What do you think?
Rate this book
Cadence of the Fallen #2
A Ballad for the Broken
Lyra is gone. Draven is desperate. Bathara must rebuild in the ashes of its ruin.
Upon awakening in a foreign place she does not recognize, Lyra Izacalli faces the cold reality of her capture, demanding answers she does not easily receive—the ways of the world slowly shifting beneath her feet as everything she thought she knew is tested through her new surroundings.
Draven Dalmar searches tirelessly to bring Lyra home. Yet it seems every force in existence is working against him. Defeated yet not losing hope, he is forced to maneuver through a series of choices that could change everything as he knows it, soon learning the cost of Lyra’s freedom may just be his very own chains.
All the while, shifting circumstances bring some relationships closer together—despite tearing others apart. Secrets emerge from the forgotten shadows. Cruel games are played. And betrayal stains the horizon. Yet through it all, one thing remains true…
A girl who refuses to be a pawn does not simply lie down and give in.
She fights back.
A Ballad for the Broken is the second book in the richly imaginative Cadence of the Fallen series, perfect for fans of complex characters, political intrigue, found family, and sweeping romance.
Upon awakening in a foreign place she does not recognize, Lyra Izacalli faces the cold reality of her capture, demanding answers she does not easily receive—the ways of the world slowly shifting beneath her feet as everything she thought she knew is tested through her new surroundings.
Draven Dalmar searches tirelessly to bring Lyra home. Yet it seems every force in existence is working against him. Defeated yet not losing hope, he is forced to maneuver through a series of choices that could change everything as he knows it, soon learning the cost of Lyra’s freedom may just be his very own chains.
All the while, shifting circumstances bring some relationships closer together—despite tearing others apart. Secrets emerge from the forgotten shadows. Cruel games are played. And betrayal stains the horizon. Yet through it all, one thing remains true…
A girl who refuses to be a pawn does not simply lie down and give in.
She fights back.
A Ballad for the Broken is the second book in the richly imaginative Cadence of the Fallen series, perfect for fans of complex characters, political intrigue, found family, and sweeping romance.
694 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2026
About the author
Hazel S. Wilkes
5 books434 followersHazel is simply a lover of words and stories, overflowing with made-up worlds, scenarios, and characters. Ever since she was just a small girl, climbing out of her bedroom window to read on the roof under the stars with her trusted book light in hand (sorry, Mom), she has been enchanted by stories and the art of storytelling.
Hazel lives in Texas with her equally nerdy fiancé, her fluffy dog-child (who's named after a character from the novel that first truly revealed the beauty in crafting words to her), and the two sweetest cats a pet mom could hope for. Aside from writing, she enjoys playing and coaching sports, watching anime, spending time with her family, and discussing books with her bookish besties.
Hazel lives in Texas with her equally nerdy fiancé, her fluffy dog-child (who's named after a character from the novel that first truly revealed the beauty in crafting words to her), and the two sweetest cats a pet mom could hope for. Aside from writing, she enjoys playing and coaching sports, watching anime, spending time with her family, and discussing books with her bookish besties.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 572 reviews
July 15, 2026
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ✦ . ⁺ . 2.9 - 3.1 ☆ . ⁺ . ✦
ㅤ ㅤ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
ㅤ Oh, there is nothing sadder than watching another series fall victim to the dreaded "second-book curse". And this one definitely did.
ㅤ I can absolutely see what the author was trying to achieve, and honestly, she came so close to pulling it off. But then she decided to throw in this vague, creepy excuse for a love triangle, and it completely derailed the book for me. Pair that with the very uneven pacing, and you have the perfect recipe for taking a book that could have been genuinely amazing and making it far more frustrating than it ever needed to be.
ㅤ ㅤ “Why must men make playgrounds of continents so they can feel powerful? Why must they stomp on the backs of the vulnerable so they can stand a little taller?”
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I will start with the good part. Contrary to what seems to be the general opinion, I actually LOVED the multiple POVs. Despite there being quite a few of them, and despite it being a complete shift from the single POV of the first book, I genuinely enjoyed getting inside the heads of the other characters and watching their individual stories (or, more accurately, their love stories) unfold.
ㅤ And if I'm being completely honest, my enjoyment of those POVs is one of the main reasons this book even managed to earn 3 stars from me. Otherwise... this would have very comfortably been a 2-star read.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ Now, onto the bad things. I really need authors to stop acting as if the only way to create drama is by throwing in a love triangle. And I'm not even sure I can call...whatever this was...a love triangle. It was some vague, awkward, and occasionally downright creepy something that I genuinely couldn't wrap my head around.
ㅤ All I know is that, because of it, every time I reached a chapter from Lyra's POV, I sighed because I already knew it was about to annoy me again. And the worst part? She's the goddamn FMC.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I think what made me dislike this entire situation even more was how passive Lyra felt throughout the book. I completely understand that she wasn't exactly in a position where she had many choices, but... girl??? Do something. Anything. At least scream, throw a chair, bite someone, act like you're actually bothered by what's happening. Instead, it felt like she gradually just... accepted everything? And at one point even seemed weirdly okay with it?
ㅤ Respectfully, call a psychiatrist, love. That's not romance. That's Stockholm syndrome.
ㅤ Safe to say this was a badly executed kindapping trope or whatever.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ And while we're here, let's also talk about the other half of this catastrophe: Cassimir. Buckle up, cause a RANT is coming.
ㅤ I enuinely do not understand where all the "he should also be her love interest" comments are coming from, because this man had all the charisma of a rusty fence post. At one point, I was seriously wondering if I had somehow picked up a different book than everyone else. He wasn't some fascinating tortured soul. His motivations were so weak and he acted so annoyingly that they only made me wish for him to suffer more actually.
ㅤ None of the way he treated the FMC felt justifiable. He spent months completely ignoring everything she wanted, and then suddenly we're supposed to forgive it all because he suddenly pulls "I am just trying to do something nice for you" card? Absolutely not. If a man repeatedly ignores my wishes, I'm not going to swoon the moment he decides to do one vaguely considerate thing. That manipulation does not work on me.
ㅤ Please, don't sell me a "Beauty and the Beast" dynamic if your Beast ends up feeling like Tamlin 2.0.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I hate when a book makes me feel like one character loves more than the other, and unfortunately, this happened here way too often. All because we apparently needed some extra drama, which obviously meant bringing back the illusion of a love triangle.
ㅤ I constantly felt like Draven loved Lyra far more than she loved him. After everything he sacrificed, watching her first reaction be to blame him instead of trying to understand him was honestly frustrating. Especially when her own actions were not exactly innocent either; it was all quite hypocritical.
ㅤ Meanwhile, she somehow kept remembering Draven only when the plot reminded her she was supposed to, while spending far too much time admiring Cassimir. Sorry, but Draven deserves better.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ There are plenty of times when a spectacular ending completely saves a book for me. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of them. Don't get me wrong, the last 20% was objectively AMAZING. It was everything I had been waiting for. But I had already spent so much of the book feeling disappointed and frustrated that, by the time it finally picked up, the damage had already been done.
ㅤ So yes, even with that quite incredible ending, I just couldn't justify giving it more than 3 stars....and even those are awarded with mercy 💀
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ⊹ Lyra — I am genuinely confused about what happened to her character after the first book. She was heading toward such an interesting development, and then book two arrived and everything seemed to crumble. Instead of actually showing her growth, the book mostly just tells us about it, as if all the important progress happened somewhere off-page. The strange pacing definitely did not help, and by the end she suddenly reaches this powerful level without us really getting to experience that journey.
ㅤ Also, this girl owes Draven a lot of grovelling. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I already know that won't happen.
ㅤ ⊹ Draven — This man was so insanely down bad that, at one point, I was genuinely annoyed. My guy, PLEASE. GET UPPPPP. That girl was not worth half the sacrifices he made for her. He is the absolute definition of self-sacrifice; no matter what happens, you can always count on him to put everyone else before himself.
ㅤ After knowing his full story from the novella? My heart was already broken for him, and this book just kept adding more damage. Also, can we talk about the fact that this man has the heart and mouth of a poet? Please. A tortured, sometimes cruel, self-sacrificing poet. How am I supposed to survive that? 🫠🫠
ㅤ ⊹ Cassimir — I really don't want to hate him, I swear. He just gives me all the reasons to. But I guess we'll see what he does next.
ㅤ ⊹ The side characters — I won't mention them all just because that would take too much. But just know this: the reason this book even reached three stars was almost entirely dedicated to all the gorgeous side characters, their POVs and their stories.
ㅤ ⊹Tynan — Can't wait to watch you die.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ I am honestly a little conflicted about this one. I can't tell if this book was genuinely underwhelming or if it simply wasn't the right book for me. But maybe, yes, keept reading because the ending is somehow slightly worth it. And the next book should have potential.
ㅤ The biggest issue was definitely the pacing. The book spent so much time focusing on things that felt unnecessary, while rushing past elements that actually needed more attention. I think trying to juggle so many POVs and plot lines ended up making everything feel a bit messy, and unfortunately, it left me feeling disconnected from the characters.
ㅤ But, of course, I will still be continuing the series. Because after THAT ending? Yeah, I need to know what happens next.
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ📖‧ ˚ ₊⊹ Cadence of the Fallen series reviews:
⋆˚࿔ A Requiem for Fallen Stars (3.9 - 4.1 ⭐)
⋆˚࿔ A Composition of Scars (4.6 - 4.8 ⭐)
⋆˚࿔ A Ballad for the Broken (2.9 - 3.1 ⭐)
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍㆍ✿ㆍㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ᯓ ✿ pre-reading ⪼
ㅤ ○ started ┆05-July-2026┆
ㅤ ㅤ ⤿ i really hope this series continues to be good because I AM INTRIGUED!!!
ㅤ ㅤ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
ㅤ Oh, there is nothing sadder than watching another series fall victim to the dreaded "second-book curse". And this one definitely did.
ㅤ I can absolutely see what the author was trying to achieve, and honestly, she came so close to pulling it off. But then she decided to throw in this vague, creepy excuse for a love triangle, and it completely derailed the book for me. Pair that with the very uneven pacing, and you have the perfect recipe for taking a book that could have been genuinely amazing and making it far more frustrating than it ever needed to be.
ㅤ ㅤ “Why must men make playgrounds of continents so they can feel powerful? Why must they stomp on the backs of the vulnerable so they can stand a little taller?”
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I will start with the good part. Contrary to what seems to be the general opinion, I actually LOVED the multiple POVs. Despite there being quite a few of them, and despite it being a complete shift from the single POV of the first book, I genuinely enjoyed getting inside the heads of the other characters and watching their individual stories (or, more accurately, their love stories) unfold.
ㅤ And if I'm being completely honest, my enjoyment of those POVs is one of the main reasons this book even managed to earn 3 stars from me. Otherwise... this would have very comfortably been a 2-star read.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ Now, onto the bad things. I really need authors to stop acting as if the only way to create drama is by throwing in a love triangle. And I'm not even sure I can call...whatever this was...a love triangle. It was some vague, awkward, and occasionally downright creepy something that I genuinely couldn't wrap my head around.
ㅤ All I know is that, because of it, every time I reached a chapter from Lyra's POV, I sighed because I already knew it was about to annoy me again. And the worst part? She's the goddamn FMC.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I think what made me dislike this entire situation even more was how passive Lyra felt throughout the book. I completely understand that she wasn't exactly in a position where she had many choices, but... girl??? Do something. Anything. At least scream, throw a chair, bite someone, act like you're actually bothered by what's happening. Instead, it felt like she gradually just... accepted everything? And at one point even seemed weirdly okay with it?
ㅤ Respectfully, call a psychiatrist, love. That's not romance. That's Stockholm syndrome.
ㅤ Safe to say this was a badly executed kindapping trope or whatever.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ And while we're here, let's also talk about the other half of this catastrophe: Cassimir. Buckle up, cause a RANT is coming.
ㅤ I enuinely do not understand where all the "he should also be her love interest" comments are coming from, because this man had all the charisma of a rusty fence post. At one point, I was seriously wondering if I had somehow picked up a different book than everyone else. He wasn't some fascinating tortured soul. His motivations were so weak and he acted so annoyingly that they only made me wish for him to suffer more actually.
ㅤ None of the way he treated the FMC felt justifiable. He spent months completely ignoring everything she wanted, and then suddenly we're supposed to forgive it all because he suddenly pulls "I am just trying to do something nice for you" card? Absolutely not. If a man repeatedly ignores my wishes, I'm not going to swoon the moment he decides to do one vaguely considerate thing. That manipulation does not work on me.
ㅤ Please, don't sell me a "Beauty and the Beast" dynamic if your Beast ends up feeling like Tamlin 2.0.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I hate when a book makes me feel like one character loves more than the other, and unfortunately, this happened here way too often. All because we apparently needed some extra drama, which obviously meant bringing back the illusion of a love triangle.
ㅤ I constantly felt like Draven loved Lyra far more than she loved him. After everything he sacrificed, watching her first reaction be to blame him instead of trying to understand him was honestly frustrating. Especially when her own actions were not exactly innocent either; it was all quite hypocritical.
ㅤ Meanwhile, she somehow kept remembering Draven only when the plot reminded her she was supposed to, while spending far too much time admiring Cassimir. Sorry, but Draven deserves better.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ There are plenty of times when a spectacular ending completely saves a book for me. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of them. Don't get me wrong, the last 20% was objectively AMAZING. It was everything I had been waiting for. But I had already spent so much of the book feeling disappointed and frustrated that, by the time it finally picked up, the damage had already been done.
ㅤ So yes, even with that quite incredible ending, I just couldn't justify giving it more than 3 stars....and even those are awarded with mercy 💀
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ⊹ Lyra — I am genuinely confused about what happened to her character after the first book. She was heading toward such an interesting development, and then book two arrived and everything seemed to crumble. Instead of actually showing her growth, the book mostly just tells us about it, as if all the important progress happened somewhere off-page. The strange pacing definitely did not help, and by the end she suddenly reaches this powerful level without us really getting to experience that journey.
ㅤ Also, this girl owes Draven a lot of grovelling. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I already know that won't happen.
ㅤ ⊹ Draven — This man was so insanely down bad that, at one point, I was genuinely annoyed. My guy, PLEASE. GET UPPPPP. That girl was not worth half the sacrifices he made for her. He is the absolute definition of self-sacrifice; no matter what happens, you can always count on him to put everyone else before himself.
ㅤ After knowing his full story from the novella? My heart was already broken for him, and this book just kept adding more damage. Also, can we talk about the fact that this man has the heart and mouth of a poet? Please. A tortured, sometimes cruel, self-sacrificing poet. How am I supposed to survive that? 🫠🫠
ㅤ ⊹ Cassimir — I really don't want to hate him, I swear. He just gives me all the reasons to. But I guess we'll see what he does next.
ㅤ ⊹ The side characters — I won't mention them all just because that would take too much. But just know this: the reason this book even reached three stars was almost entirely dedicated to all the gorgeous side characters, their POVs and their stories.
ㅤ ⊹Tynan — Can't wait to watch you die.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ I am honestly a little conflicted about this one. I can't tell if this book was genuinely underwhelming or if it simply wasn't the right book for me. But maybe, yes, keept reading because the ending is somehow slightly worth it. And the next book should have potential.
ㅤ The biggest issue was definitely the pacing. The book spent so much time focusing on things that felt unnecessary, while rushing past elements that actually needed more attention. I think trying to juggle so many POVs and plot lines ended up making everything feel a bit messy, and unfortunately, it left me feeling disconnected from the characters.
ㅤ But, of course, I will still be continuing the series. Because after THAT ending? Yeah, I need to know what happens next.
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ📖‧ ˚ ₊⊹ Cadence of the Fallen series reviews:
⋆˚࿔ A Requiem for Fallen Stars (3.9 - 4.1 ⭐)
⋆˚࿔ A Composition of Scars (4.6 - 4.8 ⭐)
⋆˚࿔ A Ballad for the Broken (2.9 - 3.1 ⭐)
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍㆍ✿ㆍㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ᯓ ✿ pre-reading ⪼
ㅤ ○ started ┆05-July-2026┆
ㅤ ㅤ ⤿ i really hope this series continues to be good because I AM INTRIGUED!!!
Did Not Finish
August 2, 2026DNF @ 40%
I was genuinely hoping to love this series as much as everyone else, so I'm a little bummed! I was having a difficult time connecting with the characters and staying invested in their individual storylines. I'm usually a fan of multiple POVs, but here it felt like there was one too many, making the plot feel slow and less cohesive.
I also found some of the dialogue sequences a bit too long. I think they could have been shortened without sacrificing the story's plot or emotional impact. There's a chance I might come back to this book one day, but as of now, I have far too many books on my TBR to prioritize lol.
I was genuinely hoping to love this series as much as everyone else, so I'm a little bummed! I was having a difficult time connecting with the characters and staying invested in their individual storylines. I'm usually a fan of multiple POVs, but here it felt like there was one too many, making the plot feel slow and less cohesive.
I also found some of the dialogue sequences a bit too long. I think they could have been shortened without sacrificing the story's plot or emotional impact. There's a chance I might come back to this book one day, but as of now, I have far too many books on my TBR to prioritize lol.
June 24, 2026
6 stars, omg.
rarely a series can pull off being dark, a fast paced read, and also heartfelt. somehow, this one pulls off all of it!
the characters in this series are so layered and COMPLICATED. the way all of them are morally grey but still lovable, i don’t know how hazel does it!
the main love story has me in agony like 80% of the time, and it’s not bc of them, it’s because of their circumstances and how they’re handled by outside parties. i love them so much.
gray, marcella, and kiran are some of my favs- and i loved getting to know Rhea and Finlay. i was so pleasantly surprised by how much i loved all of them.
i want to cry after that ending- definitely talking about this book in therapy.
rarely a series can pull off being dark, a fast paced read, and also heartfelt. somehow, this one pulls off all of it!
the characters in this series are so layered and COMPLICATED. the way all of them are morally grey but still lovable, i don’t know how hazel does it!
the main love story has me in agony like 80% of the time, and it’s not bc of them, it’s because of their circumstances and how they’re handled by outside parties. i love them so much.
gray, marcella, and kiran are some of my favs- and i loved getting to know Rhea and Finlay. i was so pleasantly surprised by how much i loved all of them.
i want to cry after that ending- definitely talking about this book in therapy.
August 2, 2026
Do you want to feel emotional devastation? Mixed with highs so high you feel like you’re in outer space? Well You don’t need drugs… you just need this series.
Wilkes injected something into her storytelling and I am addicted.
This sequel took everything incredible about the first book and somehow did it even better(I didn’t know that was possible). We went from one strong relationship to root and love and simp for. To multiple SLOW BURN romances that took the word yearning to new heights. Yearning doesn’t explain these touches these scenes. Imagine a dead plant just begging for it to rain. That was me begging for more.
And they all made sense they felt natural they felt built upon. We built on the already incredible friendships and found family from book one. Adding more depth more moments to them.
We kept the twists coming with surprises, reveals, betrayals, new lore, new revelations. But nothing felt done just for the sake of being done.
Wilkes writing has always been a strong suit for me. I felt like every page turn there was a new quote that spoke to my soul, a teasing moment I wanted to remember forever, a moral dilemma causing me the reader to ponder and think what my answer would be.
The nuance to everything was immaculate.
I have always loved stories that make the good guys the bad guys and the bad guys the good guys. Because humans we aren’t perfect. We have flaws we have passions we lead with our emotions. And this story did this all well.
Some of my fav quotes:
“I think I finally understand that this life is not so simple to allow us to feel only one thing at a time. I can at once feel happy while feeling sad. I can be at the peak of love’s mountain while also carrying the weeds of pain in the gardens of my belly. I can be starlight and darkness. Feel nothing and everything. It does not make me broken to feel so many complicated, messy things simultaneously. It makes me human.”
““But I think part of what makes a great person truly great is having strong morals and knowing when the right time is to bend them. It can be dangerous, building your house with nothing but black and white stones.”
“She knows her worth and value stems from her own inner thoughts and feelings, but on the days where she feels too empty to fill her own cup, it’s nice to have someone hold the weight temporarily in her place and pour it for her. It’s not a permanent fix, and she knows that. But…it helps.”
Anyways my jaw is on the floor, my eyes are staring at a wall, just processing what I read and how I can move on. LEAST OF ALL HOW OUR CHARACTERS CAN.
BOOK THREE NEWS WHEN??????
Wilkes injected something into her storytelling and I am addicted.
This sequel took everything incredible about the first book and somehow did it even better(I didn’t know that was possible). We went from one strong relationship to root and love and simp for. To multiple SLOW BURN romances that took the word yearning to new heights. Yearning doesn’t explain these touches these scenes. Imagine a dead plant just begging for it to rain. That was me begging for more.
And they all made sense they felt natural they felt built upon. We built on the already incredible friendships and found family from book one. Adding more depth more moments to them.
We kept the twists coming with surprises, reveals, betrayals, new lore, new revelations. But nothing felt done just for the sake of being done.
Wilkes writing has always been a strong suit for me. I felt like every page turn there was a new quote that spoke to my soul, a teasing moment I wanted to remember forever, a moral dilemma causing me the reader to ponder and think what my answer would be.
The nuance to everything was immaculate.
I have always loved stories that make the good guys the bad guys and the bad guys the good guys. Because humans we aren’t perfect. We have flaws we have passions we lead with our emotions. And this story did this all well.
Some of my fav quotes:
“I think I finally understand that this life is not so simple to allow us to feel only one thing at a time. I can at once feel happy while feeling sad. I can be at the peak of love’s mountain while also carrying the weeds of pain in the gardens of my belly. I can be starlight and darkness. Feel nothing and everything. It does not make me broken to feel so many complicated, messy things simultaneously. It makes me human.”
““But I think part of what makes a great person truly great is having strong morals and knowing when the right time is to bend them. It can be dangerous, building your house with nothing but black and white stones.”
“She knows her worth and value stems from her own inner thoughts and feelings, but on the days where she feels too empty to fill her own cup, it’s nice to have someone hold the weight temporarily in her place and pour it for her. It’s not a permanent fix, and she knows that. But…it helps.”
Anyways my jaw is on the floor, my eyes are staring at a wall, just processing what I read and how I can move on. LEAST OF ALL HOW OUR CHARACTERS CAN.
BOOK THREE NEWS WHEN??????
June 20, 2026
4.5⭐️
WOW! Everything expands so much in this book- the world, the plot, the characters, the relationships, everything! My brain feels like it could explode with all of the new information I got from this book AND THE END! This felt like an epic ending, it’s hard to believe this is Hazel s Wilkes debut series! Everything is in chaos and I wish I could just jump into the next book!
I loved how character driven this book was because I think it will really set up the next book to be amazing! I’ve fallen in love with everyone and I’m so invested in each POV. It felt a little much at first with all the different POVs but it got better as the book went on and by the end I loved getting each one. Now DRAVEN! My sweet baby, I loved him so much and he needs to be protected at all costs. I can’t even put into words how I feel about what happens at the end, but I’m kind of liking it lol. Him and Lyra’s relationship has felt so intentional in its built up, and it’s made me feel so deeply. They truly see another for all they are all love each other because of it. I could cry at the way Draven loves Lyra. He deserves a happy ending and he better get it!
I’m also dying at the side characters love stories too! Rhea was an amazing addition! I need more Kiran in the next book because I need to know more…. And for casimir, at first imagined him to be like 45/50 but to my surprises he’s 27?! I think it’s a testament to hazels writing that he does read really mature (which he should iykyk lol). I don’t know what the deal is with Lyra and him but I’ll be upset if they don’t just end up friends. You can’t write an epic love story between Draven and Lyra and then throw in another love interest like that. I don’t think it’ll go that way because I will riot if it does.
Overall, this book completely elevated the series. It went from just a regular romantasy to an epic plot driven one! I can’t wait to see what’s to come! Also reading book 1.5 before this felt essential to me. Everything clicks better so I wouldn’t skip it even thought it’s a prequel
——
“I learned the tradeoff to accepting love is accepting pain, and I will feel any pain to have your love.”
“The world is more beautiful to me when it’s painted in lilac.”
WOW! Everything expands so much in this book- the world, the plot, the characters, the relationships, everything! My brain feels like it could explode with all of the new information I got from this book AND THE END! This felt like an epic ending, it’s hard to believe this is Hazel s Wilkes debut series! Everything is in chaos and I wish I could just jump into the next book!
I loved how character driven this book was because I think it will really set up the next book to be amazing! I’ve fallen in love with everyone and I’m so invested in each POV. It felt a little much at first with all the different POVs but it got better as the book went on and by the end I loved getting each one. Now DRAVEN! My sweet baby, I loved him so much and he needs to be protected at all costs. I can’t even put into words how I feel about what happens at the end, but I’m kind of liking it lol. Him and Lyra’s relationship has felt so intentional in its built up, and it’s made me feel so deeply. They truly see another for all they are all love each other because of it. I could cry at the way Draven loves Lyra. He deserves a happy ending and he better get it!
I’m also dying at the side characters love stories too! Rhea was an amazing addition! I need more Kiran in the next book because I need to know more…. And for casimir, at first imagined him to be like 45/50 but to my surprises he’s 27?! I think it’s a testament to hazels writing that he does read really mature (which he should iykyk lol). I don’t know what the deal is with Lyra and him but I’ll be upset if they don’t just end up friends. You can’t write an epic love story between Draven and Lyra and then throw in another love interest like that. I don’t think it’ll go that way because I will riot if it does.
Overall, this book completely elevated the series. It went from just a regular romantasy to an epic plot driven one! I can’t wait to see what’s to come! Also reading book 1.5 before this felt essential to me. Everything clicks better so I wouldn’t skip it even thought it’s a prequel
——
“I learned the tradeoff to accepting love is accepting pain, and I will feel any pain to have your love.”
“The world is more beautiful to me when it’s painted in lilac.”
June 7, 2026
✨ARC REVIEW✨
A massive thank you to The Nerd Fam and Hazel S. Wilkes for this ARC copy, will I absolutely be buying a trophy copy of this book, yes!!
This has absolutely everything I good romantasy needs 🥹 and my heart being torn out, chewed up and spit back out in the process💔
Hazel’s writing was so beautiful and I feel I fell back into this magical world this ease going into this, although the first 60% of this book is slightly slower than book 1, I found that was really important as I managed to build relationships with the side characters through multiple POVs which I didn’t get a chance to in book 1☺️
When I stay a complex villain in this🤯 every chapter that included them my mind just didn’t know what to think so another praise to author for making me feel every emotion🫣
I am now SAT on the edge of my seat for the next book in this series and Hazel will definitely be an auto-buy author for me going forwards!!!💕
A massive thank you to The Nerd Fam and Hazel S. Wilkes for this ARC copy, will I absolutely be buying a trophy copy of this book, yes!!
This has absolutely everything I good romantasy needs 🥹 and my heart being torn out, chewed up and spit back out in the process💔
Hazel’s writing was so beautiful and I feel I fell back into this magical world this ease going into this, although the first 60% of this book is slightly slower than book 1, I found that was really important as I managed to build relationships with the side characters through multiple POVs which I didn’t get a chance to in book 1☺️
When I stay a complex villain in this🤯 every chapter that included them my mind just didn’t know what to think so another praise to author for making me feel every emotion🫣
I am now SAT on the edge of my seat for the next book in this series and Hazel will definitely be an auto-buy author for me going forwards!!!💕
June 22, 2026
Hmmmm.
Ballad for the Broken is a couple of steps away from the glorious 5* rating I gave to the first book. Hazel Wilkes makes some bold choices in this installment, we have separated love interests (my least favourite troupe), and the introduction of multiple new POVs. I always think this is a mistake, it alters the feel of the story readers fell in love with during the first book.
The multi POVs are managed well however and written nicely. I think she builds characters well and the relationships between some of the characters are engaging. World building is also good and the magic system remains vivid and well explained. At points in the book however I found myself wading through pages of overly heavy characterisation of various self help buzzwords and modern psychological terminology. Clunky.
And there are pacing problems, lots of them. The entire core focus romance of the first book shifts with the separation of the two main characters and Hazel Wilkes relies on the newer POVs to build new romance. This is sporadic and doesn't create the same dynamic. There are huge chunks of the book that are missing our main characters. It's a very long book to have suffered from so many pacing problems. I do wonder if a healthy edit might have helped. At times I felt quite bored and contemplated DNA on more than one occasion. It's taken me ages to read and I've had to really try hard to finish it.
The ending spiraled out of all control and before you know it I was dragged into the ridiculous 'lets cram everything we can into the final' territory and while we are at it, let's throw in some random trials/games.
I'm also getting quite tired of this formula that seems to be everywhere in the Romantasy sphere. Book 1 - lovely budding romance . Book 2 - separate the lovers and try to create new story arcs. End of book 2 turn MMC evil.... Where have I seen this before? Answer - everywhere.
This book has good reviews, so far the reviews are heavily ARC led. I'll be interested to see how the reviews fare over more time..overall it's not a bad book, but it's not a great one either. My thoughts, for what they are worth, is to cut out the length and focus more on the pacing and the quality of each chapter. I really do think Hazel's pacing needs work before the last book is released.
Ballad for the Broken is a couple of steps away from the glorious 5* rating I gave to the first book. Hazel Wilkes makes some bold choices in this installment, we have separated love interests (my least favourite troupe), and the introduction of multiple new POVs. I always think this is a mistake, it alters the feel of the story readers fell in love with during the first book.
The multi POVs are managed well however and written nicely. I think she builds characters well and the relationships between some of the characters are engaging. World building is also good and the magic system remains vivid and well explained. At points in the book however I found myself wading through pages of overly heavy characterisation of various self help buzzwords and modern psychological terminology. Clunky.
And there are pacing problems, lots of them. The entire core focus romance of the first book shifts with the separation of the two main characters and Hazel Wilkes relies on the newer POVs to build new romance. This is sporadic and doesn't create the same dynamic. There are huge chunks of the book that are missing our main characters. It's a very long book to have suffered from so many pacing problems. I do wonder if a healthy edit might have helped. At times I felt quite bored and contemplated DNA on more than one occasion. It's taken me ages to read and I've had to really try hard to finish it.
The ending spiraled out of all control and before you know it I was dragged into the ridiculous 'lets cram everything we can into the final' territory and while we are at it, let's throw in some random trials/games.
I'm also getting quite tired of this formula that seems to be everywhere in the Romantasy sphere. Book 1 - lovely budding romance . Book 2 - separate the lovers and try to create new story arcs. End of book 2 turn MMC evil.... Where have I seen this before? Answer - everywhere.
This book has good reviews, so far the reviews are heavily ARC led. I'll be interested to see how the reviews fare over more time..overall it's not a bad book, but it's not a great one either. My thoughts, for what they are worth, is to cut out the length and focus more on the pacing and the quality of each chapter. I really do think Hazel's pacing needs work before the last book is released.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2026
Thank you to The NerdFam and Hazel S. Wilkes for this eARC!
Like book 1 and 1.5 - absolutely beautiful. I was so excited to be back with my favorite characters and see how this story continues. This book was mainly character driven, but I absolutely adore all of them so it felt like coming home.
(Okay except one of them but…)
This book was mostly stress, sadness, and rage but in the best way possible. I’ve never felt so mad or conflicted about characters before. Sympathy for the actual villain? A villain as bad as Lionel Acrux? Oof. And all of the POVs? Absolutely loved - I have been all for this found family from day one and now this? Yes. Please.
Oh, Lyra and Draven. Our sweet babies deserve happiness. When rocks fly. Oh, and chapter 18. That lives in my head rent free. Beautiful and devastating. They have both been through so much and have grown so much, especially Lyra throughout this book.
I will say the last 25% went a direction I was not expecting. Maybe even felt a little out of left field in a way. But as abrupt as it was, it sets up the next book perfectly. Even if it did hurt my heart - a lot. And that epilogue? Never thought that would be who I was screaming for to help but alas, book 3 will be a fun time to be had by all with whatever pieces of our hearts are still left in tact.
Like book 1 and 1.5 - absolutely beautiful. I was so excited to be back with my favorite characters and see how this story continues. This book was mainly character driven, but I absolutely adore all of them so it felt like coming home.
(Okay except one of them but…)
This book was mostly stress, sadness, and rage but in the best way possible. I’ve never felt so mad or conflicted about characters before. Sympathy for the actual villain? A villain as bad as Lionel Acrux? Oof. And all of the POVs? Absolutely loved - I have been all for this found family from day one and now this? Yes. Please.
Oh, Lyra and Draven. Our sweet babies deserve happiness. When rocks fly. Oh, and chapter 18. That lives in my head rent free. Beautiful and devastating. They have both been through so much and have grown so much, especially Lyra throughout this book.
I will say the last 25% went a direction I was not expecting. Maybe even felt a little out of left field in a way. But as abrupt as it was, it sets up the next book perfectly. Even if it did hurt my heart - a lot. And that epilogue? Never thought that would be who I was screaming for to help but alas, book 3 will be a fun time to be had by all with whatever pieces of our hearts are still left in tact.
July 27, 2026
4.5/5.0
Fabulously well written romantacy! The story splits from a linear, two person focus, into SEVEN different POVs! I’m usually not a fan of this at all, but the more ensemble cast and storyline is interesting and I grew to love almost every one of them. It does considerably slow down the forward movement of the plot, though.
*Slight spoilerish comment ahead* I’m REALLY not a fan of amnesia tropes but I’m still aching to get the next book!
Fabulously well written romantacy! The story splits from a linear, two person focus, into SEVEN different POVs! I’m usually not a fan of this at all, but the more ensemble cast and storyline is interesting and I grew to love almost every one of them. It does considerably slow down the forward movement of the plot, though.
*Slight spoilerish comment ahead* I’m REALLY not a fan of amnesia tropes but I’m still aching to get the next book!
June 22, 2026
4.5⭐️ And the title says it all. Broken. I'm still crushed just thinking about the ending of this book! 💔 This book is pure emotional damage (in the way us romantasy lovers are fiends for).
"People have a way of surprising you when you offer them a chance to show you their deepest selves."
There is so much going on in this book. She's a thicc girl and you get a lot of new POV's, which initially took me a second to get in the rhythm of. But once it clicked, I was fully back in the three kingdoms of Solaya like I hadn't missed a beat!
If you're here you've read book one and if you haven't then circle back but run immediately to pick up book one, A Requiem for Fallen Stars. Trust me!
Everything expands in book two. From a Masquerade Ball, one bed, and hidden identities revealed to enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-again (and for more than one couple too!), a comet festival and then add in some deadly trials, Hazel delivers everything you could want in a second book and puts you through a lot of pain while doing it!
Literally every single character in this book is grappling with immense hardship and grief and has endured traumas and betrayals that have the potential to break them, or in some cases, already have. 😩
Audwin Fjolla and Tynan Dalmar are in line to take the podium for the title of evilest villains. How much hate I have in my heart for both of them is probably not healthy at this point! Like, are they related to Lional Acrux?
I love Lyra and Draven, they have to be end game! We love a man that'll quite literally (yes, literally) burn the world down for her and yearn like his life depends on it (and man, does he love hard)! The secret correspondence in chapter 18 🥹❤️
"And being with her... It's like waking up to a world of color after only seeing muted tones."
BUT Casimir, this emo sad boy has stolen my heart. Not only is he extremely powerful, (and yes, also a villain, or is he? 👀) he's mysterious, and regal and there's so much depth to him, yet we've barely scratched the surface. His immortal life is not a gift; it's a curse, and his tortured soul spoke to me. I'm praying we're going to get more of him in the next book!
"Monsters are seldom born, darling. They are forged in the pits of darkness. Their faces are sprung from the masks of vengeance, discovered in the rubbles of peace and sharpened by shadows."
Gray Nightenjoy "Lion of the Heart" was another one that really stole the show for me in this book.
And I can't not mention Finlay and Rhea! Where are the Dramione fans at? You are going to love the dynamic between them!
Found family is one of my all time favourite tropes and I really love the one that is in this series.
And well that ending 😭🤯! How are we supposed to survive until the next book!
Thank you Hazel S. Wilkes for the eARC. I'm counting down the days until the next installment in the series!
"People have a way of surprising you when you offer them a chance to show you their deepest selves."
There is so much going on in this book. She's a thicc girl and you get a lot of new POV's, which initially took me a second to get in the rhythm of. But once it clicked, I was fully back in the three kingdoms of Solaya like I hadn't missed a beat!
If you're here you've read book one and if you haven't then circle back but run immediately to pick up book one, A Requiem for Fallen Stars. Trust me!
Everything expands in book two. From a Masquerade Ball, one bed, and hidden identities revealed to enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-again (and for more than one couple too!), a comet festival and then add in some deadly trials, Hazel delivers everything you could want in a second book and puts you through a lot of pain while doing it!
Literally every single character in this book is grappling with immense hardship and grief and has endured traumas and betrayals that have the potential to break them, or in some cases, already have. 😩
Audwin Fjolla and Tynan Dalmar are in line to take the podium for the title of evilest villains. How much hate I have in my heart for both of them is probably not healthy at this point! Like, are they related to Lional Acrux?
I love Lyra and Draven, they have to be end game! We love a man that'll quite literally (yes, literally) burn the world down for her and yearn like his life depends on it (and man, does he love hard)! The secret correspondence in chapter 18 🥹❤️
"And being with her... It's like waking up to a world of color after only seeing muted tones."
BUT Casimir, this emo sad boy has stolen my heart. Not only is he extremely powerful, (and yes, also a villain, or is he? 👀) he's mysterious, and regal and there's so much depth to him, yet we've barely scratched the surface. His immortal life is not a gift; it's a curse, and his tortured soul spoke to me. I'm praying we're going to get more of him in the next book!
"Monsters are seldom born, darling. They are forged in the pits of darkness. Their faces are sprung from the masks of vengeance, discovered in the rubbles of peace and sharpened by shadows."
Gray Nightenjoy "Lion of the Heart" was another one that really stole the show for me in this book.
And I can't not mention Finlay and Rhea! Where are the Dramione fans at? You are going to love the dynamic between them!
Found family is one of my all time favourite tropes and I really love the one that is in this series.
And well that ending 😭🤯! How are we supposed to survive until the next book!
Thank you Hazel S. Wilkes for the eARC. I'm counting down the days until the next installment in the series!
August 20, 2026
Rounding up
I honestly struggled with this one after loving the first book. The beginning was very slow, although I understand why Lyra needed time to heal after everything she'd been through. I liked seeing her struggle between the hatred she's carried and her desire to believe there could be a better world, especially given everything she has personally experienced.
I did struggle with the amount of miscommunication, though. There were several moments where I was practically yelling at the characters to connect the obvious dots. The additional POVs were helpful for seeing more of the story, but having Lyra in first person while the others were in third person also made some of the story feel more emotionally removed. On top of that the POV's were shoving me into new emotional trauma and romance setups when I don't care about those people (...other than Grey)
There were some great reveals, including finally getting answers about the third king, but by the end I felt like I was getting a lot of villain ideology and chess-board monologues rather than the emotional payoff I wanted. Overall, there were ideas I really liked, but the execution didn't pull me in the way book one did.
I hope book 3 pulls it all together.
I honestly struggled with this one after loving the first book. The beginning was very slow, although I understand why Lyra needed time to heal after everything she'd been through. I liked seeing her struggle between the hatred she's carried and her desire to believe there could be a better world, especially given everything she has personally experienced.
I did struggle with the amount of miscommunication, though. There were several moments where I was practically yelling at the characters to connect the obvious dots. The additional POVs were helpful for seeing more of the story, but having Lyra in first person while the others were in third person also made some of the story feel more emotionally removed. On top of that the POV's were shoving me into new emotional trauma and romance setups when I don't care about those people (...other than Grey)
There were some great reveals, including finally getting answers about the third king, but by the end I felt like I was getting a lot of villain ideology and chess-board monologues rather than the emotional payoff I wanted. Overall, there were ideas I really liked, but the execution didn't pull me in the way book one did.
I hope book 3 pulls it all together.
June 3, 2026
ARC Review
5 stars. Hey, so this was traumatic! And I loved it. And it broke me. And I need the next book. This series is so beautiful so, so emotional.
I’ll post a longer review once my heart hurts a little less.
Thank you to Hazel S Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
5 stars. Hey, so this was traumatic! And I loved it. And it broke me. And I need the next book. This series is so beautiful so, so emotional.
I’ll post a longer review once my heart hurts a little less.
Thank you to Hazel S Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
June 9, 2026
broken…I was… wow. what an upgrade from book one, and that’s saying a lot because I absolutely LOVED requiem.
this sequel added so much depth and emotion to an already incredible story. as much as I adore the magic system and world-building in this series, the way hazel writes her characters is what truly sets these books apart. they feel so raw, real, and painfully human. their struggles, fears, and hopes resonate on a level that makes it impossible not to connect with them.
I love lyra and draven with my entire heart. these two have endured so much, and at this point I need them to get every ounce of peace, happiness, and healing they deserve beneath the stars. my heart is absolutely shattered for them, and I’m desperately rooting for their happy ending.
“I am not a good man, but you make me want to be a better one, lyra.”
the addition of more povs was one of my favorite parts of this book. every perspective felt necessary and added so much richness to the story. getting inside these characters’ heads and witnessing their internal battles: the constant tug-of-war between their hearts and minds, their struggles with morality, insecurities, grief, and regret, made every moment hit that much harder. the emotional depth in this book is genuinely powerful.
“but I think part of what makes a great person truly great is having strong morals and knowing when the right time is to bend them. it can be dangerous, building your house with nothing but black and white stones.”
this story broke me, healed me, and then broke me all over again.
now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be staring blankly at my wall until I can get my hands on the next book
ty nerdfam for the e-arc! 🤍
this sequel added so much depth and emotion to an already incredible story. as much as I adore the magic system and world-building in this series, the way hazel writes her characters is what truly sets these books apart. they feel so raw, real, and painfully human. their struggles, fears, and hopes resonate on a level that makes it impossible not to connect with them.
I love lyra and draven with my entire heart. these two have endured so much, and at this point I need them to get every ounce of peace, happiness, and healing they deserve beneath the stars. my heart is absolutely shattered for them, and I’m desperately rooting for their happy ending.
“I am not a good man, but you make me want to be a better one, lyra.”
the addition of more povs was one of my favorite parts of this book. every perspective felt necessary and added so much richness to the story. getting inside these characters’ heads and witnessing their internal battles: the constant tug-of-war between their hearts and minds, their struggles with morality, insecurities, grief, and regret, made every moment hit that much harder. the emotional depth in this book is genuinely powerful.
“but I think part of what makes a great person truly great is having strong morals and knowing when the right time is to bend them. it can be dangerous, building your house with nothing but black and white stones.”
this story broke me, healed me, and then broke me all over again.
now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be staring blankly at my wall until I can get my hands on the next book
ty nerdfam for the e-arc! 🤍
June 24, 2026
This book was definitely slower than her previous two books but not in a bad way. It just took a little longer for me to get fully invested. I enjoyed what I was reading the entire time but it wasn't until around that 60% mark that it really started to ramp up.
I really loved that this book shared the spotlight with so many of the amazing side characters. It felt like they were given the space to grow beyond simply supporting the FMC and MMC and I found myself becoming more invested in their journeys than I expected. I especially loved one specific relationship that is blossoming between our side characters (cough cough enemies2lovers)
I was getting a little nervous about where things seemed to be heading with Casimir.
The last 15% of this book had me staying up well past my bedtime so I could make sure I finished it all. It delivered all the emotion, excitement, and anticipation I had been hoping for and by the time I reached the end, I was left desperately wanting the next book in my hands immediately.
Thank you so very much to Hazel S. Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for providing me with an eARC! <3
I really loved that this book shared the spotlight with so many of the amazing side characters. It felt like they were given the space to grow beyond simply supporting the FMC and MMC and I found myself becoming more invested in their journeys than I expected. I especially loved one specific relationship that is blossoming between our side characters (cough cough enemies2lovers)
I was getting a little nervous about where things seemed to be heading with Casimir.
The last 15% of this book had me staying up well past my bedtime so I could make sure I finished it all. It delivered all the emotion, excitement, and anticipation I had been hoping for and by the time I reached the end, I was left desperately wanting the next book in my hands immediately.
Thank you so very much to Hazel S. Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for providing me with an eARC! <3
July 31, 2026
This book made me so tired. It was an extremely long journey. As a whole, the book felt slow. So much and so little happened. This book felt more character driven than plot driven which is not a necessarily a bad thing. I quite like the characters.. most of the time.
I really liked how different each character was. There was many POVs in this book which I felt were too many but I appreciated how different they felt. I didn't have to flip back to remember whose POV I was reading. I enjoyed the character dynamics a lot more in the beginning. The dynamics felt more coherent and genuine. As the book progressed, the choices the character's made to get to where they are really made me mad. I didn't like how much miscommunication and secrets there were between people who were supposed to be close.
The book really lost me after Draven and Lyra reunited. It felt like things spiralled out of control on 2x speed and the monologue Tynan did to reveal his master plan at the end had me rolling my eyes. It was also annoying how much betrayal there was because oh Tynan has xyz loved one(s) hostage. I know he's a master strategist but it truly felt like our character's were just puppets. As I was reading, every happy moment felt pointless because you knew Tynan was going to screw it all up and the character's can't do anything about it. I know it's a setup to have the character's hit rock bottom so there could be a big come back in the third book but I wish there was some variation or at least someone spared.
In the novella, Tynan murders his mom + found family (-Rhea) thus, breaking Draven.
In this one, Tynan murders Gray's parents, thus, breaking Gray.
Tynan takes Kiran's family hostage to get him to betray Draven.
Tynan holds Rhea's life hostage to control Draven
Tynan holds Lyra's free hostage to control Draven
Tynan takes King Yuram hostage.. effects yet to be seen.
Guess maybe we can conclude Tynan is just an asshole. I'm ready for his karma. The other thing is we don't yet know about his motivations so he feels like a mustache twirling villain who is evil for the sake of there needing to be a villain.
Lyra & Draven - I bought their romance a lot more in book 1. In book 2, I liked them before they reunited, there was so much yearning and the letters, I ate it up. But how they finally reunited.. kinda gave me the ick and how quickly it felt Lyra forgave Draven really bothered me. I know Draven is hopelessly devoted to Lyra and would burn the world for her and Draven only murdered the Abdites because they're known to be enemies.. I hold no fault for Draven. As the book goes, it is expected Lyra would forgive him because she understands what we do - that he didn't know - but I feel there should've been more turmoiled, more of a build up to her being able to forgive him and see him as him and not a murderer. Lyra was willing to save, protect and lead these people. They felt forgotten after. I think this may be a pacing issue.
On another note, Draven & Lyra wasting every moment on their first reunion not talking about anything about the Abdites was such a blunder, I cannot even fathom. Like this is such important information, just some words before they started talking dirty to each other would've changed so much. And when Lyra only left 4 words on a parchment as her goodbye. WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN? Of all the choices a character made in this book, this made me want to scream the loudest. How did she think the people who love her dearly would react? Did she think they would give up on finding her especially when it was not clear to her friend's that she was choosing to not come back?
Lyra & Casimir - I quite enjoyed the growth of their relationship. I think I do prefer them to have more of a sibling relationship than lovers.
Gray & Marcella - Like them. Hate the miscommunication trope though. I was ready to throw my e-reader at a wall. Marcella please, let him speak to you.
Finlay & Rhea - These two are toxic. I don't know if I buy their relationship yet.
Draven & Gray - Their dynamic was my favourite. I loved their heart to heart moment and was my favourite scene of the book.
Draven & Kiran - I was so sad at Kiran's betrayal. I get it, but I hate it.
Draven's memory loss. My god, I hate it. I hate this trope.
Last thing. I think the author has lyrical writing. The book is written in a way that's not plain and boggled down but still manages to be poetic. I think the writing style lives up to the musical titles. The book feels like a song at some points and it brings a feel of melancholy to the book, which I enjoyed.
Not sure if I'm excited to read book 3, but I'm excited to see Tynan burn.
I really liked how different each character was. There was many POVs in this book which I felt were too many but I appreciated how different they felt. I didn't have to flip back to remember whose POV I was reading. I enjoyed the character dynamics a lot more in the beginning. The dynamics felt more coherent and genuine. As the book progressed, the choices the character's made to get to where they are really made me mad. I didn't like how much miscommunication and secrets there were between people who were supposed to be close.
The book really lost me after Draven and Lyra reunited. It felt like things spiralled out of control on 2x speed and the monologue Tynan did to reveal his master plan at the end had me rolling my eyes. It was also annoying how much betrayal there was because oh Tynan has xyz loved one(s) hostage. I know he's a master strategist but it truly felt like our character's were just puppets. As I was reading, every happy moment felt pointless because you knew Tynan was going to screw it all up and the character's can't do anything about it. I know it's a setup to have the character's hit rock bottom so there could be a big come back in the third book but I wish there was some variation or at least someone spared.
In the novella, Tynan murders his mom + found family (-Rhea) thus, breaking Draven.
In this one, Tynan murders Gray's parents, thus, breaking Gray.
Tynan takes Kiran's family hostage to get him to betray Draven.
Tynan holds Rhea's life hostage to control Draven
Tynan holds Lyra's free hostage to control Draven
Tynan takes King Yuram hostage.. effects yet to be seen.
Guess maybe we can conclude Tynan is just an asshole. I'm ready for his karma. The other thing is we don't yet know about his motivations so he feels like a mustache twirling villain who is evil for the sake of there needing to be a villain.
Lyra & Draven - I bought their romance a lot more in book 1. In book 2, I liked them before they reunited, there was so much yearning and the letters, I ate it up. But how they finally reunited.. kinda gave me the ick and how quickly it felt Lyra forgave Draven really bothered me. I know Draven is hopelessly devoted to Lyra and would burn the world for her and Draven only murdered the Abdites because they're known to be enemies.. I hold no fault for Draven. As the book goes, it is expected Lyra would forgive him because she understands what we do - that he didn't know - but I feel there should've been more turmoiled, more of a build up to her being able to forgive him and see him as him and not a murderer. Lyra was willing to save, protect and lead these people. They felt forgotten after. I think this may be a pacing issue.
On another note, Draven & Lyra wasting every moment on their first reunion not talking about anything about the Abdites was such a blunder, I cannot even fathom. Like this is such important information, just some words before they started talking dirty to each other would've changed so much. And when Lyra only left 4 words on a parchment as her goodbye. WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN? Of all the choices a character made in this book, this made me want to scream the loudest. How did she think the people who love her dearly would react? Did she think they would give up on finding her especially when it was not clear to her friend's that she was choosing to not come back?
Lyra & Casimir - I quite enjoyed the growth of their relationship. I think I do prefer them to have more of a sibling relationship than lovers.
Gray & Marcella - Like them. Hate the miscommunication trope though. I was ready to throw my e-reader at a wall. Marcella please, let him speak to you.
Finlay & Rhea - These two are toxic. I don't know if I buy their relationship yet.
Draven & Gray - Their dynamic was my favourite. I loved their heart to heart moment and was my favourite scene of the book.
Draven & Kiran - I was so sad at Kiran's betrayal. I get it, but I hate it.
Draven's memory loss. My god, I hate it. I hate this trope.
Last thing. I think the author has lyrical writing. The book is written in a way that's not plain and boggled down but still manages to be poetic. I think the writing style lives up to the musical titles. The book feels like a song at some points and it brings a feel of melancholy to the book, which I enjoyed.
Not sure if I'm excited to read book 3, but I'm excited to see Tynan burn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2026
4.75 STARS!!!
This series has me kicking my feet and screaming into the void, but what truly wrecked me in this book was the found family and their character development. Every single character felt CRITICAL. Every relationship mattered. Every POV added something meaningful... I'm kind of obsessed with them all right now.
💫 Lyra - QUEEN, endlessly compassionate and stronger than she realizes, carrying hope into places where it has no business surviving.
❤️ Rhea - fiercely loyal, endlessly determined, and willing to burn down the world for the people she loves... get it girl
🖤 Draven - a force of nature, carrying more responsibility than anyone should have to bear. So strong and yet soft in the best ways
✨ Gray - the embodiment of kindness and integrity, somehow remaining gentle in a world that constantly asks him not to be. You broke me at the end....
🌙 Marcella - guarded and resilient, learning that vulnerability might be the bravest thing she can offer. Ride of die for those she cares about (I relate)
🔥 Kiran - sharp, calculating, and always three moves ahead, even when the game starts slipping out of his control. I am devastated at how you hide your trauma
❄️ Casimir - equal parts devastating and fascinating, a man carrying impossible burdens while slowly letting people close enough to see the real you... I'm torn on this one
📚 Finlay - curious, earnest, and quietly becoming far more important to this story... Also I hate that I want to punch you and hug you at the same time
These characters choose each other. Protect each other. Fight for each other. The friendships, loyalty, sacrifices, and support just had me in all my feelings...
the YEARNING in this book should honestly come with a warning label. The tension. The longing. The almosts. I SUFFERED right alongside these characters and loved every second of it...
This book is packed with stolen glances, emotional intimacy, impossible choices, protective instincts, and aching romantic tension...
There were multiple moments where characters were inches away from giving me exactly what I wanted and then immediately ripped it away.
Rude.
Perfect.
10/10.
Tropes:
- Found Family
- Slow Burn
- Touch Her and Die
- Forced Proximity
- Protective MMCs
- Political Intrigue
- Multiple POVs
- Magic Academy
- High Fantasy
- Emotional Damage (the best kind)
- Loyalty & Sacrifice
- Who Did This To You?
- Powerful Magic System
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (still more tension than spice)
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Found Family: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Worldbuilding: 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍
Emotional Damage: 💀💀💀💀💀
This series continues to be one of my favorite romantasy discoveries of the year. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for the next book because I am emotionally attached to this entire cast and need them all to be okay.
And thanks to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and obsessive review.
This series has me kicking my feet and screaming into the void, but what truly wrecked me in this book was the found family and their character development. Every single character felt CRITICAL. Every relationship mattered. Every POV added something meaningful... I'm kind of obsessed with them all right now.
💫 Lyra - QUEEN, endlessly compassionate and stronger than she realizes, carrying hope into places where it has no business surviving.
❤️ Rhea - fiercely loyal, endlessly determined, and willing to burn down the world for the people she loves... get it girl
🖤 Draven - a force of nature, carrying more responsibility than anyone should have to bear. So strong and yet soft in the best ways
✨ Gray - the embodiment of kindness and integrity, somehow remaining gentle in a world that constantly asks him not to be. You broke me at the end....
🌙 Marcella - guarded and resilient, learning that vulnerability might be the bravest thing she can offer. Ride of die for those she cares about (I relate)
🔥 Kiran - sharp, calculating, and always three moves ahead, even when the game starts slipping out of his control. I am devastated at how you hide your trauma
❄️ Casimir - equal parts devastating and fascinating, a man carrying impossible burdens while slowly letting people close enough to see the real you... I'm torn on this one
📚 Finlay - curious, earnest, and quietly becoming far more important to this story... Also I hate that I want to punch you and hug you at the same time
These characters choose each other. Protect each other. Fight for each other. The friendships, loyalty, sacrifices, and support just had me in all my feelings...
the YEARNING in this book should honestly come with a warning label. The tension. The longing. The almosts. I SUFFERED right alongside these characters and loved every second of it...
This book is packed with stolen glances, emotional intimacy, impossible choices, protective instincts, and aching romantic tension...
There were multiple moments where characters were inches away from giving me exactly what I wanted and then immediately ripped it away.
Rude.
Perfect.
10/10.
Tropes:
- Found Family
- Slow Burn
- Touch Her and Die
- Forced Proximity
- Protective MMCs
- Political Intrigue
- Multiple POVs
- Magic Academy
- High Fantasy
- Emotional Damage (the best kind)
- Loyalty & Sacrifice
- Who Did This To You?
- Powerful Magic System
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (still more tension than spice)
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Found Family: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Worldbuilding: 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍
Emotional Damage: 💀💀💀💀💀
This series continues to be one of my favorite romantasy discoveries of the year. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for the next book because I am emotionally attached to this entire cast and need them all to be okay.
And thanks to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and obsessive review.
June 15, 2026
I can’t believe I’m saying that I’m DNFing this book. I LOVED A Requiem for Fallen Stars. I am at the 55% mark of this book and the whole thing is giving me the ick…it’s like Lyra has Stockholm Syndrome and I’m not into that trope. Her capture at the end of book 1 feels meaningless. When she reunites with Draven it does not live up to any hype…It’s also poorly paced—I have been very bored. I enjoy the additional POVs but where they come in just doesn’t make as much sense right now. I am so disappointed!
June 14, 2026
4.5⭐️
this book was absolutely amazing!!! at first experiencing all of the povs was overwhelming.. it took me a while to actually get into the book bc of it.. and tbh i don’t think we needed ALLLLL of the POVs BUT im very glad we had them bc it added so much depth to the story and i THRIVED on rhea and finleys POVs 😍 this is the enemies to lovers what we NEEDED!!!!
i also loved cassimir, i really hope we get to hear more from him in the third book!!! i love him and lyra and was honestly shipping them for a hot minute 💅🏽💅🏽
but lyra and draven have truly been though so many obstacles… and i love how the writer keep creating barriers that prevent them from being together fully! that is what makes a story interesting and honestly makes me want to keep reading (ofc the fantasy plot itself was also stellar) but the relationship development plays a huge role as well.. and i just think this series is very well done!!
i would def recommend to read the novella first, otherwise you wont understand a lot of references here in this book.
but overall, had a GREAT time, would absolutely recommend
this book was absolutely amazing!!! at first experiencing all of the povs was overwhelming.. it took me a while to actually get into the book bc of it.. and tbh i don’t think we needed ALLLLL of the POVs BUT im very glad we had them bc it added so much depth to the story and i THRIVED on rhea and finleys POVs 😍 this is the enemies to lovers what we NEEDED!!!!
i also loved cassimir, i really hope we get to hear more from him in the third book!!! i love him and lyra and was honestly shipping them for a hot minute 💅🏽💅🏽
but lyra and draven have truly been though so many obstacles… and i love how the writer keep creating barriers that prevent them from being together fully! that is what makes a story interesting and honestly makes me want to keep reading (ofc the fantasy plot itself was also stellar) but the relationship development plays a huge role as well.. and i just think this series is very well done!!
i would def recommend to read the novella first, otherwise you wont understand a lot of references here in this book.
but overall, had a GREAT time, would absolutely recommend
May 18, 2026
✨ARC Review✨ (Thank you NerdFam for this ARC)
No "clicks their tongue" or "click my tongue" in this book! Immediate win for me!
I enjoyed "A Requiem for Fallen Stars" I just didn't enjoy that repeated phrase up above, nor how fast the relationship goes from 0-100.
I adored "A Composition of Scars" and cried and fell in love with the story and Draven.
"A Ballad for the Broken" I felt settled into the groove and was a very enjoyable read. Normally multi-pov books can be hit or miss, sometimes it can become the weakness for the book, but I feel like this was the strength of this book. I loved getting into everyone's heads and everyone's growth and progression in the story.
The NEW ROMANCES... yes. Give me all of them! I am so excited to see what happens with F + R and G + M... I cannot wait!
I think the ending will be something people will either love or hate, as it is a trope that can be hated if done badly, or loved if done correctly, and I have hope that it will all work out and be done well.
I really loved Casimir as well in this book, he is a complex character and you feel for him while also being concerned. I was conflicted A LOT in this book and that is what made it great.
I can't wait to see how this story wraps up, I am excited to cry, because I think it will be bittersweet. Just don't touch any of the precious characters I love okay?
No "clicks their tongue" or "click my tongue" in this book! Immediate win for me!
I enjoyed "A Requiem for Fallen Stars" I just didn't enjoy that repeated phrase up above, nor how fast the relationship goes from 0-100.
I adored "A Composition of Scars" and cried and fell in love with the story and Draven.
"A Ballad for the Broken" I felt settled into the groove and was a very enjoyable read. Normally multi-pov books can be hit or miss, sometimes it can become the weakness for the book, but I feel like this was the strength of this book. I loved getting into everyone's heads and everyone's growth and progression in the story.
The NEW ROMANCES... yes. Give me all of them! I am so excited to see what happens with F + R and G + M... I cannot wait!
I think the ending will be something people will either love or hate, as it is a trope that can be hated if done badly, or loved if done correctly, and I have hope that it will all work out and be done well.
I really loved Casimir as well in this book, he is a complex character and you feel for him while also being concerned. I was conflicted A LOT in this book and that is what made it great.
I can't wait to see how this story wraps up, I am excited to cry, because I think it will be bittersweet. Just don't touch any of the precious characters I love okay?
July 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ need to process a review
June 12, 2026
And Hazel S. Wilkes does it again! I’m literally speechless with this book, it’s that incredible. The threads she wove together through this series so far and where she set us up to go leaves me desperate for more.
Lyra and Draven remain one of my favorite book couples, but the rest of the characters in this book (including Casimir) are just as good. I haven’t loved a full cast of characters like this since reading Throne of Glass.
This world has my heart and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Lyra and Draven remain one of my favorite book couples, but the rest of the characters in this book (including Casimir) are just as good. I haven’t loved a full cast of characters like this since reading Throne of Glass.
This world has my heart and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
June 26, 2026
This was a hard one for me. I LOVED the first two. This one just dragged and dragged and dragged. It was too long. We didn’t need all of the POVs. I wanted to DNF so many times. I only didn’t because I’m a petty hate reader. There was way too much telling over showing. The chapter with the letters was so cringeworthy to me. I get that the point was to fill people in on Draven’s past if they didn’t read the novella. But IMO, that’s on them. That info should have just been kept in the novella.
All in all, it just felt very disjointed and all over the place. I MIGHT give the next one a chance solely because the first two were so good. We’ll see.
All in all, it just felt very disjointed and all over the place. I MIGHT give the next one a chance solely because the first two were so good. We’ll see.
July 23, 2026
“𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙘”
i won’t lie, the first 40% of book one felt a little slow, and i wasn’t quite sure where the story was heading. but once everything clicked into place, i genuinely couldn’t put these books down
the world is magical and whimsical while also being incredibly emotional and heartbreaking. the novella absolutely destroyed me - learning about everything draven endured growing up made my heart ache for him and somehow made me love his character even more
the found family in this series is one of its greatest strengths. the bond between lyra and gray was written so beautifully, and their friendship was everything. they would do absolutely anything for each other, and i loved every moment of it. i also had to laugh at how jealous draven was in the beginning - it just proved he’d fallen for lyra from day one
and we can’t forget cas. he may be the ‘villain’, but the more we learned about him, the more i understood his choices. he’s such a layered, fascinating character, and i loved that nothing felt simply black and white
the political side of the story is handled perfectly too. it’s present enough to keep the stakes high without ever becoming overwhelming, creating such a satisfying balance of adventure, romance, magic, and political intrigue
i also really appreciated the multiple povs. it wasn’t just lyra and draven’s story - we got to dive into gray, marcella, rhea, finlay, and so many other characters, which made the world feel so much richer
that final 10% of a ballad for the broken absolutely shattered me. these characters have been through so much, and they deserve a break. my heart wasn’t prepared for any of it
“𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙡𝙮𝙧𝙖. 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙. 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣-𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡”
i won’t lie, the first 40% of book one felt a little slow, and i wasn’t quite sure where the story was heading. but once everything clicked into place, i genuinely couldn’t put these books down
the world is magical and whimsical while also being incredibly emotional and heartbreaking. the novella absolutely destroyed me - learning about everything draven endured growing up made my heart ache for him and somehow made me love his character even more
the found family in this series is one of its greatest strengths. the bond between lyra and gray was written so beautifully, and their friendship was everything. they would do absolutely anything for each other, and i loved every moment of it. i also had to laugh at how jealous draven was in the beginning - it just proved he’d fallen for lyra from day one
and we can’t forget cas. he may be the ‘villain’, but the more we learned about him, the more i understood his choices. he’s such a layered, fascinating character, and i loved that nothing felt simply black and white
the political side of the story is handled perfectly too. it’s present enough to keep the stakes high without ever becoming overwhelming, creating such a satisfying balance of adventure, romance, magic, and political intrigue
i also really appreciated the multiple povs. it wasn’t just lyra and draven’s story - we got to dive into gray, marcella, rhea, finlay, and so many other characters, which made the world feel so much richer
that final 10% of a ballad for the broken absolutely shattered me. these characters have been through so much, and they deserve a break. my heart wasn’t prepared for any of it
“𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙡𝙮𝙧𝙖. 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙. 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣-𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡”
July 1, 2026
5/5🌟 this broke me. I’m still processing honestly. God tier series. Some of my favorite characters of all time. No notes please read these books
July 14, 2026
4⭐️ It took me a little bit to get into this book but once it got going, I was locked in.
June 15, 2026
This series isn’t just getting better—it’s becoming unforgettable.
6/5⭐️, 3🌶️
Hazel S. Wilkes, what do you have against my emotional well-being?!
This series has all the makings of the next big romantasy obsession, and with every book, it somehow gets better. A Ballad for the Broken completely consumed me from beginning to end. The magic, the heartbreak, the tension, the characters—everything was elevated to another level.
What makes this series truly special isn’t just the FMC and MMC (who own a permanent place in my heart), but the fact that Hazel makes you fall HARD for every single side character too. Every friendship, every alliance, every heartbreaking moment feels important. The world feels alive because the characters feel real.
And if you thought book one was incredible, just wait until you read A Composition of Scars and then dive into A Ballad for the Broken. Each installment builds beautifully on the last, raising the stakes, deepening the emotional connections, and leaving you even more invested.
That ending? Absolutely criminal. I am scarred, ruined, emotionally compromised, and drowning in questions. Hazel left me staring at the final page wondering how I’m supposed to function while waiting for book three.
This series isn’t just getting better—it’s becoming unforgettable.
6/5⭐️, 3🌶️
Hazel S. Wilkes, what do you have against my emotional well-being?!
This series has all the makings of the next big romantasy obsession, and with every book, it somehow gets better. A Ballad for the Broken completely consumed me from beginning to end. The magic, the heartbreak, the tension, the characters—everything was elevated to another level.
