Burn the Kingdom Down

by Addie Thorley

An action-packed enemies-to-lovers romantasy filled with a romance that will leave you breathless, betrayals that will rip your heart out, and a princess who will stop at nothing for revenge.

One year ago, Rowenna Harrack, the crown princess of Tashir, left her homeland in a wedding dress of chains—sent away to the enemy nation of Vanzador as a captive bride.

Now, Rowenna is dead. Brought home in a coffin after an alleged fall from a cliff.

Second-born princess, Indira, knows her sister's death was no accident. Desperate for truth and vengeance, Indira agrees to wed the prince so she can infiltrate Vanzador, find Rowenna's murderer, and burn their kingdom to the ground.

Indira's plan is simple, she will make nice until she can find out how to avenge her sister and free her country from the rival nation's stranglehold. But when Indira arrives, nothing is as terrible as Rowenna described. As Indira grows closer to her new husband, Prince Alaric, and uncovers more about Vanzador, the source of its powers, and what happened during Rowenna's final days, she's no longer sure what—and who—to believe. Because everyone, even her sister, has secrets. Deadly ones.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

448 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Addie Thorley spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, she decided “hard news” didn’t contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back.

She now lives in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and wolf dog, and when she’s not writing she can be found gallivanting in the woods or galloping around the barn where she works as a horse trainer and exercise rider.
AN AFFAIR OF POISONS is her debut novel.

You can find her online at www.addiethorley.com or on Twitter @addiethorley.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do love fantasy, but romantasy feels like an entirely different breed. Some work for me and other's don't. This one unfortunately fell into the 'don't' category. Meh would be the way to sum up my feelings. It wasn't bad but it also wasn't something I was invested in. I think the mystery aspect was what kept me intrigued and reading. My biggest issue was our FMC, Indira. Romantasy often relies on the same annoying formula and somehow Indira was both weak and pathetic and strong and badass. Not even the fun kind, just annoying. I couldn't care enough from the start to feel like her anger was earned and it came across as bratty more than anything else. She felt one dimensional but it wasn't just her, it was like that for every character.

I will give credit that the mystery and the worldbuilding was well done with great writing. I just couldn't find myself engaged with the story or the romance.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and netgalley for the arc.

[tiana ♡]

pre-read notes:

I got the ARC for this! So excited to check it out soon, the description is honestly what convinced me 👀🌸

[Claire Statler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to get to read this before it was released. this was genuinely a really great slow burn enimies to lovers as promised. none of the romance was cringe or spicy, it was completely clean YA also as promised. and it had those good plot twists that were foreshadowed since the beginning but subtly enough that you still never saw it coming.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There aren't many romantasy books with a murder solving aspect out there, so this was a unique novel in the sea of romantasy so I can definitely recommend it for that alone but there was so much more to this story:

-Making your own convictions and stepping out of the shadow of other's choices (Indira's character growth was so thoughtfully and well done)

-The process of grief was written with such care and truly showed how some of the best pieces of you can leave when you lose someone. The author did such a great job tying the characters together through their shared grief.

"Two broken people finding wholeness in the pieces of the other. Coming together to form an image like stained glass-far more beautiful pieced back together than if the glass had remained a solid pane."

-The slow burn of the romance between Indira and Alaric was written well and the banter was there.
Alric: "Because you're infuriating. I'm far more tempted to shove you off a cliff than I ever was your sister."
Indira: "How romantic, I coo. Just what I hoped my husband would whisper on our wedding night."

I just wish that they had more teasing interactions throughout the story that could have added to the tension between them. I really enjoyed them as a couple, so I really wanted more.

The reason why I didn't give this book five stars was because I wish there was more info given to the politics, the magic and growing system could have really been expanded on. I think the book could have really benefited to an epilogue because it felt like it just cut off about the futures of their kingdoms which was a little disappointing.

[Millicent Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★

"Perhaps the afterlife has always been the only place a Tashiri girl and Vanzadorian boy can be together."

