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Darkling Souls #2
The Queensblood Crown
Death is only the beginning.
Queen Rianne was always fated to die. Born to be ritually sacrificed, her time has come. The only queen that matters to her people is a dead one. With a thousand murdered ancestors whispering in her head, she won’t go easily, and she won’t be forgotten.
Warbringer Rhydian rushes to save her even as his own curse threatens to consume him. One death at his hands and he’ll lose his mind entirely—and monster-slayer immortal elf Nesryn won’t hesitate to uphold her oath to cut him down when he succumbs.
Across the continent, High Seer Aurienne and Theo vie to prevent their country from tearing itself apart from the inside. Their own terrible deeds and the vampires they freed are all that keeps the invading forces at bay. A thousand threads of fate must come together, or they will all fall to a prophecy foretelling inescapable destruction.
Queen Rianne was always fated to die. Born to be ritually sacrificed, her time has come. The only queen that matters to her people is a dead one. With a thousand murdered ancestors whispering in her head, she won’t go easily, and she won’t be forgotten.
Warbringer Rhydian rushes to save her even as his own curse threatens to consume him. One death at his hands and he’ll lose his mind entirely—and monster-slayer immortal elf Nesryn won’t hesitate to uphold her oath to cut him down when he succumbs.
Across the continent, High Seer Aurienne and Theo vie to prevent their country from tearing itself apart from the inside. Their own terrible deeds and the vampires they freed are all that keeps the invading forces at bay. A thousand threads of fate must come together, or they will all fall to a prophecy foretelling inescapable destruction.
- GenresFantasy
552 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2025
5 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 16, 2025
this is fucking awesome and I'm raging theres gonna be another book cause the entire time i couldn't predict what was gonna happen and the final sentence?? goddammit 😆 but also thank you alex bree this is awesome!!
December 15, 2024
First of all, thank you to the author, Alex Bree, for trusting me to beta read The Queensblood Crown for her. I fell in love with The High Seer and The Nameless Shadow (novella), so I was highly anticipating this book as the next installment in the Darkling Souls series…and it lived up to the hype!
This book is full of action, betrayal, yearning, political intrigue, mystery, and spice! And perhaps most importantly, there is so much feminine rage! I feel so connected to the characters and so invested in this story. I will fully admit that I cried multiple times while reading this book because I was so emotionally attached to everyone.
This book is an epic dark fantasy, and as such, there is a lot going on and some heavy themes. Please take care of yourself while reading, but enjoy the ride!
This was 5⭐️, and I can’t wait to reread it after its final edits/release! It is set to release on March 25, 2025!
This book is full of action, betrayal, yearning, political intrigue, mystery, and spice! And perhaps most importantly, there is so much feminine rage! I feel so connected to the characters and so invested in this story. I will fully admit that I cried multiple times while reading this book because I was so emotionally attached to everyone.
This book is an epic dark fantasy, and as such, there is a lot going on and some heavy themes. Please take care of yourself while reading, but enjoy the ride!
This was 5⭐️, and I can’t wait to reread it after its final edits/release! It is set to release on March 25, 2025!
March 25, 2025
First and foremost, thank you to Alex Bree and BookSirens for the ARC!
Holy F**K buckets! Alex Bree is a goddamn master wordsmith. This book starts out in a way I did NOT expect at all. The fact that she went there!?! I mean, wow. This book was one big twist after another and it kept you on your toes the entire time. I loved Rianne & Rhydian’s story in The Seer so I was really excited to see they were more or less the focus of book two, but damn…like…damn…and that’s all I’ll say about that. It was great seeing other familiar characters and seeing the progression of their relationships. I’m trying to be as vague as possible on purpose here because this is the kind of book where you really need to experience everything blind to get the full experience. The action starts from page one and never lets up. Like, there’s not a moment of downtime and you can feel the urgency in everything that’s going on with each turn of the page. Alex Bree writes truly epic dark fantasy, where there are no good vs evil, heroes vs villain, monster slayer vs monster…everyone is a little bit of a monster, a little bit of a villain, a little bit evil…they do what they have to in order to survive and try to ensure their loved ones and people survive. I mean, war makes a monster out of all of us, right? If you’re looking for a book that is full of crazy twists and turns and action from the first page until the last, straight up feminine rage, so many secrets and lies I lost count, ghosts of the past (and literal ghosts), betrayal, prophecies, monsters of all sort, heartbreak, and just an overall amazing reading experience-go pick up this book/series ASAP!
Holy F**K buckets! Alex Bree is a goddamn master wordsmith. This book starts out in a way I did NOT expect at all. The fact that she went there!?! I mean, wow. This book was one big twist after another and it kept you on your toes the entire time. I loved Rianne & Rhydian’s story in The Seer so I was really excited to see they were more or less the focus of book two, but damn…like…damn…and that’s all I’ll say about that. It was great seeing other familiar characters and seeing the progression of their relationships. I’m trying to be as vague as possible on purpose here because this is the kind of book where you really need to experience everything blind to get the full experience. The action starts from page one and never lets up. Like, there’s not a moment of downtime and you can feel the urgency in everything that’s going on with each turn of the page. Alex Bree writes truly epic dark fantasy, where there are no good vs evil, heroes vs villain, monster slayer vs monster…everyone is a little bit of a monster, a little bit of a villain, a little bit evil…they do what they have to in order to survive and try to ensure their loved ones and people survive. I mean, war makes a monster out of all of us, right? If you’re looking for a book that is full of crazy twists and turns and action from the first page until the last, straight up feminine rage, so many secrets and lies I lost count, ghosts of the past (and literal ghosts), betrayal, prophecies, monsters of all sort, heartbreak, and just an overall amazing reading experience-go pick up this book/series ASAP!
April 2, 2025
In an epic, thrilling return to the world of the Darkling Souls, Alex Bree takes on an even darker journey than the one we encountered in the High Seer. Picking up right at the end of Aurienne’s story, we now follow Queen Rianne and Warbringer Rhydian as they make their way through hell and back in The Queensblood Crown. It’s a tale of vengeance and survival; an outlet for Rianne’s feminine rage. We also dive deeper into the mysteries unearthed in book one, opening a Pandora’s box of new magic, monsters, secrets and lies.
Something about Alex Bree’s writing clutches on to me and never lets go. It’s lush, vivid, and dynamic, with exquisite worldbuilding that places you directly inside the story. The characters are fully realized, depicting the light and dark inside each and every one of us. And the relationships, platonic and romantic, feel equally authentic. There’s a perfect balance of humanity and fantasy that left me crying, screaming and throwing up. Okay, maybe not literally, but I felt panicked for several pages, audibly gasping and yelling at Alex as I watched her sprawling cast of characters fight battles I was sure they couldn’t win.
The stakes seemed to keep getting higher and higher in this series, and The Queensblood Crown put Rianne and Rhydian (and me) through an emotional rollercoaster to the very end. And I’d gladly do it again. Thank you endlessly to Book Sirens and Alex Bree for the eARC!🌟
Something about Alex Bree’s writing clutches on to me and never lets go. It’s lush, vivid, and dynamic, with exquisite worldbuilding that places you directly inside the story. The characters are fully realized, depicting the light and dark inside each and every one of us. And the relationships, platonic and romantic, feel equally authentic. There’s a perfect balance of humanity and fantasy that left me crying, screaming and throwing up. Okay, maybe not literally, but I felt panicked for several pages, audibly gasping and yelling at Alex as I watched her sprawling cast of characters fight battles I was sure they couldn’t win.
The stakes seemed to keep getting higher and higher in this series, and The Queensblood Crown put Rianne and Rhydian (and me) through an emotional rollercoaster to the very end. And I’d gladly do it again. Thank you endlessly to Book Sirens and Alex Bree for the eARC!🌟
March 31, 2025
Alex Bree's Darkling Souls series continues into book two, with darker and more ominous forces at play. Picking up from the end of High Seer, the story follows Queen Rianne on her path to fulfill a destiny she has fought to escape, and that of Warbringer Rhydian, battling through his own curse and anyone standing in his way in a desperate attempt to save her.
In an epic, action packed battle where the lines between monsters and men, good and evil become blurred, forces threatening the destruction of humanity are closing in, painting a mesmerising dark epic fantasy story.
Through Alex Bree's trademark intricate and beautifully descriptive world building and characters as deep and complex as they are captivating, The Queensblood Crown takes you down a path of political intrigue, love, loyalty, deception and pure, unadulterated rage in its rawest form.
A wonder of emotional turmoil that will not let you catch a breath and leave you desperate for more- opening your eyes to the fact that sometimes death is only the beginning.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In an epic, action packed battle where the lines between monsters and men, good and evil become blurred, forces threatening the destruction of humanity are closing in, painting a mesmerising dark epic fantasy story.
Through Alex Bree's trademark intricate and beautifully descriptive world building and characters as deep and complex as they are captivating, The Queensblood Crown takes you down a path of political intrigue, love, loyalty, deception and pure, unadulterated rage in its rawest form.
A wonder of emotional turmoil that will not let you catch a breath and leave you desperate for more- opening your eyes to the fact that sometimes death is only the beginning.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 12, 2025
I'm in too deep.
That's it, I'm 100% invested in this series at this point. It's the absolute perfect blend of a high-fantasy world with lore and an epic plot, with a sprinkle of spice and romance, which is everything I could have ever wanted. The foreshadowing is insane, and I've found myself coming up with theories in my head as I'm reading. I can't wait to see if they come to fruition.
Not gonna lie, my girly Aurienne kind of pissed me off at a few points, but I understand that she is literally warring with her mind. Theo, my sweet angel baby golden retriever, still cannot do wrong in my eyes hahaha. While I was glad to see their relationship deepen, I feel like there was a certain "spark" missing from their connection, and some of the more romantic/intimate moments felt forced and rushed. I do, however, see the potential... I just need "more" from them to feel convinced.
There were sooo many POV's in this book, which I really enjoyed. I'm really interested in Stellan, Miella, and Nesryn the most because they seem like such interesting and complex characters. Hopefully, we'll get more POV's of them as the series progresses.
That's it, I'm 100% invested in this series at this point. It's the absolute perfect blend of a high-fantasy world with lore and an epic plot, with a sprinkle of spice and romance, which is everything I could have ever wanted. The foreshadowing is insane, and I've found myself coming up with theories in my head as I'm reading. I can't wait to see if they come to fruition.
Not gonna lie, my girly Aurienne kind of pissed me off at a few points, but I understand that she is literally warring with her mind. Theo, my sweet angel baby golden retriever, still cannot do wrong in my eyes hahaha. While I was glad to see their relationship deepen, I feel like there was a certain "spark" missing from their connection, and some of the more romantic/intimate moments felt forced and rushed. I do, however, see the potential... I just need "more" from them to feel convinced.
There were sooo many POV's in this book, which I really enjoyed. I'm really interested in Stellan, Miella, and Nesryn the most because they seem like such interesting and complex characters. Hopefully, we'll get more POV's of them as the series progresses.
March 24, 2025
❤️ Release day self-review ❤️
"Hers is a story of vengeance."
"Death is only the beginning."
I adored writing Rianne's story. Her character, the magic surrounding her, the ghosts, the history and beliefs of her nation made her a really interesting character in book 1, and I loved exploring her as she struggles against the haunting influences. Faced with difficult circumstances, she makes choices that have lasting impacts and far-reaching consequences.
The Queensblood Crown also explores the development of our other characters as the stakes heat up, the conflict comes to the continent, and magic awakens. There was so much I wanted to accomplish through the continuing stories of these characters I have come to love. I hope you enjoy it.
CW's are available on my website at www.alexbreewrites.com.
"Hers is a story of vengeance."
"Death is only the beginning."
I adored writing Rianne's story. Her character, the magic surrounding her, the ghosts, the history and beliefs of her nation made her a really interesting character in book 1, and I loved exploring her as she struggles against the haunting influences. Faced with difficult circumstances, she makes choices that have lasting impacts and far-reaching consequences.
The Queensblood Crown also explores the development of our other characters as the stakes heat up, the conflict comes to the continent, and magic awakens. There was so much I wanted to accomplish through the continuing stories of these characters I have come to love. I hope you enjoy it.
CW's are available on my website at www.alexbreewrites.com.
April 1, 2025
“Maybe none of us are meant to survive this war,” Rianne said. “By the end of it, maybe none of us deserve to,” Aurienne said.
This book had me STRESSED. The stakes in this series are so high, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to completely fall apart.
This world is so expansive, but Alex somehow makes me care about all of these characters so much. I’m never annoyed being in any of the POVs, because I’m invested in every single one.
I really enjoyed the character and plot development in this. The story jumps right back into the action and it doesn’t stop. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!! (But also I’m stresssssed 😂)
Read this if you like:
Fantasy
Fortune Telling
Fae/Elementals/Magic
High Stakes
Angst/Romance/Pain
Thank you so much to Alex Bree for sending me a copy for an honest review! 💖
This book had me STRESSED. The stakes in this series are so high, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to completely fall apart.
This world is so expansive, but Alex somehow makes me care about all of these characters so much. I’m never annoyed being in any of the POVs, because I’m invested in every single one.
I really enjoyed the character and plot development in this. The story jumps right back into the action and it doesn’t stop. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!! (But also I’m stresssssed 😂)
Read this if you like:
Fantasy
Fortune Telling
Fae/Elementals/Magic
High Stakes
Angst/Romance/Pain
Thank you so much to Alex Bree for sending me a copy for an honest review! 💖
March 24, 2025
The Queensblood Crown had me hooked from the start—no surprise, considering how obsessed I was after The High Seer and The Nameless Shadow. The pacing only intensified as the story progressed, packed with twists I never saw coming and an ending that leaves you desperately awaiting the next book. The strong female leads are nothing short of phenomenal, their resilience and power shining through every page. As many have noted, there’s an abundance of well-executed feminine rage—perfection.
Alex Bree’s writing has a rare ability to immerse you completely, making you feel every emotion alongside the characters—their pain, their joy, their unbreakable bonds. I’m officially in the depths of a book hangover with this one.
Alex Bree’s writing has a rare ability to immerse you completely, making you feel every emotion alongside the characters—their pain, their joy, their unbreakable bonds. I’m officially in the depths of a book hangover with this one.
April 28, 2025
AMAZING follow up to The High Seer! The growth in the characters, new twists and story lines blew me away. It was one of those books that keeps you engaged and won’t let you go until you close the last page and you still want more. The Queensblood plot was one of my favorites from book one and it took a direction I did not see coming. The darkness and monsters is so intriguing and I love that there is no 100% “good” character, everything lives in a morally gray world making the best decision with the information they have. I enjoy the fact that there is no clear cut way anything should be done, it is so real. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for more!!
June 4, 2025
I went in expecting a typical fantasy romance, but what I got was darker, deeper, and way more emotionally intense. I loved every minute of it.
The world is dark and rich, the characters are layered and complex (I’m still thinking about Rianne and Rhydian), and nothing felt predictable, but that’s exactly what I loved about it. Queen Rianne’s fight against fate, paired with a cursed warrior and an immortal monster-slayer, makes for a thrilling, emotional ride, and totally worth the read.
If you’re into morally gray characters, high stakes, and a touch of gothic magic, definitely give this one a shot.
The world is dark and rich, the characters are layered and complex (I’m still thinking about Rianne and Rhydian), and nothing felt predictable, but that’s exactly what I loved about it. Queen Rianne’s fight against fate, paired with a cursed warrior and an immortal monster-slayer, makes for a thrilling, emotional ride, and totally worth the read.
