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Burn the Kingdom Down
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.
"Sharp as a dagger and just as deadly, Indira's daring quest for revenge and her romance forged in fury will keep you guessing and gasping until the breathless end." –Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series
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.
"Sharp as a dagger and just as deadly, Indira's daring quest for revenge and her romance forged in fury will keep you guessing and gasping until the breathless end." –Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2026
About the author
Addie Thorley
4 books407 followersAddie Thorley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Burn The Kingdom Down. Her other books include the Night Spinner Duology (Night Spinner and Sky Breaker) as well as An Affair of Poisons, which was a Barnes and Noble discover great new writers selection and a YALSA best fiction for Young Adults nominee.
When not writing, Addie can be found walking her wolfdog or crocheting tiny plushies. She lives in San Diego with her family.
You can find her online at www.addiethorley.com or on Twitter @addiethorley.
When not writing, Addie can be found walking her wolfdog or crocheting tiny plushies. She lives in San Diego with her family.
You can find her online at www.addiethorley.com or on Twitter @addiethorley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 1, 2026˖᯽ ݁˖ DNF @ 53%
I tried. I really did. I was even skimming chapters so I could try to finish it, but I was bored, and I didn’t care to know what was going to happen. I didn’t even want to see Indira and Prince Alaric fall in love. At first, the story was really interesting. The magic system was cool and easy to understand (which is a plus for me), and I was invested in the mystery of what happened to Indira’s sister, Rowenna. But Indira was asking for trouble, I swear. She was accusing everyone and their grandma of killing her sister when she could have been sly and tried to earn her enemies’ trust so she could find out what actually happened and bring Vanzador down. But noooo–she just had to do things the hard way.
Also, what I found kind of annoying was the inner conversations she was supposedly having with Rowenna. They were repetitive and, I feel, unnecessary because we knew from the get-go how Ro felt about Vanzador and how politically motivated she was, so whatever Indira learned about her sister’s new life could be something both the reader and Indira could digest and draw conclusions as the story progressed and more information was revealed. The conversations were like spoilers about Ro’s true character, which made the plot and the ending (I did jump to the end to see how everything panned out) predictable and unsatisfying.
But it wasn’t a bad book. I didn’t stop reading this because of any hatred for the characters or the story. I just didn’t think it was worth finishing. But this is just my opinion, and I’m critical to a fault, so I definitely recommend reading other reviews for this book. 🖤
٠࣪⭑ Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ٠࣪⭑
I tried. I really did. I was even skimming chapters so I could try to finish it, but I was bored, and I didn’t care to know what was going to happen. I didn’t even want to see Indira and Prince Alaric fall in love. At first, the story was really interesting. The magic system was cool and easy to understand (which is a plus for me), and I was invested in the mystery of what happened to Indira’s sister, Rowenna. But Indira was asking for trouble, I swear. She was accusing everyone and their grandma of killing her sister when she could have been sly and tried to earn her enemies’ trust so she could find out what actually happened and bring Vanzador down. But noooo–she just had to do things the hard way.
Also, what I found kind of annoying was the inner conversations she was supposedly having with Rowenna. They were repetitive and, I feel, unnecessary because we knew from the get-go how Ro felt about Vanzador and how politically motivated she was, so whatever Indira learned about her sister’s new life could be something both the reader and Indira could digest and draw conclusions as the story progressed and more information was revealed. The conversations were like spoilers about Ro’s true character, which made the plot and the ending (I did jump to the end to see how everything panned out) predictable and unsatisfying.
But it wasn’t a bad book. I didn’t stop reading this because of any hatred for the characters or the story. I just didn’t think it was worth finishing. But this is just my opinion, and I’m critical to a fault, so I definitely recommend reading other reviews for this book. 🖤
٠࣪⭑ Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ٠࣪⭑
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Burn the Kingdom Down” by Addie Thorley is a gripping enemies-to-lovers YA romantasy filled with political intrigue, mystery, and secrets - one I devoured in a couple of sittings. The writing pulls you straight into the story, with engaging characters and satisfying plot twists. This is very much an action-driven book, with the romance slowly building and woven into the plot.
The book follows second-born Princess Indira of Tashir, a nation of planters. She is a master gardener with the rare ability to grow bagrava, a highly sought-after plant coveted by their enemies for its power to improve farming conditions and induce euphoria, among other things.
Vanzador, a rival nation, promises protection in exchange for a bagrava tithe. The Vanzadorian king has the power to literally move the earth itself - but the price is high, as we discover later on. Over the years, their demands increase, placing a chokehold on the already struggling Tashiri. Crown Princess Rowenna Harrack is taken as a captive bride to marry Prince Alaric, an additional incentive to ensure Tashir’s obedience.
A year later, Rowenna returns home in a casket, and Vanzador’s king, Soren, demands her sister Indira as a replacement. Indira agrees to the marriage so she can uncover what happened to her sister, avenge her death, and burn their kingdom down. Yet when she arrives in Vanzador, things are nothing like the stories Rowenna described in her letters, and Indira finds herself torn between her old home and the new life she is expected to lead.
Thus begins an exciting adventure chock-full of magic, political and sexual tension, slow-burn romance, love, and twists. With themes of grief, manipulation, sisterhood, friendship, betrayal, trust, revenge, and moral conflict, the author weaves a story I truly enjoyed. I especially liked the message of hope - that just as plants can be propagated and replanted, there is always a chance to start over and try again. The author also explores how far we are willing to go for our loved ones, and the difficulty of letting go.
I loved the emotional dynamics between the characters, especially the bonding and emotional connection between the sisters, as well as the vivid world-building, the plant-based magic, the memory tithing, and the prose. Indira isn’t perfect: she’s fearful for her safety yet impulsive, strong yet riddled with self-doubt, capable in some ways and weak in others - and that’s what makes her human.
Indira's inner monologues with her deceased sister beautifully reveal her doubts and emotional growth, and I was glad to see her find her voice. I enjoyed Indira’s growth and the gradual build-up of her relationships, especially with the prince. Alaric is complex as well, full of past trauma and demons of his own, and I loved watching him slowly open up.
The last third dragged a bit and could have been tightened. An epilogue wouldn’t have gone amiss either, so I’m deducting a star. Still, this is a well-plotted, well-written, and fast-paced novel that stands well on its own. I loved this book - just in case that wasn’t clear - and highly recommend it to fans of slow-burn romantasy with political and sexual tension, true enemies-to-lovers dynamics, clean romance, and lifelike characters in a setting that leaps off the page.
* Triggers: attempted sexual assault, forced marriage, death.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2025...
lost-interest
March 19, 2026I'm so ready
December 3, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a romantasy and a murder mystery all wrapped up in one. Indira is positive her sister, who was forced into a political marriage just a year prior just to return in a coffin, was murdered. The best way to prove it and find the murderer? Marry her sister's widower and return to his kingdom with him to solve the crime (which they say never happened). Not really the way I would go about it, but it's fiction.
I loved this book so much and would read any sequels put out by the author. Really hope there are more. It isn't necessarily set up for one, but at the same time, I am sure the author could manage. Even if it's same world, different people. Not like every single problem the kingdom had magically disappeared overnight. That would be nice. If the only solution was electing people in love, and that healed all the problems in the world.
Hmmm. Although, maybe. What are the chances most of the politicians we have in office are actually in love with their spouses?
Anyway . . .
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
I loved this book so much and would read any sequels put out by the author. Really hope there are more. It isn't necessarily set up for one, but at the same time, I am sure the author could manage. Even if it's same world, different people. Not like every single problem the kingdom had magically disappeared overnight. That would be nice. If the only solution was electing people in love, and that healed all the problems in the world.
Hmmm. Although, maybe. What are the chances most of the politicians we have in office are actually in love with their spouses?
Anyway . . .
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
May 9, 2026
A fantasy that holds all the answers within itself
3.5⭐
A YA fantasy with a very unique world and magic system, unlike what's common in the current market. Before anything else, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First, I think it's important to point out how the magic, the universe, and the politics are the strongest points of the narrative, and the reasons why I was so eager to continue reading. The magic is somewhat linked to the land, even to agriculture. Indira has a magical power, a gift that everyone wants, and this makes her a valuable character and intensifies the political squabbles of the kingdoms. In a way, the magic is also linked to memories, and it's disconcerting to see how we can never be sure of anything because memories can be altered and sacrificed (I won't give any more spoilers, I promise). I found all of this very ingenious.
The world-building had enormous potential, to the point that I could clearly see this book as one of the best of 2026, but many unique and interesting things are only mentioned, when they could have been better developed and could have been the main factor in immersing us in the story.
The mystery is very engaging, and even though I guessed the final plot twist around 40% of the way through the book, I was still interested enough to get to the end. I even think some things took too long to happen and almost lost their timing. I also wanted to point out how inconsistent the pacing is in the book; sometimes too fast, sometimes so slow that it almost makes you lose interest.
I had the sad impression that Indira had suspicions but wasn't concerned enough with finding answers. From the beginning, many characters were very suspicious, even her family members (especially her sister), but it always seemed like she didn't want to know the truth. At the beginning, she mentions several times how she considers her father a coward, who uses a mask of calmness to prevent others from seeing how he truly lacks the courage to do anything, and she even compares herself to him at the start, but the impression I get is that she never stops being exactly like that.
And despite understanding Indira's grief and all her actions and reactions at the beginning of the book, the more she evolved, the more it seemed that she simply didn't want to evolve and used that as an excuse. As an anchor, actually. She makes many mistakes, and rarely learns anything from them. I didn't feel a very significant evolution. The beginning of the romance also seemed forced, almost as if it were calculated to be started at that percentage of the book to ensure it was categorized as romantasy. In fact, I don't consider it a romantasy, because the relationship unfortunately doesn't have that much strength in the plot, but I would say it's a fantasy with a romance subplot (especially since what captivated me most in the book was really the magic and the mystery).
Clearly, the book's main focus was on the characters, the court, everything involving royalty, and it was quite sad to realize, halfway through the book, that I wasn't inclined to like any of the characters. Some actions and dialogue bothered me quite a bit, and more than that, the personalities weren't a strong point, which was a shame, considering the universe seemed so brilliant. I think I expected more action than dialogue from them, and more ways to connect with at least one character. Maybe the problem is me.
In the end, I think the book had enormous potential that wasn't fully realized, but I recommend it to everyone who enjoys fantasy with more personal development and mystery. I enjoyed reading it and I believe many readers will feel the same. And I intend to read another fantasy book by the author in the future.
Full review: https://youtu.be/FzsqSyWU558
Review: https://youtu.be/q-FuH9kz70I?si=yLkxm...
3.5⭐
A YA fantasy with a very unique world and magic system, unlike what's common in the current market. Before anything else, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First, I think it's important to point out how the magic, the universe, and the politics are the strongest points of the narrative, and the reasons why I was so eager to continue reading. The magic is somewhat linked to the land, even to agriculture. Indira has a magical power, a gift that everyone wants, and this makes her a valuable character and intensifies the political squabbles of the kingdoms. In a way, the magic is also linked to memories, and it's disconcerting to see how we can never be sure of anything because memories can be altered and sacrificed (I won't give any more spoilers, I promise). I found all of this very ingenious.
The world-building had enormous potential, to the point that I could clearly see this book as one of the best of 2026, but many unique and interesting things are only mentioned, when they could have been better developed and could have been the main factor in immersing us in the story.
The mystery is very engaging, and even though I guessed the final plot twist around 40% of the way through the book, I was still interested enough to get to the end. I even think some things took too long to happen and almost lost their timing. I also wanted to point out how inconsistent the pacing is in the book; sometimes too fast, sometimes so slow that it almost makes you lose interest.
I had the sad impression that Indira had suspicions but wasn't concerned enough with finding answers. From the beginning, many characters were very suspicious, even her family members (especially her sister), but it always seemed like she didn't want to know the truth. At the beginning, she mentions several times how she considers her father a coward, who uses a mask of calmness to prevent others from seeing how he truly lacks the courage to do anything, and she even compares herself to him at the start, but the impression I get is that she never stops being exactly like that.
And despite understanding Indira's grief and all her actions and reactions at the beginning of the book, the more she evolved, the more it seemed that she simply didn't want to evolve and used that as an excuse. As an anchor, actually. She makes many mistakes, and rarely learns anything from them. I didn't feel a very significant evolution. The beginning of the romance also seemed forced, almost as if it were calculated to be started at that percentage of the book to ensure it was categorized as romantasy. In fact, I don't consider it a romantasy, because the relationship unfortunately doesn't have that much strength in the plot, but I would say it's a fantasy with a romance subplot (especially since what captivated me most in the book was really the magic and the mystery).
Clearly, the book's main focus was on the characters, the court, everything involving royalty, and it was quite sad to realize, halfway through the book, that I wasn't inclined to like any of the characters. Some actions and dialogue bothered me quite a bit, and more than that, the personalities weren't a strong point, which was a shame, considering the universe seemed so brilliant. I think I expected more action than dialogue from them, and more ways to connect with at least one character. Maybe the problem is me.
In the end, I think the book had enormous potential that wasn't fully realized, but I recommend it to everyone who enjoys fantasy with more personal development and mystery. I enjoyed reading it and I believe many readers will feel the same. And I intend to read another fantasy book by the author in the future.
Full review: https://youtu.be/FzsqSyWU558
Review: https://youtu.be/q-FuH9kz70I?si=yLkxm...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have very mixed feelings about this book and it took me a while to put my thoughts in order and write this review.
On one hand, the potential is definitely there. This could have easily been a 5 star (or more) read. The premise is strong, revenge driven princess, political marriage, enemies to lovers, uncovering secrets… it sounds amazing.
Buuuut... something just didn’t fully pull me in.
At the beginning, Indira felt like a strong and determined character. Her motivation to uncover what really happened to her sister and get revenge made sense. But as the story progressed, I found myself getting more and more frustrated with her.
She spends a lot of time suspecting everyone, constantly jumping to conclusions, pointing fingers, then changing her mind again. It started to feel repetitive, and I didn’t feel like she was really learning anything from her mistakes.
What also didn’t fully work for me was how much her inner thoughts revolved around her sister. I understand the grief and the fact that she lived in her shadow, but at some point I wanted to see Indira step into her own identity more and that only really happens very,veeeery late in the story.
The romance was… there. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t feel strongly about it either. Alaric is supposed to be this strong broody prince, but instead he felt a bit flat at times.
One thing I did find really interesting was the memory aspect and how memories were used and how they managed to manipulate them. I was also invested in Indira's powers and how she can grow plants and other plant related things. These parts stood out and added something unique to the story.
Overall, I didn’t dislike this book, but I also didn’t feel fully invested in it. It was a very easy read and had great ideas, but I guess, we didn't vibe too well.
⭐ 3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC.
On one hand, the potential is definitely there. This could have easily been a 5 star (or more) read. The premise is strong, revenge driven princess, political marriage, enemies to lovers, uncovering secrets… it sounds amazing.
Buuuut... something just didn’t fully pull me in.
At the beginning, Indira felt like a strong and determined character. Her motivation to uncover what really happened to her sister and get revenge made sense. But as the story progressed, I found myself getting more and more frustrated with her.
She spends a lot of time suspecting everyone, constantly jumping to conclusions, pointing fingers, then changing her mind again. It started to feel repetitive, and I didn’t feel like she was really learning anything from her mistakes.
What also didn’t fully work for me was how much her inner thoughts revolved around her sister. I understand the grief and the fact that she lived in her shadow, but at some point I wanted to see Indira step into her own identity more and that only really happens very,veeeery late in the story.
The romance was… there. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t feel strongly about it either. Alaric is supposed to be this strong broody prince, but instead he felt a bit flat at times.
One thing I did find really interesting was the memory aspect and how memories were used and how they managed to manipulate them. I was also invested in Indira's powers and how she can grow plants and other plant related things. These parts stood out and added something unique to the story.
Overall, I didn’t dislike this book, but I also didn’t feel fully invested in it. It was a very easy read and had great ideas, but I guess, we didn't vibe too well.
⭐ 3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC.
February 9, 2026
I really wanted to love this one, the premise is exactly my kind of romantasy: a political marriage to an enemy prince, a heroine seeking answers about her sister’s death, and a court full of secrets. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully live up to how strong the setup was.
The book leans much more into internal conflict and palace conversations than plot progression. For long stretches, it feels like Indira is circling the same suspicions without uncovering much new information, which made the middle drag. The mystery itself is interesting, but the reveals come late and then resolve very quickly, so the pacing ends up feeling uneven and slow for most of the book and rushed at the end.
Indira as a main character was a mixed experience for me. Her grief and anger are understandable, but her decision-making often felt repetitive and occasionally frustrating because she jumps to conclusions and rarely learns from earlier mistakes. Instead of character growth, it sometimes felt like she was reacting rather than developing.
The romance is definitely slow burn, but almost too slow. There’s tension, but not a lot of emotional depth to balance the mistrust, so I never fully bought into the relationship by the time the story wanted me to. I also wished the worldbuilding and magic were explored more the ideas are there, they just stay pretty surface-level.
Overall, this isn’t a bad book, it has a solid concept and some strong moments of political intrigue, but it didn’t quite deliver on the emotional payoff or momentum I was hoping for. I also had an inkling of what the ending of this story would bring. I just didn't trust some of what we were being told/shown throughout the story. I’d still recommend it to readers who prefer character-focused court drama over action-heavy fantasy, but it didn’t end up being a standout for me.
Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this one early!
The book leans much more into internal conflict and palace conversations than plot progression. For long stretches, it feels like Indira is circling the same suspicions without uncovering much new information, which made the middle drag. The mystery itself is interesting, but the reveals come late and then resolve very quickly, so the pacing ends up feeling uneven and slow for most of the book and rushed at the end.
Indira as a main character was a mixed experience for me. Her grief and anger are understandable, but her decision-making often felt repetitive and occasionally frustrating because she jumps to conclusions and rarely learns from earlier mistakes. Instead of character growth, it sometimes felt like she was reacting rather than developing.
The romance is definitely slow burn, but almost too slow. There’s tension, but not a lot of emotional depth to balance the mistrust, so I never fully bought into the relationship by the time the story wanted me to. I also wished the worldbuilding and magic were explored more the ideas are there, they just stay pretty surface-level.
Overall, this isn’t a bad book, it has a solid concept and some strong moments of political intrigue, but it didn’t quite deliver on the emotional payoff or momentum I was hoping for. I also had an inkling of what the ending of this story would bring. I just didn't trust some of what we were being told/shown throughout the story. I’d still recommend it to readers who prefer character-focused court drama over action-heavy fantasy, but it didn’t end up being a standout for me.
Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this one early!
January 17, 2026
Omg this is one of those books that will have you staring at the wall when you finish! So unbelievably good! If you're a fan of Hurricane Wars or Bridge kingdom you absolutely have to add this to your tbr.
It's a slow burn, enemies to lovers with a murder mystery and some twists that turn as sharp as blade! Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this arc!
It's a slow burn, enemies to lovers with a murder mystery and some twists that turn as sharp as blade! Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this arc!
April 9, 2026
'Go with them to Vanzador and find their weaknesses. Punish my murderers and burn their kingdom down.' (Ch 6)
YA Fantasy | Mysery | Enemies-to-Lovers | Betrayals | Revenge Quest | Political Intrigue
When Indira got to Vanzador, it was as if she'd entered an unseelie court — curious and curiouser. My thoughts, as I read along, was perhaps Vandazor was under a spell, an enchantment, or an illusion. The way the people acted and the atmosphere just screamed that something was very wrong.
First impressions of Indira were that she came off as a little judgmental and accusatory, hostile even. She made assumption after assumption, but nothing was as she had been led to believe. If I were in her shoes, I'd be dizzy, confused, lost, and a bit crazy. And perhaps she was a touch unhinged — her sister's death and supposed murder mystery taking her to that manic edge.
'I’m just a brokenhearted girl, talking to a ghost.' (Ch 14)
It didn't help that everyone and everything was a bit strange and bizzare in Vandazor.
'I need time to unpick all of these tangled threads. Every time I think I’ve found the end of one problem, it loops back around, and I’m ensnared in another.' (Ch 14)
Aside from all that, their magic abilities were fascinating, loved the positivity that could be evoked from them. Though, it did seem that it was rather concentrated on the main characters and rare instead of something that might exist outside of those specific few.
Really love fantasies that cross-genre with suspense and mystery! Plus, there were moments of wry humor and comical acts that gave me a little chuckle here and there.
' “What about any of this could possibly be funny?”
“Unlace your breeches and I’ll show you,” I whisper, laughing even harder when his cheeks flush a mortifying shade of pink.' (Ch 7)
As for being a romantasy, there was barely a hint of attraction, let alone potential romance, for the good majority of the first half. The slow burn started sparking a bit just past the halfway mark, but when it happened, the slow changes in them kind of made me smile. Still more of a fantasy mystery than a romantasy, though.
“When you’re the smallest, weakest plant in a gardening bed, you have to grow twice as fast— and branch out in unexpected ways— to capture enough sunlight to thrive...." (Ch 39)
Then came the unexpected Earth-shattering twists! 🤯
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Sourcebooks Fire / Sourcebooks
YA Fantasy | Mysery | Enemies-to-Lovers | Betrayals | Revenge Quest | Political Intrigue
When Indira got to Vanzador, it was as if she'd entered an unseelie court — curious and curiouser. My thoughts, as I read along, was perhaps Vandazor was under a spell, an enchantment, or an illusion. The way the people acted and the atmosphere just screamed that something was very wrong.
First impressions of Indira were that she came off as a little judgmental and accusatory, hostile even. She made assumption after assumption, but nothing was as she had been led to believe. If I were in her shoes, I'd be dizzy, confused, lost, and a bit crazy. And perhaps she was a touch unhinged — her sister's death and supposed murder mystery taking her to that manic edge.
'I’m just a brokenhearted girl, talking to a ghost.' (Ch 14)
It didn't help that everyone and everything was a bit strange and bizzare in Vandazor.
'I need time to unpick all of these tangled threads. Every time I think I’ve found the end of one problem, it loops back around, and I’m ensnared in another.' (Ch 14)
Aside from all that, their magic abilities were fascinating, loved the positivity that could be evoked from them. Though, it did seem that it was rather concentrated on the main characters and rare instead of something that might exist outside of those specific few.
Really love fantasies that cross-genre with suspense and mystery! Plus, there were moments of wry humor and comical acts that gave me a little chuckle here and there.
' “What about any of this could possibly be funny?”
“Unlace your breeches and I’ll show you,” I whisper, laughing even harder when his cheeks flush a mortifying shade of pink.' (Ch 7)
As for being a romantasy, there was barely a hint of attraction, let alone potential romance, for the good majority of the first half. The slow burn started sparking a bit just past the halfway mark, but when it happened, the slow changes in them kind of made me smile. Still more of a fantasy mystery than a romantasy, though.
“When you’re the smallest, weakest plant in a gardening bed, you have to grow twice as fast— and branch out in unexpected ways— to capture enough sunlight to thrive...." (Ch 39)
Then came the unexpected Earth-shattering twists! 🤯
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Sourcebooks Fire / Sourcebooks
April 17, 2026
4.5 stars!!
Burn the Kingdom Down is an incredibly addictive enemies to lovers YA romantasy featuring the most delicious slowburn romance and a strong FMC you can't help rooting for.
It honestly completely pulled me in from the very first page! The premise alone is so good (a princess infiltrating the enemy kingdom, hoping to BURN IT DOWN), but it's the execution that really made this shine. Beautiful writing, high emotional stakes, betrayal, grief, anger, and unwavering love between sisters.
At its core, this is a revenge story, but it's also so much more than that. I was fully invested in Indira's journey into the enemy kingdom to uncover the truth about her sister's death and loved following her character development through the story.
She goes from being rather narrow-minded to questioning everything she knew about her sister and the enemy kingdom, and I loved seeing her slowly starting to let people in, after only ever trusting her sister. Slowly realising that the way she was planning to go about things might not have been perfect and that there might be a more peaceful way.
The slowburn between her and the arrogant Prince Alaric, who isn't as cold as he pretends to be, was EVERYTHING. The tension, the mistrust, the way it builds gradually… I was giggling, kicking my feet, and guilty of being fully emotionally compromised.
And then the twists??? I genuinely didn't see them coming, and that's saying something from someone who easily guesses most twists in books. The worldbuilding itself was intricate with slight dystopian vibes and the way magic worked unique and unlike other fantasy books I've read.
My only criticism is that the pacing was dragging a little in the middle, but honestly, it didn't take away from how much I loved the book overall!
So if you love YA fantasy filled with political intrigue, slowburn enemies to lovers romance and stories driven by grief and revenge, then absolutely pick this one up!!
Burn the Kingdom Down is an incredibly addictive enemies to lovers YA romantasy featuring the most delicious slowburn romance and a strong FMC you can't help rooting for.
It honestly completely pulled me in from the very first page! The premise alone is so good (a princess infiltrating the enemy kingdom, hoping to BURN IT DOWN), but it's the execution that really made this shine. Beautiful writing, high emotional stakes, betrayal, grief, anger, and unwavering love between sisters.
At its core, this is a revenge story, but it's also so much more than that. I was fully invested in Indira's journey into the enemy kingdom to uncover the truth about her sister's death and loved following her character development through the story.
She goes from being rather narrow-minded to questioning everything she knew about her sister and the enemy kingdom, and I loved seeing her slowly starting to let people in, after only ever trusting her sister. Slowly realising that the way she was planning to go about things might not have been perfect and that there might be a more peaceful way.
The slowburn between her and the arrogant Prince Alaric, who isn't as cold as he pretends to be, was EVERYTHING. The tension, the mistrust, the way it builds gradually… I was giggling, kicking my feet, and guilty of being fully emotionally compromised.
And then the twists??? I genuinely didn't see them coming, and that's saying something from someone who easily guesses most twists in books. The worldbuilding itself was intricate with slight dystopian vibes and the way magic worked unique and unlike other fantasy books I've read.
My only criticism is that the pacing was dragging a little in the middle, but honestly, it didn't take away from how much I loved the book overall!
So if you love YA fantasy filled with political intrigue, slowburn enemies to lovers romance and stories driven by grief and revenge, then absolutely pick this one up!!
March 9, 2026
A promising synopsis but unfortunately the story lost me. I found the slow burn aspect of everything to drag on, the romance, the mystery, and then everything revealed and wrapped up too quickly to make the payoff worth it. The middle portion of the book is where I struggled the most. Overall, perhaps a better read for someone else.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
April 26, 2026
3⭐
This was a fun YA romantasy and murder mystery all wrapped in one. From the very first chapter, I felt like I was immediately hooked and wanted to know what exactly was going to happen next. The touch of sisterhood was a great addition to, I loved that the FMC was so invested to find out what happened to her sister & I really felt her anger and grief coming right off of the pages for Rowenna. The enemies-to-lovers trope will always get me and this story was no different! The tensity in dynamic with the MMC was so much fun, especially because Idira has no choice but to wed her late sister's widower. I mean, that just sounded so interesting! As their chemistry began to grow after spending time with one another, I couldn't help but really love them.
The concept of this book was absolutely solid and truly such a fun time, especially for those who love a murder mystery and romantasy. It perfectly combined the two genres to make an intriguing premise and was all laid out perfectly. Even with the slow burn, I feel like the pacing was just right.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.
This was a fun YA romantasy and murder mystery all wrapped in one. From the very first chapter, I felt like I was immediately hooked and wanted to know what exactly was going to happen next. The touch of sisterhood was a great addition to, I loved that the FMC was so invested to find out what happened to her sister & I really felt her anger and grief coming right off of the pages for Rowenna. The enemies-to-lovers trope will always get me and this story was no different! The tensity in dynamic with the MMC was so much fun, especially because Idira has no choice but to wed her late sister's widower. I mean, that just sounded so interesting! As their chemistry began to grow after spending time with one another, I couldn't help but really love them.
The concept of this book was absolutely solid and truly such a fun time, especially for those who love a murder mystery and romantasy. It perfectly combined the two genres to make an intriguing premise and was all laid out perfectly. Even with the slow burn, I feel like the pacing was just right.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.
April 7, 2026
I throughly enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I loved the storyline and the characters. I normally don't read Fantasy, but I did enjoy the book. I would definitely recommend this book. I liked how she figured out to find who killed her sister and saved her kingdom!
April 29, 2026
4/5 I enjoyed this book and its world of fantasy and magic without being entirely too complicated. However, there were a lot of noticeable publication errors which distracted me a bit from the story. Hopefully that is fixed. Definitely a refreshing read!
October 12, 2025
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.
Did Not Finish
April 9, 2026DNFd at chapter two. The MC was so fucking whiny.
February 22, 2026
Thank you for this ARC! This book was very unique in the magic system. I like how the powers were rare and all were somehow tied to the Earth. The bagrava was interesting in itself, the way it affected people in different ways.
I think my favorite part was the memories. It was hard to predict everything that would happen when the memories could be manipulated or sacrificed, so the twists were always a surprise. The fact that they could store the memories in different objects was neat. That was a fun way to get the flashbacks instead of the flashbacks popping out of nowhere like in other books.
I’m giving this 3 stars because of Indira’s character and the romance. I understand why Indira was the way she was, Rowenna gaslighted her their entire lives. However, even when everyone pointed out exactly how Rowenna was and gave proof, Indira never wanted to believe a single bad thing about her sister. When she finally started to believe it and Alaric trusted her and loved her, it only took a memory to destroy everything they’d built. When he wanted to see why she was so upset, she didn’t give him a chance to explain before doing something crazy drastic and then took soooo long in trying to help him. I know this was just how the story was supposed to be built, but I was so angry and frustrated with her throughout the book, I couldn’t bring myself to like her.
Overall, I did enjoy how unique this was and the plot, but the characters were frustrating.
I think my favorite part was the memories. It was hard to predict everything that would happen when the memories could be manipulated or sacrificed, so the twists were always a surprise. The fact that they could store the memories in different objects was neat. That was a fun way to get the flashbacks instead of the flashbacks popping out of nowhere like in other books.
I’m giving this 3 stars because of Indira’s character and the romance. I understand why Indira was the way she was, Rowenna gaslighted her their entire lives. However, even when everyone pointed out exactly how Rowenna was and gave proof, Indira never wanted to believe a single bad thing about her sister. When she finally started to believe it and Alaric trusted her and loved her, it only took a memory to destroy everything they’d built. When he wanted to see why she was so upset, she didn’t give him a chance to explain before doing something crazy drastic and then took soooo long in trying to help him. I know this was just how the story was supposed to be built, but I was so angry and frustrated with her throughout the book, I couldn’t bring myself to like her.
Overall, I did enjoy how unique this was and the plot, but the characters were frustrating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2025
★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★·.·´¯·.·★
"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.
"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.
Read
February 27, 2026Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley offers an intriguing premise: two rival kingdoms—one wielding plant magic, the other stone—tied together through an arranged marriage meant to secure peace and avenge a sister’s death. The concept is unique, and Thorley’s writing style is engaging and easy to read.
Overall, this feels like the perfect romantasy for younger YA readers (ages 13–15). The romance is clean, the language mild, and the action scenes are gentle—making it an excellent entry point into the genre. Older YA readers, however, may find it lacking in depth and intensity.
Overall, this feels like the perfect romantasy for younger YA readers (ages 13–15). The romance is clean, the language mild, and the action scenes are gentle—making it an excellent entry point into the genre. Older YA readers, however, may find it lacking in depth and intensity.
February 3, 2026
Memories are tricky things but when it’s something, or someone, special it can make all the difference.
Watching her older sister be married off to a rival kingdom is the worst day in Indira’s life, that is until she returns in a box and she is forced to take her place as wife to a rival Prince and secure the treaty to save her people. Using the opportunity to solve her sister’s murder she stumbles into something far bigger than she could have ever imagined and with limited allies she has to trust her greatest enemy and save them all.
This one is a bit of a mixed bag.
On one hand the murder mystery aspect is done well there’s a lot of behind the scenes scheming to right a wrong and as a sister myself I know I would move mountains, no pun intended, to find out who killed my sister especially when I could be married to her killer. That being said some of this journey gets muddled by the other more political aspects and while they do converge at the climax I felt underwhelmed with the latter. I wish we got more hints behind the ultimate reveal because though I think it works I wish we had tiny bits of foreshadowing so there was this delicious payoff to a rather unreliable narrator when it came to her love for her sister.
I’m not quite sure I grasp the conflict between both kingdoms and while you can kind of get it on the page the actual cruelty shifts from her homeland to that of her new husband. We see that she and her people are forced to provide and when they fail they suffer from the threat of a rival clan but they never materialize and by books end so much is wrapped in a bow we never really get to the root of the issue or why any of it really mattered.
The characters were fine and the romance okay it’s a shame because their bark is far worse than their bite and I wanted to see more there. Alaric is understandably cold but that bravado is lost often and Indira is growing into her strength but then forgets sometimes quiet and allowing yourself to listen is a better approach. It almost feels like a lot was leading to the showdown and we got lost just trying to get there but hopefully that’s just me.
With such a powerful opening this isn’t a bad read but ironically one I fear will be forgettable.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Watching her older sister be married off to a rival kingdom is the worst day in Indira’s life, that is until she returns in a box and she is forced to take her place as wife to a rival Prince and secure the treaty to save her people. Using the opportunity to solve her sister’s murder she stumbles into something far bigger than she could have ever imagined and with limited allies she has to trust her greatest enemy and save them all.
This one is a bit of a mixed bag.
On one hand the murder mystery aspect is done well there’s a lot of behind the scenes scheming to right a wrong and as a sister myself I know I would move mountains, no pun intended, to find out who killed my sister especially when I could be married to her killer. That being said some of this journey gets muddled by the other more political aspects and while they do converge at the climax I felt underwhelmed with the latter. I wish we got more hints behind the ultimate reveal because though I think it works I wish we had tiny bits of foreshadowing so there was this delicious payoff to a rather unreliable narrator when it came to her love for her sister.
I’m not quite sure I grasp the conflict between both kingdoms and while you can kind of get it on the page the actual cruelty shifts from her homeland to that of her new husband. We see that she and her people are forced to provide and when they fail they suffer from the threat of a rival clan but they never materialize and by books end so much is wrapped in a bow we never really get to the root of the issue or why any of it really mattered.
The characters were fine and the romance okay it’s a shame because their bark is far worse than their bite and I wanted to see more there. Alaric is understandably cold but that bravado is lost often and Indira is growing into her strength but then forgets sometimes quiet and allowing yourself to listen is a better approach. It almost feels like a lot was leading to the showdown and we got lost just trying to get there but hopefully that’s just me.
With such a powerful opening this isn’t a bad read but ironically one I fear will be forgettable.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
November 10, 2025
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.
-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.
March 31, 2026
I haven’t been reading a lot of YA over the past month. But this was a nice little change. I really liked the magic system and the overall plot line and thought it was well thoughts out. We have Rowenna who is the crown princess of Tashir. She was sent as a active bride to the enemy nation. A year later her body was sent back. Now, India, our FMC, is forced to marry the crown prince of Vanzador. The same nation her sister was sent to. Indira wants to uncover the truth about what exactly happened to her sister.
This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, I have been reading a lot of it lately…it is my favorite. And I think it was done very well. I really did like the growth that Indira shows over the course of the book. We do her talking to her sister in her head and her dealing with the loss of her sister and her grief. I think the magic system with summoning of plants was also pretty cool. Earth magic is something I don’t really see as much of and it was a nice change. I also think the ending was pretty solid. I overall enjoyed my time. I did end up starting it right before bed. That in fact was a mistake. I should have just waited to the morning because I didn’t want to put it down. This goes by pretty fast for it’s length.
This is my first dalliance with this authors works and I really do want to check her other works out. I really look forward to my next book by Addie Thorley
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, I have been reading a lot of it lately…it is my favorite. And I think it was done very well. I really did like the growth that Indira shows over the course of the book. We do her talking to her sister in her head and her dealing with the loss of her sister and her grief. I think the magic system with summoning of plants was also pretty cool. Earth magic is something I don’t really see as much of and it was a nice change. I also think the ending was pretty solid. I overall enjoyed my time. I did end up starting it right before bed. That in fact was a mistake. I should have just waited to the morning because I didn’t want to put it down. This goes by pretty fast for it’s length.
This is my first dalliance with this authors works and I really do want to check her other works out. I really look forward to my next book by Addie Thorley
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 24, 2026
In Burn the Kingdom Down, we are introduced to two rival countries, Tashir and Vanzador. Each has something the other needs. Tashir grows bagrava, a magical plant that they use to keep their soil healthy so other crops can grow, and that Vanzador needs to maintain the magic of the King and his son to literally move the earth. And it is the king's power to raise mountains that Tashir needs, to keep them safe from the marauders who want bagrava to basically get high. But the deal between the two nations is a bit lopsided, and Tashir is struggling, not only having to provide increasing amounts of bagrava, but also having to marry off their king's oldest daughter, Rowenna, to Alaric, the prince of Vanzador.
But a year later, Rowenna is dead under mysterious circumstances, and before they even have time to process their grief the Tashir royal family is told that Vanzador expects her younger sister, Indira, to replace her. Going to Vanzador is the last thing Indira wants to do, but she is determined to find out both what happened to her sister and how to take down Vanzador once and for all.
I struggled a bit with Indira at the beginning, because she was just very very angry and basically flailing about and not thinking about what she was doing. But once she settled and started using her head more than her anger, I enjoyed the story. Some interesting and unexpected things happened along the way. The side characters tended to be a bit one-note, but at least it was easy to keep track of who was who. All in all, I was never bored and I enjoyed the book.
But a year later, Rowenna is dead under mysterious circumstances, and before they even have time to process their grief the Tashir royal family is told that Vanzador expects her younger sister, Indira, to replace her. Going to Vanzador is the last thing Indira wants to do, but she is determined to find out both what happened to her sister and how to take down Vanzador once and for all.
I struggled a bit with Indira at the beginning, because she was just very very angry and basically flailing about and not thinking about what she was doing. But once she settled and started using her head more than her anger, I enjoyed the story. Some interesting and unexpected things happened along the way. The side characters tended to be a bit one-note, but at least it was easy to keep track of who was who. All in all, I was never bored and I enjoyed the book.
April 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC book!!!
This book was absolutely stunning in every single aspect!!
So the little blurb of this book immediately drew me in like sister dies in an enemy kingdom and then our fmc gets married off and has to figure out what happened but maybe everything she knows is a lie. I mean come on as a sister myself I just had to read it! I believe me this book did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved the plot line of this book and how it kept things moving it didn’t leave you wanting for too long. I also loved the characters in this book and how everyone was kinda unreliable even our main character Indira. You never really knew who to trust and it just kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book. I also loved Indiras journey into becoming her own person it was so well done and well written especially for this book to be a standalone. The romance was also just so well written I loved the slow burn! There were also so many good plot twists and this book had some serious gut reaching moments. One unique aspect I loved about the book is that Indira is grieving and she struggles to give up her sister and even conjures her in her mind. It’s such an interesting take on grief that you don’t often see in books. Oftentimes characters continue to talk about their dead loved ones but Indiras grief felt real and raw and you could see the struggle in it and how much it continuously affected her relationship with her sister.
If you love a book with kingdom politics, slow burn love, and a main character going on a journey to make themselves known and save their kingdom then this book is for you.
Overall I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read more of this authors works. I truly hope this book gets all the love and attention it deserves because it deserves it.
This book was absolutely stunning in every single aspect!!
So the little blurb of this book immediately drew me in like sister dies in an enemy kingdom and then our fmc gets married off and has to figure out what happened but maybe everything she knows is a lie. I mean come on as a sister myself I just had to read it! I believe me this book did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved the plot line of this book and how it kept things moving it didn’t leave you wanting for too long. I also loved the characters in this book and how everyone was kinda unreliable even our main character Indira. You never really knew who to trust and it just kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book. I also loved Indiras journey into becoming her own person it was so well done and well written especially for this book to be a standalone. The romance was also just so well written I loved the slow burn! There were also so many good plot twists and this book had some serious gut reaching moments. One unique aspect I loved about the book is that Indira is grieving and she struggles to give up her sister and even conjures her in her mind. It’s such an interesting take on grief that you don’t often see in books. Oftentimes characters continue to talk about their dead loved ones but Indiras grief felt real and raw and you could see the struggle in it and how much it continuously affected her relationship with her sister.
If you love a book with kingdom politics, slow burn love, and a main character going on a journey to make themselves known and save their kingdom then this book is for you.
Overall I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read more of this authors works. I truly hope this book gets all the love and attention it deserves because it deserves it.
April 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!
This book was a good YA romantasy read that was quite easy to follow. The magic system was easy to follow and I liked how botany was the magic that our FMC had. The politics was nothing new, and the plot twist was predictable.
The trope of enemies to lovers was evident. I felt, however, that it was quite rushed and their relationship developed rather quickly.
I appreciate that the story was quite compelling and interesting from the start, rather than dragging on, which I felt like it did towards the middle/end.
Indira is an evidently young FMC, easily manipulated and following her sister around, unable to make decisions for herself. I do love her (eventual) ability to stand up for herself towards the end of the book, and we see her coming into her own.
Alaric is a stone hearted MMC which, predictably, softens the more time him and Indira spend with each other. He is also weighted with so much burden and trauma, and it shapes the type of ruler he wants to be.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book was a good YA romantasy read that was quite easy to follow. The magic system was easy to follow and I liked how botany was the magic that our FMC had. The politics was nothing new, and the plot twist was predictable.
The trope of enemies to lovers was evident. I felt, however, that it was quite rushed and their relationship developed rather quickly.
I appreciate that the story was quite compelling and interesting from the start, rather than dragging on, which I felt like it did towards the middle/end.
Indira is an evidently young FMC, easily manipulated and following her sister around, unable to make decisions for herself. I do love her (eventual) ability to stand up for herself towards the end of the book, and we see her coming into her own.
Alaric is a stone hearted MMC which, predictably, softens the more time him and Indira spend with each other. He is also weighted with so much burden and trauma, and it shapes the type of ruler he wants to be.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
April 13, 2026
The action scenes are amazing. The reveals? So incredible! I knew we’d have a twist, but changed my mind so much about what it would actually be—I’m proud that I got some of it right, even though I definitely did not see some of that coming.
Where I was maybe not quite as high on this was with the pacing of it all. There were so many lulls where it felt like we barely moved the plot forward, and then suddenly we’re getting things at a rapid pace. I would’ve loved if we’d find some balance there, so it would’ve felt more even, because the number of times I was about to put the book down was insane. I would’ve missed out on such a great ending!
Even with how quickly things were resolved by the finale, I did appreciate that there’s still room for another story. I really hope that the next one adjusts some of the pacing and really builds tension and lets us sit with emotional reveals a bit more.
Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Where I was maybe not quite as high on this was with the pacing of it all. There were so many lulls where it felt like we barely moved the plot forward, and then suddenly we’re getting things at a rapid pace. I would’ve loved if we’d find some balance there, so it would’ve felt more even, because the number of times I was about to put the book down was insane. I would’ve missed out on such a great ending!
Even with how quickly things were resolved by the finale, I did appreciate that there’s still room for another story. I really hope that the next one adjusts some of the pacing and really builds tension and lets us sit with emotional reveals a bit more.
Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC!
April 25, 2026
It's not often you pick up a YA, enemies to lovers fantasy, where there is also a possible murder which is being investigated. I don't think I've ever read one myself. But I genuinely enjoyed how it was done in this book.
The enemies to lovers aspect felt real and not rushed, whereas in some romantasy books, the connection between the two characters is rushed and doesn't feel as though they were genuinely enemies. But Indira had a genuine hate and distrust for Alaric, and he didn't seem to feel much different towards her. However, as time went on and their relationship grew, I was genuinely routing for them and was worried for a moment when I thought they would end their stories as enemies again.
The plot was well thought out, and I did not expect the twists in the ending at all. Even though one of the betrayals genuinely broke my heart.
I would pick up this book again and read more of their story if any future books are released in this world.
The enemies to lovers aspect felt real and not rushed, whereas in some romantasy books, the connection between the two characters is rushed and doesn't feel as though they were genuinely enemies. But Indira had a genuine hate and distrust for Alaric, and he didn't seem to feel much different towards her. However, as time went on and their relationship grew, I was genuinely routing for them and was worried for a moment when I thought they would end their stories as enemies again.
The plot was well thought out, and I did not expect the twists in the ending at all. Even though one of the betrayals genuinely broke my heart.
I would pick up this book again and read more of their story if any future books are released in this world.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 ⭐️ - I was drawn to Burn the Kingdom Down because I'm a sucker for the forced marriage trope and was intrigued by the promise of political tension mixed with a mystery. It didn't quite work for me personally, but I think the right reader would really enjoy this one.
The magic system was interesting and the political stakes were easy to follow right from the start. The mystery surrounding Indira's sister's death also kept me flipping pages to the very end, and I found the ending satisfying.
Where I struggled was connecting with the story and the characters. I think this is mostly due to the uneven pacing. Some scenes, especially early on, stretched out way too long, while more emotional or important moments flew by before the tension could build up. This hurt the romance and politics too, since both rely on relationships that never really got room to develop. I also strongly disliked Indira's inner dialogue. Throughout the book, her reactions and thoughts appear in italics as if her older sister is there with her. It's interesting at first, especially as Indira’s grieving, but it gets overused fast and became grating to me.
Though this didn't click for me, I can see someone younger or newer to romantasy really enjoying it. The political tension is easy to follow, the magic is unique, and the mystery kept me reading until the end.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC! 📚
Burner Kindle Book Blog
The magic system was interesting and the political stakes were easy to follow right from the start. The mystery surrounding Indira's sister's death also kept me flipping pages to the very end, and I found the ending satisfying.
Where I struggled was connecting with the story and the characters. I think this is mostly due to the uneven pacing. Some scenes, especially early on, stretched out way too long, while more emotional or important moments flew by before the tension could build up. This hurt the romance and politics too, since both rely on relationships that never really got room to develop. I also strongly disliked Indira's inner dialogue. Throughout the book, her reactions and thoughts appear in italics as if her older sister is there with her. It's interesting at first, especially as Indira’s grieving, but it gets overused fast and became grating to me.
Though this didn't click for me, I can see someone younger or newer to romantasy really enjoying it. The political tension is easy to follow, the magic is unique, and the mystery kept me reading until the end.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC! 📚
Burner Kindle Book Blog
March 4, 2026
This felt predicable at some points and shocking at others. About 70% through I had no idea how the author was going to resolve everything. Indira, the FMC is the second born, often forgotten princess of a poor kingdom who mainly grows a magic plant that when abused can cause a wide range of side effects. To keep marauders from ravaging their kingdom they make a deal with the enemy neighbouring kingdom who can move rocks. After her sister (his first wife) dies, our MMC Alaric the prince of the enemy kingdom comes to collect his new bride. Not everything or everyone is as it seems. It’s a lovely story about overcoming your trauma and gaining confidence / trust in yourself. There is backstabbing, secrets and mysteries to uncover while slowly falling in love. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
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