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The War Brides of Adrik #1
War Queen
Cursed at birth with fairy-like beauty, Queen Adalind has only ever known pain and death at the hands of men.
Always a prize to be coveted, she doesn't know that she can trust any male. When Adalind must save her kingdom after the death of her cruel husband during a war he started with the nearby orc kingdom, the jaded queen offers herself up as a sacrifice. The orc king will receive a bride with magical beauty and she will save her subjects from more slaughter. What she doesn't expect is to be attracted to her future husband or find him to an honorable orc.
King Rognar is merely seeking to end the war started by the humans, take his pound of flesh and go home.
What he is not expecting is to be challenged by a beautiful, politically savvy queen, who seems to offer him everything he could ever want. But as he gets to see the real woman beneath her icy exterior, he finds that what he truly wants is Adalind's heart. As passion ignites between them, can they trust each other and rule two kingdoms?
Or will all the forces that conspire against them tear them and their kingdoms, apart?
Always a prize to be coveted, she doesn't know that she can trust any male. When Adalind must save her kingdom after the death of her cruel husband during a war he started with the nearby orc kingdom, the jaded queen offers herself up as a sacrifice. The orc king will receive a bride with magical beauty and she will save her subjects from more slaughter. What she doesn't expect is to be attracted to her future husband or find him to an honorable orc.
King Rognar is merely seeking to end the war started by the humans, take his pound of flesh and go home.
What he is not expecting is to be challenged by a beautiful, politically savvy queen, who seems to offer him everything he could ever want. But as he gets to see the real woman beneath her icy exterior, he finds that what he truly wants is Adalind's heart. As passion ignites between them, can they trust each other and rule two kingdoms?
Or will all the forces that conspire against them tear them and their kingdoms, apart?
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2023
116 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
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July 1, 2024at the risk of sounding depraved i will admit that i planned to only skim read this book that i downloaded on stuff your kindle day with very low expectations. i'm only marking it on goodreads bc !!!!! it was actually pretty good??!!!!! this cover is TRAGIC but the characters actually had SUCH good dialogue and chemistry and the fmc was surprisingly resilient in a genre that's inundated with copy-and-paste plots and terrible writing and surface level characters.
the sequel to this book came out this year so i lowkey wanna do a full reread (sans skim reading) so i can also read the sequel! witholding a rating until then.
but wow what a surprising win!
the sequel to this book came out this year so i lowkey wanna do a full reread (sans skim reading) so i can also read the sequel! witholding a rating until then.
but wow what a surprising win!
March 25, 2025
War Queen is a sweet and spicy Orc/human romance, that has lots of action!
This is my first Orc romance read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book pretty much starts action packed, and the action continues throughout the book. The FMC Queen Adalind, must sacrifice herself, so to speak, in order to save her people. While the king and her previous husband is dead, the Orcs will expect to take over the kingdom. Queen Adalind has plans up her sleeve to ensure that she either gets what she wants, or the Orcs miss out on all that they expected to get as the victors of the war.
The MMC, King Rognar, the Orc King, does not expect the Queen to come to him with a proposition of how the Orcs can to take over the human kingdom. King Rognar is immediately intrigued, and attracted to the beautiful Queen. The Orcs have a lot of traditions that Queen Adalind intends to honor, including the bride chase, which she too will take part in. What Rognar does not know is that there is still an evil group hiding in the shadows that have intentions to take back the kingdom from the Queen and the Orcs.
Who knew the description of an Orc would sound so attractive! I can totally understand Adalind's attraction to Rognar, Orc or not. I often think of the Orcs from Lord of the Rings when I think of an Orc, but thankfully no, the Orcs in War Queen do not look like that. I also really loved getting to know Rognar and the fact that he, as an Orc, has a soft side, and is an honorable character. The way he rules his Orc kingdom, has even better laws than our human real world. I really enjoyed getting to know Rognar, and how much restraint he had with Adalind, wanting to Claim her, but also wanting to let her decide when she was ready. I also enjoyed Adalind, her past was so horrible, and to think she was still this strong Queen fighting for her people, and willing to sacrifice herself again after what her first husband put her through, is amazing. She has to overcome so much, and finally gets to enjoy herself with Rognar.
I also loved the warbeasts description that the Orcs ride, who wouldn't want a wolf/onyx dragon as their steed!
I look forward to reading the next books in this series!!
Some fav quotes:
"Attraction. Arousal. Disaster. I should not be attracted to him. He is an orc, for all the gods' sake. They are meant to be killing machines; the gods did not design them to be attractive. With his tusks and horns, I should find not find him so. But I do. Oh all-mother, I do."
"I am hers, body and soul. She is my true mate, I can feel it, and I wish for no artifice or barriers between us..."
"'We are each others'. Until the Nether and beyond.'"
This is my first Orc romance read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book pretty much starts action packed, and the action continues throughout the book. The FMC Queen Adalind, must sacrifice herself, so to speak, in order to save her people. While the king and her previous husband is dead, the Orcs will expect to take over the kingdom. Queen Adalind has plans up her sleeve to ensure that she either gets what she wants, or the Orcs miss out on all that they expected to get as the victors of the war.
The MMC, King Rognar, the Orc King, does not expect the Queen to come to him with a proposition of how the Orcs can to take over the human kingdom. King Rognar is immediately intrigued, and attracted to the beautiful Queen. The Orcs have a lot of traditions that Queen Adalind intends to honor, including the bride chase, which she too will take part in. What Rognar does not know is that there is still an evil group hiding in the shadows that have intentions to take back the kingdom from the Queen and the Orcs.
Who knew the description of an Orc would sound so attractive! I can totally understand Adalind's attraction to Rognar, Orc or not. I often think of the Orcs from Lord of the Rings when I think of an Orc, but thankfully no, the Orcs in War Queen do not look like that. I also really loved getting to know Rognar and the fact that he, as an Orc, has a soft side, and is an honorable character. The way he rules his Orc kingdom, has even better laws than our human real world. I really enjoyed getting to know Rognar, and how much restraint he had with Adalind, wanting to Claim her, but also wanting to let her decide when she was ready. I also enjoyed Adalind, her past was so horrible, and to think she was still this strong Queen fighting for her people, and willing to sacrifice herself again after what her first husband put her through, is amazing. She has to overcome so much, and finally gets to enjoy herself with Rognar.
I also loved the warbeasts description that the Orcs ride, who wouldn't want a wolf/onyx dragon as their steed!
I look forward to reading the next books in this series!!
Some fav quotes:
"Attraction. Arousal. Disaster. I should not be attracted to him. He is an orc, for all the gods' sake. They are meant to be killing machines; the gods did not design them to be attractive. With his tusks and horns, I should find not find him so. But I do. Oh all-mother, I do."
"I am hers, body and soul. She is my true mate, I can feel it, and I wish for no artifice or barriers between us..."
"'We are each others'. Until the Nether and beyond.'"
June 9, 2025
War Queen by Jordyn Alexander is the first book in The War Brides Of Adrik series. In the first book Queen Adaline who grew up as a commoner was blessed by Faye beauty enforce to marry King Yarian, the king of the humans. His death came due to him forcing a battle on the peaceful Orkans. this is how Queen Adaline found herself married to the Orkan King Rognar. Queen Adaline at the hands of her foster parents and Yarian was abused inso marrying the fearful fierce Ragnar is a risk, but for the love of her country and a peaceful surrender she agrees to it. she also agrees to deliver 100 brides for the men chosen by King Ragnar to marry. it isn’t long before her feelings turned from duty to want and believes her and the king may rule side-by-side but unfortunately there are others in her kingdom that want to put a stop to it and it’s not just her parents and relatives. if this is book one I cannot wait to read the next book signed me up. This was such a good romance I loved Ragnar’s protective nature and despite the fact I could’ve done without the sex scenes I found those went by quickly and mainly focused on the story. I really wish there was a way to pick a non-explicit book because most monster love stories are very sexually explicit but I totally appreciate books like this where they do it and move on to the rest of the story and the rest of the story is so lean War Queen by Jordyn Alexander is the first book in The War Brides Of Adrik series. In the first book Queen Adaline who grew up as a commoner was blessed by Faye beauty enforce to marry King Yarian, the king of the humans. His death came due to him forcing a battle on the peaceful Orkans. this is how Queen Adaline found herself married to the Orkan King Rognar. Queen Adaline at the hands of her foster parents and Yarian was abused inso marrying the fearful fierce Ragnar is a risk, but for the love of her country and a peaceful surrender she agrees to it. she also agrees to deliver 100 brides for the men chosen by King Ragnar to marry. it isn’t long before her feelings turned from duty to want and believes her and the king may rule side-by-side but unfortunately there are others in her kingdom that want to put a stop to it and it’s not just her parents and relatives. if this is book one I cannot wait to read the next book signed me up. This was such a good romance I loved Ragnar’s protective nature and despite the fact I could’ve done without the sex scenes I found those went by quickly and mainly focused on the story. I really wish there was a way to pick a non-explicit book because most monster love stories are very sexually explicit but I totally appreciate books like this where they do it and move on to the rest of the story and the rest of the story is so swoon worthy.#BookSirens, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JordanAlexander, #WarQueen, worthy.#BookSirens, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JordanAlexander, #WarQueen,
June 25, 2024
Honestly, this was a pleasant surprise. I picked the book up as an Amazon freebie, and the cover is doing it no favors. But I thought this to be one of the better orc romances I've read. Often, I want to like them more than I turn out to. But Alexander walks a thin line here with her hero. He's the 'great king,' alpha of alphas among the orcs, etc. But he's no alpha-hole. In fact, he's the opposite, a man confident enough in himself, his power, and his position to be willing to bend and follow his mate's lead. He is so amazingly careful of Adalind and I adored him.
Adalind, in turn, is a strong, resilient character. There are some trigger warnings on this one. But even I, who is generally very critical of rape's use in fiction (I generally think it is far too often used as cheap, lazy plotting), have no issue with its use here. There is none on-page; it is integral to the plot, tactfully dealt with, and the resulting trauma wasn't magiced away.
I did feel like the last quarter was somehow just not as tight and well-written as the first 3/4, though I don't know that I could articulate why. (The villain's POV probably has something to do with it.) But I've already bought book 2 and pre-ordered book three, which should tell you more about how I felt than anything else.
Adalind, in turn, is a strong, resilient character. There are some trigger warnings on this one. But even I, who is generally very critical of rape's use in fiction (I generally think it is far too often used as cheap, lazy plotting), have no issue with its use here. There is none on-page; it is integral to the plot, tactfully dealt with, and the resulting trauma wasn't magiced away.
I did feel like the last quarter was somehow just not as tight and well-written as the first 3/4, though I don't know that I could articulate why. (The villain's POV probably has something to do with it.) But I've already bought book 2 and pre-ordered book three, which should tell you more about how I felt than anything else.
October 22, 2024
I loved the queen and her Orc king. I did not love the amount of torture her husband and his secret society of sadists had put her through.
April 7, 2025
I really loved this book. It was a quick spicy read, and I really loved Ragnar. I'm a sucker for cinnamon roll orcs & monsters so this book clicked all those boxes.
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.
January 21, 2024
3.5 stars
The War Queen (Book One of The War Brides of Adrik) by Jordyn Alexander is a romance fantasy fiction. I did receive this novel as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When King Yorian is killed by a horde of Orcs he picked a war with, Queen Adalind is left to strategize how to best protect her people. She recognizes that they never should have gone to war with the Orcs and that they are stronger than her human population. So, she devises a plan of peace and integration in hopes the Orc king will accept her proposal.
King Rognar is out for blood and to bring an end to the war with the humans. He never expects to be immediately smitten with Queen Adalind. He is drawn to her confidence and questions her level of sincerity.
Both these characters navigate the boundaries of their past experiences and personal biases to create a path forward in hopes of bringing each other and their people closer together. Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it entertaining.
Queen Adalind’s character felt a little imbalanced/flat. A lot of what the reader experiences with her is grief and reflection. I loved King Rognar’s character. He comes off as strong and caring. He has pain in his past as well, but it doesn’t seem to control his life like it does Queen Adalind. His character layers feel more developed and well-rounded.
Additionally, I loved the Orc culture and history that is included in the story. Incorporating Orcish was a nice touch without overwhelming the reader—especially one that isn’t heavily into Fantasy fiction.
As a personal preference, I don’t care for the insta-love trope. Regardless, I was still entertained and invested in the story. If spice level is something that concerns you, I would rate the spicy scenes as more “cute” than overly lusty or explicit. The characters share a lot of sweet, non-sexual moments throughout the novel.
The Cabal feels like a misleading threat/conflict throughout the novel. They are an organized group but only one member seems to be targeting Queen Adalind and King Rognar after King Yorian’s death. My guess is that it is to be an introduction to a larger conflict in the next books— similar to how A Court of Thorns and Roses is a tiny introductory window into the larger conflict of the rest of the SJMs series. Either way, it feels a little off that the group isn’t targeting them together. You’ll find out that this person (of the Cabal) has a reason to seek vengeance, but it didn’t change the way I felt about it, nor did I feel surprised when it was revealed.
There is not a lot of world-building and setting descriptions that are usually a core element of Fantasy Fiction. So, when you read War Queen keep in mind it is a Romance Fantasy, not a Fantasy Romance—yes there’s a difference! Without the world building a little of the fantasy charm is missing, but you can find it in the characters and their quest for integration.
The War Queen (Book One of The War Brides of Adrik) by Jordyn Alexander is a romance fantasy fiction. I did receive this novel as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When King Yorian is killed by a horde of Orcs he picked a war with, Queen Adalind is left to strategize how to best protect her people. She recognizes that they never should have gone to war with the Orcs and that they are stronger than her human population. So, she devises a plan of peace and integration in hopes the Orc king will accept her proposal.
King Rognar is out for blood and to bring an end to the war with the humans. He never expects to be immediately smitten with Queen Adalind. He is drawn to her confidence and questions her level of sincerity.
Both these characters navigate the boundaries of their past experiences and personal biases to create a path forward in hopes of bringing each other and their people closer together. Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it entertaining.
Queen Adalind’s character felt a little imbalanced/flat. A lot of what the reader experiences with her is grief and reflection. I loved King Rognar’s character. He comes off as strong and caring. He has pain in his past as well, but it doesn’t seem to control his life like it does Queen Adalind. His character layers feel more developed and well-rounded.
Additionally, I loved the Orc culture and history that is included in the story. Incorporating Orcish was a nice touch without overwhelming the reader—especially one that isn’t heavily into Fantasy fiction.
As a personal preference, I don’t care for the insta-love trope. Regardless, I was still entertained and invested in the story. If spice level is something that concerns you, I would rate the spicy scenes as more “cute” than overly lusty or explicit. The characters share a lot of sweet, non-sexual moments throughout the novel.
The Cabal feels like a misleading threat/conflict throughout the novel. They are an organized group but only one member seems to be targeting Queen Adalind and King Rognar after King Yorian’s death. My guess is that it is to be an introduction to a larger conflict in the next books— similar to how A Court of Thorns and Roses is a tiny introductory window into the larger conflict of the rest of the SJMs series. Either way, it feels a little off that the group isn’t targeting them together. You’ll find out that this person (of the Cabal) has a reason to seek vengeance, but it didn’t change the way I felt about it, nor did I feel surprised when it was revealed.
There is not a lot of world-building and setting descriptions that are usually a core element of Fantasy Fiction. So, when you read War Queen keep in mind it is a Romance Fantasy, not a Fantasy Romance—yes there’s a difference! Without the world building a little of the fantasy charm is missing, but you can find it in the characters and their quest for integration.
September 1, 2023
War Queen is an excellent story that is so very well written and captivating I couldn’t stop reading!
The story opens with Adalind, Queen of Adrik learning of her cruel husband King Yorian’s death at the hands of the Orc’s with whom he had started a war.
Determined to keep her people safe and negotiate a truce with the Orc King Rognar she and her guard ride out to meet the approaching horde.
Two halves of a whole are about to merge in an adventure of magic, intrigue, subterfuge, romance, and heart tugging emotions vividly immersed in a narrative that also delivers a new and fresh view of Orc culture.
Expertly crafted characters populated the pages and the spice when it occurred was just where it needed to be as Adalind who had suffered horribly at the hands of her husband learned to trust the sweetness and understanding offered by Rognar who as soon as he sees Adalind KNOWS she belongs to him.
Looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story opens with Adalind, Queen of Adrik learning of her cruel husband King Yorian’s death at the hands of the Orc’s with whom he had started a war.
Determined to keep her people safe and negotiate a truce with the Orc King Rognar she and her guard ride out to meet the approaching horde.
Two halves of a whole are about to merge in an adventure of magic, intrigue, subterfuge, romance, and heart tugging emotions vividly immersed in a narrative that also delivers a new and fresh view of Orc culture.
Expertly crafted characters populated the pages and the spice when it occurred was just where it needed to be as Adalind who had suffered horribly at the hands of her husband learned to trust the sweetness and understanding offered by Rognar who as soon as he sees Adalind KNOWS she belongs to him.
Looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 22, 2025
I am an obsessive collector of books, especially free ebooks that I get from different sources. And usually these books range from terrible to okay. It is not often when a free book I’ve acquired is decent, less so great. So when I got War Queen by Jordyn Alexander, June of last year I will admit I was reluctant to read it, and didn’t do so until recently. Luckily I was pleasantly surprised to have found that rare diamond in the rough! It was a fantastic and fun experience.
War Queen is about Queen Adalind who has been recently widowed from her despot husband King Yorin. He not only started a wrongful war against the orcs, but also tormented and tortured Adalind (physically) with the help of his secret society cronies.
Left with no other choice queen Adalind, ever the politically astute genius, comes to an agreement with the orc King Rognar, to surrender and offer herself up as his bride, in exchange for the safety of her people. She will remain Queen of her kingdom and be welcomed as Queen of the orcs.
King Rognar accepts this firstly because he is a sensible man who would avoid any unnecessary bloodshed or violence towards innocents, and secondly because he is instantly enraptured by Adalind’s fairy blessed beauty and recognizes her as his fated mate.
⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻
👑 This book was an utter delight to read. I loved all the strong female representation. The women of this story were strong, intelligent, brave and devious little bad asses working in the shadows. Hooray for decently written women! 👏🥳🎉
👑 I really liked the writing style and vocabulary of this author. There were some minor instances where I felt an awkward sentence, but I think that was more me than their writing.
👑 I also liked that the orcs were not represented as the brutish stupid creatures that only crave violence; but instead were presented as kind intelligent beings that were far more noble than the humans. And I just want to say that Rognar was a gem. I adored him and how sweet and understanding he was with Adalind. Am I in love with an orc? I think I might be.
👑 Finally, the spice was spicy as F*€&!!! 🌶️❤️🌶️❤️
Yes it was spicy and yet sweet, Rognar was very patient and adoring with his queen. He understood her boundaries and let her take the lead. It was all very heartwarming.
⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻
Not much else I can say about this book, except go read it yourself! I am definitely going to pick up the next entries to this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❌/5.
War Queen is about Queen Adalind who has been recently widowed from her despot husband King Yorin. He not only started a wrongful war against the orcs, but also tormented and tortured Adalind (physically) with the help of his secret society cronies.
Left with no other choice queen Adalind, ever the politically astute genius, comes to an agreement with the orc King Rognar, to surrender and offer herself up as his bride, in exchange for the safety of her people. She will remain Queen of her kingdom and be welcomed as Queen of the orcs.
King Rognar accepts this firstly because he is a sensible man who would avoid any unnecessary bloodshed or violence towards innocents, and secondly because he is instantly enraptured by Adalind’s fairy blessed beauty and recognizes her as his fated mate.
⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻
👑 This book was an utter delight to read. I loved all the strong female representation. The women of this story were strong, intelligent, brave and devious little bad asses working in the shadows. Hooray for decently written women! 👏🥳🎉
👑 I really liked the writing style and vocabulary of this author. There were some minor instances where I felt an awkward sentence, but I think that was more me than their writing.
👑 I also liked that the orcs were not represented as the brutish stupid creatures that only crave violence; but instead were presented as kind intelligent beings that were far more noble than the humans. And I just want to say that Rognar was a gem. I adored him and how sweet and understanding he was with Adalind. Am I in love with an orc? I think I might be.
👑 Finally, the spice was spicy as F*€&!!! 🌶️❤️🌶️❤️
Yes it was spicy and yet sweet, Rognar was very patient and adoring with his queen. He understood her boundaries and let her take the lead. It was all very heartwarming.
⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻⚔️👸🏻
Not much else I can say about this book, except go read it yourself! I am definitely going to pick up the next entries to this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❌/5.
April 4, 2024
I read War Queen by Jordyn Alexander in two days! I can't remember the last time I wanted to read a book without stopping, so naturally I've already ordered book two, War Mistress, from Amazon. I'm impatiently awaiting its arrival and cannot wait to start Pellia and Verrick's story! War Queen gave me Ice Planet Barbarians vibes, and I was totally here for it.
My one teeny tiny complaint would be that I wanted more from the story. I wish the book had been longer and the author had fleshed out some of the secondary characters, places in the story, and some of the worldbuilding. Hopefully, we'll get more of that as the series continues. I thought the Orikesh words and history were fascinating, loved the runes and the magic surrounding them, and I thought the places they stayed at and visited were really interesting.
I wanted to know more about their childhoods, how their lives looked in the present (before meeting), and would have preferred a slightly slower buildup for their relationship. I also thought what she cried out once while orgasming was a little odd, but maybe a lot of people scream about being empty right before they're filled. 😅
I would also like more information regarding the Cabal and where they stand now that several of their members are gone. I also think more backstory regarding how they got started, how often they meet, what their methods are, etc. would add more to the overall story. We all love a good villain to hate.
The romance was sweet, the sex was hot, and I definitely wouldn't be opposed to an orc lover after reading War Queen. They seem to be more considerate than most of the men I've met. Also, their sibilance sounds lovely. I'm hoping we see more of that in War Mistress. Like I said, if you enjoyed Ice Planet Barbarians, War Queen is definitely one to consider. A quick, fun, and delicious read. (★★★★☆)
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes used in this review are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
My one teeny tiny complaint would be that I wanted more from the story. I wish the book had been longer and the author had fleshed out some of the secondary characters, places in the story, and some of the worldbuilding. Hopefully, we'll get more of that as the series continues. I thought the Orikesh words and history were fascinating, loved the runes and the magic surrounding them, and I thought the places they stayed at and visited were really interesting.
I wanted to know more about their childhoods, how their lives looked in the present (before meeting), and would have preferred a slightly slower buildup for their relationship. I also thought what she cried out once while orgasming was a little odd, but maybe a lot of people scream about being empty right before they're filled. 😅
I would also like more information regarding the Cabal and where they stand now that several of their members are gone. I also think more backstory regarding how they got started, how often they meet, what their methods are, etc. would add more to the overall story. We all love a good villain to hate.
The romance was sweet, the sex was hot, and I definitely wouldn't be opposed to an orc lover after reading War Queen. They seem to be more considerate than most of the men I've met. Also, their sibilance sounds lovely. I'm hoping we see more of that in War Mistress. Like I said, if you enjoyed Ice Planet Barbarians, War Queen is definitely one to consider. A quick, fun, and delicious read. (★★★★☆)
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes used in this review are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
August 21, 2023
I enjoy monster romance even when it's not all that well done but 'War Queen' was absolutely fabulous in every metric which matters to me. The world building was carefully and thoughtfully laid out, the plotline was rife with mysteries both small and large and written in a way I thoroughly enjoyed and was also both intellectually and emotionally gripping. The female main character (FMC) and male main character (MMC) are both entirely easy to love and root for without being sappy and both were written so well I found myself lost in the story and thinking about it long after I had set it down to focus on my responsibilities. I usually read one or two books in a week, but I loved the story so much I raced through it in less than 48 hours. The editing was done by someone who knows their craft and was proofread within an inch of its life. I used to be a professional proofreader for a printing company and I only found 4 or 5 errors in the whole book and they were always so small they never interrupted the flow of the novel. I know the author plans more books for this series and I honestly can't wait to see if she can recreate the same type of success as with this one. I'll definitely be checking to see if she has other books out there and can't wait to pick up where this book ended. It would be great to have an update on this couple in the next book too. One last thing was the cover art was stunning. I hope the author works with this artist again. I received an advance copy of War Queen for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 12, 2025
Well, this was a surprise and a delight! And I am not even sure (and a bit ashamed) why I was surprised that Jordyn Alexander writes well. I’ve read and liked her books before (the Holiday Village series). That’s also why I wanted to try reading the War Brides series, even though I’ve read orc romance/smut once before and was immensely disappointed. I guess I am due to offer my apologies to the author. She did not indeed disappoint.
I am glad to report this is not solely written for spice/ smut (not that there ever was anything wrong with writing erotica). It’s just that so many erotic romance books rely mostly on intimate scenes, and to me, that’s not enough (or worth reading a book for tbh). Surprisingly (or not, like we just discussed), there’s quite a captivating plot in the “War Queen”, one that’s written mostly tightly. It could have been slightly less rushed at the end, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. The worldbuilding is also quite interesting, albeit slightly vague (I don’t know much about orcs and sometimes felt a bit lost).
I appreciate that the darker topics (see the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book) were handled so sensitively. Like someone else has already mentioned in their review, so often traumatic experiences are used as “easy” plot devices to push it forward without really considering or exploring them much, or worse, mishandling and triggering the reader. Jordyn Alexander always seems to handle it all beautifully, writing feelings humanly, not brushing things under the rug, but also not relying on the shock of violent scenes for the sake of the plot. Both main characters were given time to heal through their traumatic past experiences and had space for healthy communication and to me that solidified an impression of an actual love relationship growing, and not just unbelievable insta-love (even though it was quite a fast timeline).
“War Queen” reads quickly and is a great romance for adults. It is a delightful story if you enjoy some magic, adventure, and fantastical beings, but also strong female (and male) characters who know what they want, and what their boundaries are. To me, that’s sexier than the smut scenes.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens website for the ARC of this book. My review is based solely on my honest opinion.
I am glad to report this is not solely written for spice/ smut (not that there ever was anything wrong with writing erotica). It’s just that so many erotic romance books rely mostly on intimate scenes, and to me, that’s not enough (or worth reading a book for tbh). Surprisingly (or not, like we just discussed), there’s quite a captivating plot in the “War Queen”, one that’s written mostly tightly. It could have been slightly less rushed at the end, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. The worldbuilding is also quite interesting, albeit slightly vague (I don’t know much about orcs and sometimes felt a bit lost).
I appreciate that the darker topics (see the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book) were handled so sensitively. Like someone else has already mentioned in their review, so often traumatic experiences are used as “easy” plot devices to push it forward without really considering or exploring them much, or worse, mishandling and triggering the reader. Jordyn Alexander always seems to handle it all beautifully, writing feelings humanly, not brushing things under the rug, but also not relying on the shock of violent scenes for the sake of the plot. Both main characters were given time to heal through their traumatic past experiences and had space for healthy communication and to me that solidified an impression of an actual love relationship growing, and not just unbelievable insta-love (even though it was quite a fast timeline).
“War Queen” reads quickly and is a great romance for adults. It is a delightful story if you enjoy some magic, adventure, and fantastical beings, but also strong female (and male) characters who know what they want, and what their boundaries are. To me, that’s sexier than the smut scenes.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens website for the ARC of this book. My review is based solely on my honest opinion.
April 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow what an exciting start to the War Brides of Adrik series! I loved this action packed, sweet & spicy monster romance! Literally swooning for this cinnamon roll orc warrior king! Rognar 🔥🔥🔥
✨ Tropes ✨
💚 Orc x human
💚 Political marriage
💚 Soul mates
💚 Cinnamon roll MMC
💚 Cunning & fairy blessed FMC
💚 Overcoming trauma
💚 Touch her & 💀
“Attraction. Arousal. Disaster. I should not be attracted to him. He is an orc, for all the gods’ sake. They are meant to be killing machines; the gods did not design them to be attractive. With his tusks and horns, I should not find him so. But I do. Oh all-mother, I do.”
Wow what an exciting start to the War Brides of Adrik series! I loved this action packed, sweet & spicy monster romance! Literally swooning for this cinnamon roll orc warrior king! Rognar 🔥🔥🔥
✨ Tropes ✨
💚 Orc x human
💚 Political marriage
💚 Soul mates
💚 Cinnamon roll MMC
💚 Cunning & fairy blessed FMC
💚 Overcoming trauma
💚 Touch her & 💀
“Attraction. Arousal. Disaster. I should not be attracted to him. He is an orc, for all the gods’ sake. They are meant to be killing machines; the gods did not design them to be attractive. With his tusks and horns, I should not find him so. But I do. Oh all-mother, I do.”
June 8, 2025
3.5 stars! Really good for a debut novel, especially self published. The dialogue could be a little choppy and the book may have been better with about 50 more pages at the end.
There were a few things that drew me to the series despite it being a more erotic romance than what I normally read:
1) Orc women main characters and get their own book later
2) BIPOC main characters who get their own book later
3) Damsels in distress who work to rescue themselves and are powerful and clever
4) Main characters who both take turns taking charge in the bedroom with no Alpha male crap
5) They actually think about and say out loud how much they appreciate qualities other than their good looks/body
There were a few things that drew me to the series despite it being a more erotic romance than what I normally read:
1) Orc women main characters and get their own book later
2) BIPOC main characters who get their own book later
3) Damsels in distress who work to rescue themselves and are powerful and clever
4) Main characters who both take turns taking charge in the bedroom with no Alpha male crap
5) They actually think about and say out loud how much they appreciate qualities other than their good looks/body
June 21, 2025
A sweet palette cleanser!
(how beautiful is the cartoon cover??)
The love between queen Adalind and king Rognar is so pure and delicate.
They are trying to get to know each other without suffocate each other since they marry very suddenly.
I guess they are fated mates since there is a prophecy about Adalind meeting a great king.
I really liked the world building and all the tasks the king and queen had as rulers.
Adalind is such a pretty name also.
4/5
I have no complaints. I will continue this series.
(how beautiful is the cartoon cover??)
The love between queen Adalind and king Rognar is so pure and delicate.
They are trying to get to know each other without suffocate each other since they marry very suddenly.
I guess they are fated mates since there is a prophecy about Adalind meeting a great king.
I really liked the world building and all the tasks the king and queen had as rulers.
Adalind is such a pretty name also.
4/5
I have no complaints. I will continue this series.
January 21, 2025
I picked this book up as a freebie and now I plan to read the entire series. I really enjoyed this book.
June 23, 2024
Stellar romance in these imaginative stories set in an alternate world of supernatural beings! Reminds me of my favorite reads in the days of Joanna Lindsey, and the Orcs remind me of those fierce lairds of the Highlands we all loved in the Eighties. The plot is clever and woven together well, the characters strong and engaging, and the setting immersive. All of this kept the pages turning.
However, one aspect took me out of the moment when I was otherwise being swept away. The jarring language during the love scenes. I know I'm old-fashioned, so all the "c" words don't do it for me and seem out of place during such lively, meaningful engagement. I enjoy erotica and extra spice and understand the tropes expected with that, but in these stories, I would have enjoyed them even more by being able to fully indulge in the old days of steamy romance when the language was just as beautiful.
Despite that little blip, I plowed through books one and two and can't wait for the third one, which the author has done well building anticipation for throughout the threads of the plot. Well done!
However, one aspect took me out of the moment when I was otherwise being swept away. The jarring language during the love scenes. I know I'm old-fashioned, so all the "c" words don't do it for me and seem out of place during such lively, meaningful engagement. I enjoy erotica and extra spice and understand the tropes expected with that, but in these stories, I would have enjoyed them even more by being able to fully indulge in the old days of steamy romance when the language was just as beautiful.
Despite that little blip, I plowed through books one and two and can't wait for the third one, which the author has done well building anticipation for throughout the threads of the plot. Well done!
September 22, 2024
A wonderful base of a story but man I wish the author had delved deeper into certain aspects of it. The characters had too much horrible trauma (off page but still discussed) and moved past it incredibly quickly.
I get plot reasons and magic and mates but letting them heal at a slower pace would have made a decent book amazing.
Both main characters are well written and quite compelling but the story moves too quickly to do them justice.
I get plot reasons and magic and mates but letting them heal at a slower pace would have made a decent book amazing.
Both main characters are well written and quite compelling but the story moves too quickly to do them justice.
February 24, 2024
" I have no worries about our mating, witch-queen. Your loyalty will be earned and, as you will see on the morrow, your satisfaction my pleasure."
----------------------—
Story rating: 4.0 ⭐️
Romance lvl: 4.0⭐️
Spice lvl: 2.5🌶️
Smut frequency: 4.0⏳
----------------------—
Tropes:
💚 Regent Queen Human FMC x King Mixed Troll & Orc MMC
✨ FMC with magical beauty that was bestowed on her by fairies
💘 Instant attraction
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💎 "Mine"
💫 Fated mates
🔍 Political intrigue & secret society
TW: war kill, grief, domestic violence, torture, depiction and talk about violent acts, blood, misogyny
----------------------—
~ STORY 📝 ~
Very catchy story! It just flows so easily and I got so invested in both the characters and their lives! They had it rough but it's amazing seeing them getting together 🥰
Both Adalind and Rognar are amazing in their own way.
Adalind is truly cunning and so resilient. She suffered in every way possible but still stayed an amazing and kind woman (and queen) even with all the scars her mind still nurses.
Rognar is the perfect balance of brutish orc but softy for his mate. He's patient, understanding and so dedicated to her well-being. 🥰
Violence is definitely a choice for him but he never uses it on people that don't deserve it, and he too, is a great king.
This story is mainly a romance but the political intrigue got me on my toes till the end! I would've not guessed!
And I'm now on my way to arc-read book 2 to discover more of it 👀 (Also Pallia seems AWESOME from what we learn of her in this book, and also a black heroine in orc romance? YES PLEASE! 🙏🔥)
~ SPICE 🌶️ ~
The spice is mild with nothing too kinky nor too detailed but is well written. 🙌
If you read this book you'll be in for :
💚 woman on top
💚 sitting on face (and more generally oral s£x)
💚 some dirty talks
💚 little bit of size difference
💚 light mating frenzy
💚 light breeding kink
💚 primal play
----------------------—
Story rating: 4.0 ⭐️
Romance lvl: 4.0⭐️
Spice lvl: 2.5🌶️
Smut frequency: 4.0⏳
----------------------—
Tropes:
💚 Regent Queen Human FMC x King Mixed Troll & Orc MMC
✨ FMC with magical beauty that was bestowed on her by fairies
💘 Instant attraction
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💎 "Mine"
💫 Fated mates
🔍 Political intrigue & secret society
TW: war kill, grief, domestic violence, torture, depiction and talk about violent acts, blood, misogyny
----------------------—
~ STORY 📝 ~
Very catchy story! It just flows so easily and I got so invested in both the characters and their lives! They had it rough but it's amazing seeing them getting together 🥰
Both Adalind and Rognar are amazing in their own way.
Adalind is truly cunning and so resilient. She suffered in every way possible but still stayed an amazing and kind woman (and queen) even with all the scars her mind still nurses.
Rognar is the perfect balance of brutish orc but softy for his mate. He's patient, understanding and so dedicated to her well-being. 🥰
Violence is definitely a choice for him but he never uses it on people that don't deserve it, and he too, is a great king.
This story is mainly a romance but the political intrigue got me on my toes till the end! I would've not guessed!
And I'm now on my way to arc-read book 2 to discover more of it 👀 (Also Pallia seems AWESOME from what we learn of her in this book, and also a black heroine in orc romance? YES PLEASE! 🙏🔥)
~ SPICE 🌶️ ~
The spice is mild with nothing too kinky nor too detailed but is well written. 🙌
If you read this book you'll be in for :
💚 woman on top
💚 sitting on face (and more generally oral s£x)
💚 some dirty talks
💚 little bit of size difference
💚 light mating frenzy
💚 light breeding kink
💚 primal play
August 4, 2023
This was a very enjoyable read that had all the elements I love in an epic fantasy monster romance!
Adalind was blessed (or maybe cursed) with incredible beauty. It's made her into something men covet, but none of them see her as a person. When her terrible husband starts a war with the neighbouring orc kingdom and loses, she finds herself the reigning queen and must think quickly to save her people and forge alliances.
Rognar, the victorious orc king, finds himself negotiating surrender with the human queen, but she is nothing like he expected. He sees her beauty, but he's attracted to her kindness and devotion to her people. When she agrees to an alliance by marriage to unite their kingdoms and bring peace, he knows that it's a tenuous joining and true peace will be hard won.
The mutual healing between Adalind and Rognar was one of my favourite parts of the book. Both of them have deep trauma from their pasts, yet they don't push each other. Instead they give each other the space and support to heal. As they build a relationship and try to bridge the cultural divide between them, they approach everything from a place of compassion an understanding. I loved that even amidst the tension of a fragile peace, they fought for each other instead of against each other.
I love an orc romance. I am soft for a scary on the outside sweet on the inside orc who also takes pride in pleasing his partner. Add in some primal play and I am done for. The spicy scenes were hot, but the orc bride chase had me fanning myself. There's nothing hotter than a monstrous man telling his mate to run.
I really enjoyed the world building, political tension, sweet romance, and spice of this book. If you love those things as well, you'll enjoy this book!
Adalind was blessed (or maybe cursed) with incredible beauty. It's made her into something men covet, but none of them see her as a person. When her terrible husband starts a war with the neighbouring orc kingdom and loses, she finds herself the reigning queen and must think quickly to save her people and forge alliances.
Rognar, the victorious orc king, finds himself negotiating surrender with the human queen, but she is nothing like he expected. He sees her beauty, but he's attracted to her kindness and devotion to her people. When she agrees to an alliance by marriage to unite their kingdoms and bring peace, he knows that it's a tenuous joining and true peace will be hard won.
The mutual healing between Adalind and Rognar was one of my favourite parts of the book. Both of them have deep trauma from their pasts, yet they don't push each other. Instead they give each other the space and support to heal. As they build a relationship and try to bridge the cultural divide between them, they approach everything from a place of compassion an understanding. I loved that even amidst the tension of a fragile peace, they fought for each other instead of against each other.
I love an orc romance. I am soft for a scary on the outside sweet on the inside orc who also takes pride in pleasing his partner. Add in some primal play and I am done for. The spicy scenes were hot, but the orc bride chase had me fanning myself. There's nothing hotter than a monstrous man telling his mate to run.
I really enjoyed the world building, political tension, sweet romance, and spice of this book. If you love those things as well, you'll enjoy this book!
January 30, 2025
Yes, he's an Orc. Don't focus on that. This is a novel about two rulers after a brutual war that cost both sides far too much. One is a brilliant, compassionate ruler who is willing to risk everything to spare her people, and the other is a guy... who happens to be green... and is very good to everyone, knowing they never asked for thjs war to break out. I love the relationship between these two rulers, one of mutual respect. There's no animosity between them, only acknowledgment of the other's willingness to sacrifice for their people. Rognar is a brutal king of a violent race of people, but they are not barbarians and he treats Adalind like a gift to be treasured. He respects the hell out of this woman - a queen from the nation he just conquered, who still finds a way to turn her surrender into her advantage with cunning strategy. He is sensitive to her triggers from her violent, traumatic past, coming from a place of vulnerability and his own experienced trauma with compassion and empathy. Ideal book hubby TBH.
Adalind returns his respect and most importantly, respects his people and their culture. Queen Adalind was blessed with beauty, but beyond that she is clever, witty, kind, and ruthless. Rognar never treats her as a mere pretty face or seeks to use her gifts for himself. She learns to trust him with her vulnerabilities, realizing that he means it when he says he will battle her wars with her, not for her.
A refreshing fantasy romance story about two people from opposite sides of the tracks and their journey to find common ground!
Adalind returns his respect and most importantly, respects his people and their culture. Queen Adalind was blessed with beauty, but beyond that she is clever, witty, kind, and ruthless. Rognar never treats her as a mere pretty face or seeks to use her gifts for himself. She learns to trust him with her vulnerabilities, realizing that he means it when he says he will battle her wars with her, not for her.
A refreshing fantasy romance story about two people from opposite sides of the tracks and their journey to find common ground!
March 30, 2024
War Queen follows the journey of Queen Adalind and King Rognar as they navigate treacherous waters to secure the future of their realms. Queen Adalind emerges as a compelling figure, displaying both strength and vulnerability in her quest to save her kingdom after the death of her cruel husband. Her decision to seek an alliance with King Rognar adds depth to her character and drives the narrative forward. The dynamic between Adalind and Rognar is fraught with tension, yet tinged with moments of understanding and mutual respect, making their alliance both compelling and believable. The looming threat of the Cabal adds a layer of intrigue to the story, keeping me engaged as secrets are unveiled and alliances are tested.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its ability to seamlessly blend elements of fantasy with themes of diplomacy and governance. The world-building is immersive, with vivid descriptions and richly detailed settings that bring the story to life. Overall, "War Queen" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of epic fantasy. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and richly imagined world, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after the final page is turned.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author via BookSirens. This review is purely from my perspective, and all opinions are my own. I am under no obligation to review the book.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its ability to seamlessly blend elements of fantasy with themes of diplomacy and governance. The world-building is immersive, with vivid descriptions and richly detailed settings that bring the story to life. Overall, "War Queen" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of epic fantasy. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and richly imagined world, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after the final page is turned.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author via BookSirens. This review is purely from my perspective, and all opinions are my own. I am under no obligation to review the book.
December 13, 2024
The story was good and the world very interesting. I liked the mentions of all the fantasy races, different kinds of magic and enchantments. There was quite a bit of good world building for such a short novel :)
Both main characters were great. Rognar was such a gentle orc, having a great control over his wild instincts, because he didn't want to scare Adalind. She was traumatized, but not broken, so determined to keep it together for her country and people. I had a little trouble with how their problems were resolved, it wasn't very believable that she would just tell him everything about her past so quickly, that he would even push her to tell and her friend insisted she should tell him. With such trauma I wouldn't be surprised if she would only tell him parts of it and much later in their relationship, it felt a bit rushed.
Oh, and the Torment:
Other than that and a few editing mistakes the book was great. I'll be reading the next one ;)
Both main characters were great. Rognar was such a gentle orc, having a great control over his wild instincts, because he didn't want to scare Adalind. She was traumatized, but not broken, so determined to keep it together for her country and people. I had a little trouble with how their problems were resolved, it wasn't very believable that she would just tell him everything about her past so quickly, that he would even push her to tell and her friend insisted she should tell him. With such trauma I wouldn't be surprised if she would only tell him parts of it and much later in their relationship, it felt a bit rushed.
Oh, and the Torment:
Other than that and a few editing mistakes the book was great. I'll be reading the next one ;)
February 20, 2025
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and it was a cozy read despite Adalind’s trauma. Parts of it felt a little bit like the author was trying to add too much into the story to be able to really focus on any one thing but it wasn’t overly difficult.
We open on King Yorian being killed by King Rognar to end a war Yorian started. This is Queen Adalind’s chance to strike a deal that hopefully saves both her and her kingdom.
King Rognar is king of the orcs and has been trying to help his people recover from the violent rule of his father and grandfather. Queen Adalind is fairy blessed with beauty that makes everyone covet her. King Yorian was very abusive towards her so she’s glad he is dead. She has been learning about orc culture leading up to this so she would be prepared.
The author’s take on orcs was interesting in making it so orcs could only have children with non-orcs, but it was also a bit confusing. This of course meant that all the children were only half-orc, but it appears this still affected their ability to reproduce? If even part-orcs can’t reproduce with someone with any amount of orc blood, eventually they’re going to die out and potentially take a large portion of every other race with them.
We open on King Yorian being killed by King Rognar to end a war Yorian started. This is Queen Adalind’s chance to strike a deal that hopefully saves both her and her kingdom.
King Rognar is king of the orcs and has been trying to help his people recover from the violent rule of his father and grandfather. Queen Adalind is fairy blessed with beauty that makes everyone covet her. King Yorian was very abusive towards her so she’s glad he is dead. She has been learning about orc culture leading up to this so she would be prepared.
The author’s take on orcs was interesting in making it so orcs could only have children with non-orcs, but it was also a bit confusing. This of course meant that all the children were only half-orc, but it appears this still affected their ability to reproduce? If even part-orcs can’t reproduce with someone with any amount of orc blood, eventually they’re going to die out and potentially take a large portion of every other race with them.
December 18, 2025
Promising but not quite there yet
The influence of fantasy seeps through some parts of this author's work, particularly the intention and care taken to establish this world of orcs and humans.
The story fell flat with the language and first person narrative. In this case, I don't dual POV or first person narrative were best. The MCs become indistinguishable and end up with the same voice, and it diminished the tension and intrigue the author tried to build between the two. Sometimes simplicity is best, to not overthink but simply describe and tell a story, standing apart and separate as the author.
This story of an abused queen who offered herself to secure peace for her people, and this alpha orc king who was both fierce and loving...just didn't quite end up sticking. Also, the insta love aspect and going from 3 to 10 within seconds of meeting was just jarring (immediately talking about wet, lusty parts and making the other 'come' etc). It felt like reading attempts, and I couldn't quite get immersed. But I'll keep an eye for further books.
My advice, lose the dual POV and change narrative to third person, leave a bit of mystery and explain less, say less.
The influence of fantasy seeps through some parts of this author's work, particularly the intention and care taken to establish this world of orcs and humans.
The story fell flat with the language and first person narrative. In this case, I don't dual POV or first person narrative were best. The MCs become indistinguishable and end up with the same voice, and it diminished the tension and intrigue the author tried to build between the two. Sometimes simplicity is best, to not overthink but simply describe and tell a story, standing apart and separate as the author.
This story of an abused queen who offered herself to secure peace for her people, and this alpha orc king who was both fierce and loving...just didn't quite end up sticking. Also, the insta love aspect and going from 3 to 10 within seconds of meeting was just jarring (immediately talking about wet, lusty parts and making the other 'come' etc). It felt like reading attempts, and I couldn't quite get immersed. But I'll keep an eye for further books.
My advice, lose the dual POV and change narrative to third person, leave a bit of mystery and explain less, say less.
April 22, 2024
I ate this book up with a spoon and left no crumbs! I love discovering new authors. I have not read much orc romance, this is actually my second time. I decided to try this one because the intro intrigued me. I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed reading it. I adored the MCs Adalind and Rognar. Their story was cleverly told within a time of war and unrest. My only negative is that I wanted more of the world building. The imagery we are given was so good, I could picture it clearly in my head, but I wanted more. However, that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book as the author was able to weave a wonderfully sweet and sexy love story in the midst of all the chaos of war and espionage. The kind and fair, but commanding and super protective Orc King and the beautiful, strong minded, survivor and widowed Queen both held my attention throughout and I was fully invested in their outcome. I loved how their layers were peeled back and revealed to each other. The writing flow was beautiful, it had me captivated from start to end, I just could not put it down. I devoured this book in a day. I am definitely getting book 2 in the series.
