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Freed Kingfisher
The thrilling second book in the Slave-Soldier Series by R. Laham.
The rebellion won them freedom. The war for survival has only begun.
The Manzakar Rebellion has ended. The chains are broken. But freedom is fragile.
In the aftermath, the kingdom of Anzor teeters on the edge of collapse, its throne mired in intrigue and its people divided. Once slave-soldiers, Tikran, Coxani, and their brothers must carve out a place in a world that still sees them as outsiders.
Beyond Anzor’s borders, the rival kingdom of Dilovar shatters its truce, driving east into Gohar to hunt nomads and seize their magic—the fabled Essence.
As Tikran is pulled into a deadly web of betrayal and court politics, Coxani journeys into Gohar to unite its scattered tribes for the coming war. Empires are stirring, gods are watching, and the fate of a people hangs in the balance.
Tikran swore the Gohari would be free. Now he must decide what price he is willing to pay to keep that promise.
* Content Warnings: Profanity, violence, torture, pregnancy, rape (off page), death (humans and animals), sexual situations
The rebellion won them freedom. The war for survival has only begun.
The Manzakar Rebellion has ended. The chains are broken. But freedom is fragile.
In the aftermath, the kingdom of Anzor teeters on the edge of collapse, its throne mired in intrigue and its people divided. Once slave-soldiers, Tikran, Coxani, and their brothers must carve out a place in a world that still sees them as outsiders.
Beyond Anzor’s borders, the rival kingdom of Dilovar shatters its truce, driving east into Gohar to hunt nomads and seize their magic—the fabled Essence.
As Tikran is pulled into a deadly web of betrayal and court politics, Coxani journeys into Gohar to unite its scattered tribes for the coming war. Empires are stirring, gods are watching, and the fate of a people hangs in the balance.
Tikran swore the Gohari would be free. Now he must decide what price he is willing to pay to keep that promise.
* Content Warnings: Profanity, violence, torture, pregnancy, rape (off page), death (humans and animals), sexual situations
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
1 person want to read
About the author
R. Laham
3 books16 followersI've done everything under the sun—I have a BA in archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania, a law degree from the University from Houston, and have worked as a graphic artist, romance editor, writer, UX designer, frontend developer... the list actually goes on. Yet through all these endeavors, I've always known my true calling was storytelling. I'm a huge nerd and draw my inspiration from actual history and RPGs, particularly video games (Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Horizon, Dark Souls...). I write "approachable" fantasy that is meant to be an escape from all of our real-world trials and tribulations while subtly (and not-so-subtly) challenging the status quo.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 28, 2025
Wow what a ride! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are looking for a Fantasy that grabs you by the throat and gives you a darn good shake, Freed Kingfisher is it!
First off, please be aware that this book is part of a series (The Slave Soldier Series) and this is book 2. We are slap bang in the middle of an epic fantasy series, picking up where book 1 left off, and finishing book 2 with plenty of political/plot/romantic threads left unresolved (but with hints!) As fitting for a series! Just be aware of that going in. You will need to be prepared to wait for the next book (3) for some resolutions.
Yes you probably do need to read book 1 (Manzakar) first, though I wouldn't say it's absolutely necessary. It would certainly help to give background on most of the characters of Freed Kingfisher though! And since they are fun characters in an interesting world, this is win/win when you get more of them, so i would recommend reading Manzakar first.
Freed Kingfisher dives straight into the story from Manzakar, picking up only 10 months after Manzakar left off, so we are right back in it with the cast, namely Tikran (sorry! King Tikran now!), Coxani, Naran, Haydar, and over in Dilovar, Damir.
We meet our old favourites. We meet brand new characters (loving Tanith!)
And there are lots of romantic and sexual entanglements that are exciting and keep the story engaging.
The battles in Freed Kingfisher
are more brutal than in Manzakar, and Berk ups the ante because of his power.
Everyone is coming for the occupied land of Gohar, as it has to fend off all these different kingdoms and would-be invaders. I enjoyed seeing more of the tribes this time (the beads!!), with both old and new characters however briefly they may be alive for 🫠 lol
Nobody is safe. It's getting very GoT around here!
Laham is a skilled storyteller who will make you care and wail about what happens to all these characters as they experience anguish, occupation, war, and find love in between.
For Fantasy fans who want their hearts wrenched out! ❤️🔥 And I hope my heart will be put back together in book 3!
*I received a free arc of Freed Kingfisher on Booksprout, and this is my honest review!
If you are looking for a Fantasy that grabs you by the throat and gives you a darn good shake, Freed Kingfisher is it!
First off, please be aware that this book is part of a series (The Slave Soldier Series) and this is book 2. We are slap bang in the middle of an epic fantasy series, picking up where book 1 left off, and finishing book 2 with plenty of political/plot/romantic threads left unresolved (but with hints!) As fitting for a series! Just be aware of that going in. You will need to be prepared to wait for the next book (3) for some resolutions.
Yes you probably do need to read book 1 (Manzakar) first, though I wouldn't say it's absolutely necessary. It would certainly help to give background on most of the characters of Freed Kingfisher though! And since they are fun characters in an interesting world, this is win/win when you get more of them, so i would recommend reading Manzakar first.
Freed Kingfisher dives straight into the story from Manzakar, picking up only 10 months after Manzakar left off, so we are right back in it with the cast, namely Tikran (sorry! King Tikran now!), Coxani, Naran, Haydar, and over in Dilovar, Damir.
We meet our old favourites. We meet brand new characters (loving Tanith!)
And there are lots of romantic and sexual entanglements that are exciting and keep the story engaging.
The battles in Freed Kingfisher
are more brutal than in Manzakar, and Berk ups the ante because of his power.
Everyone is coming for the occupied land of Gohar, as it has to fend off all these different kingdoms and would-be invaders. I enjoyed seeing more of the tribes this time (the beads!!), with both old and new characters however briefly they may be alive for 🫠 lol
Nobody is safe. It's getting very GoT around here!
Laham is a skilled storyteller who will make you care and wail about what happens to all these characters as they experience anguish, occupation, war, and find love in between.
For Fantasy fans who want their hearts wrenched out! ❤️🔥 And I hope my heart will be put back together in book 3!
*I received a free arc of Freed Kingfisher on Booksprout, and this is my honest review!
October 23, 2025
3.5/5 stars
This sequel broadens the scope beautifully, expanding the world-building and political intrigue while deepening the philosophical questions that made the first book so fascinating.
I still really enjoyed this story. The themes continue to be some of its strongest points, and the exploration of what “freedom” actually looks like after oppression feels especially powerful. Tikran and Coxani remain compelling leads, and the author does a great job showing how fractured loyalty and hope can become when peace feels just as dangerous as war.
But where the first book hooked me with its slower, more character-driven pacing, this one stumbled a bit for me emotionally. The relationships felt shallow; partners switching constantly, often without ANY real communication or emotional grounding. I love that the story includes pansexual representation, but I struggle with how it’s depicted here. Fluidity doesn’t have to mean chaos, and I wish these connections had more depth and conversation behind them.
Still, the writing feels more confident this time around, and the expanded lore and sense of rising tension make for an interesting sequel. This series continues to handle big, complex ideas (colonialism, liberation, and the cost of survival) with sincerity and ambition. It’s not perfect, but it is bold, and I respect the way it refuses to make any of this easy.
Thank you to booksprout and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This sequel broadens the scope beautifully, expanding the world-building and political intrigue while deepening the philosophical questions that made the first book so fascinating.
I still really enjoyed this story. The themes continue to be some of its strongest points, and the exploration of what “freedom” actually looks like after oppression feels especially powerful. Tikran and Coxani remain compelling leads, and the author does a great job showing how fractured loyalty and hope can become when peace feels just as dangerous as war.
But where the first book hooked me with its slower, more character-driven pacing, this one stumbled a bit for me emotionally. The relationships felt shallow; partners switching constantly, often without ANY real communication or emotional grounding. I love that the story includes pansexual representation, but I struggle with how it’s depicted here. Fluidity doesn’t have to mean chaos, and I wish these connections had more depth and conversation behind them.
Still, the writing feels more confident this time around, and the expanded lore and sense of rising tension make for an interesting sequel. This series continues to handle big, complex ideas (colonialism, liberation, and the cost of survival) with sincerity and ambition. It’s not perfect, but it is bold, and I respect the way it refuses to make any of this easy.
Thank you to booksprout and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
October 6, 2025
3.5
In the sequel to Manzakar, our characters find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Tikran is stuck trying to balance his desire to liberate Gohar with the demands of the Anzori nobility while Naran and Coxani's relationship is tested. When Coxani heads out to Gohar, it becomes clear that something is amiss. At the same time Damir unexpectedly finds himself an apprentice.
The first half of the book focused on the politics but also the personal relationships, unfortunately I did not like this part as much. Not saying its bad but it just was not as compelling, hence the 3.5 stars. However, the second half really does pick up and becomes more engaging with lots of heartbreaking moments. I enjoyed the continued exploration of the magic system and the Gohari culture. My favorite chapters were from Coxani's POV, she meets lots of fun characters but also goes through some crazy shit. The new characters were great, Tanith,Omid and Ayym stood out to me. Berk on the other hand was a bit frustrating to follow but after the ending I really want to see how he turns out. Also the way he was written made me think he was younger until his age was revealed. Although we did not see much of it the doomed old man romance held my heart 3
I was able to read this work for free thanks to the author
In the sequel to Manzakar, our characters find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Tikran is stuck trying to balance his desire to liberate Gohar with the demands of the Anzori nobility while Naran and Coxani's relationship is tested. When Coxani heads out to Gohar, it becomes clear that something is amiss. At the same time Damir unexpectedly finds himself an apprentice.
The first half of the book focused on the politics but also the personal relationships, unfortunately I did not like this part as much. Not saying its bad but it just was not as compelling, hence the 3.5 stars. However, the second half really does pick up and becomes more engaging with lots of heartbreaking moments. I enjoyed the continued exploration of the magic system and the Gohari culture. My favorite chapters were from Coxani's POV, she meets lots of fun characters but also goes through some crazy shit. The new characters were great, Tanith,Omid and Ayym stood out to me. Berk on the other hand was a bit frustrating to follow but after the ending I really want to see how he turns out. Also the way he was written made me think he was younger until his age was revealed. Although we did not see much of it the doomed old man romance held my heart 3
I was able to read this work for free thanks to the author
October 22, 2025
The first book I noted in my review that my biggest flaw is that I felt the author could have done more. I wanted more of the world, more of the characters, and more time within the setting.
Freed Kingfisher is all the more I could ever wanted or imagined!
Having the ability to work with what was established in the first book, the sequel is able to jump into a far more complex and more richly textured story. While the first book clearly had alot on its mind when it comes to politics and history - This book has added complications and layers. It is not a plain moralistic tale where it establishes right and wrong with naive clarity. Instead the author understands people, war, and culture are never so clear cut. The end result is something that engaged me on all levels.
If you enjoyed the first book, then you owe it to yourself to read this one.
Freed Kingfisher is all the more I could ever wanted or imagined!
Having the ability to work with what was established in the first book, the sequel is able to jump into a far more complex and more richly textured story. While the first book clearly had alot on its mind when it comes to politics and history - This book has added complications and layers. It is not a plain moralistic tale where it establishes right and wrong with naive clarity. Instead the author understands people, war, and culture are never so clear cut. The end result is something that engaged me on all levels.
If you enjoyed the first book, then you owe it to yourself to read this one.
September 27, 2025
I enjoyed the first book immensely and I'll be honest I wasn't sure how the second book would compare, however I liked the second book Freed Kingfisher even more.
I loved seeing the characters again all slightly older and having to truly think for themselves for the first time now they are free. Every character has their own trials and politics to manoeuvre while also dealing with their own personal desires. It's fantastic writing especially for a new author.
Lots of politics, battles and heart. Lots of love and passion both queer and straight. Plus some twists and turns that I didn't expect. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved seeing the characters again all slightly older and having to truly think for themselves for the first time now they are free. Every character has their own trials and politics to manoeuvre while also dealing with their own personal desires. It's fantastic writing especially for a new author.
Lots of politics, battles and heart. Lots of love and passion both queer and straight. Plus some twists and turns that I didn't expect. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 1, 2025
This book was everything I wanted in a sequel. Tikran, Coxani and Naran went through so much in the first book, but that was just the beginning. Their lives have only got more complicated, but it was wonderful to see them grow and develop in this book.
The book starts with a lot of politics, but soon ramps up the excitement as the action picks up.
There is war, love and heartbreak throughout.
I really loved how the Gohari culture was explored further. I might have to start wearing beads in my hair just incase I feel the need to give one away ;).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book starts with a lot of politics, but soon ramps up the excitement as the action picks up.
There is war, love and heartbreak throughout.
I really loved how the Gohari culture was explored further. I might have to start wearing beads in my hair just incase I feel the need to give one away ;).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews