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Be #3
Where the Heart Is
When everything else was taken from someone, the least they should be able to hold onto was their story.
This is Clary's story.
She was Princess of Alsceance. "Jewel of the South." Married to the feared Shadow King for peace after years of war.
And with the stroke of her hand, she was Queen of Midgrim. For seventeen years, she remained trapped within the belly of the beast, a lonely warrior whose only weapon was her heart.
But was she traded for nothing more than the falling sand in an hourglass?
*** This book contains sexual assault, rape, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide ideation, and more.***
This is Clary's story.
She was Princess of Alsceance. "Jewel of the South." Married to the feared Shadow King for peace after years of war.
And with the stroke of her hand, she was Queen of Midgrim. For seventeen years, she remained trapped within the belly of the beast, a lonely warrior whose only weapon was her heart.
But was she traded for nothing more than the falling sand in an hourglass?
*** This book contains sexual assault, rape, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide ideation, and more.***
461 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2024
4 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Lieberman
36 books53 followersWords are magic, and Ellie Lieberman has been enamored with the magic of storytelling since before she could hold a pencil. She learned how to write so she could write her stories. Though her books vary between ages and genre, one element that is always a guarantee is the light in the dark, from the flicker of a candle to dragon fire.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 16, 2024
This book is phenomenal!
I had the honor of beta reading this book and I enjoyed every moment.
You hear about Clary in Be (which is after her death) and even see her a bit in An Impossible Dream (via Sare's POV). But this book is all in her POV.
You see her leave her palace to marry a King and you see every aspect of her life to her death, including moments in An Impossible Dream, but this time in her POV.
You fall in love with her kindness and her strength. The way she was always there for Fra when nobody else was, and there for Elsbie and Sare. I loved seeing Elsbis first arriving and her relationship with both Hayworth and Clary. She has always been a favorite.
You even see her have Henry and him grow up. He was so fierce and always stood up, despite the abuse. I love his relationship with Fra. Fra was such a sweet big brother for him. I loved Clary and Fra's relationship, but it made me sad at times since neither thought the other loved them in a mother/ son dynamic, never knowing what they meant to each other.
There are some devastating scenes. Clary's abuse she suffers at the hands of the King, knowing she has been raped repeatedly. Being mocked by the Palace and Kingdom. Sometimes she lashes out, but you can't blame her. She deals with a lot, and being separated from her boys constantly and dealing with the King's awful children.
There were moments of laughter and despair. Moments that made me smile and moments that made me sad. This story was amazing, getting to finally see Clary's life all the way up to her death at the start of Be, understanding all the points that was missed in the previous books, and seeing other characters you already know and love.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series, which can be read in any order. One of my favorite series ever and one of my favorite reads of the year.
I had the honor of beta reading this book and I enjoyed every moment.
You hear about Clary in Be (which is after her death) and even see her a bit in An Impossible Dream (via Sare's POV). But this book is all in her POV.
You see her leave her palace to marry a King and you see every aspect of her life to her death, including moments in An Impossible Dream, but this time in her POV.
You fall in love with her kindness and her strength. The way she was always there for Fra when nobody else was, and there for Elsbie and Sare. I loved seeing Elsbis first arriving and her relationship with both Hayworth and Clary. She has always been a favorite.
You even see her have Henry and him grow up. He was so fierce and always stood up, despite the abuse. I love his relationship with Fra. Fra was such a sweet big brother for him. I loved Clary and Fra's relationship, but it made me sad at times since neither thought the other loved them in a mother/ son dynamic, never knowing what they meant to each other.
There are some devastating scenes. Clary's abuse she suffers at the hands of the King, knowing she has been raped repeatedly. Being mocked by the Palace and Kingdom. Sometimes she lashes out, but you can't blame her. She deals with a lot, and being separated from her boys constantly and dealing with the King's awful children.
There were moments of laughter and despair. Moments that made me smile and moments that made me sad. This story was amazing, getting to finally see Clary's life all the way up to her death at the start of Be, understanding all the points that was missed in the previous books, and seeing other characters you already know and love.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series, which can be read in any order. One of my favorite series ever and one of my favorite reads of the year.
October 19, 2024
I have adored every book in this series and have so been looking forward to the day that Clary (the Queen) would get to tell her side of the story ever since meeting her in another book. This book did not disappoint. As a young woman of noble birth traded away in an unhappy marriage of court politics, Clary did not expect to find love or safety in her new home married to an enemy king. Her marriage was merely meant to stop a war. And yet it was so much worse than she could have realized. And yet Clary shows in every chapter how she carries her mother’s lessons of fierceness and strength with her despite the miles that separate them, using those lessons to protect her and her sons as best she can, and teaching them important lessons, even when nowhere is truly safe. The beauty in this story is found in the chapters between Clary and her two sons, Fra and Henry. I loved the entire story, but it was in these small moments that I always found myself smiling. Ellie Lieberman tells lovely stories and I think this one may be my favorite! 5/5 stars.
Disclaimer: I read an early copy of this book as one of its beta readers.
Disclaimer: I read an early copy of this book as one of its beta readers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews