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Witch Hall #2
Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom
Two girls, bound by magic, must work together to stop an oncoming war, while grappling with unresolved feelings and terrible secrets in Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom, the thrilling conclusion to Jasmine Skye's queernormative romantasy duology.
“If I ask you to walk into danger with me, Rosamund Holt, will you do it?”
Born a bone witch, with the power to raise the dead, Shaw has spent her life preparing to take her place as Death's Heir, so she can lead her people to victory in an unavoidable, prophesied war. But then she met Rosy, sweet, stubborn Rosy, the most powerful bone familiar she's ever known, and the only person Shaw has never been able to predict. Rosy, who doesn’t believe in the prophesied war that has consumed Shaw’s entire life.
“I won't be their weapon, but I will be yours.”
Shaw has won Rosy's loyalty, but Rosy has made it very clear she's not willing to share her heart, a fact that Shaw is determined to respect... no matter how much it hurts. But now, as tensions with Vinland rise and secrets about the Witch King’s motivations are revealed, Shaw needs Rosy and her entourage more than ever. Will Shaw become the conquering warlord she was prophesized to be, or will she be strong enough to find a new path forward?
“If I ask you to walk into danger with me, Rosamund Holt, will you do it?”
Born a bone witch, with the power to raise the dead, Shaw has spent her life preparing to take her place as Death's Heir, so she can lead her people to victory in an unavoidable, prophesied war. But then she met Rosy, sweet, stubborn Rosy, the most powerful bone familiar she's ever known, and the only person Shaw has never been able to predict. Rosy, who doesn’t believe in the prophesied war that has consumed Shaw’s entire life.
“I won't be their weapon, but I will be yours.”
Shaw has won Rosy's loyalty, but Rosy has made it very clear she's not willing to share her heart, a fact that Shaw is determined to respect... no matter how much it hurts. But now, as tensions with Vinland rise and secrets about the Witch King’s motivations are revealed, Shaw needs Rosy and her entourage more than ever. Will Shaw become the conquering warlord she was prophesized to be, or will she be strong enough to find a new path forward?
480 pages, Hardcover
Published February 24, 2026
23 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine Skye
2 books156 followersJasmine Skye is a queer-romantic, grey-ace, bigender fantasy author who earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast Program. S/he especially loves to create magical worlds where LGBTQIA+ heroes persevere through hardships to claim their own happy endings.
Jasmine has a small menagerie of pets and a collection of hobbies including cosplay and figure skating. When s/he’s not writing, Jasmine does STEM outreach work with high schoolers across Texas.
Jasmine has a small menagerie of pets and a collection of hobbies including cosplay and figure skating. When s/he’s not writing, Jasmine does STEM outreach work with high schoolers across Texas.
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Want to read
June 10, 2025we don't even have a cover yet, I'm guessing you want me to kill myself
edit many months (a year) later: we have a cover and it's hot.
edit many months (a year) later: we have a cover and it's hot.
March 28, 2026
3.5 stars. Didn't love it as much as the first book, and I noticed a lot of things that sliiiightly irked me? But it was still really good. RTC.
March 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
When I read Daughter of the Bone Forest, I loved everything about it, so much so that it became one of my most anticipated releases of the year! This book picked up right where the last one left off. I forgot how many side characters there were. Their names left my brain as soon as they were mentioned. I hate to say it, but this seemed more boring to me than the first. The pacing was slow, and I found myself setting it down quite often. The characters' motives felt a bit weak, and I wish the plot had been more impactful. However, I still loved the unique world-building and the romance between Rosy and Shaw. In the end, I think their story wrapped up nicely, and I would say this duology is definitely worth a read.
When I read Daughter of the Bone Forest, I loved everything about it, so much so that it became one of my most anticipated releases of the year! This book picked up right where the last one left off. I forgot how many side characters there were. Their names left my brain as soon as they were mentioned. I hate to say it, but this seemed more boring to me than the first. The pacing was slow, and I found myself setting it down quite often. The characters' motives felt a bit weak, and I wish the plot had been more impactful. However, I still loved the unique world-building and the romance between Rosy and Shaw. In the end, I think their story wrapped up nicely, and I would say this duology is definitely worth a read.
February 24, 2026
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for this ARC!
I will begin with saying that I adored Daughter of the Bone Forest. Everything from the rich and immersive world to the characters was absolutely phenomenal to me.
Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom follows everything I loved about the first book so spectacularly. An incredible sequel and conclusion to this story I've grown so fond of.
Skye weaves such a full and enriching world and cast in a way I can only conclude required an extensive excel spreadsheet. The walls of Witch Hall are always bursting with life, characters, and history without ever dumping it on the reader's head in one go.
This sequel leans much heavier into politics than the first book but that doesn't mean any of the characters were lost in it. In fact, they thrived. With the stakes higher and tensions bursting at the seams the characterizations and dynamics never falter. The romance flourishes so beautifully it brought me to tears several times while reading.
It is also so deeply refreshing to see such a beautiful, queernormative world full of diversity handled with so much care and grace.
As much as I absolutely adore Rosy I must say Shaw's POV in this book has been my favorite. I've loved following Shaw around and inside her head, seeing exactly what makes her tick.
Incredible conclusion to a personally beloved duology.
Also a book automatically gets 5 stars from me when the characters kissing and confessing has me bursting into blubbering tears and instantly making a playlist to wallow in while I draw fanart of them.
I will begin with saying that I adored Daughter of the Bone Forest. Everything from the rich and immersive world to the characters was absolutely phenomenal to me.
Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom follows everything I loved about the first book so spectacularly. An incredible sequel and conclusion to this story I've grown so fond of.
Skye weaves such a full and enriching world and cast in a way I can only conclude required an extensive excel spreadsheet. The walls of Witch Hall are always bursting with life, characters, and history without ever dumping it on the reader's head in one go.
This sequel leans much heavier into politics than the first book but that doesn't mean any of the characters were lost in it. In fact, they thrived. With the stakes higher and tensions bursting at the seams the characterizations and dynamics never falter. The romance flourishes so beautifully it brought me to tears several times while reading.
It is also so deeply refreshing to see such a beautiful, queernormative world full of diversity handled with so much care and grace.
As much as I absolutely adore Rosy I must say Shaw's POV in this book has been my favorite. I've loved following Shaw around and inside her head, seeing exactly what makes her tick.
Incredible conclusion to a personally beloved duology.
Also a book automatically gets 5 stars from me when the characters kissing and confessing has me bursting into blubbering tears and instantly making a playlist to wallow in while I draw fanart of them.
March 6, 2026
pls just gimme it already
edit 1/20/25
2026 WHAT THE HELL KILL ME ALREADY
6/24/25
i feel like the date keeps getting further away...
3/6/26
SNORTED LIKE COCAINE
edit 1/20/25
2026 WHAT THE HELL KILL ME ALREADY
6/24/25
i feel like the date keeps getting further away...
3/6/26
SNORTED LIKE COCAINE
March 11, 2026
There were a bunch of twists, good yearning (which earns multiple points in my book), phenomenal world building, and loads of tension. I preordered the book in anticipation of it even.
But, it didn’t grip me for some reason. Which might just be my own personal flaw because I’m usually attracted most to super fast paced book. Which is rather impossible to pull off with so much world building, but the ending earned back every point I had redacted.
I one hundred percent recommend this book, especially if you’re in the mood for an immersive fantasy with methodical creation of the history of the land and magic system.
But, it didn’t grip me for some reason. Which might just be my own personal flaw because I’m usually attracted most to super fast paced book. Which is rather impossible to pull off with so much world building, but the ending earned back every point I had redacted.
I one hundred percent recommend this book, especially if you’re in the mood for an immersive fantasy with methodical creation of the history of the land and magic system.
February 26, 2026
I feel like I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this sequel for what feels like forever—and it was so worth the wait. I absolutely love the world that Skye has created here. The magic system is expanded in such a satisfying way, and it truly feels like there’s a new piece of information waiting around every corner.
I love Shaw and Rosy, and I’m so glad we got to see them grow—not just as individuals, but together—in the way they did in this installment. The stakes are higher, the threat is bigger, and the story feels even more magical.
Such a perfect conclusion to this duology.
I love Shaw and Rosy, and I’m so glad we got to see them grow—not just as individuals, but together—in the way they did in this installment. The stakes are higher, the threat is bigger, and the story feels even more magical.
Such a perfect conclusion to this duology.
March 4, 2026
This book is one I knew I'd love before starting it. Ever since I read its first volume, and read it again and again for the past year because this world and its characters would not leave my mind, I knew that whatever direction Jasmine Skye would choose, I would accept anything and everything from it.
Many things that I loved: I loved seeing more of the kingdom through Rosy and Shaw little escapade, I loved how much politics mattered despite it being labelled YA. I was afraid that the second book would chicken out of the huge cliffhanger and expectations the first one settled, but I was delighted to see it rise to the challenge. I loved the exploration of all these diverse characters - even Charles - and how the author took the time to write each one's evolution and development - and kudos for the amazing research and writing of physical disability.
I loved the relationship between Rosy and Shaw, which had me so obsessed in the first book. I love how this book did a true slow burn, with real stakes and not just dumb reasons why they couldn't be together. I loved how it didn't shy away from the ambiguity that sometimes - often - surrounds feelings. I loved how Rosamund and Shaw interacted when they gave into this ambiguity. In fact, I would have loved to see a bit more of their interaction.
This book, unlike the first one, is told mainly from Shaw's perspective. When I realized this, and even now, I didn't know how to feel about it. The first book had taught me to love the Cursed Kingdom universe from Rosy's POV, as a commoner with political ideals. Shaw was then the love interest, and I enjoyed the mysterious aura she gave off, as we had little access to her thoughts and when we had, it was very well done. Going back into this world through Shaw's POV (and the change of person as now Shaw talked in first person) kind of threw me off. I get why and I appreciate how we could have so much inside into the political game. However I also felt like Rosy wasn't a main character anymore in her own story. We are told she is important, but except in battle scenes, she is kept far from the main plot and has little agency in it. In some scenes, her sole use is to serve as a power backup to Shaw or just to turn into a wolf and slash at people. Her POV chapters don't hit the same as Shaw's did in the first book, where catching a glimpse of what she thought was amazing whereas here it sometimes just felt weird to read about what a character I had learnt to know very well did in third person. I felt like a lot of her actions mattered little.
As a matter of fact, some big revelations - namely around the character of Aklemin - didn't hit as much as they'd been teased and sometimes felt like easy plot twists... Am I saying this because I wish this would have been a trilogy? Yes. But also because I think it had enough political problems and relationship development to be one.
I didn't mind the ending, as abrupt as it was, but I also didn't feel THAT involved - Shaw was clearly doing her own magical stuff and I was kind of just reading it knowing it would go well while not really understanding how she instinctively knew what to do and why it was so easy.
I feel like a third book would have helped deepen some plot points that were skimmed over: the history of the Cursed Kingdom with the grandmother spirit, the history of its neighbor enemy, the detailed functioning of Shaw's magic (which seems to reach well beyond simple necromancy), Rosamund evolution in her own magical journey (she literally learnt nothing of real importance in this book from what I recall, except for the bonding stuff), Shaw relationship with her Mom and Dad, the relationships between the jarls and their heirs - which felt a bit too black and white, honestly despite real efforts in their descriptions, I always ended confused having to actively recall who was who in that council.
And of course, cherry on the cake, I think Rosamund and Shaw's relationship deserved way more pages... I loved the political scheming and I don't think there should've been less of it, but it sometimes overstepped their relationship dynamic. Shaw is a duty girly, for sure, but in the first book she was never far from Rosamund's mind, whereas there were so many characters in this book that Rosy tended to fade among the crowd. Following their changes of heart felt a bit more rickety. And while I wouldn't say them getting together was rushed, because those scenes were too adorable, I do wish we'd had more tension with moments like their scene in the mine. I knew that they had feelings, they talked about it, but I didn't see it in their action - and I know it could be excused by saying the goal was to put a distance, but that distance was meant to be broken anyways, and I think it should have cracked a bit more before giving in. Also I am dying to know what happens when Rosy becomes Familiar queen, the one thing she'd feared so much. Give me that third book please!!
Saying goodbye to this duology I've thought about twice a month for more than a year is truly heartbreaking. I can never thank Jasmine Skye enough for having created such a beautiful, queer normative world and for having admirably succeeded in the challenge of weaving so many characters in two books while maintaining such a captivating plot. I'm gonna miss these characters, I'm gonna miss the anticipation I felt in the past few months, rereading the first book to be sure to keep the story in mind, I'm gonna miss this unique world and magic system that go far beyond expectations. And I'm gonna miss the good old feeling of accepting that high schoolers have such a big agency in politics because why the hell not! Lastly, I'm gonna miss reading about such a beautiful and gentle wlw couple.
Thousands of thanks Jasmine ✨ I'll definitely keep an eye on what you publish next
also for the life of me and despite the covers I just cannot imagine Rosy as blond and Shaw as brown haired!! they switched when I read the first book and stayed that way ever since... oops.
Many things that I loved: I loved seeing more of the kingdom through Rosy and Shaw little escapade, I loved how much politics mattered despite it being labelled YA. I was afraid that the second book would chicken out of the huge cliffhanger and expectations the first one settled, but I was delighted to see it rise to the challenge. I loved the exploration of all these diverse characters - even Charles - and how the author took the time to write each one's evolution and development - and kudos for the amazing research and writing of physical disability.
I loved the relationship between Rosy and Shaw, which had me so obsessed in the first book. I love how this book did a true slow burn, with real stakes and not just dumb reasons why they couldn't be together. I loved how it didn't shy away from the ambiguity that sometimes - often - surrounds feelings. I loved how Rosamund and Shaw interacted when they gave into this ambiguity. In fact, I would have loved to see a bit more of their interaction.
This book, unlike the first one, is told mainly from Shaw's perspective. When I realized this, and even now, I didn't know how to feel about it. The first book had taught me to love the Cursed Kingdom universe from Rosy's POV, as a commoner with political ideals. Shaw was then the love interest, and I enjoyed the mysterious aura she gave off, as we had little access to her thoughts and when we had, it was very well done. Going back into this world through Shaw's POV (and the change of person as now Shaw talked in first person) kind of threw me off. I get why and I appreciate how we could have so much inside into the political game. However I also felt like Rosy wasn't a main character anymore in her own story. We are told she is important, but except in battle scenes, she is kept far from the main plot and has little agency in it. In some scenes, her sole use is to serve as a power backup to Shaw or just to turn into a wolf and slash at people. Her POV chapters don't hit the same as Shaw's did in the first book, where catching a glimpse of what she thought was amazing whereas here it sometimes just felt weird to read about what a character I had learnt to know very well did in third person. I felt like a lot of her actions mattered little.
As a matter of fact, some big revelations - namely around the character of Aklemin - didn't hit as much as they'd been teased and sometimes felt like easy plot twists... Am I saying this because I wish this would have been a trilogy? Yes. But also because I think it had enough political problems and relationship development to be one.
I didn't mind the ending, as abrupt as it was, but I also didn't feel THAT involved - Shaw was clearly doing her own magical stuff and I was kind of just reading it knowing it would go well while not really understanding how she instinctively knew what to do and why it was so easy.
I feel like a third book would have helped deepen some plot points that were skimmed over: the history of the Cursed Kingdom with the grandmother spirit, the history of its neighbor enemy, the detailed functioning of Shaw's magic (which seems to reach well beyond simple necromancy), Rosamund evolution in her own magical journey (she literally learnt nothing of real importance in this book from what I recall, except for the bonding stuff), Shaw relationship with her Mom and Dad, the relationships between the jarls and their heirs - which felt a bit too black and white, honestly despite real efforts in their descriptions, I always ended confused having to actively recall who was who in that council.
And of course, cherry on the cake, I think Rosamund and Shaw's relationship deserved way more pages... I loved the political scheming and I don't think there should've been less of it, but it sometimes overstepped their relationship dynamic. Shaw is a duty girly, for sure, but in the first book she was never far from Rosamund's mind, whereas there were so many characters in this book that Rosy tended to fade among the crowd. Following their changes of heart felt a bit more rickety. And while I wouldn't say them getting together was rushed, because those scenes were too adorable, I do wish we'd had more tension with moments like their scene in the mine. I knew that they had feelings, they talked about it, but I didn't see it in their action - and I know it could be excused by saying the goal was to put a distance, but that distance was meant to be broken anyways, and I think it should have cracked a bit more before giving in. Also I am dying to know what happens when Rosy becomes Familiar queen, the one thing she'd feared so much. Give me that third book please!!
Saying goodbye to this duology I've thought about twice a month for more than a year is truly heartbreaking. I can never thank Jasmine Skye enough for having created such a beautiful, queer normative world and for having admirably succeeded in the challenge of weaving so many characters in two books while maintaining such a captivating plot. I'm gonna miss these characters, I'm gonna miss the anticipation I felt in the past few months, rereading the first book to be sure to keep the story in mind, I'm gonna miss this unique world and magic system that go far beyond expectations. And I'm gonna miss the good old feeling of accepting that high schoolers have such a big agency in politics because why the hell not! Lastly, I'm gonna miss reading about such a beautiful and gentle wlw couple.
Thousands of thanks Jasmine ✨ I'll definitely keep an eye on what you publish next
also for the life of me and despite the covers I just cannot imagine Rosy as blond and Shaw as brown haired!! they switched when I read the first book and stayed that way ever since... oops.
February 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
Disappointed to say I wasn't a huge fan of the way this duology concluded. In my review of the series opener, Daughter of the Bone Forest , I said that, while there were some problems I had with the book, it ultimately kept me entertained; and while some of the problems with book one were expanded upon in book two in a satisfying way, unfortunately, Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom just lacked the same aspect of entertainment.
First, the positive: the world of this duology is extremely creative and the second book expands upon that by showing us even more of the world and deepening our knowledge of the magic systems within it. The romance, which I felt was somewhat stilted in the first book (though it had potential), was also given room to breathe, and I had a much better sense in this book of the deep romantic love the two characters had for each other. The stakes, too, have been raised in a way that felt realistic and interesting--war is coming, and war means casualties and sacrifice--and this, in my opinion, sets the stage for the strongest part of the novel: the generational divide between the king and his cohort, who are determined to plunge the land into war, and Shaw and her classmates, who are determined to stop it and seek peace at all costs. It's a compelling setup with real-world allegories--it's always the young who suffer the most in war--and I thought that the author handled it nicely.
The main reason I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I'd hoped, however, was the characters: there are so many of them, and, regrettably, most are completely flat. Many, many people are named in this novel, and I couldn't tell you two things about most of them apart from who their friends are and what kind of magic they were capable of. Scenes that ought to be tense and emotional, such as a conversation between Shaw and her confidant Aklemin, fall flat because I just have no sense of who Aklemin is. Or, for that matter, much of who Shaw is: one of the strengths of the previous novel is that its POV character, Rosy, had a familiar and compelling character arc from farm girl hiding her powers so she doesn't get dragged into a war to being thrust into the totally unfamiliar world of Witch Hall and growing and changing. Her motivations are clear and make sense. Shaw's motivations in this book are to stop a war from happening, but I didn't feel there was a clear sense of why that would be so important to her. Especially since the driving force behind inciting war is her only parent--why do her feelings differ from his? How did that come about? What else does she wish for, apart from preventing a war and to win back Rosy's affections?
This is an interesting book with some interesting things to say, but I personally wished for more.
Disappointed to say I wasn't a huge fan of the way this duology concluded. In my review of the series opener, Daughter of the Bone Forest , I said that, while there were some problems I had with the book, it ultimately kept me entertained; and while some of the problems with book one were expanded upon in book two in a satisfying way, unfortunately, Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom just lacked the same aspect of entertainment.
First, the positive: the world of this duology is extremely creative and the second book expands upon that by showing us even more of the world and deepening our knowledge of the magic systems within it. The romance, which I felt was somewhat stilted in the first book (though it had potential), was also given room to breathe, and I had a much better sense in this book of the deep romantic love the two characters had for each other. The stakes, too, have been raised in a way that felt realistic and interesting--war is coming, and war means casualties and sacrifice--and this, in my opinion, sets the stage for the strongest part of the novel: the generational divide between the king and his cohort, who are determined to plunge the land into war, and Shaw and her classmates, who are determined to stop it and seek peace at all costs. It's a compelling setup with real-world allegories--it's always the young who suffer the most in war--and I thought that the author handled it nicely.
The main reason I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I'd hoped, however, was the characters: there are so many of them, and, regrettably, most are completely flat. Many, many people are named in this novel, and I couldn't tell you two things about most of them apart from who their friends are and what kind of magic they were capable of. Scenes that ought to be tense and emotional, such as a conversation between Shaw and her confidant Aklemin, fall flat because I just have no sense of who Aklemin is. Or, for that matter, much of who Shaw is: one of the strengths of the previous novel is that its POV character, Rosy, had a familiar and compelling character arc from farm girl hiding her powers so she doesn't get dragged into a war to being thrust into the totally unfamiliar world of Witch Hall and growing and changing. Her motivations are clear and make sense. Shaw's motivations in this book are to stop a war from happening, but I didn't feel there was a clear sense of why that would be so important to her. Especially since the driving force behind inciting war is her only parent--why do her feelings differ from his? How did that come about? What else does she wish for, apart from preventing a war and to win back Rosy's affections?
This is an interesting book with some interesting things to say, but I personally wished for more.
March 12, 2026
Daughter of the Bone Forest (book 1) was one of my favorite books ever. A friend recommended it to me. It being a sapphic romantasy, with loads of queer and trans characters, written by a trans author, is awesome too. I love queer normative romantasy! I was so excited to read Shaw and Rosy's romance from book 1. That did not disappoint. Even though the reason for separation was frustrating, I thought it was believable. Some people truly are very stubborn and bad at communication. Plus, these are teenagers, lol. I don't know about you, but I barely had any insight into my own feelings, let alone be able to communicate them back when I was a teen.
I read a ton of other reviews, and saw many didn't love the heavy focus on politics. Hmmm, I actually adore political intrigue. So that was a plus for me. That said, I noticed that I wasn't as gripped by this book as I was by the first book. Maybe because this was mainly in Shaw's POV rather than Rosy's. I love Shaw very much, but since I'm just an ordinary civilian, I guess I could relate more to Rosy. Also, I would have liked to learn more about Shaw's relationship with her father, which I thought was very interesting and not-straightforward/ not black-and-white.
I read a ton of other reviews, and saw many didn't love the heavy focus on politics. Hmmm, I actually adore political intrigue. So that was a plus for me. That said, I noticed that I wasn't as gripped by this book as I was by the first book. Maybe because this was mainly in Shaw's POV rather than Rosy's. I love Shaw very much, but since I'm just an ordinary civilian, I guess I could relate more to Rosy. Also, I would have liked to learn more about Shaw's relationship with her father, which I thought was very interesting and not-straightforward/ not black-and-white.
February 21, 2026
Outstanding conclusion for this upper ya clean fantasy! Seamlessly written, a storyline that keeps you intrigued with twists and turns and ohhh the pining, queer normative society with romantic undertones, a thoroughly engrossing plot steeped in unique magics, military tactics, political upheaval and camaraderie of Shaw and her peers. Bravo Jasmin!
March 15, 2026
This duology deserves so much more love! Truly incredible writing, world building, and character arcs!
March 31, 2026
Shaw <3
February 21, 2026
Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom by Jasmine Skye
⭐️ 4.5 stars
🎧 NetGalley ALC
📖 Read Feb 17–19
📆 Release Date: February 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers at Macmillan Audio for an advanced listeners copy narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Lindsey Dorcus in exchange for my honest review. It in no way impacted the thoughts I’ve shared.
Review
I will start by saying this was absolutely a cover-motivated read. So much so that I began the series without realizing this was the second half of a duology. I quickly breezed through book one and fell in love with the world, the magic, and the characters along the way.
That cliffhanger at the end of book one was just cruel!! I had absolutely no choice but to jump straight into this book!!
The world continues to be everything I loved. Magic with rules. Forests and mountains that feel ancient and watchful. Bonds, destiny, and war humming just beneath the surface. The Bone Forest still feels alive, the obsidian desert was thrilling and terrifying, and the Ice Mountain feels just as fierce and dangerous. The magic of bone, ice, glass, and flower still feels deliberate and immersive!
This time, the story leans more heavily into Shaw’s perspective as she steps fully into her role as Death’s Heir. The weight of prophecy, war, and expectation presses harder here. I will admit, I missed Rosie’s POV just a little. I connected to her chapters more in book one, so shifting predominantly into Shaw’s perspective made this installment slightly less magical for me.
Nevertheless, this was still a great conclusion. The world and characters continued to captivate me, and I truly feel like every loop was closed. No loose threads. No lingering confusion. Just a full and satisfying ending to a beautifully built duology.
Except now my only question is when and how can I get more of this world?
Because I am not ready to leave it.
⭐️ 4.5 stars
🎧 NetGalley ALC
📖 Read Feb 17–19
📆 Release Date: February 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers at Macmillan Audio for an advanced listeners copy narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Lindsey Dorcus in exchange for my honest review. It in no way impacted the thoughts I’ve shared.
Review
I will start by saying this was absolutely a cover-motivated read. So much so that I began the series without realizing this was the second half of a duology. I quickly breezed through book one and fell in love with the world, the magic, and the characters along the way.
That cliffhanger at the end of book one was just cruel!! I had absolutely no choice but to jump straight into this book!!
The world continues to be everything I loved. Magic with rules. Forests and mountains that feel ancient and watchful. Bonds, destiny, and war humming just beneath the surface. The Bone Forest still feels alive, the obsidian desert was thrilling and terrifying, and the Ice Mountain feels just as fierce and dangerous. The magic of bone, ice, glass, and flower still feels deliberate and immersive!
This time, the story leans more heavily into Shaw’s perspective as she steps fully into her role as Death’s Heir. The weight of prophecy, war, and expectation presses harder here. I will admit, I missed Rosie’s POV just a little. I connected to her chapters more in book one, so shifting predominantly into Shaw’s perspective made this installment slightly less magical for me.
Nevertheless, this was still a great conclusion. The world and characters continued to captivate me, and I truly feel like every loop was closed. No loose threads. No lingering confusion. Just a full and satisfying ending to a beautifully built duology.
Except now my only question is when and how can I get more of this world?
Because I am not ready to leave it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC!~~
3.5/5 stars rounded up!
This is very much a sequel that requires you to remember the lore and events of its predecessor. If I hadn't reread the first book last month, I would've been much more lost. That being said, the story overall was really good, if not for the rushed ending.
This book switches its POVs, with Shaw as the main/first-person POV and Rosy as the secondary/third-person POV. I did like the deeper insight into Shaw. Her struggles with leadership and navigating what was right and wrong in regards to war were interesting. She is a much different character from Rosy, as she played the game of politics with much more practiced grace and finesse. I also really liked seeing her embrace her relationships, particularly those within her entourage and their partners, closely rather than using them as means to harness political influence. Her romance with Rosy was challenged much more in depth, as well; these two were just really cute together. I did miss Rosy as the main character, though.
Despite this, there's a lot of side characters. I kinda lost track of who was who sometimes, especially when it was people outside Shaw and Rosy's immediate entourage and the council heirs like Charles. It added to the expansiveness of the world, but trying to go over every side character's backstory in vivid detail with little time felt very overwhelming for me.
The worldbuilding covers far more in this book. We learn more about the other nations, the creation of the Cursed Kingdom, and, through Shaw, how politic power is distributed and handled between the royals and the jarls. Very interesting stuff. I especially liked the parts about Shaw's many-great grandmother, for she plays an important role sometime in the latter half on the story.
As for the ending, there's a huge climatic battle that spans for a few chapters before wrapping it all up quite soon after. It felt kinda jarring; everything felt too neatly wrapped in a bow after everything Shaw and co. struggled through. I'm kinda hoping Skye goes back to this world, whether with Rosy back as the main character or an entirely new, unrelated one, so we could see where the kingdom goes after its ending, but I would also understand if the author would want to move onto something else after this one.
Overall, despite its flaws, I liked this. The first one holds a warmer place in my heart, but this book was good for what it set out to do.
3.5/5 stars rounded up!
This is very much a sequel that requires you to remember the lore and events of its predecessor. If I hadn't reread the first book last month, I would've been much more lost. That being said, the story overall was really good, if not for the rushed ending.
This book switches its POVs, with Shaw as the main/first-person POV and Rosy as the secondary/third-person POV. I did like the deeper insight into Shaw. Her struggles with leadership and navigating what was right and wrong in regards to war were interesting. She is a much different character from Rosy, as she played the game of politics with much more practiced grace and finesse. I also really liked seeing her embrace her relationships, particularly those within her entourage and their partners, closely rather than using them as means to harness political influence. Her romance with Rosy was challenged much more in depth, as well; these two were just really cute together. I did miss Rosy as the main character, though.
Despite this, there's a lot of side characters. I kinda lost track of who was who sometimes, especially when it was people outside Shaw and Rosy's immediate entourage and the council heirs like Charles. It added to the expansiveness of the world, but trying to go over every side character's backstory in vivid detail with little time felt very overwhelming for me.
The worldbuilding covers far more in this book. We learn more about the other nations, the creation of the Cursed Kingdom, and, through Shaw, how politic power is distributed and handled between the royals and the jarls. Very interesting stuff. I especially liked the parts about Shaw's many-great grandmother, for she plays an important role sometime in the latter half on the story.
As for the ending, there's a huge climatic battle that spans for a few chapters before wrapping it all up quite soon after. It felt kinda jarring; everything felt too neatly wrapped in a bow after everything Shaw and co. struggled through. I'm kinda hoping Skye goes back to this world, whether with Rosy back as the main character or an entirely new, unrelated one, so we could see where the kingdom goes after its ending, but I would also understand if the author would want to move onto something else after this one.
Overall, despite its flaws, I liked this. The first one holds a warmer place in my heart, but this book was good for what it set out to do.
February 28, 2026
A few hours in, I was really looking forward to this sequel - but I just can't get into it. Not enough time is spent developing any of the characters for me to actually care about them. Another hour later, and I'm still not convinced. I don't care about the characters. I don't care about the story. Writing is good and narration as well.
Want to read
April 25, 2025The first book is so so so so good. I’m so sad I have to wait until 2026 to read the second.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.25 ⭐
The Witch Hall duology takes place in a queernormative fantasy world where witches and familiars coexist. Familiars can shapeshift into animals, while witches specialize in necromancy and other magical arts. The story follows Rosamund, a bone familiar from a peasant family, and Shaw, Death’s Heir and the future queen of the kingdom. As war approaches and secrets unravel, their growing connection is put to the test, can it become something truly real?
First of all, thank you so much to the author for gifting me an eARC, I’m incredibly grateful!
Before starting book two, I reread Daughter of the Bone Forest since it’s been almost two years since its release. I wanted to refresh my understanding of the world and magic system, and honestly, I’m so glad I did. Jumping straight into the sequel without that reread would’ve made things much harder to follow.
From the moment I discovered this duology, I’ve been captivated by the world Jasmine Skye created. It’s wildly imaginative and feels so fresh. Book one drew me in with its magical school setting, the exploration of powers, and the deep bonds between witches and familiars. In this sequel, though, the tone shifts significantly. The story leans heavily into the upcoming war and political intrigue, which isn’t usually my favorite focus, and that might be why I struggled more. At times, it felt like too much was happening all at once, and I wish the execution had been a bit more streamlined.
One thing this book absolutely delivered on was Shaw’s character development. With more of her POV, we really get to see her growth; stepping into leadership, challenging her father, and showing how fiercely she cares for her people. This book completely changed how I saw her, and I ended up loving her arc. Rosy, on the other hand, didn’t quite work for me here. With less insight into her thoughts, it was hard to fully connect, and her indecisiveness—especially toward Shaw—often frustrated me. By the time she finally confronted her insecurities, the emotional payoff just didn’t land for me.
Because of that, the romance didn’t feel as convincing as I’d hoped. The conflict lasted too long, and real communication only happened toward the end, which made it hard to fully invest in their relationship.
Still, the found family aspect was a highlight. Shaw and Rosy’s friends were incredibly loyal, and I especially loved seeing Rosy and Tokey’s bond grow into something genuine and heartfelt.
In the end, I’m happy with how the duology wrapped up. After all the angst, we do get the HEA, and the story ties up its loose ends nicely. If you love queernormative fantasy with emotional stakes and political tension, this duology is worth checking out!
The Witch Hall duology takes place in a queernormative fantasy world where witches and familiars coexist. Familiars can shapeshift into animals, while witches specialize in necromancy and other magical arts. The story follows Rosamund, a bone familiar from a peasant family, and Shaw, Death’s Heir and the future queen of the kingdom. As war approaches and secrets unravel, their growing connection is put to the test, can it become something truly real?
First of all, thank you so much to the author for gifting me an eARC, I’m incredibly grateful!
Before starting book two, I reread Daughter of the Bone Forest since it’s been almost two years since its release. I wanted to refresh my understanding of the world and magic system, and honestly, I’m so glad I did. Jumping straight into the sequel without that reread would’ve made things much harder to follow.
From the moment I discovered this duology, I’ve been captivated by the world Jasmine Skye created. It’s wildly imaginative and feels so fresh. Book one drew me in with its magical school setting, the exploration of powers, and the deep bonds between witches and familiars. In this sequel, though, the tone shifts significantly. The story leans heavily into the upcoming war and political intrigue, which isn’t usually my favorite focus, and that might be why I struggled more. At times, it felt like too much was happening all at once, and I wish the execution had been a bit more streamlined.
One thing this book absolutely delivered on was Shaw’s character development. With more of her POV, we really get to see her growth; stepping into leadership, challenging her father, and showing how fiercely she cares for her people. This book completely changed how I saw her, and I ended up loving her arc. Rosy, on the other hand, didn’t quite work for me here. With less insight into her thoughts, it was hard to fully connect, and her indecisiveness—especially toward Shaw—often frustrated me. By the time she finally confronted her insecurities, the emotional payoff just didn’t land for me.
Because of that, the romance didn’t feel as convincing as I’d hoped. The conflict lasted too long, and real communication only happened toward the end, which made it hard to fully invest in their relationship.
Still, the found family aspect was a highlight. Shaw and Rosy’s friends were incredibly loyal, and I especially loved seeing Rosy and Tokey’s bond grow into something genuine and heartfelt.
In the end, I’m happy with how the duology wrapped up. After all the angst, we do get the HEA, and the story ties up its loose ends nicely. If you love queernormative fantasy with emotional stakes and political tension, this duology is worth checking out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom. The duology as a whole are books that I solidly think I would have absolutely adored when I was a middle grade or YA reader: the queernormative world, the unique magic system of witches and their animal shifting familiars, and a world brimming with wild, chaotic magic—at the right age, I would have absolutely loved this book. It’s something I sincerely wish had been around when I was younger.
That being said, I do think that I enjoyed the first book in this duology more than the second. I found this book much more difficult to follow—something I can attribute both to this book and the fact that it’s been a while since I read the first book. Regarding the latter, I do think that the world is somewhat unintuitive in a way that made it harder for me to recall the events of the first book: I could never really get a hand on the size of the kingdom, the complexities of the magic system, the specificity of courtship as described in this book, the inheritance of royal governance, etc. Part of that was certainly on me, but I anticipate other readers returning to this series might struggle with it; it’s the kind of book that really makes me wish that there was a short summary chapter at the beginning of the book to help get me refreshed on the events of the first book.
That being said, on a whole I do think that this book was more difficult to follow due to a larger focus on politics, something that also made me less enthusiastic about the story as a whole. This book really is about Shaw and her attempts to stop the prophesied war before it starts; as such, it’s not really about Rosamund. Yes, their relationship is still a key point of the book, but Rosamund feels much more distant in this book in a way that made the emotional payoff of their relationship a bit diminished for me. Instead, this book really does focus on politics and Shaw learning what it means to lead—which is interesting, but I personally found the politics as a whole a bit difficult to follow and much harder to get invested in. I found myself wishing for more Rosamund just to see a different side of what was happening in the plot; one less focused on the weight of leadership and the specifics of governance.
All in all, I do recommend this series to someone interested in a unique queernormative fantasy suitable for an older middle grade or younger YA audience. I’m glad I read it, and glad I finished the series, even if I recall enjoying the first book more.
That being said, I do think that I enjoyed the first book in this duology more than the second. I found this book much more difficult to follow—something I can attribute both to this book and the fact that it’s been a while since I read the first book. Regarding the latter, I do think that the world is somewhat unintuitive in a way that made it harder for me to recall the events of the first book: I could never really get a hand on the size of the kingdom, the complexities of the magic system, the specificity of courtship as described in this book, the inheritance of royal governance, etc. Part of that was certainly on me, but I anticipate other readers returning to this series might struggle with it; it’s the kind of book that really makes me wish that there was a short summary chapter at the beginning of the book to help get me refreshed on the events of the first book.
That being said, on a whole I do think that this book was more difficult to follow due to a larger focus on politics, something that also made me less enthusiastic about the story as a whole. This book really is about Shaw and her attempts to stop the prophesied war before it starts; as such, it’s not really about Rosamund. Yes, their relationship is still a key point of the book, but Rosamund feels much more distant in this book in a way that made the emotional payoff of their relationship a bit diminished for me. Instead, this book really does focus on politics and Shaw learning what it means to lead—which is interesting, but I personally found the politics as a whole a bit difficult to follow and much harder to get invested in. I found myself wishing for more Rosamund just to see a different side of what was happening in the plot; one less focused on the weight of leadership and the specifics of governance.
All in all, I do recommend this series to someone interested in a unique queernormative fantasy suitable for an older middle grade or younger YA audience. I’m glad I read it, and glad I finished the series, even if I recall enjoying the first book more.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒟𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒹𝑜𝓂 ʙʏ ᴊᴀsᴍɪɴᴇ sᴋʏᴇ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀ ʙᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ’s ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇʀɪɴɢ ʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ғᴜʟғɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴀ ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ ᴏғ ᴡᴀʀ ᴏʀ ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇғᴜsᴇs ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴄᴍɪʟʟᴀɴᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒯𝓌𝑜 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸. 𝒜 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒶𝓇. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓅𝑜𝓃𝒾𝓏𝑒𝒹.
𝒟𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒹𝑜𝓂 ʙʏ ᴊᴀsᴍɪɴᴇ sᴋʏᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ǫᴜᴇᴇʀɴᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴅᴜᴏʟᴏɢʏ—ʙʟᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ.
sʜᴀᴡ, ʙᴏʀɴ ᴀ ʙᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ’s ʜᴇɪʀ, ʜᴀs sᴘᴇɴᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪғᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇsɪᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʀ. ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ—ᴡɪʟᴅ, ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴛɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ—ғᴇᴇʟs ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀғᴜʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴏsʏ, ʜᴇʀ ғɪᴇʀᴄᴇʟʏ ʟᴏʏᴀʟ (ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴜʙʙᴏʀɴʟʏ ɪɴᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ) ʙᴏɴᴇ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀ, ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ sʜᴀᴡ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ғᴀᴛᴇ, ᴡᴀʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪs sʜᴀᴡ’s sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ. sʜᴇ’s ʙᴇᴇɴ sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴏsʏ’s ʀᴇғᴜsᴀʟ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ—ᴏʀ ʙʟɪɴᴅʟʏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ—ғᴏʀᴄᴇs sʜᴀᴡ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇsᴛ ɪs ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙʟᴇ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ ɪs ᴛᴇɴᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ; ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ɪs ᴘᴀʟᴘᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀs sʜᴀᴡ ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛs ʀᴏsʏ’s ʙᴏᴜɴᴅᴀʀɪᴇs ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs. ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴇᴇʟs ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀsʜᴀᴅᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ ᴘʟᴏᴛ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ᴀ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴏᴜᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪǫᴜᴇ ʙᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ, ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟ-sʜɪғᴛɪɴɢ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜᴇᴇʀɴᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ sᴏᴄɪᴇᴛʏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴇᴇʟs ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇғʀᴇsʜɪɴɢ. ᴀs sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀ ᴜɴʀᴀᴠᴇʟ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ʀɪsᴇ sᴛᴇᴀᴅɪʟʏ, ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ sʜᴀᴡ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴀ ᴘɪᴠᴏᴛᴀʟ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ: ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀʟᴏʀᴅ ғᴏʀᴇᴛᴏʟᴅ… ᴏʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: ᴊᴇʀᴇᴍʏ ᴄᴀʀʟɪsʟᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴋᴇʀ & ʟɪɴᴅsᴇʏ ᴅᴏʀᴄᴜs
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇs sʜᴀᴡ’s ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ—ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇᴅ, ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴅɢᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ. ʀᴏsʏ’s ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴇᴇʟ ɪɴ ᴇǫᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇ, ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs—ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ sᴜʀɢᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴs—ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏsɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴀʀɪᴛʏ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
✨ǫᴜᴇᴇʀɴᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ
✨ᴜɴɪǫᴜᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴏғ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇs
✨ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟ sʜɪғᴛɪɴɢ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀs
✨ᴡɪʟᴅ, ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
✨sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ʏᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴀ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʀᴇsᴏɴᴀɴᴛ ғɪɴᴀʟᴇ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇs, ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ-ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴄs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇs ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
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Tropes:
- Queernormative world
- Unique magic system of witches
- Animal shifting familiars
- Wild, chaotic magic
- Sapphic Romance
- YA Dark Fantasy
𝒟𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒹𝑜𝓂 ʙʏ ᴊᴀsᴍɪɴᴇ sᴋʏᴇ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀ ʙᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ’s ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇʀɪɴɢ ʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ғᴜʟғɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴀ ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ ᴏғ ᴡᴀʀ ᴏʀ ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇғᴜsᴇs ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴄᴍɪʟʟᴀɴᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒯𝓌𝑜 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸. 𝒜 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒶𝓇. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓅𝑜𝓃𝒾𝓏𝑒𝒹.
𝒟𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒹𝑜𝓂 ʙʏ ᴊᴀsᴍɪɴᴇ sᴋʏᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ǫᴜᴇᴇʀɴᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴅᴜᴏʟᴏɢʏ—ʙʟᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ.
sʜᴀᴡ, ʙᴏʀɴ ᴀ ʙᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ’s ʜᴇɪʀ, ʜᴀs sᴘᴇɴᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪғᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇsɪᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʀ. ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ—ᴡɪʟᴅ, ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴛɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ—ғᴇᴇʟs ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀғᴜʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴏsʏ, ʜᴇʀ ғɪᴇʀᴄᴇʟʏ ʟᴏʏᴀʟ (ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴜʙʙᴏʀɴʟʏ ɪɴᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ) ʙᴏɴᴇ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀ, ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ sʜᴀᴡ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ғᴀᴛᴇ, ᴡᴀʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪs sʜᴀᴡ’s sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ. sʜᴇ’s ʙᴇᴇɴ sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴏsʏ’s ʀᴇғᴜsᴀʟ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ—ᴏʀ ʙʟɪɴᴅʟʏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ—ғᴏʀᴄᴇs sʜᴀᴡ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇsᴛ ɪs ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙʟᴇ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ ɪs ᴛᴇɴᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ; ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ɪs ᴘᴀʟᴘᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀs sʜᴀᴡ ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛs ʀᴏsʏ’s ʙᴏᴜɴᴅᴀʀɪᴇs ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs. ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴇᴇʟs ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀsʜᴀᴅᴏᴡᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ ᴘʟᴏᴛ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ᴀ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴏᴜᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪǫᴜᴇ ʙᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ, ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟ-sʜɪғᴛɪɴɢ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜᴇᴇʀɴᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ sᴏᴄɪᴇᴛʏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴇᴇʟs ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇғʀᴇsʜɪɴɢ. ᴀs sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀ ᴜɴʀᴀᴠᴇʟ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ʀɪsᴇ sᴛᴇᴀᴅɪʟʏ, ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ sʜᴀᴡ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴀ ᴘɪᴠᴏᴛᴀʟ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ: ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀʟᴏʀᴅ ғᴏʀᴇᴛᴏʟᴅ… ᴏʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: ᴊᴇʀᴇᴍʏ ᴄᴀʀʟɪsʟᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴋᴇʀ & ʟɪɴᴅsᴇʏ ᴅᴏʀᴄᴜs
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇs sʜᴀᴡ’s ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ—ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇᴅ, ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴅɢᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ. ʀᴏsʏ’s ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴇᴇʟ ɪɴ ᴇǫᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇ, ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs—ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ sᴜʀɢᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴs—ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏsɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴀʀɪᴛʏ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
✨ǫᴜᴇᴇʀɴᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ
✨ᴜɴɪǫᴜᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴏғ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇs
✨ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟ sʜɪғᴛɪɴɢ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀs
✨ᴡɪʟᴅ, ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
✨sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ʏᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴀ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʀᴇsᴏɴᴀɴᴛ ғɪɴᴀʟᴇ ғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ sᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇs, ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄʏ-ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴄs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇs ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
+++++++
Tropes:
- Queernormative world
- Unique magic system of witches
- Animal shifting familiars
- Wild, chaotic magic
- Sapphic Romance
- YA Dark Fantasy
March 29, 2026
📖 Title: Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom-Witch Hall #2 (Duology)
✍🏾 Author: Jasmine Skye-I read Daughter of the Bone Forest & gave it 5⭐
📅Publication date: 2/24/26 | Read: 3/28/26
📃 Format: e-Book 480 pgs.
Genre:
*YA
*Fantasy/Sci Fi
*Romance
*LGBTQIA+
Tropes:
*politics/war
*prophecy fulfilled/a quest
*military
*magical school
*witches, ghosts
👆🏾POV:1st person multiple
⚠️TW: death of loved ones, grief, PTSD, toxic parent, gaslighting, permanent disability, and suicide-not heroines
🌎 Setting: Witch Hall
Summary: Shaw has confronted her father and learned his true motivations. She and her entourage, all students at Witch Hall, ready themselves for war with the Empire of Vinland. Rosamund is in the background after denying a bond with Shaw but is still loyal to her. Shaw embraces her destiny and focuses on saving the Cursed Kingdom.
👩🏾 Heroine: Shaw Colchuk -a bone witch who can raise the dead, She is the heir to the Cursed Kingdom
👩🏾 Heroine: Rosamund "Rosy" Holt-a powerful bone familiar
🎭 Other Characters:
* General Otto Holt-was the King's advisor, Rosy's grandfather (deceased), His wife- Ylva-Rosy's grandmother-deceased
* The Witch King-Shaw's father, King of the Cursed Kingdom
*General Tepeh-glass witch of the King's entourage
*Aklemin-ice witch, Toketie-ice familiar/Rosamund's cousin, Einar-glass witch, Oluk-Einar's familiar, and Yuyan-flower witch/healer-Shaw's entourage
*Prince Vetle-Vinland's heir
*Shantie-was bonded to Guanyu who was killed @ market fire
🤔 My Thoughts: This was an adventurous ride with Princess Shaw fulfilling her purpose of saving her people. Shaw and Rosy were no longer "fake dating" as Rosy refused Shaw's affections. They continued attending Witch Hall together and accompanied each other on missions. At their last stand, they finally acknowledged their bond. I was happy with the ending even though I got overwhelmed with all the jarls' names and it could have been 100 pages shorter.
Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5🌶️
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends, and Jasmine Skye for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
✍🏾 Author: Jasmine Skye-I read Daughter of the Bone Forest & gave it 5⭐
📅Publication date: 2/24/26 | Read: 3/28/26
📃 Format: e-Book 480 pgs.
Genre:
*YA
*Fantasy/Sci Fi
*Romance
*LGBTQIA+
Tropes:
*politics/war
*prophecy fulfilled/a quest
*military
*magical school
*witches, ghosts
👆🏾POV:1st person multiple
⚠️TW: death of loved ones, grief, PTSD, toxic parent, gaslighting, permanent disability, and suicide-not heroines
🌎 Setting: Witch Hall
Summary: Shaw has confronted her father and learned his true motivations. She and her entourage, all students at Witch Hall, ready themselves for war with the Empire of Vinland. Rosamund is in the background after denying a bond with Shaw but is still loyal to her. Shaw embraces her destiny and focuses on saving the Cursed Kingdom.
👩🏾 Heroine: Shaw Colchuk -a bone witch who can raise the dead, She is the heir to the Cursed Kingdom
👩🏾 Heroine: Rosamund "Rosy" Holt-a powerful bone familiar
🎭 Other Characters:
* General Otto Holt-was the King's advisor, Rosy's grandfather (deceased), His wife- Ylva-Rosy's grandmother-deceased
* The Witch King-Shaw's father, King of the Cursed Kingdom
*General Tepeh-glass witch of the King's entourage
*Aklemin-ice witch, Toketie-ice familiar/Rosamund's cousin, Einar-glass witch, Oluk-Einar's familiar, and Yuyan-flower witch/healer-Shaw's entourage
*Prince Vetle-Vinland's heir
*Shantie-was bonded to Guanyu who was killed @ market fire
🤔 My Thoughts: This was an adventurous ride with Princess Shaw fulfilling her purpose of saving her people. Shaw and Rosy were no longer "fake dating" as Rosy refused Shaw's affections. They continued attending Witch Hall together and accompanied each other on missions. At their last stand, they finally acknowledged their bond. I was happy with the ending even though I got overwhelmed with all the jarls' names and it could have been 100 pages shorter.
Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5🌶️
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends, and Jasmine Skye for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
March 2, 2026
Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom is the second half of Jasmine Skye’s Witch Hall Duology of queer romantic fantasy. It picks up immediately after the first book ends, so the books should be read in order. I loved almost everything about these books, from the dangerous settings, to the complex characters, to the fascinating magic system (shape-shifting familiars and witches specializing in one of four different elements).
While the first book focused on bone familar Rosy, this book focused on bone witch Princess Shaw. I loved getting inside Shaw’s head and heart. I wish every leader was as brave and compassionate as she is. We still get occasional chapters from Rosy’s point of view, and I continued to be frustrated with her stubbornness, but she’s also brave and loyal and doesn’t hesitate to stand up for what she thinks is right. It’s so obvious that these two are going to be a great pair when they finally get out of their own way and get together. I found the secondary characters interesting as well, and I love that so many of them got chances to shine in this part of the story.
I loved the very matter of fact queer representation. This is a world where I did not notice any assumptions about or limitations based on gender or sexual orientation. People simply are who they are and love who they love. There are certainly other forms of bias that are explored though.
Readers seeking constant action may be disappointed, but I found the story easily held my attention. There’s a lot more emphasis on political intrigue in this book, and the stakes are so much higher. I would recommend this book for fans of queer romantic fantasy, magic academies, and political intrigue.
The audiobook production was excellent. I loved the dual narration by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Lindsey Dorcus. They are pleasant to listen to, with good pacing and pronunciation, distinctive voices and speech patterns to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.
I received a free advanced review copy of the ebook and audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
While the first book focused on bone familar Rosy, this book focused on bone witch Princess Shaw. I loved getting inside Shaw’s head and heart. I wish every leader was as brave and compassionate as she is. We still get occasional chapters from Rosy’s point of view, and I continued to be frustrated with her stubbornness, but she’s also brave and loyal and doesn’t hesitate to stand up for what she thinks is right. It’s so obvious that these two are going to be a great pair when they finally get out of their own way and get together. I found the secondary characters interesting as well, and I love that so many of them got chances to shine in this part of the story.
I loved the very matter of fact queer representation. This is a world where I did not notice any assumptions about or limitations based on gender or sexual orientation. People simply are who they are and love who they love. There are certainly other forms of bias that are explored though.
Readers seeking constant action may be disappointed, but I found the story easily held my attention. There’s a lot more emphasis on political intrigue in this book, and the stakes are so much higher. I would recommend this book for fans of queer romantic fantasy, magic academies, and political intrigue.
The audiobook production was excellent. I loved the dual narration by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Lindsey Dorcus. They are pleasant to listen to, with good pacing and pronunciation, distinctive voices and speech patterns to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.
I received a free advanced review copy of the ebook and audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom is a satisfying, thought-provoking conclusion to the rich story of Rosy, Shaw, and Witch Hall. As with Daughter of the Bone Forest, Skye's skill in handling nuance is on full display. Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom forgoes the heavy strokes of typical YA fare and grapples with complex themes in an actually complex way. Most characters are quite layered, their motivations are mixed and believable, and the results are messy and imperfect. It's not new ground by any means - Leadership is hard! War sucks! Most people involved in both are not purely good or bad! - but the ground is getting trodden in a meaningful way, well beyond lip service, and that feels noteworthy.
More typical is the heavy dose of politics we get in this sequel, far more than in the first installment (why is this a thing?). It's not quite as gripping as the action scenes or elements of relationship development, and I felt the flow of information sometimes stalled the momentum - one character learns something, then has to tell another, who then has to tell the whole group, and then they all have to talk about it. Still, if you found all the maneuvering in, say, Mages of the Wheel compelling (I did...not), you'll likely have no issue with this.
Another notable change is Shaw's POV - we spend much more time with her, and it's to the story's benefit, as it spares us having to suspend even more disbelief to get on board with an unconvincing decision made by Rosy in the prior book. And sapphic yearning is always fun! Shaw's POV also gives us more insight into her entourage and the larger world, and I really enjoyed all of those details.
Skye's inventive, complex world-building and nuanced, thought-provoking writing continues to impress, and I will absolutely be putting him/her on my to-read list. More, please!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
More typical is the heavy dose of politics we get in this sequel, far more than in the first installment (why is this a thing?). It's not quite as gripping as the action scenes or elements of relationship development, and I felt the flow of information sometimes stalled the momentum - one character learns something, then has to tell another, who then has to tell the whole group, and then they all have to talk about it. Still, if you found all the maneuvering in, say, Mages of the Wheel compelling (I did...not), you'll likely have no issue with this.
Another notable change is Shaw's POV - we spend much more time with her, and it's to the story's benefit, as it spares us having to suspend even more disbelief to get on board with an unconvincing decision made by Rosy in the prior book. And sapphic yearning is always fun! Shaw's POV also gives us more insight into her entourage and the larger world, and I really enjoyed all of those details.
Skye's inventive, complex world-building and nuanced, thought-provoking writing continues to impress, and I will absolutely be putting him/her on my to-read list. More, please!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THIS IS ME SCREAMING.
Daughter of the Bone Forest was my favorite book of 2024. I read it in the first week of January that year and went "this is the book to beat" and then nothing did because I loved it that much. And then I spent the year telling all of my friends to buy it. And then I got annoyed with them taking too long and bought them all copies of it. And then annoyed them until they read it.
So when I saw that Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom was available to request I went running. And luckily my request was approved before I had to embarrass myself in a publisher's inbox. And I'm sure you're looking at this review going, okay, but all of this is about the first book, how is it relevant? It's relevant because I need you to understand what my expectations were going into this.
My expectations were that this book would make me kick my feet. That it would make me sob. That it would make me giggle. That I would not be able to stop talking about it from the second I put it down.
AND GUESS WHAT.
GUESS.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It was everything I could have wanted from a sequel to my favorite book. Rosy and Shaw continue to be so incredibly bad at talking to each other to the point where I wanted to grab them by the shoulders, shake them, and then lock them in a room until they ki**ed each other. I kicked my feet. I giggled. I sobbed. I singlehandedly launched smear campaigns against REDACTED because they are the absolute most garbage person to ever exist. And then I cried some more because this perfect amazing wonderful duology was over and now I have to just keep living my life.
Thank you so, so much Feiwel & Friends for the advanced copy of Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom. I am very, very normal about this series.
Daughter of the Bone Forest was my favorite book of 2024. I read it in the first week of January that year and went "this is the book to beat" and then nothing did because I loved it that much. And then I spent the year telling all of my friends to buy it. And then I got annoyed with them taking too long and bought them all copies of it. And then annoyed them until they read it.
So when I saw that Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom was available to request I went running. And luckily my request was approved before I had to embarrass myself in a publisher's inbox. And I'm sure you're looking at this review going, okay, but all of this is about the first book, how is it relevant? It's relevant because I need you to understand what my expectations were going into this.
My expectations were that this book would make me kick my feet. That it would make me sob. That it would make me giggle. That I would not be able to stop talking about it from the second I put it down.
AND GUESS WHAT.
GUESS.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It was everything I could have wanted from a sequel to my favorite book. Rosy and Shaw continue to be so incredibly bad at talking to each other to the point where I wanted to grab them by the shoulders, shake them, and then lock them in a room until they ki**ed each other. I kicked my feet. I giggled. I sobbed. I singlehandedly launched smear campaigns against REDACTED because they are the absolute most garbage person to ever exist. And then I cried some more because this perfect amazing wonderful duology was over and now I have to just keep living my life.
Thank you so, so much Feiwel & Friends for the advanced copy of Daughter of the Cursed Kingdom. I am very, very normal about this series.
March 3, 2026
This is the second book in the duology and it was so so good. I devoured book one and knew i was just going to adore the second book. I. LOVE. THIS. WORLD. Summary of book one. The people are broken up into magic users called () and familiars (that can shift into one or many animals). The familiars can help boost the magic users and fight for them. Amazing magic system. The elite students (rich and high society) are send to school to learn about magic and to help find them a familiar to bond with. The lower class can attend with a scholarship but are bullied and picked on till they fail out. The Princess Shaw has her life saved by Rosy and grants her a scholarship. In the second book Rosy and Shaw are courting and trying to prevent a war that Shaws father seems to have started. There is so much action and mystery in this book that you are just captivated and draw in. I had a hard time putting this book down. The devastation this series had on my heart was brutal. I called my eyes out at work multiple different times. I both loved and hated the emotion this book made me feel. I don’t know how more people aren’t talking about this series. I love how gender doesn’t play a role in this story at all and that anyone is selected just based on power and standing. The love matches are entirely based on what will produce the best outcome. It’s a non issue and that is what I need more of in the stories that I read. Power is power full stop,
The narration by Lindsey Dorcus and Jeremy Carlisle Parker was exceptional and it just resonated with my soul. The characters, voices and story just fit so well together and I don’t think anyone else could have narrated this story and made me feel it in my soul. I had goosebumps, tears, laughter and that half quirky smile that some scenes give you. So well done.
The narration by Lindsey Dorcus and Jeremy Carlisle Parker was exceptional and it just resonated with my soul. The characters, voices and story just fit so well together and I don’t think anyone else could have narrated this story and made me feel it in my soul. I had goosebumps, tears, laughter and that half quirky smile that some scenes give you. So well done.
March 2, 2026
3.5!⭐️
Just a disclaimer: I accidentally requested this book and I did not realize that this was the second book in the series (lol oops my bad) but I did pick this book because it genuinely sounded good to me.
Once I got through like the first five chapters and try to understand what was happening; I just kind of decided to go with the flow. The storyline and the action scenes were really well written, and I thought the narration for Shaw’s character was really good. Although, some of the extra side characters did not land for me and felt kind of one dimensional. The characters that had more depth were well written; and I think that maybe we should’ve narrowed down the characters a little bit to have some super strong character development.
It was a shock to me that Shaw and Rosie were going to end up together because I don’t read a lot of YA fantasy that has queer inclusion. It was really nice surprise and I’m happy that this exists. I will say I wanted more POV from Rosie, I wanted more of her inside thoughts on their conflict and budding relationship. I think that really could have added something to the romance plot.
Since I did listen to the audio version of this book. I don’t know how to spell his name, but I will say the boy that is a close battle / team buddy with Shaw… I did love his character and I loved his and Shaw’s emotional growth throughout this read. The disability representation was moving and sweet.
We’re not having read with the first one I would say that this was actually pretty solid! I would recommend!
₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you to Macmillan audio & NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡
Just a disclaimer: I accidentally requested this book and I did not realize that this was the second book in the series (lol oops my bad) but I did pick this book because it genuinely sounded good to me.
Once I got through like the first five chapters and try to understand what was happening; I just kind of decided to go with the flow. The storyline and the action scenes were really well written, and I thought the narration for Shaw’s character was really good. Although, some of the extra side characters did not land for me and felt kind of one dimensional. The characters that had more depth were well written; and I think that maybe we should’ve narrowed down the characters a little bit to have some super strong character development.
It was a shock to me that Shaw and Rosie were going to end up together because I don’t read a lot of YA fantasy that has queer inclusion. It was really nice surprise and I’m happy that this exists. I will say I wanted more POV from Rosie, I wanted more of her inside thoughts on their conflict and budding relationship. I think that really could have added something to the romance plot.
Since I did listen to the audio version of this book. I don’t know how to spell his name, but I will say the boy that is a close battle / team buddy with Shaw… I did love his character and I loved his and Shaw’s emotional growth throughout this read. The disability representation was moving and sweet.
We’re not having read with the first one I would say that this was actually pretty solid! I would recommend!
₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you to Macmillan audio & NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡
February 26, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing me a free copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
This was such a great YA Fantasy series, and I really enjoyed this conclusion. An ever-moving plot. Battles. Politics. Such a luscious world and magic system. And just that perfect bit of (YA) romance (so much pining! 🙌), and plenty of sweet and emotional moments.
Whereas book 1 had more of a heavy focus on Rosy, giving us a newcomer’s view to this school and these characters, this time our focus was more with Princess Shaw, giving us more of a view of the politics involved, and her background as the prophesied “Death’s Heir”, and an even deeper view of those in her entourage. (I grew very attached to many of the side characters by the time true danger came, so I was definitely biting my nails worried for them through many scenes. 🫣)
As for age level for this read, I have already highly recommended this series to my 12-year-old daughter, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any kid around that age (and anyone older!). 😍
Just a great YA Fantasy duology, with a darling little romance at its center, and such a cool world and magic system; loved it.
Audiobook notes: Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Lindsey Dorcus were again fabulous! Great narrators, great production; definitely recommend!
What this book is giving:
✅ YA Sapphic Fantasy
✅ Dual POV (w/ main POV)
✅ Witches
✅ Familiars who are shape shifters
✅ Witch School
✅ Politics
✅ Battles
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
This was such a great YA Fantasy series, and I really enjoyed this conclusion. An ever-moving plot. Battles. Politics. Such a luscious world and magic system. And just that perfect bit of (YA) romance (so much pining! 🙌), and plenty of sweet and emotional moments.
Whereas book 1 had more of a heavy focus on Rosy, giving us a newcomer’s view to this school and these characters, this time our focus was more with Princess Shaw, giving us more of a view of the politics involved, and her background as the prophesied “Death’s Heir”, and an even deeper view of those in her entourage. (I grew very attached to many of the side characters by the time true danger came, so I was definitely biting my nails worried for them through many scenes. 🫣)
As for age level for this read, I have already highly recommended this series to my 12-year-old daughter, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any kid around that age (and anyone older!). 😍
Just a great YA Fantasy duology, with a darling little romance at its center, and such a cool world and magic system; loved it.
Audiobook notes: Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Lindsey Dorcus were again fabulous! Great narrators, great production; definitely recommend!
What this book is giving:
✅ YA Sapphic Fantasy
✅ Dual POV (w/ main POV)
✅ Witches
✅ Familiars who are shape shifters
✅ Witch School
✅ Politics
✅ Battles
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
February 27, 2026
I was so looking forward to this after receiving an arc of Daughter of the Bone Forest in 2023. The Witch Hall duology is such an enjoyable, vast, entertaining, and creative world set in a YA queer normative fantasy setting. Jasmine Skye does a great job of weaving together an expansive hugh fantasy world and story that is still level with YA. The relationship between Rosy and Shaw felt real, angsty, and full of two people in love who didn’t think they could live in each other’s worlds due to obligations. The relationships between the characters and found family that occurs in the book feels heartwarming. I did miss Rosy’s POV a lot, I enjoyed her storyline in book 1 so much but Shawn’s storyline was interesting. This book navigated more political themes and war, which can be a bit slow at times. The ending of this book felt fulfilling and I enjoyed my time in the Witch Hall world.
4.5 🌟 rounded up
NetGalley provided an eARC and I also requested an audiobook ARC after reading 📖 to get another perspective. The narrators are great in the audiobook and help lift the characters off the page. Thank you NetGalley and publishes for the opportunity.
4.5 🌟 rounded up
NetGalley provided an eARC and I also requested an audiobook ARC after reading 📖 to get another perspective. The narrators are great in the audiobook and help lift the characters off the page. Thank you NetGalley and publishes for the opportunity.
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