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Prophecies and Expectations: Forging Kingdoms Book 1
Welcome to Yuiba. Where the land is healing from the cruelty of its past king, a prophecy promises to heal it, and a bad marriage could break it...
Evadne’s birth was prophesied long ago to mend the broken bonds between the races of Yuiba. Because of the prophecy, her people were hunted to near extinction and she’s the last to be born. Her family lives in secrecy in the Anjour Wood to keep her safe. But all of that is about to change.
Kali is revered in the Shimmering Peaks due to the dragon form she takes. She has sworn herself to be at the beck and call of the dragon council. However, things go astray when she is wrongly accused of theft by the knights at the Dragonbone Wall fort. When she is transferred to the dungeon beneath the castle, things end up taking a different turn for her as she learns there’s more to life beyond one’s sworn duties.
Serena is the Princess of Yuiba. She is engaged to the Prince of Eshus, but things take a turn when he reveals his true colors at the ball celebrating their betrothal. Then she meets a stranger and their connection is undeniable. She can either marry the Prince of Eshus or be swept off her feet with a man straight out of her romance novels. Which will she choose?
Will the kingdom ever experience peace?
Described as the perfect closed-door alternative to ACOTAR and TOG.
CW/CDR Level 2. Mild peril, including sword fighting, brief torture using a dagger, and battle-related injuries/trauma. Brief instance of non-romantacized abuse. Mild nudity due to shifters (called weres in this series) changing form. No swearing. There are a variety of magical creatures from werecats to vampires. There is resolution at the end of this book but it does leave you begging for more and leads into the next installment of the series.
Evadne’s birth was prophesied long ago to mend the broken bonds between the races of Yuiba. Because of the prophecy, her people were hunted to near extinction and she’s the last to be born. Her family lives in secrecy in the Anjour Wood to keep her safe. But all of that is about to change.
Kali is revered in the Shimmering Peaks due to the dragon form she takes. She has sworn herself to be at the beck and call of the dragon council. However, things go astray when she is wrongly accused of theft by the knights at the Dragonbone Wall fort. When she is transferred to the dungeon beneath the castle, things end up taking a different turn for her as she learns there’s more to life beyond one’s sworn duties.
Serena is the Princess of Yuiba. She is engaged to the Prince of Eshus, but things take a turn when he reveals his true colors at the ball celebrating their betrothal. Then she meets a stranger and their connection is undeniable. She can either marry the Prince of Eshus or be swept off her feet with a man straight out of her romance novels. Which will she choose?
Will the kingdom ever experience peace?
Described as the perfect closed-door alternative to ACOTAR and TOG.
CW/CDR Level 2. Mild peril, including sword fighting, brief torture using a dagger, and battle-related injuries/trauma. Brief instance of non-romantacized abuse. Mild nudity due to shifters (called weres in this series) changing form. No swearing. There are a variety of magical creatures from werecats to vampires. There is resolution at the end of this book but it does leave you begging for more and leads into the next installment of the series.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2025
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Josephine Carnes
4 books10 followersJosephine Carnes is a born and raised Alaskan. She enjoys writing fantasy fiction full of interesting people and creatures. She also enjoys the quiet solace of nature, grilling, camping, and road trips. She lives in Big Lake, Alaska with her husband, daughter, three stepchildren, and her black cat named Midnight.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 20, 2025
Great first book! It had everything I could ask for! Multi pov (written by two diffbook.erent people), tension, build up of love interest, different races. I wasn't sure how it would end, but the twist! Loved the ending. Would recommend it to any fantasy lover. I can't wait for the next book!
January 20, 2025
Prophecies and Expectations is a first-person multi-POV book with an epic scope but plenty of emotional angst. The characters and plot are well-balanced. One male protagonist and three female MCs alternate chapters, giving the reader insight into each character's thoughts and feelings as the plot unfolds. The stakes are high, and I felt deeply invested in each character. The world-building immerses you with vivid details and pauses to let you drink it all in, though the pacing never lags, showing everything through the eyes of the MCs. Though a fantasy, everything has a "real" feel. Things like weapons practice are described realistically in a way that shows thorough research but without technical terminology, making it easy to understand and follow the movement in the scene.
The plot has two separate points. One is a need for a multi-racial council within Yuiba, and the other is a need for a marriage alliance with a neighboring kingdom. Both goals are clear, but seemed unconnected except that working on the second helps the characters with the first goal. The first half of the book focused on characters accepting their roles with "Chosen one" vibes and internal struggles, while the second half had more of a questing feel and an external plot. Overall, the need for peace, both within the kingdom and without, within yourself and with others, is an overarching theme.
The on-page romance is sizzling without becoming explicit. There is mild touching (Clean and Wholesome Level 2), kissing, and discussion of fated mates. A history of war between the races provides the perfect enemies-to-lovers backdrop. There is some resolution, but decisions made will have repercussions, and a shocking ending will leave you eager for the next installment.
Additional content notes:
Werewolves, weredragons, vampires, and a witch make an appearance, among other magical beings. Ancient Ones are revered as having power over the fate of the characters and are appealed to for aid.
There is no foul language, but a sparring antagonist spits some suggestive insults and one character makes a rude gesture. Shifter-related nudity makes for some awkward but funny scenes without going into too much description. Female clothing and how it fits in relation to a woman's figure is described matter-of-factly from the woman's perspective. Some sword-fighting violence and a brief torture scene.
4.5 rounded up
The plot has two separate points. One is a need for a multi-racial council within Yuiba, and the other is a need for a marriage alliance with a neighboring kingdom. Both goals are clear, but seemed unconnected except that working on the second helps the characters with the first goal. The first half of the book focused on characters accepting their roles with "Chosen one" vibes and internal struggles, while the second half had more of a questing feel and an external plot. Overall, the need for peace, both within the kingdom and without, within yourself and with others, is an overarching theme.
The on-page romance is sizzling without becoming explicit. There is mild touching (Clean and Wholesome Level 2), kissing, and discussion of fated mates. A history of war between the races provides the perfect enemies-to-lovers backdrop. There is some resolution, but decisions made will have repercussions, and a shocking ending will leave you eager for the next installment.
Additional content notes:
Werewolves, weredragons, vampires, and a witch make an appearance, among other magical beings. Ancient Ones are revered as having power over the fate of the characters and are appealed to for aid.
There is no foul language, but a sparring antagonist spits some suggestive insults and one character makes a rude gesture. Shifter-related nudity makes for some awkward but funny scenes without going into too much description. Female clothing and how it fits in relation to a woman's figure is described matter-of-factly from the woman's perspective. Some sword-fighting violence and a brief torture scene.
4.5 rounded up
May 30, 2025
I am so in love with this story! Josephine and Hillary Rouzan have done such an amazing job building this truly magical world and I feel so honored that I get to share it with people.
The Kingdom of Yuiba and all of the characters are so well thought out, they have amazing backstories, and you can just genuinely tell that a lot of thought and tons of love have gone into putting this story together.
The characters are flawed and sometimes a complete mess, which makes them absolutely relatable and fun to read. I love that the book is told through varying POV’s so you can get a much better understanding of what makes everyone tick. It really lets the reader feel their emotions and when I finished the book I was satisfied in that I didn’t feel like anything was left behind, but also not so patiently waiting for Book 2 to be released so I can continue the story. I also love that the female characters are all very strong willed and fierce, and can hold their own against anyone else. Yet they also understand that sometimes you have to play the game a little to get where you need to be.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, dragons, a little bit of paranormal, and a whole lot of adventure!
The Kingdom of Yuiba and all of the characters are so well thought out, they have amazing backstories, and you can just genuinely tell that a lot of thought and tons of love have gone into putting this story together.
The characters are flawed and sometimes a complete mess, which makes them absolutely relatable and fun to read. I love that the book is told through varying POV’s so you can get a much better understanding of what makes everyone tick. It really lets the reader feel their emotions and when I finished the book I was satisfied in that I didn’t feel like anything was left behind, but also not so patiently waiting for Book 2 to be released so I can continue the story. I also love that the female characters are all very strong willed and fierce, and can hold their own against anyone else. Yet they also understand that sometimes you have to play the game a little to get where you need to be.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, dragons, a little bit of paranormal, and a whole lot of adventure!
January 16, 2025
I was so excited to read this book, and I'm thankful that I got an ARC from the authors.
The premise of a kingdom with different species trying to heal and come together under a new king is interesting, and the world feels like it has a lot of potential.
However, I am sorry to say I had some major issues with this book. The main one is that it is not well written. The language feels very simple yet also like it's trying too hard. The narration is full of too many metaphors and similes. There’s a lot of repetition. The pacing and timeline of the story felt off to me, there were some chapters that I feel came in the wrong order. I also think some more exposition early on regarding certain concepts would have benefitted the story. How many ware-creatures are there and how common are they? Are fated mates very common in this world? That seems to be the case, as all our characters appear to meet their mates within this book, but it came off as instalove instead. The feelings and fallings could have been better described for me to believe in them.
The characters also act as if they have known each other for far longer than they have. The implicit trust is a part of the story, and that's not my issue. It's the reactions to smaller things, like Evadne being pissed off that Ryker is brusque when injured, or her claiming that two men are in love with Kali, after having spent only hours in their company. Evadne also goes to court with just the one dress for her entire planned stay? A dress that is somehow made in a day, and that she doesn't inquire a price for (although this is resolved later).
I also find Kali's actions to be wild. She's been told she'll most likely get an audience with the king the day after the ball, but she decides that's unacceptable, and changes into a dragon and ruins his dungeons. This despite dragons being very private and her being a rare breed, something you'd think they'd want to keep under wraps? Maybe start by telling the knight that she is a weredragon and has the ability to cause destruction, before actually doing so? Give the king a chance to readjust his schedule. When she finally has spoken to the king, she waits until the next day to write to her family about her whereabouts, after having spent days worrying that they don't know where she is. It just didn't make sense to me.
Equally confusing is the king's actions. He's described and mostly seen as a good man who wants the best for his people. But when his daughter tells him how she's been abused, showing bruises as proof, he blows up and basically tells her to suck it up and still marry her abuser. When she predictably runs away, he sends a well qualified knight and two people he doesn't know and have just met to get her back. His reasoning is that he needs the lord commander and his other knights to keep doing their jobs in the capital and keep the peace. I know the characters need to go on this journey because that's why we have a story, but it felt like a flimsy excuse and bad decision making on the king's part.
One of the four characters we follow is Serena, but she has only about four chapters. She's the youngest, and the only one who really acts their age, being a naive and romantic nineteen-year-old, and I think she might be my favourite. I still think maybe her chapters should be cut, or reduced to just one before her disappearance, and one after, to make it more effectful. Hers were also the chapters that felt the most out of order, for the rest of the story's timeline.
I am bumping this from a 1 to a 2, because I did get more into the story around the halfway mark, and the ending was actually great. I do think this book could have benefitted a lot by a rather ruthless editor.
The premise of a kingdom with different species trying to heal and come together under a new king is interesting, and the world feels like it has a lot of potential.
However, I am sorry to say I had some major issues with this book. The main one is that it is not well written. The language feels very simple yet also like it's trying too hard. The narration is full of too many metaphors and similes. There’s a lot of repetition. The pacing and timeline of the story felt off to me, there were some chapters that I feel came in the wrong order. I also think some more exposition early on regarding certain concepts would have benefitted the story. How many ware-creatures are there and how common are they? Are fated mates very common in this world? That seems to be the case, as all our characters appear to meet their mates within this book, but it came off as instalove instead. The feelings and fallings could have been better described for me to believe in them.
The characters also act as if they have known each other for far longer than they have. The implicit trust is a part of the story, and that's not my issue. It's the reactions to smaller things, like Evadne being pissed off that Ryker is brusque when injured, or her claiming that two men are in love with Kali, after having spent only hours in their company. Evadne also goes to court with just the one dress for her entire planned stay? A dress that is somehow made in a day, and that she doesn't inquire a price for (although this is resolved later).
I also find Kali's actions to be wild. She's been told she'll most likely get an audience with the king the day after the ball, but she decides that's unacceptable, and changes into a dragon and ruins his dungeons. This despite dragons being very private and her being a rare breed, something you'd think they'd want to keep under wraps? Maybe start by telling the knight that she is a weredragon and has the ability to cause destruction, before actually doing so? Give the king a chance to readjust his schedule. When she finally has spoken to the king, she waits until the next day to write to her family about her whereabouts, after having spent days worrying that they don't know where she is. It just didn't make sense to me.
Equally confusing is the king's actions. He's described and mostly seen as a good man who wants the best for his people. But when his daughter tells him how she's been abused, showing bruises as proof, he blows up and basically tells her to suck it up and still marry her abuser. When she predictably runs away, he sends a well qualified knight and two people he doesn't know and have just met to get her back. His reasoning is that he needs the lord commander and his other knights to keep doing their jobs in the capital and keep the peace. I know the characters need to go on this journey because that's why we have a story, but it felt like a flimsy excuse and bad decision making on the king's part.
One of the four characters we follow is Serena, but she has only about four chapters. She's the youngest, and the only one who really acts their age, being a naive and romantic nineteen-year-old, and I think she might be my favourite. I still think maybe her chapters should be cut, or reduced to just one before her disappearance, and one after, to make it more effectful. Hers were also the chapters that felt the most out of order, for the rest of the story's timeline.
I am bumping this from a 1 to a 2, because I did get more into the story around the halfway mark, and the ending was actually great. I do think this book could have benefitted a lot by a rather ruthless editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2024
Captivating from the first page.
Love. Loss. Finding Yourself.
This debut fantasy novel addresses a multitude of life's challenges; grief and loss, inadequacy, abuse, and racism(in the form of differing species).
Page after page I was drawn into the world of Prophecies and Expectations and I grew to love each character. This book features multiple POVs from all of the main characters which truly allows for the reader to be immersed within the story.
I cannot wait for the second book within the Forging Kingdom's series.
Tropes:
💛He falls first
⚔️Touch her and die
😂Witty banter
💪🏼 Badass FMC's
✨Chosen one
Romance: Multiple romance perspectives💞
Spice: No spice 🚫🌶️
Love. Loss. Finding Yourself.
This debut fantasy novel addresses a multitude of life's challenges; grief and loss, inadequacy, abuse, and racism(in the form of differing species).
Page after page I was drawn into the world of Prophecies and Expectations and I grew to love each character. This book features multiple POVs from all of the main characters which truly allows for the reader to be immersed within the story.
I cannot wait for the second book within the Forging Kingdom's series.
Tropes:
💛He falls first
⚔️Touch her and die
😂Witty banter
💪🏼 Badass FMC's
✨Chosen one
Romance: Multiple romance perspectives💞
Spice: No spice 🚫🌶️
February 2, 2025
I generally stay as far as possible from closed-door however, this was a fantastic tension filled read.
Yes, at times I deeply wished for more but that shows how well the relationships were written.
The characters were lively and I loved the change in perspectives. I enjoyed how the relationships between the characters progressed and how they quickly grew to know one another. This is packed full of all different types of shifters and you can’t go wrong IMO with that!
World building can usually be a drag but I enjoyed the details and never felt as if it was too much.
I’m invested in watching these new Authors develop and progress in their writing!!
Amazing job! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Yes, at times I deeply wished for more but that shows how well the relationships were written.
The characters were lively and I loved the change in perspectives. I enjoyed how the relationships between the characters progressed and how they quickly grew to know one another. This is packed full of all different types of shifters and you can’t go wrong IMO with that!
World building can usually be a drag but I enjoyed the details and never felt as if it was too much.
I’m invested in watching these new Authors develop and progress in their writing!!
Amazing job! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews