A Cage of Kingdoms

Deliciously Dark Fairytales #6

by K.F. Breene

The resolution of Weston's story in the Wall Street Journal Bestselling Deliciously Dark Fairytales world.

He wasn't supposed to fall in love.

Weston has made a mess of things. Since he realized the woman he was supposed to find and bring to justice was his true mate, things have spiraled out of control. He's gone from one bad decision to the next, and now the situation threatens to topple down around him.

The good news is, Aurelia isn't responsible for hurting people. She isn't the one who should stand in front of the dragons and plead for her life.

If only the dragons and their kingdom agreed.

Weston must try to relay the truth and protect his true mate, all while she struggles to work through her past, his deceit, and her new life in opposition to the one woman she'd thought of as her mother.

Aurelia must go to war, and Weston will do everything he can to ensure she comes out alive.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

This is the conclusion to the duet and ends in an HEA. All loose ends are tied up.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dragons, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance

539 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2024

About the author

Follow me!



K.F. Breene is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Amazon Most Sold Charts and #1 Kindle Store bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and fantasy novels. With millions of books sold, when she's not penning stories about magic and what goes bump in the night, she's sipping wine and planning shenanigans. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and out of work treadmill.

Click FOLLOW for notification of new releases.

Join her mailing list to receive BONUS CONTENT, free stories, and hear about the crazy goings-on of her life. Sign up here ➜ http://bit.ly/KFBContent

Check out her chat group on Goodreads!

Reviews

[Readingwiththeroberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just wasn't as good as the first book. And that makes me so sad because I loved book one so much and I was so excited when this one released a lot sooner than I thought it would. We get a lot of time jumps in this one and it felt like there just wasn't enough happening with the book. It's like I read a lot but not a lot happened. Overall I am glad I read the series, but book one is way better than book two.

[Jennifer (Escape Into Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of A Cage of Crimson, I had this sense of dread with what happened at the very end. I kept thinking to myself- how is she going to resolve that? I really need to remember to trust my favorite authors (of which K.F. Breene is one!) because they've never failed me yet and once again she didn't fail me.

I had actually just restarted A Ruin of Roses for a reread when I got the email with this ARC. I immediately stopped the reread to read this one.

“Friends force other friends to try books they’re unsure of. It’s sacrosanct.”- Dante in A Cage of Kingdoms.

No spoilers here, but this has all the elements of a typical K.F. Breene book. I laughed so hard at Hadriel (he really is one of my favorite characters) and Vemar. This was a roller coaster ride, but full of laughs and aws (Weston can be really sweet!).

Oh, and I FINALLY figured out whose voice I hear as Hadriel- Bruno Tonioli from Dancing with the Stars. Just his voice though.

I can't wait for everyone to get to read this one as it's amazing and wraps everything for this story up perfectly!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this might end up being my favorite smutty romance of the year. F^cking outstanding writing, as always with K.F. Breene. I literally have never disliked anything she's written but this story was special to me. I loved all the characters but the female main character was especially likeable. To put it mildly, A Cage of Kingdoms is a worthy sequel to A Cage of Crimson. If you like romantasies preorder this duology today.

You do need to have read A Cage of Crimson first to understand this book but do not need to read any other books in the Deliciously Dark Fairytales to pick this up.

[Nihan D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastik serilerin aile gibi hissettirmesini seviyorum. Canım Finley, Nayfain, Aurelia, Weston... Hadriel... Bayıldım hepsine. Bende yeri ayrı olan serilerden biri oldu, tavsiye ederim.

[Sarah W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really disappointed in this one and it’s killing me to say that. I absolutely loved the first book; it was actually a 5 star read for me!

This one just felt so blah in comparison. It felt rushed and as if Breene didn’t really have any true ideas for the book but wrote it out of obligation to the fans. It felt like things were building up to be great and then just dropped off. Things felt out of place and all over the place at the same time.

The time jumps bothered me, the lacklustre thrill, the two second situation with Alexander and Granny, the whole wishy-washy, childish behaviour between Auriella and Weston, the repetitive sex scenes (I honestly had to skip most of them because they were SO boring) and the fact that 90% of the characters I loved from the first book just didn’t get any air time in this one. And Finley’s character felt different to me than her books. She felt rude and angry but then tried to be funny but then was swearing a lot and it just didn’t even fit the situation.

I’m sad and disappointed. I was really so excited for this book.

[Arya99 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why do i remember breene as a much much better author than this?... This reads like one of those wattpad stories written by teenagers..

[Soledad_supertramp Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited for this to come out. The previous book was one of my favorite books that have come out this year. This sequel to it fell flat unfortunately. We barely have any Weston POV. He has lied to her and she basically just immediately forgives him. I hate how he has Hadriel or whomever else of the pack question her on things or talk about important subjects FOR him, then have them report back about what she says. There was just no tension after how the last book ended, not (much) groveling. Also I thought the way Aurelia talked to princess Tabitha was cringey. Of course just because a woman interacts with a child, it means she's ready to start a family with a man she met months ago. Aurelia seemed like she just lost what made her so badass in the previous book. Overall a 3.5/5. I usually love everything Breene comes out with.

[vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is my sign to stop listening to booktok recs.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cage of Kingdoms (Deliciously Dark Fairytales, #6) is another deliciously dark tale, an epic tale that is full of intrigue and action and everything in between.

KF has cracked open the door and forged a path, along with some awesome authors and some great work with paranormal women's fiction, with her amazing imagination. KF takes standard paranormal/fantasy tropes and cleverly woven and twists them right up, tears down the norm, and takes them down a completely different route.

There are people who are brilliantly talented, and one of those is bestselling author KF Breene and the amazing tales she tells. I was blown away. I have devoured everything she has written, even her work under Willow Summers. I have been enthralled with her writing, her world-building, her characters, and her humour ever since. I have laughed and cried, had heart palpitations, and I fell in love on each and every journey.

[Tara_reads_romantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!!! I loved everything about this duology. The character growth, banter, and story is just perfect. KF Breene always knows how to wrap up her stories in a perfect little bow.

[jennifer | offmyredcarpet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never have I anticipated a companion series as much as this duet and been so completely disappointed in the result.

I was already on the fence with book 1 hoping that book 2 would do some heavy lifting but it just didn’t happen. There is so much focus on the drugs and drug making aspect that the romance became a subplot and was relegated to the background instead of the focus.

Not to mention how all the numerous side “stories” feel forced: her attire, her interactions with the royal family’s child clearly used to justify breeding trope and pregnancy, her research and the way she constantly endangers herself so the MMC can be upset by it, the constant “well I gotta figure this drug thing out so y’all can get on with killing me”. The plot ends up bloated with everything treated in a very heavy handed way.

[J.E. Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star becuase it crossed with characters I adored from A Ruin of Roses (you get to see Tabitha and Nyfain as a daddy, melted my heart) with a happily ever after ending for our MMC and FMC. Their story is touching, and I enjoyed reading about the Red Riding Hood twist with Granny and the drug trade. Sign me up.

Love this world, and any spin-off for me is an auto-read/buy. <3

I need a Hannon story next! :)

[Mimisays411 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5⭐️ 4/5🌶️ I really missed this world so jumping back in it and seeing a lot of the familiar faces and their antics was a really good time. This is one of my favorite series and these two additions was what we all needed. I hope she does more spinoffs of this world!

This is Weston’s story. He is our MMC and I’m happy to get his story. This is edge toward little red riding Hood retelling, but of course with its own style.

Our new FMC, even though she was naïve and didn’t understand the outside world. She wasn’t simpering and annoying. She listened and she told the truth and had a great communication and it was a breath of fresh air! It just had the story flowing! This completed douology is a wonderful addition to the original four.

You get to see some of your favorite characters from the original main four books and they just make this so incredibly fun. I squealed and laughed and kicked my feet! Series is so entertaining to me and I just had a blast!

It’s about a young girl repressed and hidden away from the world, lied to and forced and tortured to make “medicine“ . She’s sweet and caring, our FMC and a true leader. She’s kidnapped away by our FMC to stand trial for her crimes. The journey is long and of course you get to know each other on long journeys. What could possibly happen lol? A fun adventure, a great plot and the spices top-notch.

Like I said, I really hope there’s more in the series because I just love the characters! This series just speaks to that nasty little perverted, dark spot in my heart and I’m not upset by it!

Not a full five star only because her inner monologue spins a whole lot, and I felt like we stayed in the castle a long time, but I still enjoyed the epic adventure.

Enjoy my book as friends and remember, if you love/like a book talk about it!

[Nishell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect ending to an unforgettable duology.

A Cage of Kingdoms by K.F. Breene is the stunning conclusion to the duology that began with A Cage of Crimsons, part of the Deliciously Dark Fairy Tales universe. This book took me on a journey I did not anticipate, and I absolutely loved every moment of it.

When I picked up this book, I was expecting intense battles, war, heartache, and an emotional rollercoaster. And while there were definitely moments of tension and drama, A Cage of Kingdoms took a surprising turn, focusing more on themes of healing, finding family, and creating bonds with those who were once strangers. The story was about acceptance, love, and support, which I found to be a refreshing and unexpected direction.

What I loved most is that the book left me completely satisfied. I didn’t feel the need for more because I got everything I needed from the story. I was very happy with where the characters ended up. Aurelia and Weston’s relationship was beautifully developed, and it was wonderful to see them grow together. Weston’s discussion of his own abuse added depth to his character, while the unique portrayal of their mating ritual was both shocking and satisfying.

Vemar was my favorite side character in this book. He really stood out as hilarious and heartwarming, and I loved how he supported Aurelia. His loyalty and the way he said he’d go anywhere with her showed a special bond between. It was interesting that Hadriel, who was a prominent character in A Cage of Crimsons, wasn’t as present in this book. Instead, we got more of Vemar, and both characters provided great comic relief—they’re two sides of the same coin. I absolutely adored their dynamic.

I also appreciated K.F. Breene’s approach to trauma in this book. She went against the norm, especially in shifter romances where it’s often only the female character who has experienced physical or mental abuse. Breene was not shy about having men discuss their trauma as well. She handled the subject with sensitivity, giving it a fresh perspective and making the healing process a central part of the story.

Overall, I highly, highly recommend A Cage of Kingdoms. It’s a unique, heartwarming, and satisfying conclusion to a fantastic duology. If you love a story about healing, finding family, forming unbreakable bonds, and fun SMUT, this book is for you!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start with saying that KF Breene is one of my favorite spicy fantasy romance authors and this newest book edition did not disappoint!

I love how she incorporates humor, sarcasm, awesome banter into these tragic and serious situations. It by no means takes away from the heartache or tragedy going on but add this side commentary that is also fun and exciting.

I love that this duet was a contraction on the original storyline and we got to see some of our favorite players from the first 4 books.

There were points in this book where I was giggling at Hadriel, heartbroken for Aurelia and then swooning over Weston, then turn the page and I wanted to chuck my kindle across the room. And really doesn’t that mean this book was great?

Of you love spicy fantasy this series, and book is for you!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful conclusion to Aurelia and Weston’s story.

I loved how Aurelia finally came into her own and learned alllll about her history and powers. Her friendships with the rest of the pack and dragon court were precious and hilarious.

Weston is still as spicy and possessive as ever and also did a lot of adorable things to show Aurelia how much he cares.

I think there is so much more left to be written in this world and I hope we will get more fairytale retellings soon!