March 23, 2025
I picked up this book because of its blurb. It promised a story of a beautiful, strong queen who offers herself to an enemy orc king in the hopes of forging peace between their peoples. I've always been enamored with human and non-human romances, especially one where each main character initially expects the worst of the other but eventually realizes that the other is completely what they long for in a mate. I love witnessing the transition in their interactions, from wariness, to budding admiration and respect, and eventually irrevocable devotion. This story was a prime example of that.
Not only was the romance exquisite in this book, but the suspenseful plot with its twists and surprises kept me glued to the story from start to finish. I loved the story so much that straightaway I bought the remaining two published books in the series, with the fourth installment coming in May of this year.
If you loved Zoey Draven's The Horde Kings series, or Grace Draven's The Wraith Kings series as I did, then you will love this first book in Jordyn Alexander's The War Brides of Adrik series.
Not only was the romance exquisite in this book, but the suspenseful plot with its twists and surprises kept me glued to the story from start to finish. I loved the story so much that straightaway I bought the remaining two published books in the series, with the fourth installment coming in May of this year.
If you loved Zoey Draven's The Horde Kings series, or Grace Draven's The Wraith Kings series as I did, then you will love this first book in Jordyn Alexander's The War Brides of Adrik series.
May 21, 2025
3.5/4 Stars
Enjoyable. Interesting. I adored the MMC Rognar. I admired the FMC Adalind. I enjoyed the world building and many aspects to this new world these characters lived in. I found Rognar and Adalind's path to happiness fascinating and oh so satisfying.
Somehow despite dealing with heavy content regarding Adalind's previous marriage and what she experienced it didn't get dragged down by it. You felt the emotional turmoil it caused for her and the scars it left behind but it was handled in a way that made you feel emotional for Adalind but not be forced through a long journey for her to find herself. She was already mostly there by her own merit when the book begins. I found it fascinating how the big heavy stuff wasn't spoke about or shown lightly but also didn't overwhelm the story either. It felt balanced, surprisingly.
Same for the romance between the MCs and the general pacing of the story. Everything happens at a quick clip but somehow things that perhaps would usually feel like they need more time to develop didn't feel that way in this story.
Overall I enjoyed it more than I expected. New to me author so I didn't have any expectations tbh.
Enjoyable. Interesting. I adored the MMC Rognar. I admired the FMC Adalind. I enjoyed the world building and many aspects to this new world these characters lived in. I found Rognar and Adalind's path to happiness fascinating and oh so satisfying.
Somehow despite dealing with heavy content regarding Adalind's previous marriage and what she experienced it didn't get dragged down by it. You felt the emotional turmoil it caused for her and the scars it left behind but it was handled in a way that made you feel emotional for Adalind but not be forced through a long journey for her to find herself. She was already mostly there by her own merit when the book begins. I found it fascinating how the big heavy stuff wasn't spoke about or shown lightly but also didn't overwhelm the story either. It felt balanced, surprisingly.
Same for the romance between the MCs and the general pacing of the story. Everything happens at a quick clip but somehow things that perhaps would usually feel like they need more time to develop didn't feel that way in this story.
Overall I enjoyed it more than I expected. New to me author so I didn't have any expectations tbh.
October 28, 2024
This book!! I love a good fated mates and this book delivered! Adalind and Rognar have my heart!
Adalind, a strong witty queen that has been through some really messed up stuff. Rognar, the Orc king thats has also been through a lot has conquered her lands. She comes up with a plan to save her lands and people. Two enemies become allies (but they were fated mates all along).
Together they face their past and heal each other, share good memories and overwrite the bad ones. But something from the past still troubles Adalind. Rognar joins her to uncover the mysterious cult Adalind’s late husband, the ex king was also a part of. That’s where the plot twists happen.
I enjoyed this book so much as a fated mates/ enemies to lovers/ monster romance lover. Plot twists and the thrill was also a huge plus for me. Excited to read the other books in the series.
If you like spicy fated mates, orcs, enemies to lovers, then this book is just for you.
4.5🌟 3🌶️
🔪Enemies to lovers
😉Orc King x Blessed Queen
😮💨Fated mates
🙂↕️Touch her and d*e
Adalind, a strong witty queen that has been through some really messed up stuff. Rognar, the Orc king thats has also been through a lot has conquered her lands. She comes up with a plan to save her lands and people. Two enemies become allies (but they were fated mates all along).
Together they face their past and heal each other, share good memories and overwrite the bad ones. But something from the past still troubles Adalind. Rognar joins her to uncover the mysterious cult Adalind’s late husband, the ex king was also a part of. That’s where the plot twists happen.
I enjoyed this book so much as a fated mates/ enemies to lovers/ monster romance lover. Plot twists and the thrill was also a huge plus for me. Excited to read the other books in the series.
If you like spicy fated mates, orcs, enemies to lovers, then this book is just for you.
4.5🌟 3🌶️
🔪Enemies to lovers
😉Orc King x Blessed Queen
😮💨Fated mates
🙂↕️Touch her and d*e
July 29, 2025
I think this series will be a great representation of historical romantasy. This isn't an instant fall in love at first sight (at least for Adalind) without context and disregarding prior romantic history (good or bad).
Adalind is now the Queen Regent of Adrik after the swift and complete defeat at the hands of the Orc Army from Orikesh, led by King Rognar. Rognar isn't like other Orcs, he's... broken, by the circumstances of his birth, the violent death of his mother, and the stress of fighting a nearby country after years of peace under his reign. Adalind offers her hand in marriage to seal a peace treaty with no knowledge that she is the fated mate of King Rognar. Some issues pop up, fights break out, a scary thing happens, but a happily ever after is found.
The best thing I found about this book was the writing. Given that it is a historical, pseudo-British country, it would make sense that people wouldn't speak in our modern colloquiolisms or use contractions that aren't possessive - think I'll, he'll, they're. And Jordyn Alexander really took out most (I found 1 unnecessary contraction) of these and it felt like actual contemporary speech. The writing and plot were excellent for me, but this detail really brought it home for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Adalind is now the Queen Regent of Adrik after the swift and complete defeat at the hands of the Orc Army from Orikesh, led by King Rognar. Rognar isn't like other Orcs, he's... broken, by the circumstances of his birth, the violent death of his mother, and the stress of fighting a nearby country after years of peace under his reign. Adalind offers her hand in marriage to seal a peace treaty with no knowledge that she is the fated mate of King Rognar. Some issues pop up, fights break out, a scary thing happens, but a happily ever after is found.
The best thing I found about this book was the writing. Given that it is a historical, pseudo-British country, it would make sense that people wouldn't speak in our modern colloquiolisms or use contractions that aren't possessive - think I'll, he'll, they're. And Jordyn Alexander really took out most (I found 1 unnecessary contraction) of these and it felt like actual contemporary speech. The writing and plot were excellent for me, but this detail really brought it home for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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