What makes this series truly special isn’t just the FMC and MMC (who own a permanent place in my heart), but the fact that Hazel makes you fall HARD for every single side character too. Every friendship, every alliance, every heartbreaking moment feels important. The world feels alive because the characters feel real.
And if you thought book one was incredible, just wait until you read A Composition of Scars and then dive into A Ballad for the Broken. Each installment builds beautifully on the last, raising the stakes, deepening the emotional connections, and leaving you even more invested.
That ending? Absolutely criminal. I am scarred, ruined, emotionally compromised, and drowning in questions. Hazel left me staring at the final page wondering how I’m supposed to function while waiting for book three.
This series isn’t just getting better—it’s becoming unforgettable.
June 19, 2026
1.5 stars
This was a mess!! I hated the 10 thousand POVs. Nothing happens until after de 60% of the book. It was way toooooo long for a book that felt a lot like a filler. The 4 couples development? Not the book for that, do a novella for them!!! The intend for a love triangle (I hated it) and the cherry of this mess - the memory loss... that's it for me. I won't be continuing.
This was a mess!! I hated the 10 thousand POVs. Nothing happens until after de 60% of the book. It was way toooooo long for a book that felt a lot like a filler. The 4 couples development? Not the book for that, do a novella for them!!! The intend for a love triangle (I hated it) and the cherry of this mess - the memory loss... that's it for me. I won't be continuing.
May 21, 2026
I received this as an ARC, and I want to sincerely thank Hazel S. Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for the opportunity to read this early.
I went into A Ballad for the Broken thinking I understood what heartbreak in this series looked like. I thought the ending of A Composition of Scars was devastating.
I was wrong.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have mentally prepared me for the emotional warfare that is the final ten percent of this book. It did not just hurt. It unraveled me.
This story feels like standing in the aftermath of something burning, watching the smoke curl upward while trying to remember what it looked like before. Every page is threaded with tension, grief, hope, and something sharp and unrelenting beneath it all.
I will admit, I usually struggle with sequels that expand into multiple POVs. It can feel disjointed, like the emotional thread gets pulled too thin.
But this book nailed it.
Every perspective added weight. Depth. Meaning.
Finlay’s chapters, in particular, hit hard. Getting inside his head, watching him wrestle with the crushing weight of his father’s expectations while trying to stay loyal to the people he loves, was quietly devastating. And him and Rhea… there is something so achingly human about them. Two people starved for affection and acceptance, recognizing that same emptiness in each other, yet never quite able to bridge the gap. It is the kind of dynamic that does not just hurt, it lingers.
And then there is Lyra and Draven.
I do not even know where to begin without feeling that tightness in my chest all over again.
Draven’s relentless determination to find Lyra, to protect her at all costs, to choose her again and again without hesitation, it is the kind of devotion that feels almost sacred. And Lyra… the way she is finally seen, truly accepted for everything she is, everything she has never been allowed to be before, it mirrors what she once gave Draven before she even knew who he was.
There is a symmetry there that feels powerful. Unbreakable.
When rocks fly… that is all I will say. If you know, you know.
This book is soaked in moral conflict, choices that do not have clean answers, loyalties that fracture and reform, bonds that break only to be stitched back together with something stronger, something more painful.
It is messy. It is raw. It is unforgettable.
And I already know I will never fully recover from it.
I went into A Ballad for the Broken thinking I understood what heartbreak in this series looked like. I thought the ending of A Composition of Scars was devastating.
I was wrong.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have mentally prepared me for the emotional warfare that is the final ten percent of this book. It did not just hurt. It unraveled me.
This story feels like standing in the aftermath of something burning, watching the smoke curl upward while trying to remember what it looked like before. Every page is threaded with tension, grief, hope, and something sharp and unrelenting beneath it all.
I will admit, I usually struggle with sequels that expand into multiple POVs. It can feel disjointed, like the emotional thread gets pulled too thin.
But this book nailed it.
Every perspective added weight. Depth. Meaning.
Finlay’s chapters, in particular, hit hard. Getting inside his head, watching him wrestle with the crushing weight of his father’s expectations while trying to stay loyal to the people he loves, was quietly devastating. And him and Rhea… there is something so achingly human about them. Two people starved for affection and acceptance, recognizing that same emptiness in each other, yet never quite able to bridge the gap. It is the kind of dynamic that does not just hurt, it lingers.
And then there is Lyra and Draven.
I do not even know where to begin without feeling that tightness in my chest all over again.
Draven’s relentless determination to find Lyra, to protect her at all costs, to choose her again and again without hesitation, it is the kind of devotion that feels almost sacred. And Lyra… the way she is finally seen, truly accepted for everything she is, everything she has never been allowed to be before, it mirrors what she once gave Draven before she even knew who he was.
There is a symmetry there that feels powerful. Unbreakable.
When rocks fly… that is all I will say. If you know, you know.
This book is soaked in moral conflict, choices that do not have clean answers, loyalties that fracture and reform, bonds that break only to be stitched back together with something stronger, something more painful.
It is messy. It is raw. It is unforgettable.
And I already know I will never fully recover from it.
July 14, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ Going into book 2, I was intrigued because I enjoyed the first book and wanted to see where the story would go. I actually liked this one slightly more than the first, and I still really enjoy the characters, the world, and the overall storyline. There are a lot of things I love about this series, but this book definitely had some pacing issues.
The biggest thing for me was the pacing and how long this book felt. There were a lot of scenes that didn’t feel completely necessary, and I found myself skimming quite a bit because the story wasn’t moving as quickly as I wanted. The beginning and ending had a lot happening, but the middle felt pretty slow and I kept waiting for the story to really pick up.
I also wasn’t sure how I felt about all the new POVs. I didn’t hate them, and I think the characters were interesting, but I really missed having more focus on Lyra and Draven. A lot of time was spent building other relationships and following different characters, which sometimes made the main storyline feel pushed to the side.
The ending was probably my biggest issue. The last 15% had SO much happening with all the reveals and plot twists that it almost gave me whiplash. I feel like a lot of romantasy books do this where everything gets saved for the end, and I really wish some of that action and excitement was spread out more throughout the book instead of being crammed into the final chapters.
I also think there was a lot of lore, history, and extra information added that made an already long book feel even longer. I somehow thought this was a duology, so I was surprised when I realized there was another book. Part of me is glad because there are still a lot of things I want answers to, but I do think this installment could have been shorter and more focused.
I still love these characters and this world, so I’ll definitely continue the series. I’m hoping the next book has a stronger pace.
The biggest thing for me was the pacing and how long this book felt. There were a lot of scenes that didn’t feel completely necessary, and I found myself skimming quite a bit because the story wasn’t moving as quickly as I wanted. The beginning and ending had a lot happening, but the middle felt pretty slow and I kept waiting for the story to really pick up.
I also wasn’t sure how I felt about all the new POVs. I didn’t hate them, and I think the characters were interesting, but I really missed having more focus on Lyra and Draven. A lot of time was spent building other relationships and following different characters, which sometimes made the main storyline feel pushed to the side.
The ending was probably my biggest issue. The last 15% had SO much happening with all the reveals and plot twists that it almost gave me whiplash. I feel like a lot of romantasy books do this where everything gets saved for the end, and I really wish some of that action and excitement was spread out more throughout the book instead of being crammed into the final chapters.
I also think there was a lot of lore, history, and extra information added that made an already long book feel even longer. I somehow thought this was a duology, so I was surprised when I realized there was another book. Part of me is glad because there are still a lot of things I want answers to, but I do think this installment could have been shorter and more focused.
I still love these characters and this world, so I’ll definitely continue the series. I’m hoping the next book has a stronger pace.
July 6, 2026
This series has it ALL - an incredible cast of characters. Plot and magic that has depth and keeps you guessing the entire time. A love story full of yearning and delicious agony. THIS IS IT YALL!!
I loved this sequel in that the story changed from one POV to several, rounding out the cast and allowing more depth with them, along with seeing the story unfold from multiple angles. The breadcrumbs that Hazel sets up are sprinkled throughout and unfold in amazing ways!
Lyra is a soul character through and through. She is hardened from loss but has started to open up her heart, feeling a wide array of emotions and realizing that it is okay to do so.
Draven aka the most down bad yearner of 2026 - he is so powerful and yet will throw it all away for her. I adore him so freaking much!
Gray is the biggest green flag man I’ve ever met and I want him to remain so forever ❤️
I could go on and on about all the characters, but let’s just say that this story is like Game of Thrones meets Spark of the Everflame. From multiple kingdoms and warring nobility and those in need, from corrupted magic to prophecies, you are never left wanting. It may seem daunting, but it is developed in such a natural way for the reader to digest!
This series will be staying with me for a long time. I am GAGGED with this cliffhanger ending until we get the next book!!!
I loved this sequel in that the story changed from one POV to several, rounding out the cast and allowing more depth with them, along with seeing the story unfold from multiple angles. The breadcrumbs that Hazel sets up are sprinkled throughout and unfold in amazing ways!
Lyra is a soul character through and through. She is hardened from loss but has started to open up her heart, feeling a wide array of emotions and realizing that it is okay to do so.
Draven aka the most down bad yearner of 2026 - he is so powerful and yet will throw it all away for her. I adore him so freaking much!
Gray is the biggest green flag man I’ve ever met and I want him to remain so forever ❤️
I could go on and on about all the characters, but let’s just say that this story is like Game of Thrones meets Spark of the Everflame. From multiple kingdoms and warring nobility and those in need, from corrupted magic to prophecies, you are never left wanting. It may seem daunting, but it is developed in such a natural way for the reader to digest!
This series will be staying with me for a long time. I am GAGGED with this cliffhanger ending until we get the next book!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 572 reviews