He stole her heart then broke it with his lies and betrayal. She must choose between forgiveness or leaving him to rot in her father’s prison.
Aldrin was revealed to be everything Keira fears from the fae; dangerous, possessive, and toxic enough to steal a human woman. He has been hunting her for decades to keep her as his slave and consort—except, that story makes little sense to Keira. Not when he let her leave him and his realm behind forever.
Before Keira can decide if she will allow Aldrin back into her heart and her bed, war arrives at her door. The mad king Finan ravages his own kingdom to get his clutches on Keira and he will stop at no atrocity to repossess her.
If he succeeds, it won’t ruin only her life. The North will fall. Her family will be destroyed.
Keira’s only protection, the single reason the lords of the North stand with her family against their king, is because she has dedicated herself to the temple. To ravish her would be sacrilege—except, she might want Aldrin to ravish her.
As Aldrin fights for Keira’s freedom, like the feral fae he is accused of being, their passionate flame threatens to reignite. If the secret is discovered, it may very well burn them all.
A War of Two Kings is a plot-heavy, spicy romantasy, perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and From Blood and Ash.
Rosa Heart is a spicy romantasy author. She loves all things fantasy; magic, fae, dragons and epic battles with monsters. She has been writing since she was a child, but didn’t publish her first novel until she was in her 30s, written during the pandemic. Rosa lives down under, in Australia, where the sun is always shining, even on the coldest days. The oasis of her garden or peaceful bush trails is where she likes to go to unwind. Her favourite thing is to curl up with her cat, husband and a good book.
First off, so many many typos. Not unreadable, but plenty enough to note here. Secondly, how many times must one girl be kidnapped? It's overplayed at this point. It's a lot of tell not show and the dialogue is straight-shooting to the point of cliche. All the "big bad guys" keep going on loud overdrawn "gotta say all my plans outloud to a room full of people to make myself look important and powerful" monologues.
I noticed in the first book the pacing was off, but this one the pacing was frankly atrocious. We went through 9 months of war (I think?) but the time skips were never told to us. The only way I noticed that a ton of time passed between scenes is because of the sisters pregnancy bump was discussed throughout. Next thing I know she's having the child??? Some scenes are way too long, and by the end I was just so bored.
We find Aldrin in the dungeon detained and tortured by Kiera’s father Edmund. While Kiera is trying to decide if Aldrin has lied to her or is who she thought he was. Their story takes many twists and turns through battles, interfering relatives and so many revelations. There is lots of magic, creatures, and quite a few surprises I didn’t see coming. We also get to follow Caitlin through her “magical” pregnancy that she conceived in the previous book. Will Aldrin and Kiera become mates as his sister saw or are there too many obstacles to overcome come? Definitely a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end!
I think the plot is pretty good! The writing is not my absolute favorite. It’s very straight to the point, point blank period. Which is nice in comparison to some books with A LOT of descriptions/emotions/etc. but it also can be a tough read at points.
I do like that this FMC is a heroin but also damsel in distress at the same time. I feel like it’s different VS most FMCs. She isn’t completely helpless which I appreciate but she’s also DEFINITELY always a damsel in distress I feel.
I will be honest, I don’t know if I will read the 3rd book in the series. It’s an OK read just really not my favorite. A good break between a big series.
I’ve fallen so much in love with this series ❤️ I can’t believe I have to wait until December for the next book!!
Book 2 picks off right where book 1 ended and we start with very tough material with Aldrin being held captive by Keira’s family. The first part of this book deals a lot with both Aldrin and Keira finding their way back to each other mentally and emotionally. I liked how there were things they BOTH did that the other needed forgiveness and healing from. It wasn’t just Aldrin having to grovel but Keira and how she broke Aldrin’s heart too. It was very powerful and I felt you could connect with both of them.
Book 1 definitely set up the series to be the type for war on 2 fronts and book 2 focuses on Aldrin and Keira’s battle in the human realm. To fighting against prejudices, family history coming to light, a possessive ex who will stop at nothing to capture her, all while Aldrin and Keira are still working through their own issues.
I’ve loved the family dynamic throughout this series. While Keira’s father and grandmother royally pissed me off in the beginning, their dedication to their family shines through. To have a father figure in a story that not only 1) adores his wife, 2) puts his daughters’ needs above society expectations, and 3) understands each of his children’s’ personalities and how they fit into the world individually (such as Caitlyn being his heir vs her twin brother bc she is better suited for it). Like, he doesn’t bat an eye at anything his daughters’ set their minds too. I love it honestly.
We get a little background on their grandmother and her pilgrimage, as well as their grandfather (not biological but raised them) and hearing dedication to those they love truly started with him. There’s a prequel that follows her story that dives into her whole story and while we ultimately know the ending, it might be an interesting read. I wish we could have met Ronan truly in these books vs hearing about his memory.
I also love a few of the side characters and their developments. Caitlyn and Cyperien have a very interesting relationship. It’s not romantic but they’ve formed this unexpected connection. I’d love to learn more about Aldrin’s inner circle. Especially Hawthorne. He’s not prominently featured but when he’s mentioned, theres talk about a hard past that I’m intrigued by. Finally, I somewhat wish for more of Prince Niall and Brianna bc they seem like they could be this power couple dedicated to one another ❤️
The spice is fun in this book 🌶️ bc Aldrin and Keira are very much in a forbidden love scenario/hidden romance for a lot of this book. So it’s lots of sneaking around 😜 but the 2 are very feral for each other 🥵
The ending sets of book 3 nicely and will transition from the war in the human realm to the impending war in the fae realm.
This series is quickly climbing to the top of my fantasy romance list, and A War of Three Kings only solidifies that spot. Rosa Heart has a way of making her world, characters, and story feel so vivid and immersive that I never feel like I’ve truly left the Dying Lands. From the first page, she seamlessly pulls us back into the adventure, picking up right where The Forbidden Fae King left off.
Kiera remains a strong and lovable FMC, and while I didn’t see as much growth from her as I’d hoped, she does mature in a way that makes sense for her character. She stands up for herself more, proving she’s not just surviving this world she’s actively shaping her place in it. But the real highlight of this book? Aldrin. We get to explore so much more of his character, and I absolutely loved the depth he was given. He was likable in book one, but here? He truly shines. His journey from enduring torture to forgiveness to fiercely fighting for his life and kingdom gives him the character development he needed.
The side characters also got some well deserved attention. Edmund, in particular, stood out, showing that he is a father first and a leader second. I appreciated the additional layers given to other secondary characters as well, making the world feel even richer.
And the story? Epic. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions—anger, joy, frustration, anticipation and I was fully invested in every twist and turn. The world expands beautifully, with more politics, kingdoms, and a deeper look at the magic system. The pacing was strong overall, though there were a few slower moments that pulled me out of the action. That said, even those moments served a purpose in building the larger narrative.
Rosa Heart is, without a doubt, an auto-buy author for me. Her ability to craft such an intricate world with compelling characters and high-stakes storytelling is unmatched. If you’re looking for a fantasy romance series that delivers in every way, The Dying Lands is a must-read.
I don't even know where to start. I enjoyed the first book - the novelty of the story, the plot, the magic. I had such big hopes for this one. Some aspects just made me want to throw the book across the room constantly. Things that were just made up from nowhere, things that were not elaborated on or inaccuracies.
Nevertheless, that would still be ok and enjoyable. BUT the most irritating things is the mentioning and touching and kissing of Kiera’s "generous breasts," "ample cleavage," "sweet curve of her wide hips," "perfectly rounded ass," "core" – like is there anything else the man can appreciate? It kind of kills all the romance by focusing on these stereotypes every time he looks at her, being mentioned on every other page, and lingers on her "curves." It’s just repeating so much that I could not even stand it anymore, and I got constant ick. It felt almost like an insult to women, disrespectful – that there is nothing as interesting as their bodies, especially very curvy bodies. It would be okay if it’s not mentioned on every other page and rather mentions other qualities, but this was too much. Especially when he is so in love with her. It kills the vibe when the only thing he thinks about and stares at is her body. It could be so much more powerful if the relationship goes more in-depth rather than focusing on sex.
The other reasons for only 3 stars: MORE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!
1) There are a lot of friendship emotions that were not seen in the first book. Specifically, the protectiveness of Kiera toward the other fae. For example: - 'I shoot a glare at Aldrin. He didn’t need to hurt one of my favorite people (Silvan) for this demonstration… Silvan stands, shaking his head to get his wits back. He takes a step but staggers sideways. It flares up all of my protective urges.' - WHEN did he become one of her favourite people?
Also, it would be great to see some more interactions with the fae characters and how they developed their friendship with Kiera and others, their magic and the magic of Kiera’s family. She mentioned Brianna is the most powerful of the children, but her power is never mentioned. Or much about her brother’s power.
2) Inconsistencies: - 'I miss the conversations we had for hours into the night, talking of nothing and everything, sharing our dreams for the future, and planning them together.' - That does not align with the story of the first book when Kiera knew the whole time she would go back home for her duty. - 'I let out a nervous laugh. There is so much I want to say, but my oath to never speak of my pilgrimage stills my tongue… "Aldrin has never tried to hurt me or Caitlin." I drag each word out of my mouth, fighting the restriction on my tongue.' - Yet she was competent to talk about some things and fae from the Otherworld with her siblings. - Kiera and Caitlin leaving with 500 soldiers to meet 100 fae soldiers, and then Aldrin mentioning thousands of soldiers instead? - When Aldrin is locked and tortured by Edmund and asks for Kiera, to which they tell him she doesn’t want to see him and she knows where he is, Aldrin notices it’s a lie but then feels so hurt and betrayed, thinking she actually didn't want to see him for the next few chapters. He already stated at the end of the first book that he lost her trust and lost her, but then gets angry in the second book at her that she doesn't want to come to see him.
3) The Mate thing – why do we not hear more about it and what did it mean before? It’s pretty clear they can reach each other’s minds/awareness, so why do they doubt it when no one else can do that? Also, the fact about the whole mates thing coming from Kiera and not Aldrin is weird since she never mentioned it before, while he kind of thought about it being true. How is there no explanation of sending visions between them? Just randomly stating like it’s normal? "I recognised some of those faces from the visions Kiera sent me, and I would have loved to take my time with them." There is no other mention of this, and it just feels like filling gaps with random things that could clear the situation, but do not make sense as they are so out of place and not elaborated on.
4) I would love to have more acknowledgment from both perspectives to lead the story and not let me guess – e.g., when Finan slaughtered the sanctuary and took Kiera, she tried to send a message to Aldrin through the mental bond, but we never discover if he heard her or how they found out about it. Then later he mentions he felt the pain when Finan hit her head on the wall, but he never tried to reach her mind when she was attacked? Or when they reached the city to save Kiera, how long did it take them after he reached Kiera’s mind after her wedding? Also, how can he say "a human year won’t make a difference" when it’s literally three years in his realm? It’s just so at odds with all the actions and the story of the first book.
5) Also, perhaps more personally, but I do not enjoy when I am given some terms and never get an explanation of them or get it far, far long after when I don’t even remember in what context it was mentioned, e.g., they constantly repeat Wild Hunt in books 1 and 2, and I found myself really annoyed not knowing what it was till the end of book 2. Or constant mentioning of Shadow Court and no other details, except that there are demons.
Overall, I was really put off by the romance language here. I still have big hopes for the third book, as there is so much potential for the story to be really brilliant, if the MMC can stop thinking about the FMC's body on every page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
We pick up right where we left off, with Aldrin and his allies in the human realm on a mission to rescue Kiera, ending all of them up in some secret far dungeons. Edmund wastes no time tormenting Aldrin through starvation and sleep deprivation, keeping him and Kiera apart. As tensions rise, it becomes clear that Finan is ready to wage war to reclaim Kiera by force no matter what Kiera wants for herself and regardless of the cost.
Surprisingly, Kiera’s father eventually allows Aldrin and the other fae to fight alongside them, leading to a powerful alliance. With their guidance, the human soldiers learn to break the barriers suppressing their own magic, transforming into stronger warriors. As the battle looms, Aldrin seizes the opportunity to summon Cyprien (with approval from the human lords) and he shows up with a large fae legion—complete with DRAGONS—setting the stage for an epic showdown battle!
Amidst the chaos of war, Edmund and Kiera’s grandmother finally accept Aldrin, solidifying his place by Kiera’s side. The two lovebirds waste no time and swiftly get engaged, making for an incredibly exciting and heartwarming moment! This book was deliciously spicy but the spice did NOT take away from the plot, which is what we LOVE to see! I cannot wait to see what happens in book three—please tell me it’s coming out soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Lady Kiera and exiled Fae King Aldrin. Epic love story. So many plot twists. Aldrin has heard Kiera's unhappy heart call and has come to the human realm looking for her. He has allowed himself and his ten warriors to be captured by Edmund, Kiera's father, hoping Kiera will free him. But Niaomi Kiera's grandmother who was abused by a fae and Edmund, lie and drive wedges between the lovers and torture the fae for a week before Caitlin finds them. Eventually they reunite after some difficult truths. Mad king Finan comes to war and destroys the castle. They have to flee separately. Later reunited, Kiera is stolen by Finan via portal back to the south and forced to marry on pain of her brother Dairmud death. - Now.....Your only halfway through the book. It gets even more complex, you will not finish this in a night - Some Vanilla spice.
A War of Three Kings is book 2 in the Dying Lands series. The central theme in the book is prejudice and judging people based on rumors and stereotypes, which is why Keira has to fight to free Aldrin and then convince her family (who are actually open-minded for humans) that Aldrin is not evil. This sets up a war between the South and the North. Coincidence? Finin loses his mind over Keira, and everything devolves from there. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as book 1. There's plenty of action and spice and all that, but it wasn't as entertaining. It could be book 2 syndrome, which is when I feel a book is filler to set up book 3. We will see when book 3 comes out. This one is four stars. It's enjoyable but missing the spark of book 1.
Very good book. Intense and personal book one introduces Axel and Eva. As circumstances become more clear as their relationship develops. Eva is unaware of the danger she has become a part of. In book 2 she struggles with both her loyalty and emotions when she finds Aldin captured and being tortured. Does she want to help him or let him die there? Her trust and loyalty broken by the lies she has been told. Can they mend the bond they have or has their been to much betrayal on both sides? It is well written and keeps you wanting to learn more with each page. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes mafia stories
Of course I have to wait until December ! Keira and Aldrin find their way back to each other many times. Through the battles between the north and the Mad King, finally at the end the mad King is defeated, and Niall the King‘s brother is made King and marries Brianna, Keira‘s sister. Caitlyn Keira‘s other sister has her baby, and everyone is taken captive by Titania, Aldrin‘s enemy from the fae realm. Just as the human realm gets settled, Titania comes in and threatens Aldrin‘s life, so Keira makes herself known as his mate and goes with her as prisoner so long as Titania, doesn’t hurt her family or Aldrin and here I am left waiting until the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow! Just wow! This book hit the ground running picking up right where the first left off and didn’t stop. The angst i felt for my MMC and FMC was so intense. Their story is so good. The action, the battle scenes, the evil mad king, the intense love, and everything else. I highly recommend this series to everyone that loves romantacy and great world building. The end of this book was insane. I’m ready to hit book 3 and looking so forward to where it’s headed. Can’t imagine how this story is going to conclude when the 4th book is released but i for one will be reading it the minute it hits the stores
This book/series has all the working of the next great romantasy. Seriously rivaling Sarah j Maas at this point! Forget a shadow daddy, long live the spring court! lol I loved the action, and the involvement of all different magical species and the character dynamics? Just awesome! The romance was great and believable and it was a healthy balance compared to other series I have read. The cliffhanger endings are great and leave you wanting more. I can’t wait for the 3rd book!
I love this series. Aldrin (Mr.booboo) and Keira (Miss booboo) are super cute and genuine with each other. I truly love their dynamic and character growth in this book. But what I WILL NOT stand is the way the author made the conflict/plot progression in the first quarter. I felt it cheapened and slowed the plot down significantly. That alone almost made this a ⭐️⭐️. I also love how the plot went and the realistic character development that came with it. I can not wait to read the finale of this series.
This is the second book in this series. The story continues with Aldrin & Keira, her family & his retinue from the spring Fae court being caught up in a war that the demented king Finan has started when he kidnaps Keira to make her his bride/queen. I could go on about how amazing this story is but I hate spoilers. Suffice it to say, I’m vested in this story & all of the characters. It does end in a cliff hanger but that ending was a I highly recommend this series.
First, I didn't dislike the book. So initially I read about 60% and then got really bored. I took a really long break from the book before I came back to it. When came back finished it, I honestly just felt like it dragged on and on and on and we really could have just wrapped the whole thing up much shorter. And the fact that it didn't even end like there's going to be another book after this one. It just it seems unnecessary. Let's just get to the point. I'll probably skip to the last chapter of the next book just to see how it ends.
I am really happy with the continuation of Keira and Aldrin’s story.
I loved the first book, BUT the ending of it somehow made me worry they would not find back to each other. The plot is far, far from solved yet (!), but at least I feel less apprehensive now.
Rosa Heart is very good at writing spice that is spicy without becoming too much. Great work!
5/5 stars hands down. No take back. Holy sh!t mind blow this series just get better and better! I couldn’t put it down. The MMC dear lord save me. The I will burn the world for you and give my life vibes (faints) the build up the story the side characters! SO GOOD! This story is so much different than any human/fae I’ve ever read. And yes let’s bring the Gods into the mix. Go get this book now. Just do it. 😍
I could not wait for this book to come out! I was counting down the days for the release and I absolutely DEVOURED this book in a day. Rosa Heart is one if my favorite authors now and I can't belive more people don't know about this series yet. I can not recommend this series enough. If you're looking for your next amazing 5☆ read then look no further because this is the series that you need! I NEED BOOK 3 ASAP!
Oh the frustration I felt in this book. I liked how this author didnt shy away from the horrible side of human nature especially when it comes to someone viewing another as an object. But that being said i loved the way this story took off as soon as all the lies were cleared and that fact that it touched on a subject many people can see in todays world. Of being feed lies to make us believe certain things by out governing bodies. So i thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Kiera and Aldrin faced many trials and tere love grew deeper throughout the book. Things looked like they were going closing up nicely after the war, Kiera getting justice concerning Finan and the humans learning the factual history with the fae…But Tiatiana came and the book ends with a cliffhanger and a low note. Time for the next book!
I did not realize this book was recently released when I started it, haha. They writing has really improved from the first book. I really liked a lot of the lore and world development. I really like the overall messages of the story. It's very women's rights focused and the political and race metaphors and it feels good when it's fought for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Talk about outstanding! This is one for the record books. The best series I've read in years. I'm severely ADHD and dnf more books than I finish but I have been losing sleep over these books. I could not put them down. I'm at a loss for words. It is a brilliant series I can't believe book three won't be out for another six months.
Now this book was bloody excellent! I do love a good war and bloodshed 😏 Book one was a bit meh but I think it was to set the scene for bigger things to happen! Keira is torn in many directions especially when all she’s being told is lies by the people she trusts the most. Keira & aldrin go through a lot in this book but solidifies their connection. Looking forward to book 3.
4.5 stars ⭐️. Only because the woe is me of Keira was annoying and brought up too many times. The uniting of all the factions was great. 🤌 So many prejudices and lies but most overcome by working alongside one another. This was well done by the author. It was wrapped up well with another storyline in their saga to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I LOVED IT! It was amazing exactly what I wanted. Far exceeded my expectations! I am in love with Aldrin and Keira and cannot wait to see their story continue. I will literally be thinking about this book for a long time. I cannot wait for book 3!
Love this story so much!! Love Kiera, Aldrin, and his fae band of friends. There’s a lot of blood and guts, but the humor and romance is so good!! The wait til the next book is going to be difficult LOL.
I loved reading this series that keeps you on the edge of your seat with the continuous challenges and changes these books deliver. Awesome story line!!!! The only disappointment is that I will have to wait until December 2025 for the next book.