets tough...meh, just not to my liking. Thankfully, it wasn't very apparent, but as you read on, it's like an underlying annoyance that just builds up. As the audience, it has me screaming at her and pulling out my hair...just asking WHY? WHY would you be like that?
Back to my earlier comment on thinking this was written for the young adult (YA) audience...it's because the main female lead is 18 years old. However, with some of the innuendos and a scene in the book, it makes me take that statement back.
Anyways, I'll close this review in saying that this book is 5/5 stars! BUT, I hesitated whether to mark it down one star because of Aliya. I look forward to continuing this story in the next volumes, as I see it's set to be the first in a series. Definitely worth buying!
From the moment I opened this book, it held my attention until the very end. Riveting! I've not read anything by this author, but I will say that the story is very well written. The characters both main and secondary were all developed well, as you went chapter to chapter, that roped you in, as the reader, and had me invested in all of their wellbeing.
There's alot happening in this story, but ultimately the plot is simple. The king was out to amass as much power as he could and didn't care how he got it or who died in the process. The unfortunate young girl that became his queen was doomed from the start of the book.
What unfolds is a story of war, kingdoms that have risen and fallen, friendships tested, and trust lost with a touch of romance woven in, while the people are the ones who suffer the most. This is a book that shows that even in this fictional world, the differences between the haves and the have-nots. The ones who are easily sacrificed. The lack of compassion for life, human or otherwise.
I love books that have all the realms involved from humans, elves, dwarves, and then some...where the stories showcase their differences ... and question whether you could really co-exist in the same world. Although this is a work of fiction and fantasy, you can take these themes into the world we live in today and draw similarities in regards to our global political and religious conflicts.
Back to the story :) This book was a blast to read! I found myself laughing and cursing at various points throughout the story.
The only negative I have is that I wished the author would've given Aliya a bit more spine at least half way through, but she doesn't seem to get any at all. Maybe it's just me, since I like female characters who are stronger or at least can learn to be strong, and she was pretty helpless. Women who cower and hide or run when the going gets tough...meh, just not to my liking. Thankfully, it wasn't very apparent, but as you read on, it's like an underlying annoyance that just builds up. As the audience, it has me screaming at her and pulling out my hair...just asking WHY? WHY would you be like that?
Back to my earlier comment on thinking this was written for the young adult (YA) audience...it's because the main female lead is 18 years old. However, with some of the innuendos and a scene in the book, it makes me take that statement back.
Anyways, I'll close this review in saying that this book is 5/5 stars! BUT, I hesitated whether to mark it down one star because of Aliya. I look forward to continuing this story in the next volumes, as I see it's set to be the first in a series. Definitely worth buying!
August 25, 2024
✨📚📖✨
To Kill A King is a Romantasy with magic, shape shifting, royalty, magical creatures, amazing world building, arranged marriage, betrayal, adventure and ELVES!
I loved the evolution of the FMC, Aliya, as she learns to harness her magic and open her heart after fleeing on her wedding night. Elessan is the perfect MMC, he has a dark past, but opens himself up to Aliya and allows her to see into those darkest parts of himself he had kept locked away. Along the way we meet up with Zade, a half-breed elf and general of the moon court army, who brings some banter to the quest.
I loved the multiple POVs! You feel the sting of every betrayal Aliya has experienced, the sorrow and conflict within Elessan at what he has to do for the sun king and how they both come together to find peace and heal the rift between the humans, elves, gnomes and dwarves.
The love story is a sloooooow burn, but when they finally give in it is worth the wait! The love scene is beautifully done to evoke all the emotions, longing and sexual tension before fading to black. There was no need for an open door.
The ending is satisfying, but definitely leaves you with questions and unresolved storylines setting up the sequel. I am looking forward to reading it, and hopefully 🤞it won't be a long wait because I am invested in this story and the characters!! The release date for this book is August 29th and is available for pre-order, which I suggest you do so you don't miss out!!
January 6, 2025
To Kill a King is an exciting, fast paced action adventure with a side of romance and lovable side characters. From the very first chapter, you are sucked into the action. While not all questions were answered in this book, I felt that everything in the end was left in a good space.
The pacing is very fast and our poor characters didn't get many breathers, but I did enjoy the non-stop action. Zadè was a great addition, and I hope to see more of her in future books. Aliya still has some growing to do, but she's a great character. Elessan remains a bit of a mystery, but he's a swoony MMC, and I can't wait to learn more about him!