[Gyula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why did I finish this😕

3.25 ⭐️
4/5🌶️
Multi/first person POV
Book 2 in a duology
Format: audiobook

Spoiler free ish

I hate myself for not dnfing this🤦‍♀️I’m so frustrated with this book because I loved book 1 so I was determined to finish this story plus I hoped it’d get better. Book one was a vibes read that held my interest; it was a fun time. Here, everything is just dialed up to goofy & cringe. Everything in book 2 is cranked up like the story is on steroids: the spice is basically porn, the modern language is even worse than it was & do not get me started on the dicks on clothing turning into the cringiest inside joke available. & the dialogue wow I can’t even because I’m still speechless.

I did like the journey the FMC had. Her growth was definitely there by the end with her gaining her autonomy & breaking away from the control. But first, she was too busy acting like a child while blaming it all in the name of her crusade. The MMC was ok. He wanted to give her space so she can come into her own. But all that was doing was handing her over to the “found family” members as babysitting duty & reducing their romance building time to essentially just sex. We don’t get much of just them on the page without spice.

& all that smut was just bordering on gross. The public mating is not my thing. Then, in a flash, it turned into a breeding kink & then into baby making. She is literally in the midst of figuring herself out & just got into her first real relationship after coming out of an abusive situation but yea let’s make it about kids since it’s the last book because god forbid we end things without a baby.

The ending was so lackluster. All this “Granny this, Granny that” for pages & pages & pages… was just done. Resolved. After the longest book ever, it all came down to a quick altercation. Why was everything leading up to the climax so overdrawn & overdone with useless scene after useless scene but the big fight was pathetic & thin?? What even was the plot here?!

The narrators were both great. They kept things bearable & made it a decent reading experience.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! The relationship between Weston and Aurelia was just so perfect! I loved all of the side characters. Aurelias work ethic is incredibly admirable. I especially loved Aurelia and Vemars relationship!

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this series, which is a perfect addition to the B&TB series I have previously read. It's great to see some familiar faces, especially Hadriel 😆🥰 really hope this isn't the last we see of these characters and never want their stories to end!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is so full after finishing this one! In fact, both books in this duet will likely tie for my fav books of the year. This is just a perfect conclusion to Aurelia & Weston’s story. As this one isn’t quite out yet, this review will be pretty vague so as to avoid spoilers. But I will say that the redemption arcs for both MCs are pretty epic and I just love how K.F. Breene handled them.

I 100% recommend this book to everyone. It has all the primal spiciness (with knotting), along with such an amazingly high amount of snarky humor.

Ohhh and yes, Hadriel is still around and still side-splitting hilarious…BUT I’m so torn and questioning my loyalty because I also adore Vemar now too. I would let him guard my a**hole any day 😂

I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this. I’m impatiently going to await any news as to whether there will be more stories set in this world.

Also has: Found family; dealing with & attempting to overcome emotional and mental trauma; cherished friendships; fated mates; shifters; and magic.

[Meggyclarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Bourbon Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.F. Breene has delivered another spellbinding read with A Cage of Kingdoms, the thrilling continuation of her Red Riding Hood duology. If you loved A Cage of Crimson, brace yourself for an even more emotional journey!

The story picks up right where the last book left off, with Aurelia grappling with her past actions and striving to mend the damage she feels responsible for. This installment beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the profound strength found in chosen family.

Fans of the Ruin of Roses series will be delighted to see familiar faces like Hadriel and Vemar make an appearance. Their return felt like a warm embrace amid the whirlwind of emotions, making them strong contenders for my favorite side characters. 🫶✨

As Dante wisely says, “Friends force other friends to try books they’re unsure of. It’s sacrosanct.” If you’re hesitant about wolf shifter stories, let me convince you: come join me in this world, and I’ll make sure you fall in love with this duology just as much as I have!