~4.75 stars ✨

One year ago, Indira's sister was sent to the enemy kingdom as a captive bride... and Indira would burn the world to bring her back.

This book. THIS. BOOK. I can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s not about politics or war, it’s about people, choices, grief, and love that feels almost impossible. Every character felt so painfully real. No flat villains, no perfect heroes; just broken souls trying to do what they think is right.

Indira was everything I could ever want in an FMC: strong, loyal, fierce, and heartbreakingly human. And Alaric… let’s just say I’m still recovering.

The plot twists. WHERE. DO. I. EVEN. BEGIN. Just when I thought I had the whole plot figured out, NOPE, the story flipped on its head, and I was left gasping all over again.

The writing was beautiful, in a sense kinda poetic, but it felt...natural (if you get what I mean). The only reason I'm not giving it a full five stars is... BECAUSE I WANTED AN EPILOGUEEE
I NEED just one more glimpse of them.

Thank you to Netgalley team and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the request of the publisher, this review will go public on March 22, 2026.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....

[nihaarika · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars (rounded up to 5)

i feel so incredibly lucky that i got to read burn the kingdom down because this turned out to be absolutely incredible. this was far darker than i expected it to be, and you know what, i'm here for that.

the enemies-to-lovers aspect of this is so well done; and for a large chunk of the book, indira and alaric actually stay enemies. the hatred indira feels for alaric and his kingdom is palpable. the world building was soo good, and the descriptions of tashir and vanzadoria felt so realistic and brutal. i loved how the magic system was centered around the earth, and how indira and alaric's powers felt similar and different at the same time.

indira was an amazing protagonist for this story. driven by grief over her sister and a desire to take revenge on alaric and his kingdom, she finds herself in vanzadoria in a marriage to a prince who may or may not have killed her sister. without spoiling, let me just say her character development is so so good, and so well done. without fail, i think that's the best part of the book. seeing indira go from who she was at the start of the story, to making her own choices and fighting for people she wasn't expecting to care about, was soo good and made for a fun reading experience.

as for the romance? like i said, it's enemies to lovers done so well. indira and alaric had such incredible chemistry, and not gonna lie, i was shipping them so hard pretty early on. i loved seeing the relationship develop over the course of the story, and seeing them grow close as the plot unravels. i would have loved to see more of the politics and a longer explanation for the growing/stone magic. i do think the book would have benefited from having an epilogue, rather than being cut off without letting us know what happens in the future.

nevertheless, burn the kingdom down was a pretty solid enemies to lovers fantasy, and i hope we get to see more books set in the world.

thank you sourcebooks fire for sending me an e-arc through netgalley!

[lape.titemortt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burn the Kingdom Down is a richly plotted YA fantasy that blends some political intrigue, murder mystery, and a slow-burn romance. The story follows Princess Indira, whose sister was sent as a captive bride to a rival kingdom but died. Convinced it wasn’t an accident, Indira marries her sister’s husband, Prince Alaric (I know, I know), so she can uncover the truth of her sister’s death and exact revenge. But we quickly realize that loyalties shift, secrets are buried, and nothing is what it seems.

I enjoyed Indira’s character development. In the beginning, she was quiet and reserved. She lived in her sister’s shadow and needed constant reassurance from her. We watch her overcome grief and other emotional huddles. Resulting in her self-discovery and finding her own voice and strength.
The emotional themes of grief, betrayal, and trust are handled with care. The emotional journey is written realistically, which makes the stakes high and engaging.
The romance between Indira and Prince Alaric was also well-executed, and their tension and chemistry were satisfying, with banter and mutual growth that feel earned. There was no spice. It is presumed they had sex, but it was off-page, fade to black. This is a clean, YA romance.
Lastly, the plot twist was predictable because of the subtle hint early on, but it didn’t take away from the story. Addie’s lyrical writing style has you focusing on other moving parts that you don’t expect when it’s going to happen. It was a pleasant surprise.

I do wish Addie had added more detailed exploration of the politics, magic system, and larger setting. I felt some aspects weren’t resolved or felt out of place. This being a standalone, I wished for a more extended epilogue or additional scenes after the climax! The ending felt abrupt and rushed.

Overall, Burn the Kingdom Down is a readable YA romantasy, especially if you love emotional depth with your fantasy and romance. If you’re a sucker for character complexity, emotional arcs, and heartbreaking twists, this is for you.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire for my free e-ARC 💕

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠-𝑡𝑜-𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒
𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒 & 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑙𝑠
𝑀𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑦

Looking for a romantasy standalone that delivers fierce emotion, layered mystery, and breathtaking romance? This is it.

A year ago, Indira’s sister Rowenna was sent to the enemy nation as a captive bride. Now she’s dead, her body returned in a coffin after an “accidental” fall from a cliff.

Convinced it was murder, Indira agrees to marry the same prince to uncover the truth from within. Her plan is simple: gain their trust, find Rowenna’s killer, and 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.

But nothing in Vanzador is as her sister described. As Indira grows closer to Prince Alaric and unravels the secrets behind Vanzador’s power and Rowenna’s final days, she’s forced to question everything she thought she knew because everyone, even her sister, is hiding deadly secrets.

This isn’t a fast-paced battle heavy fantasy, it’s a slow-burn unraveling of truth, revenge, and love. The final twists left me reeling; I never saw the ending coming.

Every character feels achingly real. Indira is a standout heroine: fierce, clever, and heartbreakingly human. And Alaric is complex, conflicted, and impossible not to fall for. Their chemistry grows naturally and is tender and devastatingly emotional. My only gripe would be wanting a bit more spark and tension in the romance and a deeper dive into the magic system.

If you love a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy of revenge and secrets, then add this to your tbr! 🔥👑

✦ Thank you Addie Thorley, @sourcebooksfire and @netgalley for an early e-copy! ✦
Rating: 4.5/5

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An unforgettable, breathtaking romantasy that burns brighter with every page

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley is pure magic—an enthralling blend of vengeance, romance, and power that completely sweeps you away. From the first page to the explosive finale, this book is a masterclass in emotional intensity and immersive worldbuilding.

Princess Indira is everything you could want in a heroine: fierce, clever, and utterly determined. Her quest for justice for her sister’s death drives the story with heart-pounding urgency, but it’s her strength, vulnerability, and growth that make her unforgettable. And Prince Alaric—what a complex, compelling love interest! The chemistry between them is electric, filled with tension, longing, and a slow-burn connection that’s both tender and devastating.

Addie’s writing is lush and cinematic, her world vividly drawn and full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. Every twist feels earned, every betrayal hits deep, and every emotional moment lands perfectly. The balance of action, heart, and intrigue is flawless—making this one of those rare books you want to devour and savor all at once.

🔥 Final thoughts: Burn the Kingdom Down is an absolute triumph—a breathtaking enemies-to-lovers tale that delivers on every level: passion, heartbreak, and redemption. Addie has created a world and a cast of characters you won’t soon forget. Easily one of the best romantasy reads of the year!

[Pavla Leitgebova · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit that I'm probably a little too old for this one, and I have rounded up my rating accordingly.

I really liked the premise, thought that the worldbuilding had so much charm and I have to give kudos for setting the mystery in such a way that kept me reading even when I was struggling with everything else. The characters somehow managed to be both flat and overdramatic - and not for the lack of depth to them, but because of how clumsily that depth was revealed. Often times the actions that were meant to build a character were so melodramatic and detached from the previous characterization that they felt OOC instead. They talked little too much like modern teenagers, displayed the worst in the inner dialogue the main character had with her sister.

It also doesn't help that all the emotional moments and character development relies on telling rather than showing -sometimes contradicting each other even. The entire first half of the book the main character through her POV tells that we should fear for her safety, yet she doesn't act in accordance to the severity of her situation in one bit.

Overall, this book just doesn't know how to work with subtlety.

My thanks go to the Netgalley aswell as the publisher for a review copy of this book.

[summer]

DNF @ 61%

A standalone mystery-centered slow burn romantasy sounds like it should be everything; however, I'm sorry but I can't do it. Knowing I still have almost 200 pages left is very unmotivating. Generally, the book is just too long at around 450 pages. While I was super interested in the magic system, specifically the memory tithing, it just isn't enough for me to keep going (especially since I didn't get the vibe that it would be expanded upon much). I stopped caring too much about the main mystery, which is not great when it's the main plot. I also didn't care for the romance, which is not great because it's a romantasy. I didn't care for the main character because she was annoying and spoke to her dead sister like she was there (in front of other people too, cringe), which is not great because we're stuck in her head. Finally, I didn't really care about any of the other characters as none of them were original nor were they interesting enough to make up for it.

If the concept sounds interesting to you, definitely still check it out. Sad to say it wasn't enough for me.

Thank you to Source Books Fire and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing an ARC to my employer for us to read.

The book captivated me from the first chapter. Indira's stubbornness was was both endlessly frustrating and endlessly endearing: her determination to figure out what happened to her sister and not knowing who to trust kept me on her side and cheering her on even as I begged her to have faith in others.

The book is full of twists, betrayals. and most importantly: love. Love for your family, your kingdom and the people you are beholden to, and love for yourself. The world is rich and the magic system interesting. It left me wanting more stories in this setting.

My only true critique is I would have liked more breathing room at the end of the story after the climax before the book ended. A little more time with Indira and Alaric before the story ended world have been my personal preference.

That being said, I very much enjoyed this story and the relationships within it. I devoured the story in two days, and was left with a book hangover when it was finished.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really glad I gave this one a shot! I don’t typically read young adult books, but the plot of this one just sounded so good that I couldn’t resist. And it did not let me down!

The action, the romance, the political intrigue: this book is the perfect recipe for a romantasy everyone should read. I couldn’t put it down at all when I was reading!

Plot after plot after plot keeps coming at you and you never see any of the twists coming. There’s a mystery plot that leaves you so invested while you wait for the story to play out. You kind of have an idea where it’s going but the way it plays out leaves you breathless.

I’m a big fan of the romance in this book. The slow burn is so expertly executed. I kept smiling when they had their little moments and was so excited when they finally had their collision. Well done!

Thank you very much to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burn the Kingdom Down is a gripping YA fantasy that blends rebellion, political intrigue, and slow-burn tension into a story that’s impossible to put down. Addie Thorley delivers a richly layered world—one filled with dangerous secrets, simmering unrest, and a heroine who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice.

Thorley’s writing is quick, atmospheric, and emotionally charged. The world feels both fresh and lived-in, and the stakes rise with every chapter. The characters are easy to root for, especially the fierce and determined protagonist whose bravery drives the story forward. The themes of resistance, courage, and reclaiming power are handled thoughtfully and give the book an extra punch.

Fast-paced with just the right touches of romance and tension, this is the kind of YA fantasy that keeps you up late turning pages. A strong addition for fans of rebellious heroines, court politics, and stories about fighting for what’s right—even when the cost is high.

[Natalie Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

While fantasy is def my favorite genre, I do find myself being a little more critical of YA fantasy. This one wasn't perfect, but it was still a lot of fun, and the mysterious aspect of this, Indira trying to figure out what on earth is going on in Vanzador, and why her sister sent her the information that she did, *was* intriguing. The ending was satisfying with solid build-up and payoff. Heck the premise of plant-growing magic in general (plus that *gorgeous* cover) were worth the read even before getting to that. One thing that bothers me is when big things happen in too short a time to be realistic, such as opinions and emotions changing, and that happened a few times here, but I would still recommend it to high school students.

[sya ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really drawn in by the premise, but the book ended up being just an okay read for me. Indira, the main character, got a bit irritating at times, and the rest of the characters, including the love interest, Alaric, felt too underdeveloped for me to get attached. I also didn’t feel much chemistry between them, which made it harder to care about their dynamics. The magic system and the world-building didn’t feel fully explored either and could have used more depth. I kept reading because the mystery kept me curious, and I did enjoy the twists toward the end, but overall it didn’t hit as strongly as I hoped.

[Olivia-Jobi Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burn the Kingdom Down is a fierce, emotionally charged novel that blends rage, grief, and resistance into a story that feels both intimate and incendiary. The worldbuilding is sharp without overwhelming the characters, allowing the emotional stakes to stay front and centre. At its core, this is a story about power, what it costs to survive it, and what it means to tear down systems built on cruelty. The writing carries a quiet brutality that makes every choice feel heavy and earned. It’s the kind of book that leaves you wanting to scream and cheer in equal measure. A cathartic, unforgettable read for anyone who loves righteous fury on the page.

[Ms Zou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the plot of this book, it is a romantasy with a kind of murder mystery subplot. Indira was such a strong character to follow, and when she met Alaric the banter between them was incredible. Truly a slow burn romance, very clean, but incredible to follow.
I wish we could have had more information about the world and magic system to truly immerse myself in the story even more, but over all I had an amazing time reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this arc.

[Trysta Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I snagged this from my ARC pile from work because of the cover and was pleasantly surprised!

It’s a dark fantasy about neighboring kingdoms and the princess that is sacrificed from one to the other as part of a protection treaty.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this (and as not a YA lover generally that says a lot!)

There are things that could have made this 5 stars for me but they might be spoilers. I was engaged and actually surprised at some of the plot twist moments. I really hope this book does well on release!

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addie Thorley's Burn the Kingdom Down is a satisfying enemies-to-lovers romantasy with high stakes and an explosive second half. Though the initial pace is slow, the political intrigue and unraveling secrets draw you in. Princess Indira's journey to avenge her sister's death and her growing, complicated relationship with her enemy prince, Alaric, drive the plot. This is a must-read for fans of nuanced characters and unexpected betrayals.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaving 5 stars as I just read the ARC and it was AMAZING but respecting the publisher's wish to leave the full review until publication month. so I will leave the full review later.

In the meantime, this is the best book I have read in awhile, and I highly recommend saving it and reading it when it comes out in April!

[Lavabearian (Jessica) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really long and probably could’ve used some editing to take off 50-60 pages. It seemed to take a long time to get to the good chemistry and trusting each other. The magic systems were unique and varied so that was interesting to see how they could align for the benefit of both kingdoms. The memory plot device is popular right now and I am not mad about it.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really hard to finish this. The book had a very very interesting start but then dwindled. The romance didn’t develop naturally. The twists were too twisty? Not my favorite but probably an ok read for most. The world was interesting.

[Sadie Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

begged my mom to give me her ARC so i could read this and it did NOT disappoint (love you Addie!!<3)

[Jenn]

DNF. This one just isn't for me right now.

[Sarah Ressler Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciate a stand alone fantasy. Good with interesting twists but sometimes working a bit hard to get to the point. A fun read for those who aren’t huge fantasy lovers.

[Naomi Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me too long to read this one! If I hadn’t been juggling others I cod see myself sitting down and not wanting to put this one down.
I enjoyed so many parts of this, incredible world building and story line. I was shocked at the twists at the end!

[Erica Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has one of the best openings and hooks I think I've ever read! It struck such a profound chord in my feminist, anti-aurhoritarian bones. The imagery will stick with me forever. In the current sociopolitical climate my people, as well as millions of others globally, are facing, this novel speaks to me on a deep level. The themes explore trauma, mental health, loss, grief, revenge and it's cost, survivors' guilt, and prejudice. A truly well written book that isn't afraid to touch on harsher subjects many readers can relate to.