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The Second Son Saga #1
Born to Rule: Rise of a Second Son 1
The Heir and the Spare.
I wasn’t born to rule. I’m the king’s second son, the spare that won’t inherit any real power. Despite my fate, I’ve always felt like I was destined for more.
When a surprise journey to the elvish kingdom of Hamelin puts me in the crosshairs of scheming nobles, magical talismans, brutal orc hybrids, and ruthless brigands, I finally have the chance to prove myself.
I won’t be facing it alone. With Fiona, my fierce yet adorably clumsy childhood friend, and Scarlett, my dangerously beautiful maid, I’ll show them all why a second son deserves to be feared.
Because the power I’m building won’t just change me. It will change the world.
I wasn’t born to rule. I’m the king’s second son, the spare that won’t inherit any real power. Despite my fate, I’ve always felt like I was destined for more.
When a surprise journey to the elvish kingdom of Hamelin puts me in the crosshairs of scheming nobles, magical talismans, brutal orc hybrids, and ruthless brigands, I finally have the chance to prove myself.
I won’t be facing it alone. With Fiona, my fierce yet adorably clumsy childhood friend, and Scarlett, my dangerously beautiful maid, I’ll show them all why a second son deserves to be feared.
Because the power I’m building won’t just change me. It will change the world.
576 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2025
202 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Shane Hammond
38 books61 followersHey there! I'm Shane, and I love writing fantasy. I've been reading fantasy all my life, and I've always wanted the chance to tell the stories that I wanted to share. So here I am! With my stories, you can expect a fleshed-out and detailed world full of interesting characters that you can't help but root for. Thanks for checking me out, and I hope you enjoy my work!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 2, 2025
Great first book!
This is one of those first books that makes you think “this should totally have like 8-10 books and I would read every one of them”. Loved the characters and the plot. The interactions between characters is well written and genuine feeling. Can’t wait to read several more books in this series!
This is one of those first books that makes you think “this should totally have like 8-10 books and I would read every one of them”. Loved the characters and the plot. The interactions between characters is well written and genuine feeling. Can’t wait to read several more books in this series!
December 23, 2025
This book turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure, since one of the MC's lovers is his maid, which is a trope I frown upon, but it really worked well.
The MC is the second son of a king, jokingly referring to himself as a "spare". He already has the maid as a lover as the book begins, which I don't like the pre-existing lover bit, much less her being a maid to a prince. But her personality worked well as the first in the harem. The MC is informed by his father that he is being sent to another country to take on an elven princess as a wife. He's not thrilled about it, but he knows his duty, so off he goes on adventure.
The maid, as I said, had a good personality for the first harem member. The second LI is a childhood friend of the MC that has a bigtime crush on him. She can wield a sword, so she accompanies them on the journey to the elven lands, and eventually becomes a lover as well. Her romance plays out nicely along the way, with it unfolding at a reasonable pace. The elven princess is not a lover, having asked the MC to not honor the engagement, which he agrees to.
There is a hefty amount of intrigue going on for the continent. It's not quite Game of Thrones, but there are lots of machinations and betrayals afoot. It shall be interesting to see what the plot of book 2 brings.
The MC is the second son of a king, jokingly referring to himself as a "spare". He already has the maid as a lover as the book begins, which I don't like the pre-existing lover bit, much less her being a maid to a prince. But her personality worked well as the first in the harem. The MC is informed by his father that he is being sent to another country to take on an elven princess as a wife. He's not thrilled about it, but he knows his duty, so off he goes on adventure.
The maid, as I said, had a good personality for the first harem member. The second LI is a childhood friend of the MC that has a bigtime crush on him. She can wield a sword, so she accompanies them on the journey to the elven lands, and eventually becomes a lover as well. Her romance plays out nicely along the way, with it unfolding at a reasonable pace. The elven princess is not a lover, having asked the MC to not honor the engagement, which he agrees to.
There is a hefty amount of intrigue going on for the continent. It's not quite Game of Thrones, but there are lots of machinations and betrayals afoot. It shall be interesting to see what the plot of book 2 brings.
December 18, 2025
Well written
First, let me say this is a great book. The spice is lighthearted, but MEANS something. It’s not just a string of conquests with COOKIE CUTTER female bodies. Sure, Scarlett is a sex bomb, but that’s her THING. Fiona is most definitely NOT. I hope she is allowed to be her tomboy self as the story unwinds.
That said, the grammatical errors were pretty bad. I never understood why authors don’t pay a reader a couple hundred to proofread. I mean, I ( or whomever) is gonna read it anyway, so why not take a little time to make notes? But then, I know nothing of how publishing works.
There were also a few plot errors. Directions of the compass, statements by a character contradicting themselves, etc..
There were a few others, but none of them distracted me enough to stop me from grabbing book two ASAP!
First, let me say this is a great book. The spice is lighthearted, but MEANS something. It’s not just a string of conquests with COOKIE CUTTER female bodies. Sure, Scarlett is a sex bomb, but that’s her THING. Fiona is most definitely NOT. I hope she is allowed to be her tomboy self as the story unwinds.
That said, the grammatical errors were pretty bad. I never understood why authors don’t pay a reader a couple hundred to proofread. I mean, I ( or whomever) is gonna read it anyway, so why not take a little time to make notes? But then, I know nothing of how publishing works.
There were also a few plot errors. Directions of the compass, statements by a character contradicting themselves, etc..
There were a few others, but none of them distracted me enough to stop me from grabbing book two ASAP!
December 31, 2025
High Fantasy Harem
A lot of this story reminded me of "How A Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom" and "The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt". This story is different although some commonality. There is a lot of humor as well as intense action.
It's really a great story with amazing characters and flows quite well. I am really looking forward to the next book.
Sometimes there were some problems with pronoun and word structure that seemed like it needed another round of editing. For example "with our"instead of "without".
A lot of this story reminded me of "How A Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom" and "The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt". This story is different although some commonality. There is a lot of humor as well as intense action.
It's really a great story with amazing characters and flows quite well. I am really looking forward to the next book.
Sometimes there were some problems with pronoun and word structure that seemed like it needed another round of editing. For example "with our"instead of "without".
October 30, 2025
*Loud snoring ensues*
This book was really boring. Really only about the last 10% or so of the book was remotely interesting, while the rest was filler. It was even much world building, just little kernels of story interspersed with filler.
I love to read, I usually will plow through a book in a day if I really like it. This one took me like 3-4 days to finish because it was so boring I kept putting it down to vacuum the floors or something more interesting….
This book was really boring. Really only about the last 10% or so of the book was remotely interesting, while the rest was filler. It was even much world building, just little kernels of story interspersed with filler.
I love to read, I usually will plow through a book in a day if I really like it. This one took me like 3-4 days to finish because it was so boring I kept putting it down to vacuum the floors or something more interesting….
October 6, 2025
Another banger from Shane
Shane's books never disappoint me (except when a series ends) I love every book I've ever read of his and this one is no exception. Fantastic characters and I love to see some kingdom building and some political intrigue. I'm am absolutely loving the way the story is going and hopefully we don't have to wait long for the next one.
Shane's books never disappoint me (except when a series ends) I love every book I've ever read of his and this one is no exception. Fantastic characters and I love to see some kingdom building and some political intrigue. I'm am absolutely loving the way the story is going and hopefully we don't have to wait long for the next one.
October 31, 2025
An incredible beginning to this new series!
As always the world building and characters are absolutely fantastic!!! A wonderful mix of slice of life blended into a powerfully enticing adventure!!! I can't wait to find out who wants the MC dead and what wonderful ladies join his growing family!!!!
As always the world building and characters are absolutely fantastic!!! A wonderful mix of slice of life blended into a powerfully enticing adventure!!! I can't wait to find out who wants the MC dead and what wonderful ladies join his growing family!!!!
October 14, 2025
Good, but not in the way I was expecting
For Haremlit, it was ok. The two main love interests were kind of boring. As an adventure fantasy novel, I enjoyed it. Good world-building and great political machinations. While reading I actually wished for more story and less sex.
For Haremlit, it was ok. The two main love interests were kind of boring. As an adventure fantasy novel, I enjoyed it. Good world-building and great political machinations. While reading I actually wished for more story and less sex.
October 15, 2025
More
Well i liked the story from the first ch
apter, and till the end. The book was well written and flowed nicely and and never a dull moment. The next book will be soon I hope
Well i liked the story from the first ch
apter, and till the end. The book was well written and flowed nicely and and never a dull moment. The next book will be soon I hope
October 19, 2025
Longer and slower paced than most of this genre—and I think this author in past? But feels 5 stars to me—fun and well written. He seems to be fully committing to character development and an epic series…
December 12, 2025
Exciting!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and engaging. The story and characters were incredibly interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. This book is definitely worth checking out.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun and engaging. The story and characters were incredibly interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. This book is definitely worth checking out.
December 24, 2025
INFURIATING!!!!!!
I loved this book, amazing story and character development. Just the right amount of levity, spice, and gore. Though I will not lie, I fell for this book so hard that the ending just ticks me right the heck off!!! I mean come on!!!
I loved this book, amazing story and character development. Just the right amount of levity, spice, and gore. Though I will not lie, I fell for this book so hard that the ending just ticks me right the heck off!!! I mean come on!!!
October 6, 2025
Very good book
This is a fine fantasy harem adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the maid. I want to read the author's next book.
This is a fine fantasy harem adventure novel. It is well written and edited. I especially like the maid. I want to read the author's next book.
October 7, 2025
you get a real good feel for the characters, a good story that draws you in. looking forward to the next book
October 8, 2025
Great characters, cool setting, fun plot. A lot happened that made me very nervous but it ended well and I can't wait to read the next one.
October 25, 2025
One of the first harem books i've read so far with a good political structure and story focused book. I really enjoyed it very much and looking forward for the next one.
December 4, 2025
Outstanding
One of the best books I have read in a long time. I could not put it down.
Great story, loveable characters! More please 🙏
One of the best books I have read in a long time. I could not put it down.
Great story, loveable characters! More please 🙏
December 9, 2025
Common fantasy tropes, narrow-minded and selfish MC. Basically hero porn and the plot is just to justify his harem. Nothing more nothing less.
December 19, 2025
Great read
Good story and well thought out. Good character development and great pace.
Fully enjoyed this book and will read the rest of the series.
Good story and well thought out. Good character development and great pace.
Fully enjoyed this book and will read the rest of the series.
December 22, 2025
Great book
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
November 3, 2025
He wasn't a very interesting character, and he seemed a bit too well-off and pleased with himself to really root for him as an underdog. "How hard it is to have a harem, but not be officially allowed to call it a harem!" Yeah my heart goes out to you. Hope you sleep well on your giant bed made of money.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews