Princess of Blood

The Shards of Magic #2

by Sarah Hawley

Once a servant, now a princess, a young woman thrust into power challenges everything about the underground Fae realm in the next installment of Sarah Hawley's new romantasy series.

Kenna Heron is still reeling from her lover's betrayal and the threat of an impending war. With only her two closest--and most powerless--friends by her side, she must navigate the treacherous politics of Mistei while coming to terms with her new identity as not just Fae, but princess of her own house.

With the king dead, three candidates are vying for the right to wear the crown next. A princess who claims the throne as her birthright and two rebel princes, both of whom are depending on the support of Blood House to break the stalemate between them. Old loyalties fray as new, dangerous alliances form, and Kenna finds herself caught in a web of violence, deceit, and unexpected passion.

Kenna has the power to shape Mistei's future... but someone's willing to kill to make sure she never gets the chance.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fae, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance, Fiction

498 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2025

About the author

Sarah Hawley is the USA Today bestselling author of Servant of Earth and the Glimmer Falls series. She has an MA in archaeology and has excavated at an Inca site in Chile, a Bronze Age palace in Turkey, and a medieval abbey in England. When not dreaming up whimsical love stories, she can be found reading, dancing, or cuddling her two cats.

Reviews

[Bailee Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely didn’t think this could be better than book one, but IT WAS. I LOVE a vengeful woman, an emo sad boy MMC, and court politics. 10/10. No notes.

[Mikayla Payette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say it with me now! KALLEN. KALLEN. KALLEN.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

SARAH HAWLEY YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES

seeing that last 10% as the characters look to the future happily: i’m in danger

the way i knew the [redacted] was going to serve [redacted] but my jaw was still on the floor in those final chapters

kallen: blood dripping down his face, smiling: did you see my girl beat me up?

Sarah Hawley’s, Shards of Magic entraps six opposing fae houses beneath the earth to grasp at power and immortality while prey to the machinations of a merciless king. This series put down precarious roots in Servant of Earth, when Kenna Heron, a young woman, braved the treacherous bogs to cross into the fae lands, becoming servant and spy to the ignoble Earth House. Princess of Blood returns us to a world reeling in the aftermath of a bloody uprising and hinging on a civil war as loyalties sunder and forbidden love takes root within the cavernous underearth. With few weapons in her arsenal Kenna, newly turned fae, stands alone as princess of the broken Blood House. Armed with Caedo, a shapeshifting talking dagger with a thirst for blood, and two unlikely allies—an excommunicated Earth Fae rendered powerless, and a murderous Void Fae and executioner, Kenna will confront her new charge in a world seeking her destruction. I already knew the Shards of Magic series was doing something special back in book one, delicately connecting tropes and story cornerstones to deliver a unique fae touched tale of rebellion and survival. Princess of Blood is where my heart latched onto this series for good. Sarah Hawley brings a sequel into being that is bloody and unapologetic, equal parts brutal as it is a hopeful beacon for change.

Read my review

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.

Bookstagram | Blog

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

do not contact me. do not resuscitate. I am inconsolable. this releases in september and y’all better believe I will be screaming in your face about it closer to release date.

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[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★

”When life had been full of raised fists, it was hard to believe in the promise of an open hand.”

Servant of Earth is one of my favorite books, so of course it’s a little disappointing to give the sequel this rating. i just felt like the characters lost their spark and were bland for the majority of the story. i did like seeing Kenna rebuild Blood House, but the back and forth over who she’d choose to be king got repetitive. i thought i’d enjoy the romance more because i love Kallen, but their connection moved fast and his backstory wasn’t anything i haven’t seen before. (also, what was that about him being a virgin but “knowing what to do” because he’d been spying for centuries?).. can we not.

“Kallen didn’t seduce— he overwhelmed. Every word, every touch, every taste had a desperate edge, like he was afraid it would be the last.”

i was still invested in the story though and my sentiments about the fae being actually ruthless, terrible creatures remains. the ending went in a direction that i didn’t expect, so obviously i HAVE to continue!! i appreciate that Kenna is someone who acknowledges that she’s not perfect and will continuously make mistakes. a true flawed character who’s trying her best, i just hope her and her friends can get on the same page. i don’t like Drustan, he’s one of the many who didn’t have much character development and honestly he just annoys me. surprisingly, Hector grew on me and i could see now why he’s acted the way he does. i would say i mostly enjoyed this overall but i hope book 3 packs the action.

⤞ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✩ 3.35 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Elemental Magic
➼ Morally Gray Heroes
➼ Burn the World Energy
➼ Court Politics
➼ Narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
➼ First Person POV

I had unreasonably high hopes for this, but unfortunately it didn’t quite measure up to book one. There was a lot about the first book that felt unique and made it stand out to me in the sea of Fae romantasy books, but this book in contrast felt extremely predictable.

Servant of Earth concluded with Kenna’s life taking a major turn when she is made Fae and given the title of Princess of Blood. After having such an enormous responsibility dropped in her lap, I’d expect her to be scrambling to learn as much as possible about her new Fae body and working on a plan to maintain her newly awarded power.

I’ll concede that she does make an effort to add members to her court, but apart from that and a minimal amount of training, I didn’t feel like she was doing much to prepare herself or ensure her success. I felt like the author was leaning hard on her innate goodness and humanity, but surrounded by so much Fae scheming, I expected more from her. She has witnessed the boundless nature of Fae cruelty first hand, but still seems quick to forget what they are capable of.

The slow burn romance was alright, but I didn’t feel as invested in their relationship as I wanted to be. In book one, the MMC had a mysterious quality about him that made his character more intriguing. In book two, I felt like that same air of mystery worked against. He is clearly a catch, but the way his character was written made him feel too distant IMO. He was playing his cards very close to his chest which was an understandable choice once you know his backstory, but it made their interactions feel more shallow than I wanted them to be. The romance went in the direction I wanted it to, but it didn’t excite me as much as I hoped.

This was a decent read, but it’s suffering bad from second book syndrome. Hopefully book three can bring it back up towards 5 stars!

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Very excited to be starting this! I loved the first book so I have high hopes for this one! I’ll be listening to the audio as I travel back home from Thanksgiving with the fam. Hope everyone has had a great weekend! 🦃

And we have our cover!! 🙌🏻♥️

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025!

I can’t wait for the cover reveal! It’s sure to be gorgeous if Servant of Earth is any indication! NEED!

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Jenna Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kallen the man that you are.


10 out of 5 stars

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM SO UNWELL THE ENDING ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME!!!!!!!

Tbh when book 1 in a series has trials, I get bored without that tension in subsequent books. THIS ONE THOUGH????? blew book 1 out of the water for me.

Kenna is such a strong fmc and I love her ideals and what she stands for, even as she’s trying to figure out how to survive in the brutal world of mistei. The romance in this one had me BY THE THROAT. There is so much yearning and tension and they don’t even kiss until the last quarter of the book. The angst hurt SO GOOD.

The violence and truly morally black faeries of this world made for such an engaging read.

I really enjoyed book 1, but I LOVED this one.

Thank you Berkley romance, ace publishing, and prh audio for the gifted copies!!!

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!!

3.5✨
« For the fighters and the dreamers. »

3.5 stars is a fitting rating for this sequel. I enjoyed some things and was let down by others. A pretty balanced read, objectively speaking.

I think this author’s strong suit is world building. I can vividly imagine everything and nothing is left to confusion. I sincerely enjoyed the bits about the rebuilding of the House of Blood and I wish we saw more of that process.

But an issue I had with the first book was that Kenna doesnt take actual steps to fix her lack of knowledge - and this is accentuated in this sequel. At this point, it gives me the feeling of voluntary incompetence and I struggle with that.

A feeling I had while reading it is that everyone improved or had massive character development - Lara, Drustan (!!!), Kallen, Hector, Anya… but Kenna just didn’t improve or change. She sort of felt fickle to me because she was very driven by her emotions but only in situations that had no incidence on the plot. Sincerely, I was left feeling sour about this.

There’s a lot of internal thoughts but we’re stuck inside the head of someone who doesn’t know anything. This is very subjective but sometimes I couldn’t believe the questions she was asking. And this is what I mean by voluntary incompetence… I found myself wondering if she was purposely keeping herself in ignorance.

Some parts were philosophical & repeated profusely. There’s also A LOT of conversations.

The romance was sweet. They had a lot of interactions which was fitting. I would consider it a slow burn and that part was a success for me.

Overall, like I said, it was a balanced read. I think this sequel suffered a little from second book syndrome but I’m still curious about what’s to come.

« Hope wasn’t just believing that the world could be good and beautiful and kind. It was knowing the world was awful and likely always would be… and trying to fix it anyway. »

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brain is scrambled egg with this ending. Jesus Christ, I can’t literally pick my jaw up off the floor.

The world that Sarah has created with such an interesting magic system combined with those classic fae elements makes for such an addictive combination. And jam packed with court politics and a simmering slow burn where he is utterly obsessed with her? I can’t.

ULTIMATE DEVOTION, CRAZY PLOT TWISTS, EVEN CRAZIER ENDINGS?! DIVINE, DIVINE, DIVINE. Give me book three immediately. I can’t cope.

[BookishByTammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an ending!!
This was a perfect continuation to this story, we finally got more Kallen and it was everything I wanted it to be

It didn’t give me 5 star feelings but I still enjoyed this immensely and can’t wait to read the 3rd book because omg where can it go from here?!

[Susan Carolynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars! Kallen the MAN that you are omg. Ever since Servant of Earth released, I haven't been able to stop recommending it. And thus, I had quite high hopes for Princess of Blood, and it absolutely delivered.

Fantasy books with YEARNING and a slow burn that lasts throughout multiple books will always hit different. Because the character + relationship development takes place over hundreds and hundreds of pages, I feel such a connection to Kenna and Kallen both individually and together.

I'm kind of tired of reading these romantasy books where the MMC is a shadow-power caricature, but Kallen does not at all fit into that box. He's complex, perceptive and ruthless, while also having a soft spot. And I loved reading more about his (heartbreaking) backstory. The tension had me like foaming at the mouth when they finally kissed LOL.

And a big shoutout to the author for writing complex side characters. Hector complemented Kallen perfectly, and like Kallen, I loved his backstory. Drustan, SO manipulative, but I appreciate his character arc even though I don't like him. Plus the complex female relationships and friendships—I loved how the main FMCs had to adjust to a new life with a new sort of power and freedom.

The only reason I'm not giving this book five stars is it had a tiny bit of middle book syndrome. The pacing at the beginning was on the slower side. And while I love political scheming, I would've liked some more action. There's a LOT of standing around the Houses and going to political events and balls, which became a bit repetitive. Though I cannot wait to read the next one, especially after that ending.

Thank you so much to Ace Books for sending me an ARC of Princess of Blood. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 / 5 Stars
This was just as good as the first one. You get more royal court politics. More fighting. More of Kenna trying to be decent in a complicated world. I can't believe I have to wait until September 2026 for the next book.

AND THE ROMANCE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? If you want a slooooooooow, sloooooooow burn, this is the series for you. If you want a man who YEARNS, this is the series for you. This also has one of my favorite tropes which is idiots to lovers where you it takes her a while to understand why he is paying attention to her, or holding her hand, or being nice to her, and you just want to shake her and be like "UH, DUH, he fucking loves you, babe." And then you want to shake him and be like "YOU DO DESERVE LOVE." Idiots to lovers truly (complementary).

_______________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I have been putting off reading this book because I loved the first one so much but it’s time.

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ★— Alright, alright, I had some pretty high hopes for this sequel. For one, I like shiny, pretty things — that extends to books, and the cover of this one is exceptionally gorgeous.
My other reason: though I gave the first book in this series a very middling score, the ending positively surprised me, and I had hopes that this would carry into the sequel.

Well… the sequel did take off exactly where the first book ended. It begins with Kenna, after having killed King Osric - now the Princess and newly emerged head of the House of Blood - having to rebuild the House, learn how to manage it, step into the role of a leader, support her friend’s recovery from trauma, and cast a vote for the new regent of the realm, which will shape the future of the fae living there.

On paper, all of that sounds like it should make for an engaging story.

Sadly, while I was reading it, I didn’t feel that the author did a good job of making all these plot threads interesting to follow. It just felt very, very hollow and predictable, and even as I was reading, I kept trying to pinpoint why that was.

Kenna, for one, acknowledges to herself multiple times that she’s prone to making mistakes, that she’s failing all the time and trying to learn all these important skills as a future leader. She’s in over her head, which is understandable; she grew up human, in a village, and was thrown into this fae world unwillingly. I think the real problem for me was that I truly don’t think she’s an interesting protagonist.

It’s not because she’s not a badass warrior or a cunning strategist - being a fish-out-of-water, wide-eyed protagonist trying their best can be so fun (and plenty of media I love feature heroines like this). But with Kenna, there just aren’t many interesting traits to her.

She wants to help people, she’s generous, she’s trying to change things in fae society, and she’s kind. That’s great! But it felt like there was nothing else to her. She felt like a milquetoast of a FMC, not because she lacked strength or power, but because there’s a certain depth she’s missing. Something that makes her stand out and want to follow her journey. And I couldn’t find it.

Even her relationship with Kallen, which develops more in this book, gave me the same feeling. He’s a walking cliché of broody male leads, cobbled together out of every tall, dark, handsome, and dangerous fantasy love interest you’ve ever read about. And as the story tried to bring him to the forefront, that view didn’t really change. There wasn’t an original bone in his body. I didn’t understand why he was so clearly pining and devoted to Kenna so early in the narrative, and their connection felt just as hollow as most of the book did. His backstory, his mannerisms, his anxieties and traumas - it’s like he came from the Shadow Daddy™ factory, and there was nothing else interesting beyond that.

The side characters that made up Kenna’s allies and friends felt similarly bland. I didn’t connect with any of them, and so my interest in their scenes was low. But also, they were mostly pushed to the background 90% of the time, so there wasn’t much room for that connection to grow.

A big plot point, like I said, is Kenna rebuilding Blood House. She tries to do this in her own way, which I appreciated, and I did like her honest desire for change and her push to improve aspects of fae society. Those parts were genuinely appealing.

I also enjoyed learning more about the political aspects of this world and getting more background info that gave some depth to certain characters.

I think what really made the story feel so hollow to me was how heavily it leaned on familiar character types without doing much to make them feel fresh. Kallen’s brother, Hector, is your classic Tragic Older Brother™ - emotionally closed-off, misunderstood, hiding a wound from the past while everyone thinks he’s a villainous figure. Drustan, the fae Kenna slept with, fills the annoying manipulator ex part. Sure, there are attempts to humanize both of them, but it felt like I was reading character blueprints rather than actual people. The tropes were doing all the heavy lifting - and not very well.

There were a few more interesting characters, like Oriana, whose commanding presence and her steadfastness in remaining neutral - even when that neutrality results in actual cruelty and pain for her - gave her some genuine intrigue.
But she was an exception, not the rule. Even the newly introduced antagonists felt like echoes of Osric all over again: cruel, sadistic fae with superiority complexes and vague, generic plans for domination. There’s just not much nuance to them, and that lack of complexity made the stakes feel just as flat.

Similarly, the ending left me with a slight sense of déjà vu, and because I’d finished the last book with this same feeling, I didn’t really appreciate the direction it took, because it just felt like a rehash.

In the end, Princess of Blood had the setup, the world, and the potential, but it leaned too heavily on familiar tropes without adding enough new depth to make them feel exciting. I was rooting for it - really rooting for it, because I like fae stories, I love fantasy romance, and I want more fae fantasy romance I can adore - but too much of it felt derivative, and it just didn’t deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for.

__________________________________________________

Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment. After loving the first book and giving it 5 stars, this sequel completely lost the spark. The rich world building and intrigue were replaced with scattered storytelling and an overbearing focus on dull politics. Honestly about 90% of the book. Kenna, who once carried the story, felt flat, and the promise of fascinating threads like her friend’s broken mind or the Blood House never delivered. Instead of pulling me deeper into the world, this installment left me bored and frustrated.

Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram

[zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I FEEL SICK. I FEEL DIZZY.

i’ve been waiting for the second book in the the shards of magic series to come out since i read the first book a couple months ago and couldn’t put it down. i’ve been waiting and waiting because i genuinely connected with the first book so well, i could not get enough. i just needed more. i needed more of this story like i need more readers to read this incredible writing because it’s criminal how underrated this is.

so after reading, i will say this absolutely did not disappoint me. i am a shell of a person.

KENNA!!!!! KALLEN!!!!! KENNA!!!!! KALLEN. what are you doing to me. the slow-burn romance of the century and my favourite fantasy couple right now. if you have read the this book and the first, you will know they have served an out-of-this-world enemies to allies to lovers. i saw the potential for them in the first book and their story in princess of blood did not disappoint. one thing about me, i love a parallel. if you’re going to give me ’he stroked a cool finger down my cheek, and i suppressed a shudder of disgust at the touch.’ in the first book, and then ”it’s you. it’s you. it was always you.” in the second book, i’m going to eat it up and lick the plate clean. i love them so dearly. SOOOOOOOO. i can’t even think about them without a pain in my chest.

i love this world. this world is absolutely magnificent. i am a sucker for a house system with different powers each. i love this lore. i love these characters. i love that kenna is just a soft soul. i love the fact that it was made obvious that she had no idea what she was doing in this world because obviously. she was a human, thrust into this world of fae, finding herself a fae princess. this author took the time to explain kenna’s confusion with this worlds politics and laws and outlined how important it was for her, our main character, to learn the ropes and the magic system before anything else happened. it was also good that kenna’s inexperience played a part in the plot of this book.

i would like to be the first to apologise to drustan. even if i get to the third book and find myself regretting this apology, i need to say to him how sorry i am for shitting on him in the first book. i thought that i would hate his slight redemption arc here but i didn’t. his character is crucial for this story, specifically the ending of this book and my silly fire prince just wants to be loved. i cannot fault him for that.

sarah hawley, i’m going to need a written apology for one, that ending. two, making me wait for the third book. you can’t get away with this.

my god. my god. my god. if you have not picked up this series before, i strongly urge anyone who loves fantasy and romance together, to do so.

this is my favourite romantasy series currently. i’m sat.

[tema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t believe I have to wait a whole year for this next book 😭 by then I’m going to forget what happened in servant of earth!!

[Clarissa Labue-Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess of Blood is a spectacular sequel to Servant of Earth. I was on the edge of my seat every moment of this exciting fantasy follow-up.

In Princess of Blood Kenna is now the leader of the resurrected blood house. While trying to pick which future king to lend her support to Kenna strives to take care of Anna, reinvigorate her house, and navigate vicious fae court politics, all while falling in love with the last person she should be falling for.

Again, Kenna is a standout fmc. Most characters will follow the mmc no matter what buy Kenna diverges from that with her relationship with Drustan, showing actions do have consequences. This opens up the door for an even more intense slow burn romance.

Kenna is top tier fmc, if you're looking for a female main character that is truly amazing then Sarah Hawley's Shards of Magic series is the one for you. If you're looking for romance, fae court politics, and a lot of action this one has it all.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

I loved this but I wasn’t as on the edge of my seat as I was in book 1. But the ENDING???? 🫣🫣🫣 WTH?!?!
—-
I’m so not ready but I’m REA👏DY👏

ETA: the cover is beautiful, just like the first book 😭 I am dying to read this!!

[Hallie (thecommonroomshop) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up💫 This truly has become such a comfort series for me! I loved returning to this world on my kindle every night. I think my favorite aspects of these books are the traditional-esque fairies and the atmosphere of mistei. I can picture the underground setting so clearly and I loved learning more about Blood House. IF I HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERY TIME A BOOK HAD A MAGICAL HOUSE, I’D HAVE TWO NICKELS!!!

This book is definitely more characters driven and it really lagged at times. This series is less about plot and more about political posturing (and the emotions that come with it.)

There was a lot I was hoping for in this book that didn’t happen. I would have loved to see more development with Lara, Anya and Kenna. Lara is one of my favorite characters and we barely got any content from her! I also had a hard time with the romance. What I wanted to be a delicious slow burn ended up completely burning OUT for me. I just can’t feel any connection between them even though I know I should. He honestly reminded me of Edward Cullen in all of the good and bad ways😁

All of this being said, Kenna is such a special character and I am SAT for this entire series. It feels a little bit like a fanfiction in a way. The plot doesn’t always feel fleshed out, but the vibes are there and boy do I love vibes!!!

Thank you to netgalley for this arc!🫶🏻 I was so desperate to read it and I feel so lucky to have had that opportunity!

[☆EmilyEverAfter☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Princess Of Blood for review purposes.

I haven't read a series that's had me so hooked in a long time! I may be in the minority, but I am totally into love triangles... the tension, the jealousy, the emotional back and forth! *chef's kiss*
With that being said, romance wasn't really the main focus. This was really plot-driven. The scheming was at an all-time high, with twists, turns, and betrayals.. Oh, the betryals! I loved the way the lowly human changed into the fiercest Princess of Blood. Both Hector and Kallen's stories were absolutely devastating and unexpected. 💔
Everyone's true colors really shone through in this book. After that ending, I will be gnawing at the bars of my enclosure until book three! I am UNWELLLLL! 🥹

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5⭐)

Wow. I knew that ending would not go well but I didn't think it'd be that bad (though honestly it could've been worse I guess😭)?? That last line gave me chills.

What a sequel though!! First, I'm SO happy I was able to read an ARC because truly after the first book I needed this book ASAP. The only downside, which I clearly did not think about, is that I have to wait even longer for book 3???? And this cliffhanger is much worse than Servant of Earth's cliffhanger so??? PAIN. Book 3 is so going to have a dark beginning that's for sure omg.

I love the way the characters developed so much more in Princess of Blood!! Kenna and Lara really went through a lot and the way their relationship further developed was sooo wholesome like hello why are they so sweet!!! The female friendships in this series truly are the best. And then there were some surprises with understanding other characters more, especially some characters whom I previously disliked?? And while I still despise them, I like that the author made them more complex than I would've expected.

Also the fae politics!! I was soo here for it. There really is just something so fun about seeing how everyone is trying to betray the other first and all the fae's little games/hidden threats they have with each other (stressful though because wow is that annoying). Watching Kenna navigate through it all and grow into her role as Princess of Blood House was so great to see, I loved it. There really was so much going on, I genuinely don't know how she was able to deal with it, I would've lost my mind ages ago😭

AND THEN THE *REAL* ROMANCE THAT I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR!!! Kenna and Kallen's relationship did indeed develop and ohhh the tension!! The dancing, the spying, the nightly sparring matches!!! Why are they so adorable??? The whole time I was just screaming at them to kiss already omg. I will say that there does feel like something is missing for me to give their romance a 5/5 but I can't quite put my finger to it. Book 3 may give me what I want I think? But either way, THEY ARE SOULMATES!! Kallen is sooo sweet to Kenna it's so cute, and when he'd get so worried over her and take care of her??? I loved it. And I am ALWAYS a sucker for MMC teaching FMC how to fight so there was no doubt that I would immediately love all those scenes🥹

Also the plot was very interesting and though it was obvious who Kenna would back, I actually didn't see that ending coming so that was definitely a surprise! The pacing felt very well done too, but to be fair I might be biased about this since I was super eager to read this and finished really fast because I was desperate to know what happened next. I adored every second of this book.

Overall, I am so hyped for book 3 (worried for some characters too😟) and it's looking like there might be additional POVs maybe which has me even more excited!! Too bad I'll have to wait over a year but the wait will be worth it.


Thank you Ace Publishing for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

[Olivia ✨✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️ 1.5
FABULOUS. I’m screaming, crying, throwing up at that ending and I need book NUMBER THREE NOW 😭🔥 This series hooked me with book one, but book two had me GLUED to the pages. The political intrigue, THE BETRAYALS, the secrets, the darkness… chef’s kiss. I literally caught myself with my mouth hanging open multiple times in the last 20% of the book.

Kallen. Ohhhh Kallen. I’ll order one of him please 🫠 But what I love is that this isn’t one of those books where the spice carries the story, nope. The plot could stand completely on its own. The yearning?? Absolute top tier. The fighting scene with tension that could be cut by a knife, I was drooling with anticipation I swear lol.

Every time I thought I had something figured out, Sarah Hawley pulled the rug out from under me and I was blown away by what was actually revealed. This series is so unique, so well-written, and honestly addicting. It gave me the same feelings I had reading some of my fave series like ACOTAR and TOG,and that’s saying something.

I literally don’t want to say any more details, just strictly how I felt about the book, so I don’t give anything away…because you need to experience this for yourself if you’re a Romantasy lover.

Idk how I’m supposed to wait for book three at this point 😩✨

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Hawley for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own and not at all influenced by this…always 100% honest.

[kiki’s delivery witch ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Princess of Blood is the second installment in Sarah Hawley’s Shards of Magic series, where our girl Kenna Heron trades her servant rags for a princess crown and a whole lotta fae drama. I dove into this expecting a bloody good time (pun intended, because, you know, BLOOD House). Hawley mostly delivers, it's GOT with more fae glitter and a sentient dagger that’s basically a sassy, stab-happy sidekick.

Kenna is my kind of heroine. She's brave, smart, and just the right amount of “I’m in over my head but Imma fake it ‘til I make it.” She’s now Princess of the Blood House, navigating the cutthroat politics of Mistei like a toddler in a knife shop. The girl’s got a talking dagger named Caedo (yes, it’s as extra as it sounds) and two pals who are about as powerful as a pair of soggy paper towels. Hawley nails Kenna’s growth from Servant of Earth, showing her grapple with her shiny new identity while dodging assassination attempts like they’re bad dates. The stakes are high, the betrayals are juicy, and the court intrigue could give a soap opera whiplash.

Kallen is the brooding Void House lord who’s basically a walking “I’m dangerous but I’d let you ruin me” vibe. Their chemistry is a delicious mix of forbidden longing and “oops, did I just stab you or flirt with you?” moments. Hawley knows how to make you squirm in the best way, though I’ll admit, the pacing drags a bit in the first half... Like, c’mon, let’s get to the kissing and the stabbing already! By the time things heat up, you’re ready to yeet the book across the room in frustration and/or delight.

The world-building is still a banger. Mistei’s underground realm feels like a gothic nightclub where everyone’s packing a grudge and a spell. The six houses—Blood, Void, Fire, etc.—are fleshed out with enough scheming to make Machiavelli blush, and Hawley doesn’t shy away from the gore. The political chess game, with three candidates vying for the crown, kept me hooked, even if I occasionally wanted to scream, “Just pick one and move on! Yall are worse than Belly trying to pick a Fisher brother!”

The middle sag does like my motivation on a Monday morning. There’s a chunk where Kenna’s just bouncing between conversations, collecting plot points like she’s in a fetch quest. It’s not boring, but it’s not exactly fun either. Also, Anya, Kenna’s bestie, is a hot mess.... drinking herself into oblivion and giving Kenna the cold shoulder. I get it, trauma’s real, but her arc felt like it was stuck in a loop of “sad and drunk.” And that cliffhanger? Sarah Hawley, you absolute gremlin, how dare you leave me hanging like a piñata at a party no one showed up to! I need book three yesterday.

TLDR; Princess of Blood is a fun ride with a fierce heroine, a swoony shadow daddy, and enough backstabbing to keep you paranoid. It’s got some pacing hiccups and a slightly mopey sidekick hold it back from five stars, but it’s got heart, guts, and a dagger with attitude. If you love fae shenanigans with a side of romance that’ll make you blush and cuss, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect to sleep until you’ve survived that ending. *Sips wine dramatically* Here’s to surviving the wait for book three.

[DIVINITY🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me pick my jaw and heart off the floor .. that cliffhanger is CRIMINAL.

I loved how this book picked off right where we left. I loved seeing the FMC grow and navigate her new status as fae/princess. She’s such a badass that is caring and kind 🥹 she truly wants to make the world a better place and to protect the survivors and helpless. The stakes in this book while not as high still felt intense and let me pivot to the romance and say it was such a SLOW BURN but it felt so good to watch unfold. I loved how they developed a friendship and the tension was just building.

Kallen is such a sad boy which is my fav and my heart broke for him😭😩 he’s so misunderstood and I really liked seeing him more in this book but it still felt like it wasn’t enough. I hope in the next installment he is seen more and we get more romance because I loved them together and want them to just be happy.

[NHL♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ~ Unlike the first book, the pacing here was painfully slow. Honestly, nothing much happened until the final 15%, yes we got some interesting backstories and a better sense of character motivations, but that's it. Even when the action finally started, it felt totally predictable.

​My main issue was Kenna's frustrating arc. I was desperate to see her explore her new magic and gain power, but instead, she was constantly sulking and spinning her wheels, trying to make a decision that we, the readers, knew she was going to make anyway.

​Despite that, I'm still excited for Book 3. I'm rooting for Kenna and hoping to finally see some real character growth from the people in House Blood.

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

So unlike book one, there were much much less elements and plot points that I found to be predictable in this sequel, which is definitely in its favour.

And a major part of that is just seeing the political machinations, the tensions, during this weird limbo transitional period and how it wasn’t going all that smoothly for either side. Gave the whole situation a lot more dimension.

I think Hawley is doing a lot of really good things with her secondary characters as it relates to post-tyrannical overthrow and the wounds left on those who suffered under the previous rule. Including not just the obvious victims but those with guilt from actions, or inactions, over the course of decades and how that manifests in their choices and behaviours. This deserves attention because it’s not often something you see authors lean in to.

I also enjoyed the slowburn with the romance but wish it had burned just a little slower. Maybe a little confession closer to the end but left open ended (particularly given that nasty cliffhanger) because going from book one’s romance to this one.. it just feels a little quick.

Honestly, there was a lot of good here. So much so I wonder if I’m maybe being too harsh in not rounding up. But things did drag a little, we went through similar repetitive motions to the first book but with different vibes, and it started to feel both same-y and filler-y.

Overall, I am really enjoying where this series is going and I’m enjoying the missteps, the humane considerations, the emotional damage, and so many things that tend to get glossed over in most fantasy novels. Also, letting one’s lead female character go off leash routinely. That’s an extra bit of fun, too.

3.5 stars

** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **

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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★ first book of 2026? i’m not mad, i’m just disappointed.

there’s no feeling quite like thinking you’re about to finish a duology ,, then being hit with an overwhelming amount of plot in the last thirty pages that you can’t fathom being summed up by the end ,, and then finally reaching the cliffhanger and realizing no indeed it’s not a duology but just middle book syndrome. :/

(and i’d also bet $20 book three is going to be titled queen of fae or something lmfao)

[Jaja · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5. Coup de cœur. C’était brillant. La montée en puissance de l’intrigue politique, les secrets, le SLOW BURN. Magique. Je hurle d’impatience pour la suite

[♥︎⋆ʚLiliɞ⋆♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟 This series literally took over my life and made my december basically! I love the characters, the old school styled fairy world and everything in it. It is so refreshing to read about proper morally grey characters where i don't feel forced to find them sexy just because of it. Being morally grey is not their whole personality they just are with many other characteristics and we love them for it. ❤️‍🔥 also i adore our stabby little princess hhahahaah😉