[Riah Lackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY HEART COULDNT HANDLE THIS BOOK 😭😍 I loved every second of it. however, I did find it felt a little rushed in the last couple of chapters where it felt anticlimactic with one of the main story points but other than that I ATE THIS BOOK UP. I do not want this series to be over

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Cage of Kingdoms" by K.F. Breene is an enthralling fantasy novel that successfully blends action, intrigue, and rich character development. The story plunges readers into a vivid world where kingdoms clash, and loyalties are tested, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Breene's skillful storytelling and vibrant world-building create a gripping narrative that captivates the imagination. Aurelia’s journey is both relatable and inspiring, making it easy for readers to connect with her struggles and triumphs. Although some plot twists may feel somewhat predictable, the book's engaging pace and the depth of its characters more than compensate. Overall, "A Cage of Kingdoms" is a satisfying read that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the next installment. Hopefully we get Hannon’s story soon! 🤞🏼

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love everything you write and will read it if you write it. I'm still working my way through some series. And I did love this book.I loved it almost as much as the first one.I love the found family.I loved how the main female characters' relationships were building with the other characters in the book. I really enjoyed all the characters. I do wish there was more of the mfc and her wolf. I could tell from the little we got of her that I was really going to just love her so much. Some of my favorite things in a book are having something or someone inside a character that they banter with, and we did get that with many characters' pov's. I'm rambling, but yes, I wanted more. I still recommend this and will recommend it. You write some of the most amazing characters that I always fall in love with. And everything that was happening went the way I was hoping it would go. It's still absolutely amazing. I'm so glad I get to be given the opportunity to read your work. Thank you for all that you do and all your hard work

[~Shawna the crazy coffee reader~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy sh…..

OK, I’m finally ready to post my review I think.

This was the epic conclusion to this duet, and it gave everything. It was amazing to see past favorite characters and that they have not changed. They were able to be brought in without taking over the entire story which was perfect.

I don’t want to give away too much because this is the finale so anything I could say could be a spoiler lol. So I will just give you my impressions and my emotions.

I was at the edge of my seat in many instances. Whether it was an or because of the spice, let me tell you, this book is smoking hot. This book does focus a bit more on the story and how it will tie it all in together, which I really enjoyed , I was happy to see a wide range of emotions from all of the characters and the main characters were able to integrate or integrate back into the kingdom. The complexity of emotions from even the side characters was beautiful to behold and much more realistic than instant acceptance.

I highly recommend this book, the series, and this author!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance: 27-year-old wolf shifter (quarter fairy) herbalist FMC with alpha wolf shifter commander MMC
------
Ratings - completed series:
#1 A Cage of Crimson: ★★★★☆
#2 A Cage of Kingdoms (this book): ★★★★☆

[Nikki Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book after the first one.

Sadly this one didn’t hit the marks like the first one, and seemed rushed compared to all 6.
The story line seemed more dragged out without details, or jumped in time at odd moments.
The spicy scenes were extremely repetitive, even in words. I enjoyed Weston’s character and of course hadriel and velar stole the show as they are always amazingly written(I hope one day more books have them as main or big characters).
The theme surrounding these 2 books were extremely rushed at the end of the book, the “battle” with granny was only a couple pages long which felt so out of place considering this was the main plot for book 1 and 2(aside from the true mates story).
It didn’t feel like the authors heart was truly invested when writing this as usually there’s so much more fun and detail.
I still enjoyed the book due to hadriel/velar and Weston(though his part was so far and few in this book).

[Aisling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the original series and I liked the first book in this one enough but this book was just not it.

It all moved way too fast. They had literally known each other for a few months, and all that was happening? Nope. And the ending felt completely rushed.

The public nature of certain things was also just not for me. None of it actually felt intimate.

And Finley didn’t seem like Finley for most of the book

[Illy Starr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that felt like a waste of time. I was so engaged in the first book and this one felt….slow, dead.

Like all the fire and excitement from book one just evaporated. It was just us watching the FMC discover herself. The climax with granny and Alexander was anything but - incredibly anticlimactic. It felt wordy and hollow. Very sad with how this book went. 2.5 stars