Over all, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!
What to expect:
🪄 Magic is the name of the game. There a spells, along with elemental magic, and objects. Magic system is complex, but understandable.
🤬Mild language and in-world curses
✨Disability rep
👩❤️💋👨 I would call this low-spice (fade to black). Lead up discussed, but it's closed door.
The pacing is very fast and our poor characters didn't get many breathers, but I did enjoy the non-stop action. Zadè was a great addition, and I hope to see more of her in future books. Aliya still has some growing to do, but she's a great character. Elessan remains a bit of a mystery, but he's a swoony MMC, and I can't wait to learn more about him!
Over all, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!
What to expect:
🪄 Magic is the name of the game. There a spells, along with elemental magic, and objects. Magic system is complex, but understandable.
🤬Mild language and in-world curses
✨Disability rep
👩❤️💋👨 I would call this low-spice (fade to black). Lead up discussed, but it's closed door.
August 14, 2024
To Kill a King by Michelle A. Darnell
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0 stars)
I really enjoyed this one! The story was captivating, and the characters were well-written and engaging. I found myself rooting for them and getting invested in their journeys.
The world and lore were intriguing, though I wish they had been a bit more fleshed out. But since this is the first book in a series, I’m hopeful that we’ll get more depth and detail in the upcoming installments. The pacing was spot on – I never felt like there was any fluff or filler. Everything seemed to play into the next thing perfectly, keeping me hooked from start to finish.
Overall, “To Kill a King” is a great start to what promises to be an exciting series. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0 stars)
I really enjoyed this one! The story was captivating, and the characters were well-written and engaging. I found myself rooting for them and getting invested in their journeys.
The world and lore were intriguing, though I wish they had been a bit more fleshed out. But since this is the first book in a series, I’m hopeful that we’ll get more depth and detail in the upcoming installments. The pacing was spot on – I never felt like there was any fluff or filler. Everything seemed to play into the next thing perfectly, keeping me hooked from start to finish.
Overall, “To Kill a King” is a great start to what promises to be an exciting series. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!
August 14, 2024
“I would burn this world for you, if needed. Because I know what beauty you’d create from the ashes.”
An incredible fantasy read!
If you love elves, mages, shapeshifters, and wars between humans and magical beings then this is the book for you!
This story contained a lot of action and suspense and had me in awe on several occasions.
Michelle definitely knows how to keep a reader engaged and entertained. Definitely invested and looking forward to book 2!
*Does contains violence. Sexual content is very very minimal (I believe one scene) and it’s not overly descriptive. I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up.
An incredible fantasy read!
If you love elves, mages, shapeshifters, and wars between humans and magical beings then this is the book for you!
This story contained a lot of action and suspense and had me in awe on several occasions.
Michelle definitely knows how to keep a reader engaged and entertained. Definitely invested and looking forward to book 2!
*Does contains violence. Sexual content is very very minimal (I believe one scene) and it’s not overly descriptive. I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up.
September 12, 2024
An interesting story. Aliya escapes from her husband Malkov, the king, on her wedding day. She finds herself struggling in the forest when she is joined by Elessen, an elf, who is in her kingdom spying. She discovers that she is being hunted by Malkov and that Elessan is her hope to escape his reach. This book is full of danger mixed with Aliya being forced to accept her fate to end the ruling of Malkov for the good of all the races. It has intrique and sweet chemistry between Aliya and Elessen. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2024
Realm in Need of Union
Surviving assassins to unite the realm and save its people Aliya finds herself working with a mountain elf to accomplish both of their goals. Elessan is on his way to speak with the Sun elves when he comes across Aliya, who he needs to ally with. Laying the groundwork for more to come, this story was action-packed and quite intriguing with the setup of the characters and plot. It was really enjoyable to read, and the twists kept my attention. I can't wait till the next one.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily leave this review.
Surviving assassins to unite the realm and save its people Aliya finds herself working with a mountain elf to accomplish both of their goals. Elessan is on his way to speak with the Sun elves when he comes across Aliya, who he needs to ally with. Laying the groundwork for more to come, this story was action-packed and quite intriguing with the setup of the characters and plot. It was really enjoyable to read, and the twists kept my attention. I can't wait till the next one.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily leave this review.
August 30, 2024
The book had me hooked from the start. I really liked the writing style and the plot, especially the way the world is described. I think it's great that you can read the character names and location names at the beginning and see how they are pronounced, as it makes it easier for you to find your way around the world right from the start. The characters were likeable and the character development was also good. I'm definitely excited to see how the series continues!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 20, 2024
‘To Kill A King’ – Another fantastic offering from the very talented Michelle Darnell. When shape-shifter Aliya discovers her new husband, the King, plans to kill her on their wedding night in order to steal her magic, she flees by the skin of her teeth. When she makes a pact with a shady dwarf to Kill the King or lose her life, an elf, Elessan joins her in her quest and begins her training to raise her skills to make her up to the precarious task. A fast-paced, exciting fantasy. Can’t wait for Book 2.
August 13, 2024
3.5 overall!
To Kill a King is an intense world building fantasy book full of Mages, Elves, kings and more. The story of Aliya and her journey was well written and kept you in the story. There were multiple POVs in this book which felt distracting at times. It also seemed to jump between characters causing me to go back and reread. Overall the story and world building were great. The ending leaves it open for book 2 to continue
I was an arc reader for this book.
To Kill a King is an intense world building fantasy book full of Mages, Elves, kings and more. The story of Aliya and her journey was well written and kept you in the story. There were multiple POVs in this book which felt distracting at times. It also seemed to jump between characters causing me to go back and reread. Overall the story and world building were great. The ending leaves it open for book 2 to continue
I was an arc reader for this book.
August 29, 2024
I loved reading To Kill a King! The characters are well developed and absolutely fascinating. Even the secondary characters have an uncommon depth to them. The story was well-written and flowed smoothly, and I loved the world building. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series, and it's one I will be following closely. I highly recommend this book to fans of romantic fantasy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 25, 2024
This was a solid 3.5 star book for me. I really enjoyed the concept and story. A human king that kills mages so he can horde their magic and make weapons with it. The disappointing part of this book for me was with the FMC and MMC. Unfortunately, I didn't feel a great attachment to either character, and I also felt like their romance liked tension and chemistry. Overall, I would say this one was OK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2024
She has so much magic inside her that the king wants to steal it from her. He is in for a shock when she escapes his plans and now she needs to control it. She will join the rebels to try to dethrone the king. What will happen next? Will she gain control? Can she stop the king? See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
August 17, 2024
I loved the world built with magic, fae, elves.
The story is entertaining: a forced marriage to a bloodthirsty king, a handsome elf saviour with secrets of his own.
Ups and downs of relationship building and saving the realm.
Adventure, fight, love, battles….
Anything else you need?
Im absolutely into b2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is entertaining: a forced marriage to a bloodthirsty king, a handsome elf saviour with secrets of his own.
Ups and downs of relationship building and saving the realm.
Adventure, fight, love, battles….
Anything else you need?
Im absolutely into b2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 22, 2024
This book was such an amazing read that I had to finish it in one sitting. There was no putting it down once I started. It moves along at a pace that is perfect for the flow of the story making for an easy and enjoyable read. The characters are awesome and you will fall in love with them. This book needs to be on your TBR list, no doubt about it.
August 30, 2024
I could not put this book down! It’s one of those books that you say “oh, just one more chapter” and end up reading more. I love the adventure Elessan, Aliya & Zade take, the powers they have and all their personalities. I’ve never read anything by this author, but I’m definitely a fan and can’t wait for the next book 💜
August 30, 2024
What a fun read!! The characters are enjoyable and it is easy to relate to them and begin cheerleading for them.
I found the world building was good, and hopefully we will see it developed more and more in the next book. The overall story was interesting and easy to read.
I received a free review copy from the Author via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
I found the world building was good, and hopefully we will see it developed more and more in the next book. The overall story was interesting and easy to read.
I received a free review copy from the Author via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2024
This was okay. Decent start to a series, though I didn't feel a connect to any of the characters. The storyline was good and left it open for the series to get better. The FMC got stronger as the story went and the ending was a little strange with the shifter part. Overall okay
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2024
Overall reading: 5 / 5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
Morally Gray Characters
Found Family
Elemental Magic
Enemies to Lovers
Shape Shifters
Elves
*received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Before starting this book, I knew that I would enjoy it, but I don’t think that I was this ready for the emotional journey that I would be taking. By the end of this book, I was honestly feeling something in my chest from all of the heartbreak and betrayal that I read about. Once I got to the ending, I was happy at the closure everyone seemed to get and was so happy about the way things ended.
Starting with the characters, Aliya was pretty interesting for a person in her position. The more you learn about her actual character and, once you learn about her hidden identity, you for sure are able to put all the pieces together fairly quickly. The pace of her growth was also realistic in a way that I wasn’t anticipating. She didn’t immediately pick up on everything she was learning, and we were able to grow with her as the story went along. Even though she was essentially tossed to the side of her family, and she had all the reasons to become angry and vengeful, she stayed happy and let her personality truly shine through. I felt like that was what really helped her throughout the entire book and helped her create the bonds that she did which later helped her in the end.
With Ellesson, he was honestly one of my favorite characters! He wasn’t an awful person at all. He probably leaned more toward the morally grey category, but his actions were based on protecting his people and I could stand with that. The way he was willing to help out Aliya was honorable as well. They had some miscommunications going on, but overall, they seemed really good together. I loved watching them turn into a friendship and then into a relationship, so that was fun to watch.
The ending was by far my favorite part. I adored how everything turned out and how the author was able to highlight Aliya’s strengths without changing her character!
Overall, it was an amazing read and I highly recommend it!
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
Morally Gray Characters
Found Family
Elemental Magic
Enemies to Lovers
Shape Shifters
Elves
*received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Before starting this book, I knew that I would enjoy it, but I don’t think that I was this ready for the emotional journey that I would be taking. By the end of this book, I was honestly feeling something in my chest from all of the heartbreak and betrayal that I read about. Once I got to the ending, I was happy at the closure everyone seemed to get and was so happy about the way things ended.
Starting with the characters, Aliya was pretty interesting for a person in her position. The more you learn about her actual character and, once you learn about her hidden identity, you for sure are able to put all the pieces together fairly quickly. The pace of her growth was also realistic in a way that I wasn’t anticipating. She didn’t immediately pick up on everything she was learning, and we were able to grow with her as the story went along. Even though she was essentially tossed to the side of her family, and she had all the reasons to become angry and vengeful, she stayed happy and let her personality truly shine through. I felt like that was what really helped her throughout the entire book and helped her create the bonds that she did which later helped her in the end.
With Ellesson, he was honestly one of my favorite characters! He wasn’t an awful person at all. He probably leaned more toward the morally grey category, but his actions were based on protecting his people and I could stand with that. The way he was willing to help out Aliya was honorable as well. They had some miscommunications going on, but overall, they seemed really good together. I loved watching them turn into a friendship and then into a relationship, so that was fun to watch.
The ending was by far my favorite part. I adored how everything turned out and how the author was able to highlight Aliya’s strengths without changing her character!
Overall, it was an amazing read and I highly recommend it!
August 12, 2024
this book was awesome. good world building, interesting magic system. i would say its YA and very minor splash of smut. the found family vibes, the continuation of growth with the FMC’s powers. i think she will do well as queen.
August 23, 2024
I thought the story was a great thriller and had lots of fantasy. I enjoyed reading about the characters and overall, the story was fun to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 24, 2024
This was such a great story with interesting characters and a captivating plot. I thought Aliya's character grew quite well throughout the book. The relationship between Aliya and Elessan was also nicely done. I really liked Zade's character which added a nice touch to the story.
October 28, 2024
DNF at 51%, I can get behind morally gray main characters but not adulterous ones. She may have hated her husband and he wants to kill her but she's married. The book has a sequel they could have come together after they killed the king, but no.
January 18, 2025
I received this as an ARC, thanks so much!
This was such a cool book, exciting and suspenseful from the first page to the last. A truly horrible villain with some creepy helpers and wonderful MC's.
And it ends with a huge cliffhanger, what more could you wish for.
This was such a cool book, exciting and suspenseful from the first page to the last. A truly horrible villain with some creepy helpers and wonderful MC's.
And it ends with a huge cliffhanger, what more could you wish for.
March 8, 2025
An exciting fantasy/sorcery tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As Aliya discovers she has powers, she soon finds out she must fight the evil king. And kill him. This a romance story with an enemy to lovers spin to it as well.
August 16, 2024
Definitely cant wait to read more! This world is very rich and intricate. It is full of tricks and twists and dark secrets and the magic. Very nice.
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