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Recovery
The Kingdom of Bailenua is finally at peace, but all is not as tranquil as it seems. When dangerous secrets begin to surface, Elspeth, her former lover Prince Milo, her brother Pietr and a peasant wanderer Jak must navigate conspiracy, ambition, sabotage, disappointment and manipulation to secure their own futures, the fate of their kingdom and the crown.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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May 19, 2025A new unique fantasy debut novel filled with political intrigue, deep meaning and mystery. Expect action, plot twists and strong yet flawed characters that you can relate to.
This book is filled to the brim with extensive world-building which beautifully sets the scene.
There are multiple POVs led by strong, engaging characters who you will fall in love with. If you love a strong FMC, Elspeth is for you. She was intelligent, strong-willed and quickly became one of my favourites.
Although the book is very character driven we still didn’t lose sight of the plot which can so often happen. The direction this book took was awesome and it never stopped flowing.
Book two can’t come fast enough ⭐️🤍
- Engaging and flawed characters
- A strong FMC
- Strong plot
- Love triangle
- Enemies to lovers (not heavy)
- Arranged marriage
- Medieval vibe
- Multiple povs
- Political intrigue
- Plot twists
- World-building
- Clo 🫶
This book is filled to the brim with extensive world-building which beautifully sets the scene.
There are multiple POVs led by strong, engaging characters who you will fall in love with. If you love a strong FMC, Elspeth is for you. She was intelligent, strong-willed and quickly became one of my favourites.
Although the book is very character driven we still didn’t lose sight of the plot which can so often happen. The direction this book took was awesome and it never stopped flowing.
Book two can’t come fast enough ⭐️🤍
- Engaging and flawed characters
- A strong FMC
- Strong plot
- Love triangle
- Enemies to lovers (not heavy)
- Arranged marriage
- Medieval vibe
- Multiple povs
- Political intrigue
- Plot twists
- World-building
- Clo 🫶
November 10, 2025
This was an excellent start to a fantasy series. I loved this book’s cast of characters as well as the world the author created. I was quickly invested in the storyline and was shocked by some of the twists and turns that this book took. I loved that we follow a few different characters throughout the book and how that helped get to know them better as the story went on. I look forward to reading the next book in the Succession Series and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Read this if you like:
📖 Love triangles
📖 Political intrigue
📖 Multiple POVs
📖 Strong FMC
📖 Great world-building
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
Read this if you like:
📖 Love triangles
📖 Political intrigue
📖 Multiple POVs
📖 Strong FMC
📖 Great world-building
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
June 16, 2025
What an awesome read from this debut author! I love a good fantasy romance 😊 The world building in this book is just another level of epic. From the tangled lives of its protagonists to the twists and turns of the political landscape. I just love Elspeth our FMC, she’s fiery, flawed, feminine and a bit of a pocket rocket ( I really liked her lol). With the other MC also complex… also a villain who I actually liked haha!
I really liked this first book of the Succession series from LB Holden and now am really wanting to read book 2 allready ! Also the front cover illustration is just beautiful… well done and would highly recommend to read.
It’s also really fantastic to see an author from my local area writing fantastic books #lovelismore
I really liked this first book of the Succession series from LB Holden and now am really wanting to read book 2 allready ! Also the front cover illustration is just beautiful… well done and would highly recommend to read.
It’s also really fantastic to see an author from my local area writing fantastic books #lovelismore
December 15, 2025
A worthy debut novel from this local Aussie author, it's great to get to read books by someone in your community!
While this started a little slow, it picked up by the end. It would be fantastic to see the author develop more depth in all elements of the story, and tighten their narrative voice.
I enjoy some good political intrigue, so I'm looking forward to delving deeper in the mysteries in book 2.
While this started a little slow, it picked up by the end. It would be fantastic to see the author develop more depth in all elements of the story, and tighten their narrative voice.
I enjoy some good political intrigue, so I'm looking forward to delving deeper in the mysteries in book 2.
April 9, 2026
I read Recovery quickly and with complete absorption. It was one of those books that pulls you so thoroughly into itself that the outside world briefly falls away. What has lingered with me most since finishing is not the finer details of the plot but the novel's emotional resonance, particularly in its exploration of healing, power, and the often-messy complexity of human relationships.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in the way its world and characters feel as though they extend beyond the boundaries of the page. There is a sense throughout that the story is moving within a much larger world than the one currently visible to the reader, and the political intrigue threaded beneath the narrative creates the impression of deeper currents still waiting to surface. Rather than feeling incomplete, this lends the novel a sense of scale and promise.
The characters themselves felt fully realised and emotionally grounded, but I did find myself wanting deeper immersion in the cultural texture of the world they inhabit. Rituals, traditions and references to broader cultural practices hint at a rich and layered setting, yet some of these moments remain just out of reach, gestured toward rather than fully inhabited. At times, I found myself wishing those moments had been allowed to linger longer, giving the world-building more room to breathe.
There were also moments where tighter refinement, both stylistically and editorially, might further sharpen the narrative’s impact and allow the story’s emotional and thematic strengths to land with greater clarity.
In the end, Recovery feels less like a self-contained statement and more like an opening movement: thoughtful, ambitious, and full of promise. It is a debut that suggests both confidence and room to grow. I finished the novel with genuine curiosity for what comes next, both within the story itself and in the continued evolution of Holden’s voice as a writer.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in the way its world and characters feel as though they extend beyond the boundaries of the page. There is a sense throughout that the story is moving within a much larger world than the one currently visible to the reader, and the political intrigue threaded beneath the narrative creates the impression of deeper currents still waiting to surface. Rather than feeling incomplete, this lends the novel a sense of scale and promise.
The characters themselves felt fully realised and emotionally grounded, but I did find myself wanting deeper immersion in the cultural texture of the world they inhabit. Rituals, traditions and references to broader cultural practices hint at a rich and layered setting, yet some of these moments remain just out of reach, gestured toward rather than fully inhabited. At times, I found myself wishing those moments had been allowed to linger longer, giving the world-building more room to breathe.
There were also moments where tighter refinement, both stylistically and editorially, might further sharpen the narrative’s impact and allow the story’s emotional and thematic strengths to land with greater clarity.
In the end, Recovery feels less like a self-contained statement and more like an opening movement: thoughtful, ambitious, and full of promise. It is a debut that suggests both confidence and room to grow. I finished the novel with genuine curiosity for what comes next, both within the story itself and in the continued evolution of Holden’s voice as a writer.
August 11, 2025
This was a really good fantasy read! The world buildings is what sucked me into the story right off the bat and I loved how fast moving the storyline was. There was plenty of mystery and political intrigue woven into the plot to keep me engaged up until the very end and there was truly never a dull moment.
The characters really took the story to the next level though. They were incredibly interesting and extremely relatable. I especially loved Elspeth.
Read this if you like:
→ Plot twists
→ Forbidden Magic
→ Multiple POV
→ Strong female lead
→ Complicated love
If you are looking for a unique fantasy read that will leave you wanting book two right away definitely check this one out.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy of the book.
The characters really took the story to the next level though. They were incredibly interesting and extremely relatable. I especially loved Elspeth.
Read this if you like:
→ Plot twists
→ Forbidden Magic
→ Multiple POV
→ Strong female lead
→ Complicated love
If you are looking for a unique fantasy read that will leave you wanting book two right away definitely check this one out.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy of the book.
March 27, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It gave Downton Abbey and Bridgerton vibes. A royal family, high borns with mansions and servants. Political marriages where 1 or both parties are in love with someone else. A mystery that starts right at the beginning and carries through the entire book. We see some answers by the end but some will carry across to book 2.
Magic has been banned but in the last 3rd, you get a little taste of it. I adored the FMC, Elspeth. She is strong, intelligent, pushes back at the norm, but is also caring and protective of not only those she loves but her people.
I need book2, like yesterday!
Magic has been banned but in the last 3rd, you get a little taste of it. I adored the FMC, Elspeth. She is strong, intelligent, pushes back at the norm, but is also caring and protective of not only those she loves but her people.
I need book2, like yesterday!
July 30, 2025
What an amazing first novel! This book is a captivating and intriguing story that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Recovery the first book of the series weaves love, greed, loyalty, power and honour together through an intriguing mix of characters. This brilliantly crafted book will take you on a journey, and leave you in eager anticipation for the next one. I cannot wait!
November 18, 2025
Recovery opens The Succession Series with a delicious blend of court intrigue and romance. Set in the fragile peace of Bailenua, it follows Elspeth, Prince Milo, Pietr and Jak as buried secrets and political scheming threaten the crown and everyone tied to it. The focus on ambition, loyalty and the cost of power gives the story real emotional weight, while the relationships keep you hooked. Perfect for readers who love slow-burning fantasy romance, layered characters and a kingdom on the brink.
March 3, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ The ending!!!! This book was such a breath of fresh air and I love that this is written by an Australian author! The characters are all so unique and have such great personalities. I love the royalty lore and politics and there is such a huge amount of mystery to this! The fight scene left me quite speechless and for once I couldn’t really predict what was going to happen! I really enjoyed this one so I can’t wait for the next one in this series! 💯
June 22, 2025
Recovery is a beautifully written and emotionally rich fantasy debut. The characters are complex and relatable, the world-building is immersive, and the twists kept me turning pages. I really enjoyed how the story balanced themes like power, love, betrayal, and healing in a way that felt natural and compelling. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next—bring on the next book!
July 4, 2025
Wow! great read. So glad I picked it up . Enjoy how the story unfolded with great characters. Twists and turns with the characters kept the action in the forefront and couldn't wait to grab it up and keep reading. Do yourself a favour grab this great read and look out for her next book .
June 27, 2025
I'm absolutely blown away by the book overview
January 20, 2026
loved it
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews