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Thrones of the Forsaken #1
Labyrinthine
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
4 days and 00:12:31
100 copies available
U.S. only
Every generation, the gods take their due. This time, they might take her.
Princess Azhara was born cursed. Marked by ancient magic. Promised to an unholy bargain sealed in blood. When the Reaping begins, suitors will descend into the labyrinth beneath the palace—each one fighting to win her hand or die trying.
She’s never had a choice. Not in the Reaping. Not in her future. Not even in the power buried beneath her skin.
Until now.
The golden prince arrives with charm too slick to trust and eyes that gleam with secrets. Her quiet guardian—once her only constant—has begun to keep dangerous truths from her. And as the labyrinth trials unfold, Azhara realizes the maze isn’t her only trap.
It’s the men.
One lies. One loves. One kills. And she’s not sure which is which.
As suitors fall and secrets surface, Azhara must choose what’s worth saving—her kingdom, her heart, or herself.
Labyrinthine is a seductive, myth-woven romantasy of deadly trials, cursed bloodlines, and a love born in shadows.
Princess Azhara was born cursed. Marked by ancient magic. Promised to an unholy bargain sealed in blood. When the Reaping begins, suitors will descend into the labyrinth beneath the palace—each one fighting to win her hand or die trying.
She’s never had a choice. Not in the Reaping. Not in her future. Not even in the power buried beneath her skin.
Until now.
The golden prince arrives with charm too slick to trust and eyes that gleam with secrets. Her quiet guardian—once her only constant—has begun to keep dangerous truths from her. And as the labyrinth trials unfold, Azhara realizes the maze isn’t her only trap.
It’s the men.
One lies. One loves. One kills. And she’s not sure which is which.
As suitors fall and secrets surface, Azhara must choose what’s worth saving—her kingdom, her heart, or herself.
Labyrinthine is a seductive, myth-woven romantasy of deadly trials, cursed bloodlines, and a love born in shadows.
338 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 12, 2026
104 people are currently reading
1673 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Holmes
15 books182 followersCJ Holmes lives in England, where it's cold and damp, and it's always raining - which provides her with enough time to write stories about magic, fantasy and romance. She'd like to escape to somewhere warm but that might mean that she spends too much time sunbathing and not enough time writing books.
She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....
Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing
She lives in a quaint English cottage which would have one of those idyllic gardens if her fingers weren't the opposite of green. Fortunately, her husband and children don't seem to mind that almost everything she tries to grow ends up dead. She enjoys drinking wine and gin, which conveniently coincides with her love of reading and writing, as well as running and watching bad TV shows. You have been warned....
Instagram ➜ @cjholmes_writing
Find me on threads ➜ @cjholmes_writing
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
February 28, 2026
Holy love triangle!!!!
I am not typically a love triangle lover, and this one had me emotionally spiraling in the best and most frustrating way. One minute I knew exactly who I wanted Azahara with, and the next I was completely convinced she should choose the other. The internal conflict was REAL but honestly, that just shows how well it was written.
What really stood out to me was Azahara’s character growth. Watching her move from a life shaped by expectations and lack of choice into someone willing to claim her own future was incredibly satisfying. There is something powerful about a heroine who learns to trust herself and ultimately gets to decide what her life will be.
The world-building is rich without feeling overwhelming, and the descriptive writing makes everything feel vivid and immersive. C.J. Holmes creates an atmosphere that pulls you in quickly and keeps the pages turning. The pacing is strong, the tension stays high, and there is always something unfolding to keep you invested.
And the ending? Very satisfying. The emotional payoff felt earned, and I closed the book feeling genuinely glad I took this journey with these characters.
While love triangles aren’t usually my favorite trope, this one is undeniably well done my frustration was less about the trope itself and more about how invested I became.
If you enjoy romantasy with layered characters, strong development, immersive world-building, emotional tension, and a heroine who steps into her own power, this is absolutely worth picking up.
A fast-paced, engaging read and a very solid Romantasy. Thanks to the author for an early copy!
I am not typically a love triangle lover, and this one had me emotionally spiraling in the best and most frustrating way. One minute I knew exactly who I wanted Azahara with, and the next I was completely convinced she should choose the other. The internal conflict was REAL but honestly, that just shows how well it was written.
What really stood out to me was Azahara’s character growth. Watching her move from a life shaped by expectations and lack of choice into someone willing to claim her own future was incredibly satisfying. There is something powerful about a heroine who learns to trust herself and ultimately gets to decide what her life will be.
The world-building is rich without feeling overwhelming, and the descriptive writing makes everything feel vivid and immersive. C.J. Holmes creates an atmosphere that pulls you in quickly and keeps the pages turning. The pacing is strong, the tension stays high, and there is always something unfolding to keep you invested.
And the ending? Very satisfying. The emotional payoff felt earned, and I closed the book feeling genuinely glad I took this journey with these characters.
While love triangles aren’t usually my favorite trope, this one is undeniably well done my frustration was less about the trope itself and more about how invested I became.
If you enjoy romantasy with layered characters, strong development, immersive world-building, emotional tension, and a heroine who steps into her own power, this is absolutely worth picking up.
A fast-paced, engaging read and a very solid Romantasy. Thanks to the author for an early copy!
Did Not Finish
April 25, 2026dnf at 24%
nope. i can’t. i can’t cope with how cringe the guard is, telling the fmc “you’re mine” every couple of lines. declaring his love to her at 5% in. i thought the introduction of the prince would make things more interesting but he’s just as cringe as well.
sadly no tension or slow burn, this is all very insta lust/love which i just don’t like.
thank you to the author for the arc but this one isn’t for me
nope. i can’t. i can’t cope with how cringe the guard is, telling the fmc “you’re mine” every couple of lines. declaring his love to her at 5% in. i thought the introduction of the prince would make things more interesting but he’s just as cringe as well.
sadly no tension or slow burn, this is all very insta lust/love which i just don’t like.
thank you to the author for the arc but this one isn’t for me
May 6, 2026
Thank you to author CJ Holmes for providing an advanced reader copy of Labyrinthine in exchange for an honest review.
Labyrinthine is a dark, Greek-inspired reimagining of the Athenian-Theseus-Minotaur myth.. add in some dangerous, shadow magic and it becomes a gripping, otherworldly descent into legend.
The gods abandoned Starsfall the night Princess Azhara was born, binding her with powerful magic.. a curse that has defined her life ever since. Every ten years, the kingdom holds the Reaping, where men compete for her hand in marriage. The victor is said to unlock the magic within her and restore it to the realm.
But Azhara is no prize.. she is a prisoner. Her father, the king, is a tyrant behind closed doors. To the kingdom, he plays the role of a devoted father and ruler. In private, he is cruel, manipulative, and abusive, keeping Azhara under tight control to maintain his power. Confined to the palace, she is constantly guarded by the Royal Commander, Mallen, her lifelong protector and mentor. When she tries to escape, it’s he who drags her back, and then.. confesses his undying love for her! The revelation changes everything Azhara thought she understood, forcing her to confront feelings she never allowed herself to have.
This year’s Reaping brings a new contender.. the Prince Larksbind, Darian. He is everything Mallen is not, charming, radiant, and dangerously easy to fall for. Torn between them, she feels the pull of two very different worlds.. Mallen, dark and possessive, and fiercely protective of her… and Darian, golden and princely, and determined to set her free.
As the Reaping unfolds, so do the lies. Everything Azhara has been told about her birth, her mother, and even her magic is a carefully constructed illusion. Darian begins to unravel the truth, while Mallen, claiming to protect her, keeps secrets of his own. But there are revelations in the Labyrinth.. when Azhara finally enters it to save Darian and the remaining tributes, she comes face to face with the reality she was never meant to discover.. the monster was never a myth, and it was never who she thought. But neither were the “truths” she was told.
To unbind her magic, Azhara must face her destiny.. confront her tyrannical father, along with his formidable magic and power. In doing so, she can reclaim what is hers.. what was always hers.. to not only save herself but also her true love and her kingdom.
Overall, this was a gripping story with a compelling plot and high stakes. My only critique is that the writing style felt somewhat truncated. I would have appreciated a smoother flow that allowed the tension and character development to breathe more fully.
Labyrinthine is a dark, Greek-inspired reimagining of the Athenian-Theseus-Minotaur myth.. add in some dangerous, shadow magic and it becomes a gripping, otherworldly descent into legend.
The gods abandoned Starsfall the night Princess Azhara was born, binding her with powerful magic.. a curse that has defined her life ever since. Every ten years, the kingdom holds the Reaping, where men compete for her hand in marriage. The victor is said to unlock the magic within her and restore it to the realm.
But Azhara is no prize.. she is a prisoner. Her father, the king, is a tyrant behind closed doors. To the kingdom, he plays the role of a devoted father and ruler. In private, he is cruel, manipulative, and abusive, keeping Azhara under tight control to maintain his power. Confined to the palace, she is constantly guarded by the Royal Commander, Mallen, her lifelong protector and mentor. When she tries to escape, it’s he who drags her back, and then.. confesses his undying love for her! The revelation changes everything Azhara thought she understood, forcing her to confront feelings she never allowed herself to have.
This year’s Reaping brings a new contender.. the Prince Larksbind, Darian. He is everything Mallen is not, charming, radiant, and dangerously easy to fall for. Torn between them, she feels the pull of two very different worlds.. Mallen, dark and possessive, and fiercely protective of her… and Darian, golden and princely, and determined to set her free.
As the Reaping unfolds, so do the lies. Everything Azhara has been told about her birth, her mother, and even her magic is a carefully constructed illusion. Darian begins to unravel the truth, while Mallen, claiming to protect her, keeps secrets of his own. But there are revelations in the Labyrinth.. when Azhara finally enters it to save Darian and the remaining tributes, she comes face to face with the reality she was never meant to discover.. the monster was never a myth, and it was never who she thought. But neither were the “truths” she was told.
To unbind her magic, Azhara must face her destiny.. confront her tyrannical father, along with his formidable magic and power. In doing so, she can reclaim what is hers.. what was always hers.. to not only save herself but also her true love and her kingdom.
Overall, this was a gripping story with a compelling plot and high stakes. My only critique is that the writing style felt somewhat truncated. I would have appreciated a smoother flow that allowed the tension and character development to breathe more fully.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is everything a Dark Romantasy should be! I swear I wanted to throw my Kindle a few times during my read. This book had one of my favorite tropes, a Love Triangle. Not a fluffy love triangle, I'm talking rip your soul out! You have no idea how Azhara will ever choose kind of Love Triangle! Bravo CJ for writing this masterpiece.
Labyrinthine, is a Dark seductive myth retelling Romantasy that captures the heart. You have deadly trials, cursed royalty, dark labyrinth, a feared monster, dark gods, high stakes, plus so much more. Also, the slow burn and yearning in this book! The way I devoured this book because I simply couldn't put it down. The world building in this book was fantastic. It is immersive, but well written and allowed you to feel what the characters felt. Labyrinthine follows a princess named Azhara, who was cursed by the gods to hold a power that could only be claimed by someone winning her hand through deadly trials in the annual Reaping. None ever survived the Reaping, but this time things take a Dark and deadly turn. A Golden Prince and a Dark Commander fight for her heart, but who wins? THESE TWO MEN will have your heart and soul in a chokehold! There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming and one of them nearly took me out emotionally.
If you love a book that captures all the elements of Dark Fantasy and lyrical writing style, then this book is exactly what you want to read. Labyrinthine is a standalone in CJs new series "Thrones of the Forsaken". This one was a 6-Star read with a TWO 🌶 spice rating.
Wonder if you will be Team Darian or Team Mallen? I wish I could tell you which Team that I picked from the beginning, but I can't spoil it for you! Amazing book for CJ's Traditionally Published debut series. I recommend to pick this book up as soon as you can, you won't regret it!
Labyrinthine, is a Dark seductive myth retelling Romantasy that captures the heart. You have deadly trials, cursed royalty, dark labyrinth, a feared monster, dark gods, high stakes, plus so much more. Also, the slow burn and yearning in this book! The way I devoured this book because I simply couldn't put it down. The world building in this book was fantastic. It is immersive, but well written and allowed you to feel what the characters felt. Labyrinthine follows a princess named Azhara, who was cursed by the gods to hold a power that could only be claimed by someone winning her hand through deadly trials in the annual Reaping. None ever survived the Reaping, but this time things take a Dark and deadly turn. A Golden Prince and a Dark Commander fight for her heart, but who wins? THESE TWO MEN will have your heart and soul in a chokehold! There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming and one of them nearly took me out emotionally.
If you love a book that captures all the elements of Dark Fantasy and lyrical writing style, then this book is exactly what you want to read. Labyrinthine is a standalone in CJs new series "Thrones of the Forsaken". This one was a 6-Star read with a TWO 🌶 spice rating.
Wonder if you will be Team Darian or Team Mallen? I wish I could tell you which Team that I picked from the beginning, but I can't spoil it for you! Amazing book for CJ's Traditionally Published debut series. I recommend to pick this book up as soon as you can, you won't regret it!
April 15, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy received by the author.
“It’s what men don’t say that tells the real story.”
Azhara is the ultimate empath, badass survivor. She has been raised in the most toxic environment, forced to perform for her father, and to be the prize to be claimed by whoever wins the impossible trials. She has learned to anticipate the moods/emotions of those around her in order to survive. My god, does her dad SUCK!
I usually don’t care for love triangles, but this one was well done. I liked how she was going back and forth, the turmoil was believeable, and ultimately she made her choice without either man being horrible and making it easy to choose. She just followed her gut and what her heart truly wanted.
Hell yeah for strong FMC’s and imperfect love interests, who are at least feminist and supportive, that’s what I want to read! The worldbuilding was great, not too heavy, and the real focus was on the emotions of the characters. Azhara feels so deeply, but she is the product of the environment she in which she was raised. Such a good book!
“It’s what men don’t say that tells the real story.”
Azhara is the ultimate empath, badass survivor. She has been raised in the most toxic environment, forced to perform for her father, and to be the prize to be claimed by whoever wins the impossible trials. She has learned to anticipate the moods/emotions of those around her in order to survive. My god, does her dad SUCK!
I usually don’t care for love triangles, but this one was well done. I liked how she was going back and forth, the turmoil was believeable, and ultimately she made her choice without either man being horrible and making it easy to choose. She just followed her gut and what her heart truly wanted.
Hell yeah for strong FMC’s and imperfect love interests, who are at least feminist and supportive, that’s what I want to read! The worldbuilding was great, not too heavy, and the real focus was on the emotions of the characters. Azhara feels so deeply, but she is the product of the environment she in which she was raised. Such a good book!
March 24, 2026
This was one of those rare reads where I went in with sky-high expectations… and somehow still got exactly what I wanted.
The story is drenched in deception, secrets, betrayal, and plot twists that just keep escalating into complete carnage. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was happening, the rug was pulled out from under me. And don’t even get me started on the love triangle… it’s the kind that melts your insides and then casually ruins your emotional stability for fun.
There’s so much to love here: enemies to lovers, light versus shadow, deadly trials, cursed bloodlines… it’s basically a checklist of addictive tropes done right.
And the characters? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The men are dangerous, morally questionable, and impossible to ignore, while the FMC holds her own with a fierce determination to set things right no matter the cost. The dynamic between them all is electric.
The author crafted relationships that pull you in so deeply you almost stop asking questions… even when you definitely should be. Trust is fragile in this world, and I found myself constantly second-guessing who was genuine and who was about to stab someone in the back.
It kept me hooked, suspicious, and fully invested from beginning to end.
I loved everything about it. The plot, the magic, the romance… all of it just worked.
The story is drenched in deception, secrets, betrayal, and plot twists that just keep escalating into complete carnage. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was happening, the rug was pulled out from under me. And don’t even get me started on the love triangle… it’s the kind that melts your insides and then casually ruins your emotional stability for fun.
There’s so much to love here: enemies to lovers, light versus shadow, deadly trials, cursed bloodlines… it’s basically a checklist of addictive tropes done right.
And the characters? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The men are dangerous, morally questionable, and impossible to ignore, while the FMC holds her own with a fierce determination to set things right no matter the cost. The dynamic between them all is electric.
The author crafted relationships that pull you in so deeply you almost stop asking questions… even when you definitely should be. Trust is fragile in this world, and I found myself constantly second-guessing who was genuine and who was about to stab someone in the back.
It kept me hooked, suspicious, and fully invested from beginning to end.
I loved everything about it. The plot, the magic, the romance… all of it just worked.
March 21, 2026
Thank you C.J. Holmes for this eARC!
I’m not typically one to enjoy a love triangle but this was different and I’m here for it!! Azhara’s internal struggle was complicated and it doesn’t help that she has trust issues that are almost beyond repair.
The twists and turns have you constantly questioning how you want the ending of this book to play out. Did I see some of the reveals coming? Of course, but it didn’t help me choose how I wanted this to go.
I love the writing style and it made me feel like I truly knew what Azhara was feeling - even if I did want to slap her occasionally to knock some sense in her. Same with Mallan, I do hope there are future plans for his POV because that would be amazing to read. He has many pretty words but I also wanted to throttle him more often than not. In the end, I believe it was tied up with a pretty bow and what more could we want?
I’m not typically one to enjoy a love triangle but this was different and I’m here for it!! Azhara’s internal struggle was complicated and it doesn’t help that she has trust issues that are almost beyond repair.
The twists and turns have you constantly questioning how you want the ending of this book to play out. Did I see some of the reveals coming? Of course, but it didn’t help me choose how I wanted this to go.
I love the writing style and it made me feel like I truly knew what Azhara was feeling - even if I did want to slap her occasionally to knock some sense in her. Same with Mallan, I do hope there are future plans for his POV because that would be amazing to read. He has many pretty words but I also wanted to throttle him more often than not. In the end, I believe it was tied up with a pretty bow and what more could we want?
March 31, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the Author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
👑 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Morally gray MMC’s
👑 Love triangle
🗡️ Deadly trials
👑 High stakes
🗡️ Myth retelling
Wow… this book was fantastic!
We follow our FMC Princess Azhara who was born curse, makes by ancient magic. She has never had a choice with anything.
One of my favourite things about this book was Azhara’s character growth. She was so timid in the beginning and now she is someone who will make her own choices and stand by her decisions.
She became such a strong and confident badass and I loved that!
This book has a love triangle and boy was it good!
I couldn’t decided on one man and I couldn’t predict who Azhara was going to end up with.
I won’t say anymore about the men in this as I don’t want to ruin it for other people.
But they are both 🔥🔥🔥 in their own way!
Boy this book took you on a journey and I was here for it! There are so many twists and turns. Betrayals 🤯
This book is very fast paced with high stakes!
I had no idea how this book was going to end!
I was on the end of my seat for like the last 20% of the book.
This author has written a beautiful and descriptive book that I think a lot of people are going to love.
Cannot wait to read more by this author!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
What to expect
👑 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Morally gray MMC’s
👑 Love triangle
🗡️ Deadly trials
👑 High stakes
🗡️ Myth retelling
Wow… this book was fantastic!
We follow our FMC Princess Azhara who was born curse, makes by ancient magic. She has never had a choice with anything.
One of my favourite things about this book was Azhara’s character growth. She was so timid in the beginning and now she is someone who will make her own choices and stand by her decisions.
She became such a strong and confident badass and I loved that!
This book has a love triangle and boy was it good!
I couldn’t decided on one man and I couldn’t predict who Azhara was going to end up with.
I won’t say anymore about the men in this as I don’t want to ruin it for other people.
But they are both 🔥🔥🔥 in their own way!
Boy this book took you on a journey and I was here for it! There are so many twists and turns. Betrayals 🤯
This book is very fast paced with high stakes!
I had no idea how this book was going to end!
I was on the end of my seat for like the last 20% of the book.
This author has written a beautiful and descriptive book that I think a lot of people are going to love.
Cannot wait to read more by this author!!
April 5, 2026
OMG this book is unbelievable. I posted a review on my IG that best articulates how amazing this book is, but if you loved reading the poetic style of Tolkien but with the trials, dark magic, morally gray characters, and a strong female characters of modern fantasy, then you have found the perfect book with Labyrinthine. This book is so beautifully written, the story keeps you captivated and really makes you question if there are actually good or bad people, or just bad people who do good things and good people who do bad things?
This book should be on everyone’s shelf!
This book should be on everyone’s shelf!
May 3, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and ALC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. Wow, I totally fell in love with the characters of this book!! I immersive read this book in 3 day and the audio and book were phenomenal!! Wanted to jump in the book and throw it a couple of times 🤣!! This is a dark gothic romantasy that you will definitely fall in love with like I did!! Chefs kiss CJ!!
“Labyrinthine is a seductive, myth-woven romantasy of deadly trials, cursed bloodlines, and a love born in shadows.”
“Labyrinthine is a seductive, myth-woven romantasy of deadly trials, cursed bloodlines, and a love born in shadows.”
April 12, 2026
I love that this story starts with the Princess FMC, Azhara, running away and being easily caught by brooding, overly protective Commander of the Royal Guards, Mallen. This immediately sets up the dynamic between the two and had me so invested. I love the princess + bodyguard trope 😍
This is a dark, oppressive and often cruel world, where the King seeks to keep the magic of the world within his realm, Starsfall. The vibes of the world are mirrored within Azhara, in the way she fights against being imprisoned within the castle, that she is "cursed" with having her dark magic bound within her, and the way she is controlled by her hateful father, the King, as a pawn in his political machinations.
A key focus in this book is the mysterious labyrinth, and the legendary dark monster that lives within it. As part of keeping the magic of the world within his kingdom, there are deadly trials called the Reaping held each year. If a man from the other kingdom, Larksbind, can win all three trials they have the right to claim Azhara's hand in marriage. Entering the labyrinth is the third trial where it is said that the magic is old and deathly and impossible to beat the beast that lives within. Most years the men from Larksbind haven't made it past the first trial but this year, Larksbind sends its handsome and flirtatious prince, Darian. So begins the love triangle.
This was a love triangle that I was very interested in seeing play out. You couldn't have more opposite MMCs. Mallen is dark haired with green eyes, brooding and entirely too serious and Darian is blond, poetically handsome and dangerously flirtatious. Both are vying for Azhara's hand and make their intentions known. I was really into Mallen, he is down bad and delightfully obsessed with Azhara and has been waiting for years to shoot his shot with her, but I was unsure if he would be end game.
Darian's dazzling words, the way he seems to truly see Azhara as a force to split the sky and woos her with the promise of depriving the King of his continued hold on the magical power of the world are so tempting to someone like Azhara who has been so locked away from experiencing the world. Sometimes through Azhara's POV, Mallen seems a little too intense and Azhara interprets his actions as controlling. But the way Mallen wants Azhara is deliciously all consuming. "I wanted you to choose me. Not for what I could offer. Not because I was safe or useful or ordained. I wanted it to be me. Flawed. Mortal. Me." Whereas Darian seems to offer her the opportunity to make one choice for herself, a luxury she has never been afforded before. "Choose me," Darian says, voice quieter now but insistent. "Not because you're afraid. Because you want to. Because I want you."
We see immense growth in Azhara, and her whole journey really resounded with me. She has to start to make her own choices and mistakes to be able follow through with her plan of ridding their world of her father and his obsession with hoarding all the magical power and controlling Starsfall and Larksbind. I'm not giving away any spoilers but the second half of the book was full of fast paced plot and lots of twists and turns and a few big reveals that had me on the edge and reeling!!
This was a really fun read. and I highly recommend it. The dark gothic elements and the very real emotional journey and coming of age story for Azhara were so immersive and I inhaled the plot. You will finish this book and immediately want to reread your favourite chapters (there is some excellent open door spice that was so beautiful and deeply emotional).
My thanks to CJ Holmes for the review copy and this is my honest review.
This is a dark, oppressive and often cruel world, where the King seeks to keep the magic of the world within his realm, Starsfall. The vibes of the world are mirrored within Azhara, in the way she fights against being imprisoned within the castle, that she is "cursed" with having her dark magic bound within her, and the way she is controlled by her hateful father, the King, as a pawn in his political machinations.
A key focus in this book is the mysterious labyrinth, and the legendary dark monster that lives within it. As part of keeping the magic of the world within his kingdom, there are deadly trials called the Reaping held each year. If a man from the other kingdom, Larksbind, can win all three trials they have the right to claim Azhara's hand in marriage. Entering the labyrinth is the third trial where it is said that the magic is old and deathly and impossible to beat the beast that lives within. Most years the men from Larksbind haven't made it past the first trial but this year, Larksbind sends its handsome and flirtatious prince, Darian. So begins the love triangle.
This was a love triangle that I was very interested in seeing play out. You couldn't have more opposite MMCs. Mallen is dark haired with green eyes, brooding and entirely too serious and Darian is blond, poetically handsome and dangerously flirtatious. Both are vying for Azhara's hand and make their intentions known. I was really into Mallen, he is down bad and delightfully obsessed with Azhara and has been waiting for years to shoot his shot with her, but I was unsure if he would be end game.
Darian's dazzling words, the way he seems to truly see Azhara as a force to split the sky and woos her with the promise of depriving the King of his continued hold on the magical power of the world are so tempting to someone like Azhara who has been so locked away from experiencing the world. Sometimes through Azhara's POV, Mallen seems a little too intense and Azhara interprets his actions as controlling. But the way Mallen wants Azhara is deliciously all consuming. "I wanted you to choose me. Not for what I could offer. Not because I was safe or useful or ordained. I wanted it to be me. Flawed. Mortal. Me." Whereas Darian seems to offer her the opportunity to make one choice for herself, a luxury she has never been afforded before. "Choose me," Darian says, voice quieter now but insistent. "Not because you're afraid. Because you want to. Because I want you."
We see immense growth in Azhara, and her whole journey really resounded with me. She has to start to make her own choices and mistakes to be able follow through with her plan of ridding their world of her father and his obsession with hoarding all the magical power and controlling Starsfall and Larksbind. I'm not giving away any spoilers but the second half of the book was full of fast paced plot and lots of twists and turns and a few big reveals that had me on the edge and reeling!!
This was a really fun read. and I highly recommend it. The dark gothic elements and the very real emotional journey and coming of age story for Azhara were so immersive and I inhaled the plot. You will finish this book and immediately want to reread your favourite chapters (there is some excellent open door spice that was so beautiful and deeply emotional).
My thanks to CJ Holmes for the review copy and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is a very powerful book to me. I love the style of CJ Holmes the way she writes her character building. It’s like you’re sitting right with him. The world building you are immersed into not just reading, but you’re in the world, the female character at first how she is I wasn’t sure if I would like her or not, but she is shaped by the world that she was brought up and by her father, and even though she’s a princess, she to me kind of resent how she was brought up if she wanted to escape the world that she was brought up and caught between two men, one of her kingdom and another from another totally different in personality. Both men were the magic I wouldn’t say it’s ordinary or I couldn’t see the Harry Potter in it, but it was in freaking. It was more that she has to adjust to her identity to who she is and what energy she possesses the lifestyle without giving pot line away because I don’t want to. I’m not gonna ruin it for other readers who will read this fuck but I want to talk about the writer in her thought in her phrases and what she says, I like her style of writing like I said, and this is from Azhara it’s a quiet storm sweeping your way as if I were fallen leaves that right there the writer just her thought when she writes wow I mean somebody that may be no big deal but it’s a little subtle things to me not just a plot line. It’s the style. It’s what the writer is saying and speaking that I fall into when reading a book definitely five star
April 3, 2026
4 stars!
I received this as an ARC read and I give my review freely.
This was a super fun story, and I was captivated throughout. I think a few things could make this a bit stronger:
1) more description of the setting
2) clearer understanding of her power
Other than those two things, this was a great read that helped me get out of a reading slump. Thank you for the chance to read and enjoy!
I received this as an ARC read and I give my review freely.
This was a super fun story, and I was captivated throughout. I think a few things could make this a bit stronger:
1) more description of the setting
2) clearer understanding of her power
Other than those two things, this was a great read that helped me get out of a reading slump. Thank you for the chance to read and enjoy!
April 3, 2026
ARC Review
This one hooked me in early with the tension — and when I say tension, I mean TENSIONING 😮💨🔥. Between the deadly labyrinth trials, the cursed princess setup, and the men circling Azhara from every direction, it had all the ingredients for a dark, addictive romantasy.
Azhara’s life is one giant prison, and that trapped feeling comes through strongly from the start. Her father is genuinely awful — abusive, power-hungry, and willing to sacrifice his own daughter for control. He constantly treats her like a burden rather than a person, which made it easy to understand why she’s so desperate to escape her world.
The romantic dynamics definitely kept things interesting. The bodyguard starts off giving loyal protector vibes, but once he confesses his feelings, that protective edge quickly starts tipping into possessive and jealous territory 🚩. At first it’s easy to brush off because it feels rooted in concern, but by the halfway mark it definitely starts leaning into the “slightly unhinged” zone. Meanwhile, the prince brings that cheeky, charming, I know I’m hot energy, but at least seems to genuinely see Azhara beyond the role she’s forced to play.
I also loved that Azhara can actually fight — give me an FMC who can wield a sword and put a man on his arse any day ⚔️✨.
That said, the biggest struggle for me was the magic system and curse lore. Even as the story progressed and more of the kingdom politics started to click into place, I still felt a little too in the dark about what her power actually was, why she had it, and what it could really do. There were hints with the neighbouring kingdoms, the monster beneath the city, and the magic bound inside her, but a lot of it felt vague enough that I was left making assumptions rather than feeling grounded in the world.
By the second half, my biggest issue became the characters themselves. Azhara’s indecisiveness started to wear thin — every choice immediately became regret, every moment turned into second-guessing, and instead of growing into the fierce independent heroine I was hoping for, she slipped more into a frustrated, woe-is-me mindset that made her harder to root for. Unfortunately, by the end, I found most of the cast equally irritating.
The final shift into the conflict with her father had potential, and I liked the direction of her magic finally being released, but because the lore still felt underexplained, the ending ended up more confusing than satisfying for me.
Overall: a strong, tension-filled start with intriguing romantasy vibes, but the unclear magic system, frustrating character choices, and confusing ending left this one sitting in the “meh” category for me.
This one hooked me in early with the tension — and when I say tension, I mean TENSIONING 😮💨🔥. Between the deadly labyrinth trials, the cursed princess setup, and the men circling Azhara from every direction, it had all the ingredients for a dark, addictive romantasy.
Azhara’s life is one giant prison, and that trapped feeling comes through strongly from the start. Her father is genuinely awful — abusive, power-hungry, and willing to sacrifice his own daughter for control. He constantly treats her like a burden rather than a person, which made it easy to understand why she’s so desperate to escape her world.
The romantic dynamics definitely kept things interesting. The bodyguard starts off giving loyal protector vibes, but once he confesses his feelings, that protective edge quickly starts tipping into possessive and jealous territory 🚩. At first it’s easy to brush off because it feels rooted in concern, but by the halfway mark it definitely starts leaning into the “slightly unhinged” zone. Meanwhile, the prince brings that cheeky, charming, I know I’m hot energy, but at least seems to genuinely see Azhara beyond the role she’s forced to play.
I also loved that Azhara can actually fight — give me an FMC who can wield a sword and put a man on his arse any day ⚔️✨.
That said, the biggest struggle for me was the magic system and curse lore. Even as the story progressed and more of the kingdom politics started to click into place, I still felt a little too in the dark about what her power actually was, why she had it, and what it could really do. There were hints with the neighbouring kingdoms, the monster beneath the city, and the magic bound inside her, but a lot of it felt vague enough that I was left making assumptions rather than feeling grounded in the world.
By the second half, my biggest issue became the characters themselves. Azhara’s indecisiveness started to wear thin — every choice immediately became regret, every moment turned into second-guessing, and instead of growing into the fierce independent heroine I was hoping for, she slipped more into a frustrated, woe-is-me mindset that made her harder to root for. Unfortunately, by the end, I found most of the cast equally irritating.
The final shift into the conflict with her father had potential, and I liked the direction of her magic finally being released, but because the lore still felt underexplained, the ending ended up more confusing than satisfying for me.
Overall: a strong, tension-filled start with intriguing romantasy vibes, but the unclear magic system, frustrating character choices, and confusing ending left this one sitting in the “meh” category for me.
May 2, 2026
Thank you to the CJ Holmes team and bookfunnel for the ARC. This was a blast!🖤
Ahhhhh! The emotions this book took me through! 😩😩
First person present tense is such a huge risk because it can be very cringe and awkward—BUT—I loved Azhara, so I didn’t mind being inside her head for the whole journey. And it kept the story very personal. It also makes it very simple to follow a longer story because you aren’t bouncing around to different POVs/timelines/moods.
Settings were vivid. ✨
Spice was slow to arrive and worth the wait. 🌶️
Vibes were immaculate. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
Trope roundup:
✔️Training/Trials
✔️Protecting her at all costs/touch her and die
✔️Who will she choose?
✔️Dark magic/monsters
✔️Corrupt leader unthroned
✔️Political intrigue/Power dynamic
✔️Made for eachother
✔️Happy ending
I was shocked by the major turning point and wound up loving how Azhara’s decisions unfolded and how she came into her power. That’s all I’ll say to avoid spoilers!
Ahhhhh! The emotions this book took me through! 😩😩
First person present tense is such a huge risk because it can be very cringe and awkward—BUT—I loved Azhara, so I didn’t mind being inside her head for the whole journey. And it kept the story very personal. It also makes it very simple to follow a longer story because you aren’t bouncing around to different POVs/timelines/moods.
Settings were vivid. ✨
Spice was slow to arrive and worth the wait. 🌶️
Vibes were immaculate. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
Trope roundup:
✔️Training/Trials
✔️Protecting her at all costs/touch her and die
✔️Who will she choose?
✔️Dark magic/monsters
✔️Corrupt leader unthroned
✔️Political intrigue/Power dynamic
✔️Made for eachother
✔️Happy ending
I was shocked by the major turning point and wound up loving how Azhara’s decisions unfolded and how she came into her power. That’s all I’ll say to avoid spoilers!
May 1, 2026
NetGalley ALC Review
Thank you RBmedia for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book.
I enjoyed the narration and thought she did a great job with representing males voices and creating a differentiation between characters. There were a few times where I couldn’t tell if it was the narrator’s tone or the writing style that left me confused on Azhara’s feelings towards the MMCs. In one sentence I thought she was put off by their actions and then in the next it seemed like she was charmed by them.
I think this novel needed more world building or even a prequel to explain the magic system, creatures and the different aspects of completing the trials/labyrinth. I went back and listened to a few sections, because I was having trouble comprehending the purpose of the labyrinth. You do start to find out more as the story progresses, but I felt confused or like I had missed something while I was listening. I think this book has the potential to be rated higher, if I had more of a back story, but I just felt very lost.
I was hoping to see more of the labyrinth, considering the title of the book, but they were only in it for maybe a chapter.
Thank you RBmedia for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book.
I enjoyed the narration and thought she did a great job with representing males voices and creating a differentiation between characters. There were a few times where I couldn’t tell if it was the narrator’s tone or the writing style that left me confused on Azhara’s feelings towards the MMCs. In one sentence I thought she was put off by their actions and then in the next it seemed like she was charmed by them.
I think this novel needed more world building or even a prequel to explain the magic system, creatures and the different aspects of completing the trials/labyrinth. I went back and listened to a few sections, because I was having trouble comprehending the purpose of the labyrinth. You do start to find out more as the story progresses, but I felt confused or like I had missed something while I was listening. I think this book has the potential to be rated higher, if I had more of a back story, but I just felt very lost.
I was hoping to see more of the labyrinth, considering the title of the book, but they were only in it for maybe a chapter.
April 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark magic, deadly trials, and a love triangle that keeps you guessing… Labyrinthine completely pulled me in 🖤
Azhara is such a strong yet vulnerable FMC, and watching her navigate secrets, power, and impossible choices had me hooked. The tension between the characters? Unreal. I was constantly trying to figure out who to trust 👀
The atmosphere is rich, moody, and full of danger — everything I want in a romantasy. While the pacing dipped slightly in places, the story overall was gripping and addictive.
If you love cursed heroines, shadowy love interests, and high-stakes trials… this one’s for you ✨
Dark magic, deadly trials, and a love triangle that keeps you guessing… Labyrinthine completely pulled me in 🖤
Azhara is such a strong yet vulnerable FMC, and watching her navigate secrets, power, and impossible choices had me hooked. The tension between the characters? Unreal. I was constantly trying to figure out who to trust 👀
The atmosphere is rich, moody, and full of danger — everything I want in a romantasy. While the pacing dipped slightly in places, the story overall was gripping and addictive.
If you love cursed heroines, shadowy love interests, and high-stakes trials… this one’s for you ✨
March 27, 2026
This is everything a dark romantasy should be! Love triangle, deadly trials, and magic.
I loved how strong Azarha was admist everything she had to endure. Every year, 10 men compete for a chance to win her hand in marriage in this year something is different. This time she has a choice.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The plot twists kept twisting and I found myself rooting for each of the MMCs at different points of the book!!
Thank you CJ for the opportunity to be an ARC reader. These thoughts are my own.
I loved how strong Azarha was admist everything she had to endure. Every year, 10 men compete for a chance to win her hand in marriage in this year something is different. This time she has a choice.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The plot twists kept twisting and I found myself rooting for each of the MMCs at different points of the book!!
Thank you CJ for the opportunity to be an ARC reader. These thoughts are my own.
March 27, 2026
Thank you so much to CJ Holmes for an ARC of this book. I absolutely devoured this! Usually a love triangle annoys me, but this one kept me guessing! Azhara is a strong, brave FMC who feels deeply but isn’t allowed her own thoughts and ideas. Her power hungry father makes sure of this. The writing was beautifully descriptive with fabulous character development. I was left guessing who to trust throughout the story, and I felt for Azhara as she navigated the fight between her heart and her mind.
May 4, 2026
I think love triangle might be my new favorite trope! I loved this story and how you could feel the weight of Azhara’s choices and the men in her orbit did not make it easy! Thank you CJ Holmes for the ARC and to have me be a part of your team!
March 21, 2026
I LOVED this story!!! Seriously DEVOURED IT!!! I’m usually not one to enjoy love triangles but this one was done perfectly and I ate it up!!! I mean the way this all played out was great!! The twists! 🎤 drop!! I loved the trials it was all written so well! This was intriguing and captivating! Kept me invested the entire time! It is a slow burn but it was worth the wait!! The plot was amazing nothing like I’ve read before!! Seriously loved it!! Definitely recommend!!
April 25, 2026
ARC Review
📖 Labyrinthine
🖊️ C.J. Holmes @cjholmes_writing
Azhara - FMC
Darian + Mallen -MMC’s
First off I had to digest this book after I finished it. It was that good.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Besides the fact that there are two delicious MMC’s who gave me emotional whiplash. The star of the book was Azhara. She finds herself in a world of lies and men who want to control her. She finds her power and embraces who she is instead of being fearful of her strength.
This book was so well written and had me reading late into the night.
Releases on May 12, 2026.
Add now to your Goodreads TBR!
Especially if you like:
🔥Slow burn
🚺 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Deadly trials
🖤 Dark romantasy
📖 Labyrinthine
🖊️ C.J. Holmes @cjholmes_writing
Azhara - FMC
Darian + Mallen -MMC’s
First off I had to digest this book after I finished it. It was that good.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Besides the fact that there are two delicious MMC’s who gave me emotional whiplash. The star of the book was Azhara. She finds herself in a world of lies and men who want to control her. She finds her power and embraces who she is instead of being fearful of her strength.
This book was so well written and had me reading late into the night.
Releases on May 12, 2026.
Add now to your Goodreads TBR!
Especially if you like:
🔥Slow burn
🚺 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Deadly trials
🖤 Dark romantasy
April 6, 2026
“I would kneel for you a thousand times if it meant the world sees you as I do,” 🖤
WOW- this book absolutely sucked me in right off the gate and brought a lot of unique qualities to the whole ‘trials’ trope. I adored the love triangle and C.J. Holmes did such an incredible job having you feel torn between the 2 MMCS just as Azhara felt, I imagine. Who she chose BLEW ME AWAY and I was waiting till the last page for it to change; THAT’S the level of whiplash that I felt!! I really enjoyed being wrong in that aspect and the redemption arc for that character had was really touching. (trying to be somewhat spoiler free!)
Thank you so much to the Author and team for sending this ARC my way, I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the pages for Labyrinthine!
WOW- this book absolutely sucked me in right off the gate and brought a lot of unique qualities to the whole ‘trials’ trope. I adored the love triangle and C.J. Holmes did such an incredible job having you feel torn between the 2 MMCS just as Azhara felt, I imagine. Who she chose BLEW ME AWAY and I was waiting till the last page for it to change; THAT’S the level of whiplash that I felt!! I really enjoyed being wrong in that aspect and the redemption arc for that character had was really touching. (trying to be somewhat spoiler free!)
Thank you so much to the Author and team for sending this ARC my way, I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the pages for Labyrinthine!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
Holy intensity galore Batman!
This book definitely drew me right in. A story with Greek myth elements. It’s advertised as a retelling but I’m not sure I would quite agree in the sense that I think people would only recognize any tie to the myth because of a labyrinth and a monster within. Other than that, this story was its own!
We have an FMC whose evolution from a victim to victor is well written and so well done.
We have a love triangle done right!!! Two men you could make a case for her to be with either one.
This is an intense story that is dark and gritty. Don’t come to this if you want warm, cozy, and fuzzy. It’s not happening. But it’s a great book!
My only critique is that there were a few phrases that were used a lot. I’m not sure everyone will notice but it do start to take away some of the experience for me. However, this book was really good otherwise!
This book definitely drew me right in. A story with Greek myth elements. It’s advertised as a retelling but I’m not sure I would quite agree in the sense that I think people would only recognize any tie to the myth because of a labyrinth and a monster within. Other than that, this story was its own!
We have an FMC whose evolution from a victim to victor is well written and so well done.
We have a love triangle done right!!! Two men you could make a case for her to be with either one.
This is an intense story that is dark and gritty. Don’t come to this if you want warm, cozy, and fuzzy. It’s not happening. But it’s a great book!
My only critique is that there were a few phrases that were used a lot. I’m not sure everyone will notice but it do start to take away some of the experience for me. However, this book was really good otherwise!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
This book was fantastic! I’ve been in a romantasy slump for a while since a very popular book totally let me down. Labyrinthine has cured my slump.
Will I recommend this book?
Yes
Yes
Absolutely yes!
The use of language in Labyrinthine is incredible! You can definitely tell that CJ puts a great deal of thought into it. She writes beautifully and purposefully but (thankfully) not too flowery.
I absolutely loved the fierce FMC, Azhara. Her character arc was wonderful to see. This book begins with Azhara being controlled by the men in her life and ends with Azhara taking her power back and making decisions for herself. Go girl!
All three MCs are well-developed. I was emotionally invested with all of them. I alternately loved and hated the two MMCs, but I cheered for them both as they fought their own battles—physical and otherwise.
The love triangle was done so well! For much of the book, I didn’t know who Azhara would choose. I couldn’t choose either. I switched back and forth between the two MMCs as I was reading Labyrinthine and made my final decision at the end along with Azhara. Did we make the same choice? Maybe.
The ending!
I could write a whole separate review about the amazing ending. It had me kicking my feet and made my heart so happy! I loved it so much!
Will I recommend this book?
Yes
Yes
Absolutely yes!
The use of language in Labyrinthine is incredible! You can definitely tell that CJ puts a great deal of thought into it. She writes beautifully and purposefully but (thankfully) not too flowery.
I absolutely loved the fierce FMC, Azhara. Her character arc was wonderful to see. This book begins with Azhara being controlled by the men in her life and ends with Azhara taking her power back and making decisions for herself. Go girl!
All three MCs are well-developed. I was emotionally invested with all of them. I alternately loved and hated the two MMCs, but I cheered for them both as they fought their own battles—physical and otherwise.
The love triangle was done so well! For much of the book, I didn’t know who Azhara would choose. I couldn’t choose either. I switched back and forth between the two MMCs as I was reading Labyrinthine and made my final decision at the end along with Azhara. Did we make the same choice? Maybe.
The ending!
I could write a whole separate review about the amazing ending. It had me kicking my feet and made my heart so happy! I loved it so much!
March 21, 2026
I personally was not able to connect to this story or characters in a meaningful way but I am choosing to rate and write my review on things I think other readers will enjoy. There is a love triangle in this story that keeps you guessing. I went back and forth on who I thought the MFC should end up with. I also liked Azhara.
Why I struggled to connect? It was the cadence of the writing. “Not a spell, not a force, a hunger” or “Not a promise. A certainty. A warning”. I felt there was an over use of these types of sentences in this book. I understand what the author was trying to do with these, but I found there were so many of them that it became distracting. To me the characters and story got buried underneath.
Why I struggled to connect? It was the cadence of the writing. “Not a spell, not a force, a hunger” or “Not a promise. A certainty. A warning”. I felt there was an over use of these types of sentences in this book. I understand what the author was trying to do with these, but I found there were so many of them that it became distracting. To me the characters and story got buried underneath.
March 28, 2026
Wow! Getting lost in this labyrinth of a story was worth that ending! Mallen has some red flags not gonna lie but he’s soo sexy and just a man built by a terrible king. Darian is the pompous prince and kinda sweet. Azhara though, she is the one to watch. Strong, resilient, and tangled between why choice she should make. You have to read this to see who she chooses! CJ does an excellent job of story telling here. It was hard to put this down. The spice is just one 🌶️ but it’s the perfect amount. 5 stars!!
March 31, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! The twist with Mallens magic was unexpected and really locked me in to loving him again. This FMC story takes “finding herself” to a whole new level!! I really enjoyed the storyline and loved the “love triangle” throughout the story!!
April 17, 2026
Review of advanced copy.
3.5 stars - Labyrinthine felt like stepping into a maze made of words — beautifully written - incredibly descriptive and intricate - making every scene feel vivid, alive and the world feel real.
At its heart, this story is about choices — impossible ones — woven through trials that constantly push the FMC to her limits. And the growth? So satisfying. Watching her change, struggle, and become stronger was easily my favourite part.
The love triangle adds delicious tension and intrigue. Leaving you guessing what choice she will make! Raw emotion, a ‘touch her and die’ energy and feelings hidden between lies and deception.
An incredible read and one I would definitely recommend!
-love triangle ❤️
-trials ⚔️
-morally grey MMC’s
-fierce FMC
-blood curses 🩸
3.5 stars - Labyrinthine felt like stepping into a maze made of words — beautifully written - incredibly descriptive and intricate - making every scene feel vivid, alive and the world feel real.
At its heart, this story is about choices — impossible ones — woven through trials that constantly push the FMC to her limits. And the growth? So satisfying. Watching her change, struggle, and become stronger was easily my favourite part.
The love triangle adds delicious tension and intrigue. Leaving you guessing what choice she will make! Raw emotion, a ‘touch her and die’ energy and feelings hidden between lies and deception.
An incredible read and one I would definitely recommend!
-love triangle ❤️
-trials ⚔️
-morally grey MMC’s
-fierce FMC
-blood curses 🩸
May 4, 2026
Princess Azhara is on the run. She’s trying to escape her past, future and present. Azhara was born with a magic curse, this magic has the ability to destroy her kingdom or destroy another. She’s tired of living year after year watching men sacrifice themselves in the Labyrinth for a chance at her hand (a chance to obtain her magic). She’s tired of being blamed for her Mother’s death and being a disappointment to her father. This year is another year of reaping, another year of unnecessary loss of life for a chance at her power. Azhara has decided the best way to save everyone, including herself, is to just leave.
This is a romance/suspense read with lots of moving parts. The FMC finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, and no matter what decision she makes someone/something will either be shattered or wind up dead. Themes explored in this book include: self-discovery, self-worth, politics, love, court intrigue, betrayal, jealousy, family guilt, and much more. Our FMC must learn to navigate all parts of her life and determine what is important to her, including who she is and who she wants to be.
This was an enjoyable read, with a unique magic system concept and an interesting FMC. Watching her grow and becoming sure of herself was the highlight of the book for me.
Thank you to Victory Editing, City Owl Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.
This is a romance/suspense read with lots of moving parts. The FMC finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, and no matter what decision she makes someone/something will either be shattered or wind up dead. Themes explored in this book include: self-discovery, self-worth, politics, love, court intrigue, betrayal, jealousy, family guilt, and much more. Our FMC must learn to navigate all parts of her life and determine what is important to her, including who she is and who she wants to be.
This was an enjoyable read, with a unique magic system concept and an interesting FMC. Watching her grow and becoming sure of herself was the highlight of the book for me.
Thank you to Victory Editing, City Owl Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.
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