If you’re into morally gray characters, high stakes, and a touch of gothic magic, definitely give this one a shot.
March 26, 2025
This book is so good! It's everything I wanted in the sequel (plus some things I didn't even know I'd want, but absolutely loved). It was action packed and gripping, with all my favorite characters in book one reunited to fight the Demorra empire. Rianne was one of the most unique and interesting queens I've ever read about (especially when it comes to her magical powers) and seeing her rise to power was so gratifying. I also loved all of the new characters introduced and expanded on in this book and can't wait to see how they all come together in book three.
March 30, 2025
The Darkling Souls universe expands and deepens with the second installment (though I would strongly recommend reading the in between novella for the lore and the fun).
We get to see a different side of those struggling against the encroaching darkness. Monster fans will love the new looks at different factions and how they come together.
Other reviewers have mentioned the great feminine rage, but I'll add that there's a good representation of "masculine rage" over injustice, too.
Buckle up for some magic, monsters, and mayhem in the Queensblood Crown!
5/5 dead queens
We get to see a different side of those struggling against the encroaching darkness. Monster fans will love the new looks at different factions and how they come together.
Other reviewers have mentioned the great feminine rage, but I'll add that there's a good representation of "masculine rage" over injustice, too.
Buckle up for some magic, monsters, and mayhem in the Queensblood Crown!
5/5 dead queens
March 22, 2025
This book keeps you enthralled and continues from where the first left off. It is action packed with no dull moments. There is so many secrets, lies, and deceit that you don't know who is fighting for whom.
If you're looking for a book with feminine rage, secrets, lies, prophecies, witches, and monsters this is your book!
There is no hero, no good vs evil, only monster vs monster. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series to see what will happen next! "Fate be damned"
If you're looking for a book with feminine rage, secrets, lies, prophecies, witches, and monsters this is your book!
There is no hero, no good vs evil, only monster vs monster. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series to see what will happen next! "Fate be damned"
May 9, 2025
I loved this book, but only 4 stars because both love stories took the same "it's not you, it's me" type downfall in the middle of the book. Where both girls close to leave because it'll be better that way. I also feel like this dragged a bit in the middle, but understandable with all the characters and war looming. I still absolutely loved this! and now more questions with that ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
all I can say is: feminine rage at its finest 🤌🏼
from the moment I started this book, until the very end, I couldn’t put this book down. The writing was phenomenal and the story and characters were so well developed. I loved it 🙂↕️
Thank you Alex Bree and Booksirens for sending me this ARC 🫶🏻
from the moment I started this book, until the very end, I couldn’t put this book down. The writing was phenomenal and the story and characters were so well developed. I loved it 🙂↕️
Thank you Alex Bree and Booksirens for sending me this ARC 🫶🏻
October 6, 2025
Too many spelling mistakes
Just like the first book, the story is great, but lack of revision, editing, and simple grammar checks ruin the enjoyment of this otherwise excellent story.
Just like the first book, the story is great, but lack of revision, editing, and simple grammar checks ruin the enjoyment of this otherwise excellent story.
October 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐ and not a moment of peace until the epilogue.
October 17, 2025
I was captivated by a queen destined for ultimate sacrifice but whose love for those before and after changed everything.
May 14, 2025
I can’t emphasize enough how much I LOVE this series. I loved the continuation of Aurienne and Theo’s relationship, the buildup to the war and its inevitable and bloody start, and Rhianne’s creepy transformation. I was incredibly frustrated when Aurienne lied to Theo and with Rhianne’s sudden cold disinterest in Rhydian, which was completely only because I love these characters so much and need them to have HEAs!! I again can’t wait to see where these relationships go! While there were some very minor spelling errors in this book (noticeably a few more than High Seer), this did not take away my enjoyment of the book. I am still psyched that I got a signed copy with some character art and bookmarks! Anxiously awaiting the next book!! 🖤🖤🖤
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews