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A Queen's Betrayal
Magic creates fear.
Fear creates war.
Humans and Fae once lived harmoniously on the mighty continent Pheanixios, but the Fae quickly realized the power they held, and forced the Humans into submission. A war broke out, ending in a continent broken into two, severed by hatred. The Fae revels in magic, while the Humans have outlawed it.
As thousands of years passed, both continents witnessed decay. A relentless plague gripped the once-thriving lands, reducing mountains to rubble, silencing once-lush forests, and draining rivers dry. Animals transformed into savage beasts, and humanity faced a relentless onslaught of illness.
Arenna Steele is Queen of Brookworth, ruler of the Human Continent. Where her title holds no power, she finds herself trapped in the castle she once considered home—prisoner to an abuser she calls husband.
During a secretive tournament held by her husband, Arenna seizes a rare opportunity to break free from the shackles that bind her. Realizing that her sole chance of liberation lies within the enemy territory of Kingdom Worden, ruler of the Fae Continent. On the day of her planned escape, her world shatters in more ways than one. The brutal loss of a loved one unleashes an ancient, deadly power within Arenna, an ability unknown to her.
Surrounded by betrayal and heartache, Arenna betrays her kingdom and flees everything she once knew. In her journey, Arenna must navigate trials of strength and bravery, rebuild her shattered heart, and master her rare power that might be the key to saving her crumbling world.
A Queen’s Betrayal is the gory, heart-pounding, first book in the epic romantic fantasy series, Legends of Worldbinders.
Fear creates war.
Humans and Fae once lived harmoniously on the mighty continent Pheanixios, but the Fae quickly realized the power they held, and forced the Humans into submission. A war broke out, ending in a continent broken into two, severed by hatred. The Fae revels in magic, while the Humans have outlawed it.
As thousands of years passed, both continents witnessed decay. A relentless plague gripped the once-thriving lands, reducing mountains to rubble, silencing once-lush forests, and draining rivers dry. Animals transformed into savage beasts, and humanity faced a relentless onslaught of illness.
Arenna Steele is Queen of Brookworth, ruler of the Human Continent. Where her title holds no power, she finds herself trapped in the castle she once considered home—prisoner to an abuser she calls husband.
During a secretive tournament held by her husband, Arenna seizes a rare opportunity to break free from the shackles that bind her. Realizing that her sole chance of liberation lies within the enemy territory of Kingdom Worden, ruler of the Fae Continent. On the day of her planned escape, her world shatters in more ways than one. The brutal loss of a loved one unleashes an ancient, deadly power within Arenna, an ability unknown to her.
Surrounded by betrayal and heartache, Arenna betrays her kingdom and flees everything she once knew. In her journey, Arenna must navigate trials of strength and bravery, rebuild her shattered heart, and master her rare power that might be the key to saving her crumbling world.
A Queen’s Betrayal is the gory, heart-pounding, first book in the epic romantic fantasy series, Legends of Worldbinders.
- GenresFantasy
591 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2025
25 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Shamblin
3 books22 followersStephanie Shamblin is the fantasy author behind the debut series Legends of Worldbinders. She writes slow-burn fantasy romance filled with ancient magic, fire-breathing dragons, terrifying creatures, and deliciously bantering love interests.
When she’s not writing, Stephanie is spending time with her husband and two daughters—or getting lost in a good book with a Dr. Pepper in one hand and french fries in the other. She’s also been known to sneak in a few late-night Fortnite matches (and take them a little too seriously).
She loves Jesus, storytelling, and all things fantasy.
When she’s not writing, Stephanie is spending time with her husband and two daughters—or getting lost in a good book with a Dr. Pepper in one hand and french fries in the other. She’s also been known to sneak in a few late-night Fortnite matches (and take them a little too seriously).
She loves Jesus, storytelling, and all things fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 2, 2025
Oh my gosh…I just finished reading this and I truly don’t know what to say or where to start. I’ve been a reader of Stephanie’s since her Episode days and even then with the limited means on there, her stories were able to convey such strong and complex emotions…but this? This was just extraordinary. I’m not going to lie, at first I was a little sad to hear that this wasn’t going to be like Finding Emerald but as soon as I was a couple chapters deep, I totally forgot what I was nervous about. A Queen’s Betrayal tells Arenna’s heartbreaking but empowering story in such a compelling manner that had me feeling all of the emotions she felt. I kid you not, there were so many times I had to put my phone down to scream and stomp around the house as if I was the one experiencing those moments. Even when I couldn’t keep my eyes open at night, I went to bed excited about how I get to come back to this masterpiece when I wake up. I loved that Stephanie still incorporated some similarities from Finding Emerald into A Queen’s Betrayal but she was able to do in such a way that made this story its own while still holding that special connection in readers’ hearts. The abundance of detail in her writing here was spectacular. As soon as the words on the page processed in my brain, I was able to see a clear picture of the setting and imagine myself there. This truly made the reading experience magical and only something written with exquisite detail can accomplish this. You can really feel Stephanie’s love and passion for what she does, through her writing. The emotions Arenna has are raw and true despite how hard those emotions may be. Arenna isn’t just a main character who naturally has all the skills and self-esteem that she needs no, she has to endure years of hardships and battle her dark demons for self growth. And Stephanie conveys just that. Her writing will have you building a bond with Arenna, becoming Arenna, to understand her emotions and feel the empowerment that Arenna feels. Whether you’re an episode reader or not, this is definitely worth your time. Especially, if you like one of the tropes included in this. If not, I still encourage you to give this a try and read a couple sentences to teleport into this fantasy, even if just for a little bit. I was absolutely honored to have received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to see what else Stephanie is going to bless us with. Thank you for reading my sincere but very long review! :)
August 10, 2025
Note: Before I begin, Stephanie thank you for giving me an opportunity to read your beautiful work with an advanced copy. I enjoyed this story and I’m excited to give my honest review, so here we go! 😊
Overall, I enjoyed The Queen’s Betrayal and was FASCINATED by Arenna’s journey of confronting her trauma and beginning to forge a path forward in a new identity in choosing who she WANTED to become. As we begin the story, we are told of the horrors that Jaksen made Arenna endure and the current, bleak state of their Kingdom, Varios. We are told that the Rot has overtaken their kingdom and essentially has depleted all semblance of hope, life, and safety from the humans that remain.
As the characters are introduced, we get to know our protagonist, Arenna, who believed she married a humble, loving, and doting man and king, Jaksen, when he reveals himself to be anything but that. The devestating amount of abuse that Jaksen not only ensures that Arenna endures, but the people he rules as well is absolutely heart wrenching; and Stephanie truly does an amazing job of ensuring the reader understands the LASTING effects of trauma and how that shreds apart the victims’ soul bit by bit until they have truly been broken and will submit unquestionably to the abuser. I felt haunted by the abuse, similarly to Arenna, throughout the entire story and was taken aback by the resilience that Arenna displayed and although she thought she was broken, she learns that with the right people to support her, she is in fact, much stronger than she could ever know. The main character that we have supporting Arenna through this journey of discovering how deep her trauma runs and helping her begin the healing process, is the Fae King of Vlazias, Kayson. I LOVED that as we got to know him better than we got chapters from his POV and as a reader, that made my connection to him feel stronger as Arenna grew closer to him. Kayson also has his traumas that he’s endured and really, he is also still healing from many things that have wounded him. The parallel of these two main characters is truly beautiful and I loved their journey in growth throughout the book. As for some of the side characters, I enjoyed getting to know them, but felt that if Arenna didn’t spend enough time in the book conversing in dialogue with those characters that some of them felt a bit flat and not as dimensional as some of the characters she interacted with, or spoke about more - but I’m hopeful to get to know them better as the series continues.
As the story continues, the plot devolves into the many areas of which the trauma Arenna has endured and how it affects her within her living and functionality. I appreciated the time Stephanie took in describing this long lasting effect of trauma and just how much of a toll it can take on a person when they feel like they have nothing left to give of themselves. Alongside this journey of healing this trauma, Arenna also discovers that she is the Firewielder and is part of a prophecy to help end the Rot, and reunite the humans and Fae to lead peaceful lives together. We find out that Kayson is also a piece of this puzzle being the Earthwielder who has spent his entire life preparing to fight for this cause as well. As Arenna learns more about the actual history of humans and Fae, she slowly realizes that she’s been lied to her whole life by people she thought she could trust, and finds herself wanting to defend the people and lands of the Fae. At times, Arenna has “hallucinations” that seem vivid and lifelike to the point (for me as a reader) to be more realistic than fabricated visions. I enjoyed learning about this unique world and following the journey of healing with Arenna, but felt that at times with the plot it was hard to tell how much time had passed especially when she was preparing for the “grand reveal” to the Fae of Vlazias, when Kayson had told her it was 2 weeks away, with how time is described it felt like more time than that has passed. Along with this, we don’t get to interact with Jaksen again in this book after Arenna escapes, which felt a bit odd due to the buildup of her focusing on her healing from the pain he inflicted on her. As a reader, I thought we were being prepared to meet him at the end of the book, but we had a twist at the end which was unexpected and interesting in its own way.
Speaking of, we come to the ending of the book where after Arenna has her celebration with the folk of Vlazias, they end up being attacked by Brookworth soldiers. Arenna wastes no time in taking out the assassin who had come to kidnap her and then rushes out to assist Kayson and the others to defend her newfound home. As mentioned earlier, I was surprised that Faylen wasn’t in fact, not dead, but had forced one of Jaksen’s people to glamour to look like Faylen to fake her death, and traumatize Arenna. I thought it was interesting in how we indirectly find out from Faylen that these “hallucinations” Arenna experiences are actually missing pieces of her memory that was fighting its way through to reveal the truth of her past and her heritage. Kayson and the whole “found family” we have met and learned to trust has been LYING to Arenna this ENTIRE time and that shatters something in her as well as me as a reader. I’m so intrigued to see how Arenna will handle this betrayal in the following book but enjoyed that twist to the story- it was well done by Stephanie. Something that has me a bit stuck as a reader though is why Faylen came back thinking that Arenna would just come with her after all that she had endured under Jaksen. Just didn’t seem like Arenna would ever willingly choose to go back to that, so the choice to have Faylen go back instead of having Jaksen use brute force to get to her felt a bit off- but perhaps the sequel will shed light onto the choice of why the ending was written like that.
The writing and story building done by Stephanie was enjoyable and I found myself wanting to know more, just as Arenna says she does about Vlazias and Varios. When writing about the politics of the world, it was clear as we learned the accurate history of what had gone down and why it occurred. The main characters were well fleshed out and have several layers to them, making them enjoyable to read about as we got to know their background. At times, when we were in Arenna’s or Kayson’s POV and they were interacting with some of the characters that didn’t get as much page time /word count in the book, the dialogue felt a bit flat and left me wondering why we weren’t given an opportunity to know that character a bit better as we did with Kayson, Arenna, and those who Arenna loves and always was speaking highly of. I’m hoping we get some more time with these characters in the next book since Arenna seems to like each of them, but we as readers don’t get enough insight into why she feels that way with each character she interacts with. Along with this, the descriptions and feelings that Arenna describes throughout the book are very clear and I can easily picture/understand them. However, sometimes I felt as a reader that Stephanie was doing too much of the thinking work for me and not making me think about the impact of what I was reading. This could be just how she chose to write Arenna, but as a reader, I like being shown more than told the story so I get the opportunity of how to interpret what I’m reading.
For a debut novel, I was very impressed and really want to again thank Stephanie for deeply diving into abuse/trauma in a way that feels raw, messy, but beautiful in the growth that we get to walk side by side with Arenna the entire time.
I’m so excited to see how the story continues to unfold and want to say thank you to Stephanie for being so vulnerable and holding space for those who need it in this unique tale.
Overall, I enjoyed The Queen’s Betrayal and was FASCINATED by Arenna’s journey of confronting her trauma and beginning to forge a path forward in a new identity in choosing who she WANTED to become. As we begin the story, we are told of the horrors that Jaksen made Arenna endure and the current, bleak state of their Kingdom, Varios. We are told that the Rot has overtaken their kingdom and essentially has depleted all semblance of hope, life, and safety from the humans that remain.
As the characters are introduced, we get to know our protagonist, Arenna, who believed she married a humble, loving, and doting man and king, Jaksen, when he reveals himself to be anything but that. The devestating amount of abuse that Jaksen not only ensures that Arenna endures, but the people he rules as well is absolutely heart wrenching; and Stephanie truly does an amazing job of ensuring the reader understands the LASTING effects of trauma and how that shreds apart the victims’ soul bit by bit until they have truly been broken and will submit unquestionably to the abuser. I felt haunted by the abuse, similarly to Arenna, throughout the entire story and was taken aback by the resilience that Arenna displayed and although she thought she was broken, she learns that with the right people to support her, she is in fact, much stronger than she could ever know. The main character that we have supporting Arenna through this journey of discovering how deep her trauma runs and helping her begin the healing process, is the Fae King of Vlazias, Kayson. I LOVED that as we got to know him better than we got chapters from his POV and as a reader, that made my connection to him feel stronger as Arenna grew closer to him. Kayson also has his traumas that he’s endured and really, he is also still healing from many things that have wounded him. The parallel of these two main characters is truly beautiful and I loved their journey in growth throughout the book. As for some of the side characters, I enjoyed getting to know them, but felt that if Arenna didn’t spend enough time in the book conversing in dialogue with those characters that some of them felt a bit flat and not as dimensional as some of the characters she interacted with, or spoke about more - but I’m hopeful to get to know them better as the series continues.
As the story continues, the plot devolves into the many areas of which the trauma Arenna has endured and how it affects her within her living and functionality. I appreciated the time Stephanie took in describing this long lasting effect of trauma and just how much of a toll it can take on a person when they feel like they have nothing left to give of themselves. Alongside this journey of healing this trauma, Arenna also discovers that she is the Firewielder and is part of a prophecy to help end the Rot, and reunite the humans and Fae to lead peaceful lives together. We find out that Kayson is also a piece of this puzzle being the Earthwielder who has spent his entire life preparing to fight for this cause as well. As Arenna learns more about the actual history of humans and Fae, she slowly realizes that she’s been lied to her whole life by people she thought she could trust, and finds herself wanting to defend the people and lands of the Fae. At times, Arenna has “hallucinations” that seem vivid and lifelike to the point (for me as a reader) to be more realistic than fabricated visions. I enjoyed learning about this unique world and following the journey of healing with Arenna, but felt that at times with the plot it was hard to tell how much time had passed especially when she was preparing for the “grand reveal” to the Fae of Vlazias, when Kayson had told her it was 2 weeks away, with how time is described it felt like more time than that has passed. Along with this, we don’t get to interact with Jaksen again in this book after Arenna escapes, which felt a bit odd due to the buildup of her focusing on her healing from the pain he inflicted on her. As a reader, I thought we were being prepared to meet him at the end of the book, but we had a twist at the end which was unexpected and interesting in its own way.
Speaking of, we come to the ending of the book where after Arenna has her celebration with the folk of Vlazias, they end up being attacked by Brookworth soldiers. Arenna wastes no time in taking out the assassin who had come to kidnap her and then rushes out to assist Kayson and the others to defend her newfound home. As mentioned earlier, I was surprised that Faylen wasn’t in fact, not dead, but had forced one of Jaksen’s people to glamour to look like Faylen to fake her death, and traumatize Arenna. I thought it was interesting in how we indirectly find out from Faylen that these “hallucinations” Arenna experiences are actually missing pieces of her memory that was fighting its way through to reveal the truth of her past and her heritage. Kayson and the whole “found family” we have met and learned to trust has been LYING to Arenna this ENTIRE time and that shatters something in her as well as me as a reader. I’m so intrigued to see how Arenna will handle this betrayal in the following book but enjoyed that twist to the story- it was well done by Stephanie. Something that has me a bit stuck as a reader though is why Faylen came back thinking that Arenna would just come with her after all that she had endured under Jaksen. Just didn’t seem like Arenna would ever willingly choose to go back to that, so the choice to have Faylen go back instead of having Jaksen use brute force to get to her felt a bit off- but perhaps the sequel will shed light onto the choice of why the ending was written like that.
The writing and story building done by Stephanie was enjoyable and I found myself wanting to know more, just as Arenna says she does about Vlazias and Varios. When writing about the politics of the world, it was clear as we learned the accurate history of what had gone down and why it occurred. The main characters were well fleshed out and have several layers to them, making them enjoyable to read about as we got to know their background. At times, when we were in Arenna’s or Kayson’s POV and they were interacting with some of the characters that didn’t get as much page time /word count in the book, the dialogue felt a bit flat and left me wondering why we weren’t given an opportunity to know that character a bit better as we did with Kayson, Arenna, and those who Arenna loves and always was speaking highly of. I’m hoping we get some more time with these characters in the next book since Arenna seems to like each of them, but we as readers don’t get enough insight into why she feels that way with each character she interacts with. Along with this, the descriptions and feelings that Arenna describes throughout the book are very clear and I can easily picture/understand them. However, sometimes I felt as a reader that Stephanie was doing too much of the thinking work for me and not making me think about the impact of what I was reading. This could be just how she chose to write Arenna, but as a reader, I like being shown more than told the story so I get the opportunity of how to interpret what I’m reading.
For a debut novel, I was very impressed and really want to again thank Stephanie for deeply diving into abuse/trauma in a way that feels raw, messy, but beautiful in the growth that we get to walk side by side with Arenna the entire time.
I’m so excited to see how the story continues to unfold and want to say thank you to Stephanie for being so vulnerable and holding space for those who need it in this unique tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2025
Wow! First I wanna thank Stephanie Shamblin for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Where do I even start?
From the beginning I was completely drawn in by Arenna and her story. This story does a beautiful job of telling the story of a person who has been through the worst of what life can offer someone who has been broken down and shattered and how one recovers from that. Arenna comes into her own slowly but steadily. She’s a complete badass in a way that we might not conventionally think of. It doesn’t not make her any less of a badass. We walk with her and bare witness to a journey of healing from trauma with the perfect demonstration that healing isn’t linear and that sometimes we will have bad days but they don’t overshadow the really good days.
I love how she grows in trusting others and how she really begins to rewrite and tell her story. Above all learning to trust herself.
The banter between the main characters was also top tier and I can’t wait to see more of it in the next book.
The ending had me completely shocked and I can’t believe I have to wait for book 2 now.
Now I’m left staring up at the ceiling unsure what to do with my life now.
July 30, 2025
ok I have so much to say oh my god!!
as a reader from episode, this was filled with so much nostalgia for me…these characters have been with me for many years!! I have reread that story so many times.
Arenna (Emerald to me lol) and Kayson are everything!
The plot was so well planned and thought out! The writing style was so unique and flowed super nicely, easy to read. However, the reason it is not a 5/5 is because the plot felt stagnant a few times, making me feel a little less interested at times. However, that ending was superb and shocked me a lot! But the Finding Emerald similarities were everything and made me so emotional!!!! I loved the mental health remain this book, was one of my favourite parts of FE.
I would seriously recommend this book, it’s a wild ride for sure. Thank you again to Stephanie for the arc and the lovely friendship we have now made! If you asked me when I originally read FE when I was maybe 14-15, if I would one day be friends with the author….man would never have guessed it.
Thank you again and everyone read this book now!!! ✨✨
as a reader from episode, this was filled with so much nostalgia for me…these characters have been with me for many years!! I have reread that story so many times.
Arenna (Emerald to me lol) and Kayson are everything!
The plot was so well planned and thought out! The writing style was so unique and flowed super nicely, easy to read. However, the reason it is not a 5/5 is because the plot felt stagnant a few times, making me feel a little less interested at times. However, that ending was superb and shocked me a lot! But the Finding Emerald similarities were everything and made me so emotional!!!! I loved the mental health remain this book, was one of my favourite parts of FE.
I would seriously recommend this book, it’s a wild ride for sure. Thank you again to Stephanie for the arc and the lovely friendship we have now made! If you asked me when I originally read FE when I was maybe 14-15, if I would one day be friends with the author….man would never have guessed it.
Thank you again and everyone read this book now!!! ✨✨
September 4, 2025
Read this in one day because I had to know what was going to happen next!
A Queen's Betrayal gave major Throne Of Glass vibes. The plot is much different but the vibes are there. A battered FMC with fire in her veins and a secret lineage who awakens to her power and true calling.
Stephanie Shamblin did an exquisite job with this book. Nothing dragged on too long, every detail fit just right and was delivered at the right times, nothing was unnecessary or felt "too much". Shamblin got right to the point, right to the heart of the story and delivered it on a silver platter to us.
This was a fun read! A Queen's Betrayal made me feel like I was on the battlefield watching everything like a movie. Isn't that what we want in a fantasy?! Chef's kiss finish that will make you want the next book asap.
A Queen's Betrayal gave major Throne Of Glass vibes. The plot is much different but the vibes are there. A battered FMC with fire in her veins and a secret lineage who awakens to her power and true calling.
Stephanie Shamblin did an exquisite job with this book. Nothing dragged on too long, every detail fit just right and was delivered at the right times, nothing was unnecessary or felt "too much". Shamblin got right to the point, right to the heart of the story and delivered it on a silver platter to us.
This was a fun read! A Queen's Betrayal made me feel like I was on the battlefield watching everything like a movie. Isn't that what we want in a fantasy?! Chef's kiss finish that will make you want the next book asap.
July 26, 2025
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of A Queens Betrayal by Stephanie Shamblin, and wow… this story pulled me in deep. The book mainly follows Arenna, our fierce but broken FMC, as she battles not only a brutal world but the trauma of her past. Her journey to survive, rise above, and claim her power is both heartbreaking and empowering. Kayson, our tall, broody MMC isn’t the main focus of this first book, but his presence adds tension, mystery, and a protective strength that can literally alter the earth. The playful banter will have you giggling and really rooting for him and Arenna from the start. It will leave you yearning like you won't believe. Fair warning that there is no spice in this book.This story is not a quick, fluffy read... it’s slower, darker, and built to make you feel everything. The good, the bad the downright ugly. There’s betrayal, found family, and a lot of emotional tension. I loved how the story dives into the idea of not letting your past define you, but instead learning to rise above it and own who you are. A beautiful lesson beautifully woven into a gripping story. And that ending? I have no idea where this will go, but I can already tell this is the beginning of an epic series and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Arenna and Kayson... I have a feeling it’s going to be incredible!
July 26, 2025
Talk about a debut novel! A Queen’s Betrayal by Stephanie Shamblin stands out as a breathtaking blend of immersive world building, deep character emotions, and pulse-pounding adventure. From the first page, I was swept into a universe of loss and despair, only to emerge into a world of magic, hope and beauty. Stephanie masterfully makes you carry the emotional weight of her characters, causing me to both shed some tears and to shout “NO!” Multiple times, making my husband give concerned looks. She makes you question, theorize, root for the good, hate the evil, and practice the patience you don’t want to have. The slow burn that allows her characters to simmer in conflict, vulnerability, training and trust will make you ache of anticipation. Patience will be essential as I wait for her second installment in this **planned** 4 book series. Being left on a cliffhanger with many unanswered questions, I know that the wait will be worthwhile to continue this journey that is so compelling.
August 13, 2025
“Hope can move mountains, make dreams come true. It can save, in the eyes of some.”
Where do I even begin?
I already loved Stephanie’s writing from Episode, but reading this book was a completely different and beautiful experience. From the very first page, I was pulled straight into the story.
The details, the setting, the emotions, even a glance or a silence, Stephanie brilliantly captured it all and took me on an emotional roller coaster.
I laughed, cried, felt angry, hopeful, and comforted. The twists, the creatures, the action scenes .. they all stood out and made the book so unique. I truly felt like I was living inside that world. Not for a single moment did I get bored.
Arenna .. aaah, Arenna. Her story was raw, fearless, and powerful. I found myself rooting for her, aching for her, and so many times, I just wanted to reach into the pages and hold her hand.
And Kayson, simply put, he’s one of those characters you know you won’t forget even after you finish the book.
“He had seen her there, at her lowest, and reminded her she was still capable of rising.”
The way he loved, protected, and supported made him unforgettable.
It’s so clear that this book was written with a soul bursting with passion and talent. I have no doubt this series will be loved by so many people and be on so many bookshelves.
If you like stories that take you to a beautiful fantasy world, you should read this. I can’t wait for Book 2 and the whole series!
So grateful I got to be part of the ARC team for AQB in exchange for an honest review! <3
Where do I even begin?
I already loved Stephanie’s writing from Episode, but reading this book was a completely different and beautiful experience. From the very first page, I was pulled straight into the story.
The details, the setting, the emotions, even a glance or a silence, Stephanie brilliantly captured it all and took me on an emotional roller coaster.
I laughed, cried, felt angry, hopeful, and comforted. The twists, the creatures, the action scenes .. they all stood out and made the book so unique. I truly felt like I was living inside that world. Not for a single moment did I get bored.
Arenna .. aaah, Arenna. Her story was raw, fearless, and powerful. I found myself rooting for her, aching for her, and so many times, I just wanted to reach into the pages and hold her hand.
And Kayson, simply put, he’s one of those characters you know you won’t forget even after you finish the book.
“He had seen her there, at her lowest, and reminded her she was still capable of rising.”
The way he loved, protected, and supported made him unforgettable.
It’s so clear that this book was written with a soul bursting with passion and talent. I have no doubt this series will be loved by so many people and be on so many bookshelves.
If you like stories that take you to a beautiful fantasy world, you should read this. I can’t wait for Book 2 and the whole series!
So grateful I got to be part of the ARC team for AQB in exchange for an honest review! <3
August 8, 2025
As an original reader, this exceeded my expectations 100%
I loved this book so much I absolutely cannot wait another year for book 2. Arenna is such a badass, i love her growth throughout the book. The mental health rep is amazing. I love Kayson with all my heart. And of course i still want to torture and kill jaksen 🥰
This book is truly amazing, its unbelievable that this is a debut novel, you can see the enjoyment of writing it through the book. This bool is so good i am going to have to recommend it to everyone i know (but its sadly not out yet)
I got this ARC but this is my honest review, please read this book its utterly amazing💖
I loved this book so much I absolutely cannot wait another year for book 2. Arenna is such a badass, i love her growth throughout the book. The mental health rep is amazing. I love Kayson with all my heart. And of course i still want to torture and kill jaksen 🥰
This book is truly amazing, its unbelievable that this is a debut novel, you can see the enjoyment of writing it through the book. This bool is so good i am going to have to recommend it to everyone i know (but its sadly not out yet)
I got this ARC but this is my honest review, please read this book its utterly amazing💖
September 9, 2025
What to say? I can’t say much without spoiling. The tension and the longing! Ugh. I needed some spice or something but there is none but you don’t even need it.
That epic battle?! Holy moly.
Looking forward to book two as I need to see more and hopefully we get some lovers going on hehe
also check the trigger warnings
- enemies to ?
- fae / humans
- dark magic
- elemental magic
That epic battle?! Holy moly.
Looking forward to book two as I need to see more and hopefully we get some lovers going on hehe
also check the trigger warnings
- enemies to ?
- fae / humans
- dark magic
- elemental magic
September 2, 2025
This book…
WAS SO GOOD 😍
I enjoyed every moment of it and cannot wait to read more by Stephanie!!!!!
WAS SO GOOD 😍
I enjoyed every moment of it and cannot wait to read more by Stephanie!!!!!
November 9, 2025
4.75 🌟 It’s a long read but well worth it. Strong villains! Magic everywhere you read and some places you weren’t expecting! Left on a cliff hanger… can’t wait for book 2!
August 2, 2025
ARC Review.
Stephanie... girl! I literally devoured this book! I read it in one day it was so good! The story and the betrayal!
Stephanie... girl! I literally devoured this book! I read it in one day it was so good! The story and the betrayal!
June 19, 2025
As a Romantasy lover this is EXACTLY what you’re looking for. A Queens Betrayal is beautiful and captivating and sucks you right in. Arenna is our badass FMC who takes us on a beautiful journey of self discovery, breaking her chains and escaping the only life she has ever known. She is such a complex character that has overcome so much. Watching her grow and change throughout AQB was such a beautiful and emotional experience.
This book gives us enemies to lovers, forced proximity, steamy mmc, fated mates, and a beautiful found family. AQB also has an amazingly refreshing magical system that keeps you on your toes. It is a true slow burn 🔥🔥
If this isn’t your next read. It should be 🤍🤍
“We fight as one and die as one”
This book gives us enemies to lovers, forced proximity, steamy mmc, fated mates, and a beautiful found family. AQB also has an amazingly refreshing magical system that keeps you on your toes. It is a true slow burn 🔥🔥
If this isn’t your next read. It should be 🤍🤍
“We fight as one and die as one”
September 24, 2025
Well, I now have TWO favorite 2025 ARC reads! I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this beautiful story (just look at that cover art)! I couldn’t resist setting up a photo shoot with a dummy book to plop the cover art onto because it’s just too pretty of a book, and I need you all to know about this one so you can snag it when it comes out in September!
In ‘A Queen’s Betrayal’ Shamblin crafts more than just a gripping tale of court intrigue, magic, and adventure—she gives us a protagonist unlike any other. The queen at the heart of this novel, Arenna, is not defined by her crown, but by the strength it takes to reclaim herself after deep personal and domestic trauma. Her journey is raw, courageous, and deeply human.
Shamblin handles the themes of abuse, control, and emotional resilience with rare sensitivity and honesty. Rather than glorify the pain, she illuminates the quiet, often invisible but intense inner struggle of recovery. The queen’s strength doesn’t come in the form of magic or swordplay (well…maybe just a little bit 😉)—it’s in the way she learns to trust herself again, to reclaim her voice, and to rise from betrayal with dignity and power.
This is a story of survival and growth that feels personal, urgent, and painfully real. Shamblin refuses to reduce her heroine to a victim—instead, she paints a full, complex portrait of a woman finding her way back to herself in a world with a husband (and king) that tried to silence her.
‘A Queen’s Betrayal’ is not just a compelling read—it’s fun, adventurous, soft, and endearing. A rare combination of heart-wrenching vulnerability and soaring empowerment. Readers who crave fantasy, romance, and emotional truth wrapped in rich storytelling will find themselves deeply moved.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In ‘A Queen’s Betrayal’ Shamblin crafts more than just a gripping tale of court intrigue, magic, and adventure—she gives us a protagonist unlike any other. The queen at the heart of this novel, Arenna, is not defined by her crown, but by the strength it takes to reclaim herself after deep personal and domestic trauma. Her journey is raw, courageous, and deeply human.
Shamblin handles the themes of abuse, control, and emotional resilience with rare sensitivity and honesty. Rather than glorify the pain, she illuminates the quiet, often invisible but intense inner struggle of recovery. The queen’s strength doesn’t come in the form of magic or swordplay (well…maybe just a little bit 😉)—it’s in the way she learns to trust herself again, to reclaim her voice, and to rise from betrayal with dignity and power.
This is a story of survival and growth that feels personal, urgent, and painfully real. Shamblin refuses to reduce her heroine to a victim—instead, she paints a full, complex portrait of a woman finding her way back to herself in a world with a husband (and king) that tried to silence her.
‘A Queen’s Betrayal’ is not just a compelling read—it’s fun, adventurous, soft, and endearing. A rare combination of heart-wrenching vulnerability and soaring empowerment. Readers who crave fantasy, romance, and emotional truth wrapped in rich storytelling will find themselves deeply moved.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 19, 2025
Amazing world building and a female main character that you can’t help but love! This book keeps you on your toes all the way until the end and even then it leaves you wanting more. Stephanie makes you fall in love with some characters and absolutely despise others. I can’t wait to read what happens next!
August 18, 2025
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings!!! I received an ARC copy for an honest review. 😍
I like going into books blind but this one surprised me and took me out of my comfort zone at times. I knew I needed to push through and I’m so glad I did. The last 20% had me hook, line, and sinker.
The book was giving off Throne of Glass, Gods & Monster Series vibes. It was a bit dark at first with some major character growth over the book.
The ending!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Can’t wait for book 2!
I like going into books blind but this one surprised me and took me out of my comfort zone at times. I knew I needed to push through and I’m so glad I did. The last 20% had me hook, line, and sinker.
The book was giving off Throne of Glass, Gods & Monster Series vibes. It was a bit dark at first with some major character growth over the book.
The ending!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Can’t wait for book 2!
August 18, 2025
received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Stephanie has done amazing job conveying Arenna fear, trauma, and reactions and Kayson is just sooo dreamyyy , I get sad when Arenna gets abused but I know it’s part of her journey and story and it’s sooo good with the world of fantasy! Definitely one to read!!!
Stephanie has done amazing job conveying Arenna fear, trauma, and reactions and Kayson is just sooo dreamyyy , I get sad when Arenna gets abused but I know it’s part of her journey and story and it’s sooo good with the world of fantasy! Definitely one to read!!!
July 29, 2025
On the dedication page, Shamblin says to her Episode readers: "I hope you fall in love all over again." And great Sisters above - I did.
Coming from Episode, I was thoroughly excited for this release and to see the world she created become more rounded and fleshed-out. The story she initially created through the visual novel site meant so much to me, and with this release, it means so much more now. So if you are here from Episode, I implore you, please read this - you will not be disappointed!
Arenna, known as the Serpent Queen of Brooksworth, is our FMC that we (as the reader) follow closely. Her path is not an easy one to watch; it is riddled with trauma, grief, and betrayal. As the reader, your heart can't help but sympathize with her. I wanted to reach through the pages to hug her during the difficult scenes. But she is a fiery warrior filled with determination to prove to her abuser, and most importantly, to herself, that she has worth - Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I love the complexities of her character and the layers she has. She feels real, and that realness is what allowed me to connect to her throughout the novel.
"Never would he kneel to another being, but for Arenna - for her - he would crumble at her feet." Without spoiling much, I absolutely loved the dynamics of Arenna and our MMC, Kayson. What a swoon-worthy man. Their relationship is enemies-to-lovers with a slow-burn that had my heart on an edge the entire time. He is the kind of man that every woman deserves to have at their side. A fierce protector of his people and land. Arenna is a force to be reckoned with, and Kayson lets her force shine through. He is the outstretched hand that wants to help Arenna discover her truest self and unlock her fullest potential. While I love their dynamics in the Episode story, I think the like their dynamics a bit more here. The realities of trauma and grief affecting a relationship, romantic or platonic, are shown more in the novel; bringing a richer depth and humanness to the overall story.
The entire novel, from beginning to end, was painted in my mind. Not many novels can do that for me, but Shamblin beautifully illustrated the intricacies of her world to where I could visualize all of it. From the ruined land of Varios, to the lush hills of Vlazias, she was able to weave pictures from her words alone. Especially the brutal, gut-wrenching battle scenes that showcase the reality of war and the bloodiness that follows it. She also does not shy away from shocking betrayals - trust me on this, I found myself screaming "WHAT" so many times. And unlike other fantasy novels I have read, I did not find myself being confused by the world building or going back pages to understand it. The details of this world were easy to follow and thoroughly explained. It's evident that a lot of time and thought went into every aspect of the world.
Shamblin has poured her heart and soul into this world, and it's shown on each and every page of her novel. The world she has created is beautiful and different. It's unlike any other fantasy novel I've read in the past, which made it such an enjoyable read from start to finish. The story of Arenna, Kayson, and the fight for their world has just begun - and I am fully buckling in for the ride!
(I was given the great honor of being a part of the ARC team for this release in exchange for an honest review - thank you to the author for allowing us to read it early! x)
Coming from Episode, I was thoroughly excited for this release and to see the world she created become more rounded and fleshed-out. The story she initially created through the visual novel site meant so much to me, and with this release, it means so much more now. So if you are here from Episode, I implore you, please read this - you will not be disappointed!
Arenna, known as the Serpent Queen of Brooksworth, is our FMC that we (as the reader) follow closely. Her path is not an easy one to watch; it is riddled with trauma, grief, and betrayal. As the reader, your heart can't help but sympathize with her. I wanted to reach through the pages to hug her during the difficult scenes. But she is a fiery warrior filled with determination to prove to her abuser, and most importantly, to herself, that she has worth - Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I love the complexities of her character and the layers she has. She feels real, and that realness is what allowed me to connect to her throughout the novel.
"Never would he kneel to another being, but for Arenna - for her - he would crumble at her feet." Without spoiling much, I absolutely loved the dynamics of Arenna and our MMC, Kayson. What a swoon-worthy man. Their relationship is enemies-to-lovers with a slow-burn that had my heart on an edge the entire time. He is the kind of man that every woman deserves to have at their side. A fierce protector of his people and land. Arenna is a force to be reckoned with, and Kayson lets her force shine through. He is the outstretched hand that wants to help Arenna discover her truest self and unlock her fullest potential. While I love their dynamics in the Episode story, I think the like their dynamics a bit more here. The realities of trauma and grief affecting a relationship, romantic or platonic, are shown more in the novel; bringing a richer depth and humanness to the overall story.
The entire novel, from beginning to end, was painted in my mind. Not many novels can do that for me, but Shamblin beautifully illustrated the intricacies of her world to where I could visualize all of it. From the ruined land of Varios, to the lush hills of Vlazias, she was able to weave pictures from her words alone. Especially the brutal, gut-wrenching battle scenes that showcase the reality of war and the bloodiness that follows it. She also does not shy away from shocking betrayals - trust me on this, I found myself screaming "WHAT" so many times. And unlike other fantasy novels I have read, I did not find myself being confused by the world building or going back pages to understand it. The details of this world were easy to follow and thoroughly explained. It's evident that a lot of time and thought went into every aspect of the world.
Shamblin has poured her heart and soul into this world, and it's shown on each and every page of her novel. The world she has created is beautiful and different. It's unlike any other fantasy novel I've read in the past, which made it such an enjoyable read from start to finish. The story of Arenna, Kayson, and the fight for their world has just begun - and I am fully buckling in for the ride!
(I was given the great honor of being a part of the ARC team for this release in exchange for an honest review - thank you to the author for allowing us to read it early! x)
July 31, 2025
A Queens Betrayal is a High Stakes Romantasy with Elemental Magic, Scary Monsters, Fierce Friendships, Enemies to Lovers, Eternal Bonds, Lost Family/Memories, Fae / Humans (& more) & an incredible amount of world building that flows so absolutely perfect.
When I say that A Queens Betrayal is engrained in my mind I am not exaggerating. The beautiful world that was created for this story brings a strong sense of “home” for me. From the friendships, character personalities & the relationships built throughout the book I immediately became obsessed. I could not recommend this book enough, easily a 6-star book for me & that is not something I say often.
You have two continents, Varios & Vlazias that are strongly & literally divided but used to be one. It is up to the FMC & MMC to bring those continents back together to save the human & the fae. There's only one MASSIVE problem, Jaksen Steele the King of Brookworth - Ruler of Humans, the man behind (almost) EVERY DANG ISSUE & our FMCs abusive husband…
Our FMC Arenna Steele has been abused, humiliated & told that she is worthless throughout her marriage to the King of Brookworth - Ruler of Humans, Jaksen Steele. Finally escaping his terror & fleeing Varios she now has to learn to free herself of his lingering abuse & words that have smothered her growth as a free woman. While missing those she has lost or was forced to leave behind it only urges her forward in becoming stronger, not only physically but mentally so she & our MMC can connect the continents as they once were & save the human & fae from the rot that has already negatively affected the lands of Varios.
Our MMC Kayson Valor the King of Worden - Ruler of Fae has been searching for our FMC Arenna Steele because she is one of four elemental powers (Fire, Air, Earth & Water) needed to reconnect the continents of Varios & Vlazias. Kayson embodies that broody, touch her & die, speak to her disrespectfully & face his wrath, protective of his people & friends MMC we all obsess over & let me be the first to warn you, YOU WILL BE OBSESSED.
The absolute emotion this book dragged out of me from the first chapter is astonishing, Stephanie had me crying for a stranger that would soon become a character that has a forever home in my heart. Arenna may seem beaten down or weak to most but from my perspective she is such a strong character, she chose to fight, to run, to live throughout everything she endured & had seen yet she still chose to find a way out. Arenna will forever be one of my favorite FMC based solely off of her strength to keep going, she is truly inspiring.
I do not want to give away too much, but I will say that Stephanie had such a TWIST for her ending that once “small” details became HUGE warnings for what was to come. It’s actually crazy & inspiring how much detail & thought Stephanie put into this book, especially it being her DEBUT. I am in awe of this book & cannot wait to experience book two.
** I'm Actually crying that I have to wait until 2026 for book two BUT I will happily wait **
Wonderful job Stephanie, you have created a world & characters that are going to rattle the book community & I cannot wait to watch everyone fall in love with your book.
Thank you so much to Stephanie Shamblin for the eARC & the opportunity to read this book!
When I say that A Queens Betrayal is engrained in my mind I am not exaggerating. The beautiful world that was created for this story brings a strong sense of “home” for me. From the friendships, character personalities & the relationships built throughout the book I immediately became obsessed. I could not recommend this book enough, easily a 6-star book for me & that is not something I say often.
You have two continents, Varios & Vlazias that are strongly & literally divided but used to be one. It is up to the FMC & MMC to bring those continents back together to save the human & the fae. There's only one MASSIVE problem, Jaksen Steele the King of Brookworth - Ruler of Humans, the man behind (almost) EVERY DANG ISSUE & our FMCs abusive husband…
Our FMC Arenna Steele has been abused, humiliated & told that she is worthless throughout her marriage to the King of Brookworth - Ruler of Humans, Jaksen Steele. Finally escaping his terror & fleeing Varios she now has to learn to free herself of his lingering abuse & words that have smothered her growth as a free woman. While missing those she has lost or was forced to leave behind it only urges her forward in becoming stronger, not only physically but mentally so she & our MMC can connect the continents as they once were & save the human & fae from the rot that has already negatively affected the lands of Varios.
Our MMC Kayson Valor the King of Worden - Ruler of Fae has been searching for our FMC Arenna Steele because she is one of four elemental powers (Fire, Air, Earth & Water) needed to reconnect the continents of Varios & Vlazias. Kayson embodies that broody, touch her & die, speak to her disrespectfully & face his wrath, protective of his people & friends MMC we all obsess over & let me be the first to warn you, YOU WILL BE OBSESSED.
The absolute emotion this book dragged out of me from the first chapter is astonishing, Stephanie had me crying for a stranger that would soon become a character that has a forever home in my heart. Arenna may seem beaten down or weak to most but from my perspective she is such a strong character, she chose to fight, to run, to live throughout everything she endured & had seen yet she still chose to find a way out. Arenna will forever be one of my favorite FMC based solely off of her strength to keep going, she is truly inspiring.
I do not want to give away too much, but I will say that Stephanie had such a TWIST for her ending that once “small” details became HUGE warnings for what was to come. It’s actually crazy & inspiring how much detail & thought Stephanie put into this book, especially it being her DEBUT. I am in awe of this book & cannot wait to experience book two.
** I'm Actually crying that I have to wait until 2026 for book two BUT I will happily wait **
Wonderful job Stephanie, you have created a world & characters that are going to rattle the book community & I cannot wait to watch everyone fall in love with your book.
Thank you so much to Stephanie Shamblin for the eARC & the opportunity to read this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
This may contain light spoilers.
A Queen's Betrayal follows Arenna as she plots her escape from the king who is also her sadistic and abusive husband. When her initial plan goes awry in the darkest way imaginable, she finds herself more trapped than ever before, but also more powerful than she'd ever dreamed. However, this newfound power offers little comfort when she’s confronted with the true horrors occurring within her own home. With the help of an old friend and an unlikely ally, Arenna finally escapes to the fae continent across the sea. There, she must discover who she truly is and learn to escape her husband in ways that distance alone can't fix.
Tropes:
Found Family
Hidden Power
Scary Creatures
Secret Identity
Enemies to Friends
What I Loved:
✨ The Healing Arc: The portrayal of Arenna's healing was so refreshingly realistic. One moment she's moving forward, and the next, she falls back into old habits. Some days it feels like the abuse never happened, and the next it’s like she’s right back there, enduring it all over again. THAT is what healing truly looks like. It isn't linear, and I loved that the author, Stephanie, showed that so powerfully. She also did a superb job of depicting how victims of abuse often blame themselves. By the end Arenna had grown so much, but am I convinced that she's all better? No, and she probably isn't and that's okay.
✨ The World-Building: The world-building was fantastic. The settings were described so beautifully that it was easy to get immersed. There is such a rich history in this story, and the plot seems to be deeply tied to it, which is so exciting. We get quite a lore drop, but I just know there's more, and I can't wait to uncover it. It felt like I read a mini-story within a story, and now I'm waiting for the second installment of both!
✨ The (Lack of) Spice: Now, don't get me wrong, I love some spice. From a single chili pepper to five and maybe even more. But I truly appreciate that there was none in this book. Arenna is trying to figure out who she is outside of survival mode, and advancing her relationship with the MMC any faster would have felt unnatural. I love that the author stayed true to the character instead of adding a spicy scene just for the sake of it. (That said, if and when she does jump into bed with our dreamy MMC, I won't hold it against her.)
✨ The Twists: I can't say anything without spoilers. Just go read it. You won't regret it.
I highly recommend this book and I am dying for the next one. I just know it's going to be epic!
This may contain light spoilers.
A Queen's Betrayal follows Arenna as she plots her escape from the king who is also her sadistic and abusive husband. When her initial plan goes awry in the darkest way imaginable, she finds herself more trapped than ever before, but also more powerful than she'd ever dreamed. However, this newfound power offers little comfort when she’s confronted with the true horrors occurring within her own home. With the help of an old friend and an unlikely ally, Arenna finally escapes to the fae continent across the sea. There, she must discover who she truly is and learn to escape her husband in ways that distance alone can't fix.
Tropes:
Found Family
Hidden Power
Scary Creatures
Secret Identity
Enemies to Friends
What I Loved:
✨ The Healing Arc: The portrayal of Arenna's healing was so refreshingly realistic. One moment she's moving forward, and the next, she falls back into old habits. Some days it feels like the abuse never happened, and the next it’s like she’s right back there, enduring it all over again. THAT is what healing truly looks like. It isn't linear, and I loved that the author, Stephanie, showed that so powerfully. She also did a superb job of depicting how victims of abuse often blame themselves. By the end Arenna had grown so much, but am I convinced that she's all better? No, and she probably isn't and that's okay.
✨ The World-Building: The world-building was fantastic. The settings were described so beautifully that it was easy to get immersed. There is such a rich history in this story, and the plot seems to be deeply tied to it, which is so exciting. We get quite a lore drop, but I just know there's more, and I can't wait to uncover it. It felt like I read a mini-story within a story, and now I'm waiting for the second installment of both!
✨ The (Lack of) Spice: Now, don't get me wrong, I love some spice. From a single chili pepper to five and maybe even more. But I truly appreciate that there was none in this book. Arenna is trying to figure out who she is outside of survival mode, and advancing her relationship with the MMC any faster would have felt unnatural. I love that the author stayed true to the character instead of adding a spicy scene just for the sake of it. (That said, if and when she does jump into bed with our dreamy MMC, I won't hold it against her.)
✨ The Twists: I can't say anything without spoilers. Just go read it. You won't regret it.
I highly recommend this book and I am dying for the next one. I just know it's going to be epic!
November 19, 2025
👑🧚🗡️🐍🔥✨
A Queen’s Betrayal by Stephanie Shamblin is a solid 5 🌟
From the very beginning, I felt for Arenna immediately. She’s this broken, fragile Queen with literally no way out of her horrific life. I can’t lie to you, some chapters were hard to read because her pain (and that awful abuser, the Serpent King… Neva liked him, NEVA WILL 😭🤣). The beginning was heavy to read at first, but I'm glad I continued.
Towards the middle of the book I found myself screaming, “Girl GET UP, FIGHT BACK!!” & on top of everything she went through physically, she also battled mental illness as well. Her dream world and hallucinations were so vivid that for a second I swore I was in Brookworth myself. Beautifully executed!!
Without saying too much, the scenery and the creatures Arenna encounters as she travels the continent are truly terrifying. I could invision all of it!! The description of the Druque made me say out loud "Nope, imma head out"
🏃🏽♀️💨💨😂😂😂.
Then we get to the Fae realm of Valazias, and it’s such a nice contrast from the darkness of Brookworth. The found family vibes?? 🔥🔥🔥. . But BABES… I was NOT ready for that ending. I felt betrayed, shocked, flabbergasted, wanting to fight, EVERYTHING 🥊💥😭😭
TYSM @stephanieshamblinauthor ❣️❣️❣️
I had an amazing time reading and listening to A Queen’s Betrayal 🤗✨
Also swipe to see some of my fave quotes!!
Cool Things in This Book:
🖼️Two Lands: Brookworth & Valazias
🧌Creatures: Fae, Draka, Druque, Medryds
🪩Magic: Elemental, Blood, Visions, Rippling
🐺Shapeshifters: Yup… they’re in here too 👀🔥
A Queen’s Betrayal by Stephanie Shamblin is a solid 5 🌟
From the very beginning, I felt for Arenna immediately. She’s this broken, fragile Queen with literally no way out of her horrific life. I can’t lie to you, some chapters were hard to read because her pain (and that awful abuser, the Serpent King… Neva liked him, NEVA WILL 😭🤣). The beginning was heavy to read at first, but I'm glad I continued.
Towards the middle of the book I found myself screaming, “Girl GET UP, FIGHT BACK!!” & on top of everything she went through physically, she also battled mental illness as well. Her dream world and hallucinations were so vivid that for a second I swore I was in Brookworth myself. Beautifully executed!!
Without saying too much, the scenery and the creatures Arenna encounters as she travels the continent are truly terrifying. I could invision all of it!! The description of the Druque made me say out loud "Nope, imma head out"
🏃🏽♀️💨💨😂😂😂.
Then we get to the Fae realm of Valazias, and it’s such a nice contrast from the darkness of Brookworth. The found family vibes?? 🔥🔥🔥. . But BABES… I was NOT ready for that ending. I felt betrayed, shocked, flabbergasted, wanting to fight, EVERYTHING 🥊💥😭😭
TYSM @stephanieshamblinauthor ❣️❣️❣️
I had an amazing time reading and listening to A Queen’s Betrayal 🤗✨
Also swipe to see some of my fave quotes!!
Cool Things in This Book:
🖼️Two Lands: Brookworth & Valazias
🧌Creatures: Fae, Draka, Druque, Medryds
🪩Magic: Elemental, Blood, Visions, Rippling
🐺Shapeshifters: Yup… they’re in here too 👀🔥
December 10, 2025
I received and an eARC of this book as well as listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed them both.
⚠️⚠️⚠️This book does contain heavy themes so please check trigger warnings!!! ⚠️⚠️⚠️
The way A Queen's Betrayal was told has set up book 2 (and possibly 3 if the author plans to write more than 2) wonderfully. The world building, the magic, the lore and the past/current conflict are all told in a way that grips you from the beginning. For a first book, this went beyond what I expected.
As far as characters go, I don't think I have despised one character as much as I do Jakson. He is quite LITERALLY the wooooorst (but in a good way for the purpose of the story lol).
The FMC Arenna deals with her traumas a lot throughout the book and you get to witness all of her rawness while healing. She's on the run from an abusive husband and plans to go to the enemy kingdom to hide. While there, she learns of what role she must actually play in this war through an old prophecy foretold when their cleaned the land in two.
⚠️⚠️⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILER⚠️⚠️⚠️
💚
💚
💚
When a book makes you question what was real this whole time after reading 90% of the story 😮😮😮 I was so surprised! The author does a good job of making you think you know what's going on, when in fact, you have no idea.
⚠️⚠️⚠️This book does contain heavy themes so please check trigger warnings!!! ⚠️⚠️⚠️
The way A Queen's Betrayal was told has set up book 2 (and possibly 3 if the author plans to write more than 2) wonderfully. The world building, the magic, the lore and the past/current conflict are all told in a way that grips you from the beginning. For a first book, this went beyond what I expected.
As far as characters go, I don't think I have despised one character as much as I do Jakson. He is quite LITERALLY the wooooorst (but in a good way for the purpose of the story lol).
The FMC Arenna deals with her traumas a lot throughout the book and you get to witness all of her rawness while healing. She's on the run from an abusive husband and plans to go to the enemy kingdom to hide. While there, she learns of what role she must actually play in this war through an old prophecy foretold when their cleaned the land in two.
⚠️⚠️⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILER⚠️⚠️⚠️
💚
💚
💚
When a book makes you question what was real this whole time after reading 90% of the story 😮😮😮 I was so surprised! The author does a good job of making you think you know what's going on, when in fact, you have no idea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2025
Thank you Stephanie Shamblin for choosing me to receive this ARC. This is an impressive debut novel!
A Queens Betrayal is a slow burn ( no spice) romantic fantasy with ancient magic, scary creatures and dragons. A war that separated humans and fae , and a plague that is slowly destroying the land.
The story is well written and flows nicely. The world building is so descriptive.
I really liked this book. I finished it days ago but needed time to recover from this beautiful and heartbreaking story before I could talk about it. It created a roller coaster of emotions for me. I went from sad, to happy, to mad and then back again. The plot twists and betrayals had me screaming - No No No!!!
Arenna, the MFC is the Queen of Brookworth, or The Serpent Queen, as many of her subjects call
her. She is basically a prisoner in her own castle and married to an abusive king. The king beats and tortures her and has her convinced it's her own fault- that she did something to deserve it. After an especially brutal night of abuse and being locked in the dungeon , Arenna decides enough is enough and plans an escape, to an enemy continent, where her husband won't think of looking for her.
Arenna is rescued by Kayson, the MMC, King of Worden and her enemy. He hates Arenna and has no problem telling her this. But she has a rare and powerful magic that he needs to fulfill a prophecy. Her magic maybe the answer to save their world. As she trains hard to manage her powers, Kayson realizes Arenna isn't the person he thought she was and starts to fall for her. They have both been through horrible trauma. He helps her to heal by supporting and protecting her while just letting her be herself.
The ending is a massive plot twist with secrets and true identities revealed! So good! After finally starting to trust again I am anxious to see how Arenna deals with this new betrayal. Book 2 is needed now!
Arenna's journey is one of heartbreak, trauma and betrayal. She is a survivor though, and works through this, with help from Kayson and his Court, learning to trust again and discovering that she is worthy.
August 22, 2025
This is an ARC read and I want to say thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It literally kept me up at night, just bingeing it and staying on my mind while I had to put it down to tend to life.
We have fantasy, magic, slow burn romance, a villain that can’t go away fast enough, twists and turns, surprises… this book has it all!
I absolutely LOVED seeing our MFC start at the bottom and work herself to a strong, brave woman. She begins in the worst possible way (tortured/brainwashed/broken) and we literally watch her grow to the best version of herself.
We are left with a cliffhanger (ughhhh and now the wait begins for Book 2 of this series). But there is so much packed into this one book.
There is no spice in this book which I am grateful for. Some books get carried away with the spice that the plot is buried and forgotten. There is slow, and I mean slow, burn romance, but the focus is more on the storyline. Book 2 might hit us hard with the romance though…
I truly enjoyed this book and will be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for Book 2!
We have fantasy, magic, slow burn romance, a villain that can’t go away fast enough, twists and turns, surprises… this book has it all!
I absolutely LOVED seeing our MFC start at the bottom and work herself to a strong, brave woman. She begins in the worst possible way (tortured/brainwashed/broken) and we literally watch her grow to the best version of herself.
We are left with a cliffhanger (ughhhh and now the wait begins for Book 2 of this series). But there is so much packed into this one book.
There is no spice in this book which I am grateful for. Some books get carried away with the spice that the plot is buried and forgotten. There is slow, and I mean slow, burn romance, but the focus is more on the storyline. Book 2 might hit us hard with the romance though…
I truly enjoyed this book and will be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for Book 2!
September 18, 2025
🔥⛰️A Queen’s Betrayal⛰️🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Y’all - from the moment I heard about this book I wanted to read it & let me just tell you - it was WORTH THE WAIT. WOW. It was everything I needed out of a dark fantasy without all the spice. Beautiful, devastating, gripping, tragic, redemptive - I could go on & on.
Arenna & Kayson - what a beautiful disaster they make & they are just getting started. The banter is top notch. The longing is phenomenal.
The world is top notch. I feel like my brain is going to be living there for a while. The twists & turns had me on the absolute edge of my seat. Perfect I say! Stephanie - you’re doing great, sweetie!
This is definitely a dark fantasy with a lot of heavy topics. Please check content warnings before diving in. There was some mild cursing (nothing terrible) & a few slight innuendos. But absolutely no spice.
Okay, not that I have all that off my chest I’m just gonna go ahead & say that this is hands down one of my favorite books of the year! I’ll be sitting here not so patiently waiting for A Queen’s Awakening.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Y’all - from the moment I heard about this book I wanted to read it & let me just tell you - it was WORTH THE WAIT. WOW. It was everything I needed out of a dark fantasy without all the spice. Beautiful, devastating, gripping, tragic, redemptive - I could go on & on.
Arenna & Kayson - what a beautiful disaster they make & they are just getting started. The banter is top notch. The longing is phenomenal.
The world is top notch. I feel like my brain is going to be living there for a while. The twists & turns had me on the absolute edge of my seat. Perfect I say! Stephanie - you’re doing great, sweetie!
This is definitely a dark fantasy with a lot of heavy topics. Please check content warnings before diving in. There was some mild cursing (nothing terrible) & a few slight innuendos. But absolutely no spice.
Okay, not that I have all that off my chest I’m just gonna go ahead & say that this is hands down one of my favorite books of the year! I’ll be sitting here not so patiently waiting for A Queen’s Awakening.
December 25, 2025
** spoiler alert **
Plot:
Rating: 9.5/10
Loved: When I say slow burn romance, this is EXACTLYYYY what I mean. Readers of this review, if you have any other books with similar enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, please share with me! The plot was slow too but I think it helped with the above. I was so disappointed to hear this was the only book in the series for now!
Opportunities: For the life of me, and I can appreciate this might be a me problem but it was so hard to give this book a chance in the beginning. It took me three (3) weeks to consistently read more than 1-2 pages of this book. I kept starting and stopping it. I kept getting confused what Varios was and there was a lot to learn.
Characters:
Rating: 10/10
Loved: The character buildings on EVERYONE was STUNNING! I feel like we felt connected to the characters and got to see them grow and love. I can't stress enough how well the characters were written. I read a book right after this and really didn't want to because comparing this author's writing and characters could not compare.
Plot:
Rating: 9.5/10
Loved: When I say slow burn romance, this is EXACTLYYYY what I mean. Readers of this review, if you have any other books with similar enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, please share with me! The plot was slow too but I think it helped with the above. I was so disappointed to hear this was the only book in the series for now!
Opportunities: For the life of me, and I can appreciate this might be a me problem but it was so hard to give this book a chance in the beginning. It took me three (3) weeks to consistently read more than 1-2 pages of this book. I kept starting and stopping it. I kept getting confused what Varios was and there was a lot to learn.
Characters:
Rating: 10/10
Loved: The character buildings on EVERYONE was STUNNING! I feel like we felt connected to the characters and got to see them grow and love. I can't stress enough how well the characters were written. I read a book right after this and really didn't want to because comparing this author's writing and characters could not compare.
July 25, 2025
ARC Review
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book pulled me in from the very beginning. The world building and character development is amazing from start to finish. I loved the FMC and her growth throughout the story and the way this book ends leaves you with wanting to see where the story takes not just her but the almost every character we meet in book 1. The yearning from the MMC is something you can feel through Stephanie’s words and the “he fell first” vibe is strong. Without ruining any of the plot, there is a term that Stephanie uses to describe a relationship instead of mates and it is just chef’s kiss. There is also a part that was swoon worthy towards the end of the book that was really sweet. Cannot wait for book 2 already! Well done Stephanie!!!
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book pulled me in from the very beginning. The world building and character development is amazing from start to finish. I loved the FMC and her growth throughout the story and the way this book ends leaves you with wanting to see where the story takes not just her but the almost every character we meet in book 1. The yearning from the MMC is something you can feel through Stephanie’s words and the “he fell first” vibe is strong. Without ruining any of the plot, there is a term that Stephanie uses to describe a relationship instead of mates and it is just chef’s kiss. There is also a part that was swoon worthy towards the end of the book that was really sweet. Cannot wait for book 2 already! Well done Stephanie!!!
August 13, 2025
I’ve read the episode version of this book a few years ago. I just finished the novel as an arc and I am in awe with how Stephanie was able to expand it and gave justice to each character development especially with Arenna. The worldbuilding is great. The twists and turns were so unexpected that I needed to pause everytime. Some chapters I find a bit of a drag but that’s just how it is especially during the worldbuilding stage. Overall I am speechless I can’t even compare it to other books. It’s just incomparable. It’s giving a different but very good vibe and I can’t wait for book 2!!!! Congratulations Stephanie!!!! I am very proud of you….and thank you very much for pushing through☺️
September 8, 2025
This book was quite good! I found myself falling in love with the chaos, characters, actions, plot, and sweet moments. Arenna and Kayson are so perfect for each other. They have their moments of banter and anger but they work so well together. Having Arenna start her betrayal against everything she knew was a bold choice that I have loved more than anything. Kayson is very interesting. He just draws my attention and makes me feel things that I questioned. This story has really kept me up at night to think about and I just cannot get enough of it. I hope these two live forever in my head.
I received an advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.
I received an advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.
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