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Cadence of the Fallen #2
A Ballad for the Broken
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26Lyra 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
Expected publication June 9, 2026
About the author
Hazel S. Wilkes
3 books229 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
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.
Currently Reading
November 7, 2025please i need this rn
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?
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.
May 24, 2026
⭐️eARC Review⭐️ The Nerd Fam and Hazel for trusting me with this early copy is genuinely the highlight of my year. Forever grateful for the trust you have put into your readers.
Draven. My sweet boy. You fall hopelessly for this character throughout the entire series. Slowly, I began to feel like the third wheel in his and Lyras relationship. That’s why this book left me in PIECES.
Hazel was able to continue building the antagonists from Requiem and develop their characters so seamlessly it was like the first and second novel never had a break. Draven’s father, Tynan, was evil in book one but book two really started to exemplify how deep rooted his evil is. Book 1.5 I believe to be essential before reading two so you really have a feel for the type of man Tynan is before delving into this world.
Caspian. I really thought woah for a minute.. will he be our new lover?? What about Draven?? I’m still curious if this plot will he taken into the next book. The journey I was taken on with Cas and the overlap with the current situation Lyra finds herself in is magical writing to say the least.
Hazel, you’re a queen who writes queen books.
Draven. My sweet boy. You fall hopelessly for this character throughout the entire series. Slowly, I began to feel like the third wheel in his and Lyras relationship. That’s why this book left me in PIECES.
Hazel was able to continue building the antagonists from Requiem and develop their characters so seamlessly it was like the first and second novel never had a break. Draven’s father, Tynan, was evil in book one but book two really started to exemplify how deep rooted his evil is. Book 1.5 I believe to be essential before reading two so you really have a feel for the type of man Tynan is before delving into this world.
Caspian. I really thought woah for a minute.. will he be our new lover?? What about Draven?? I’m still curious if this plot will he taken into the next book. The journey I was taken on with Cas and the overlap with the current situation Lyra finds herself in is magical writing to say the least.
Hazel, you’re a queen who writes queen books.
Review of advance copy
I experienced the first few chapters as similar to the first book, but to be fair, the first book was epic and anticipatorily emotional in its own! Who could have thought that Wilkes could top herself with A Ballad for the Broken, and the title fits perfectly because BOY AM I EMOTIONALLY BROKEN!! It was a dense book and lots of things happened, but every page, sentence, and word was worth it. I'm still flabbergasted after finishing it last night, because that ending?! WHAT THE HOLY MOTHERLY COWS?! The mind games, the philosophical choices (that aren't really choices tbh), and the revelations were just thrown at us, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very last proclamation mark.
While our lovers Lyra and Draven are apart, we get to explore other characters more. I've come to grow to Rhea and, consequently, Finlay too. But mainly Rhea because she's a sassy badass with a traumatized past. Honestly, I think that all these characters would make a lovely therapy group :)
Everything is actually just top-tier: character depth and development, worldbuilding, narrative plots, themes, etc. The only thing that may be somewhat intimidating at first is that there are quite a lot of POVs, but as you continue, you get used to it and just enjoy learning more about the character.
One of the things that I love about this author is her poetic and flowing writing. She doesn't miss a beat, and it's written in such a way that it truly adds colour to your imagination! Everything is so vivid yet distinct.
Then the themes of this series! Look, I love a good political intrigue in books, but here, Wilkes just throws a splash of philosophy on it with deep, deep lore. AND IT'S FAR FROM BORING!! It's clear that we love these morally grey characters as they relate to our most humane essences. And I think that it's also important to know that we all have our ups and downs, so that we can respect each other and not judge each other so quickly. The politics here are just mind-blowing and twistedly insane. It makes you think critically and put yourself into the shoes of those with power.
I love how we keep exploring new things about this unique, magical system of elemental magic. When you find the character art, it's giving Shadowhunters vibes.
There's not really a structure in this review (sorry!!), but the dynamics between the main group of characters is like a found traumatized family where trust is a fickle thing. Though when you have the trust, or rather loyalty, you have it like a bloodbond. They will burn the world for you (*kuch kuch DRAVEN). There are some heavy topics being discussed here, so it's not for the faint-hearted, but I do recommend trying to read it because it's being discussed with the hopes of some kind of healing or sense of being able to talk about it. Moreover, I find that Wilkes portrayed these topics in a considerate and representational way; not smoothening over it or making it too dramatic.
Another note, between the tears and shock, there are some serene familial and comic moments between a pair of characters or in the group overall. There's some teasing and sassiness that makes you laugh and giggle, balancing out the emotional overload of the story.
Suffice it to say that I sang multiple Ballads for the Broken.
Thank you to Hazel S. Wilkes & The Nerd Fam for the gifted e-ARC.
While our lovers Lyra and Draven are apart, we get to explore other characters more. I've come to grow to Rhea and, consequently, Finlay too. But mainly Rhea because she's a sassy badass with a traumatized past. Honestly, I think that all these characters would make a lovely therapy group :)
Everything is actually just top-tier: character depth and development, worldbuilding, narrative plots, themes, etc. The only thing that may be somewhat intimidating at first is that there are quite a lot of POVs, but as you continue, you get used to it and just enjoy learning more about the character.
One of the things that I love about this author is her poetic and flowing writing. She doesn't miss a beat, and it's written in such a way that it truly adds colour to your imagination! Everything is so vivid yet distinct.
Then the themes of this series! Look, I love a good political intrigue in books, but here, Wilkes just throws a splash of philosophy on it with deep, deep lore. AND IT'S FAR FROM BORING!! It's clear that we love these morally grey characters as they relate to our most humane essences. And I think that it's also important to know that we all have our ups and downs, so that we can respect each other and not judge each other so quickly. The politics here are just mind-blowing and twistedly insane. It makes you think critically and put yourself into the shoes of those with power.
I love how we keep exploring new things about this unique, magical system of elemental magic. When you find the character art, it's giving Shadowhunters vibes.
There's not really a structure in this review (sorry!!), but the dynamics between the main group of characters is like a found traumatized family where trust is a fickle thing. Though when you have the trust, or rather loyalty, you have it like a bloodbond. They will burn the world for you (*kuch kuch DRAVEN). There are some heavy topics being discussed here, so it's not for the faint-hearted, but I do recommend trying to read it because it's being discussed with the hopes of some kind of healing or sense of being able to talk about it. Moreover, I find that Wilkes portrayed these topics in a considerate and representational way; not smoothening over it or making it too dramatic.
Another note, between the tears and shock, there are some serene familial and comic moments between a pair of characters or in the group overall. There's some teasing and sassiness that makes you laugh and giggle, balancing out the emotional overload of the story.
Suffice it to say that I sang multiple Ballads for the Broken.
Thank you to Hazel S. Wilkes & The Nerd Fam for the gifted e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
6 stars out of 5, easily.
The Ballad of the Broken completely exceeded every expectation I had. It’s one of those books where every part of it feels intentional, the characters, the relationships, the politics, the emotional moments, all of it. I finished this feeling genuinely attached to these people in a way that almost never happens for me.
What impressed me most was how emotionally honest the story felt. Nobody is simplified into being purely good or bad, and because of that, every conflict hurts more. The characters make mistakes, say the wrong things, hurt each other, love each other anyway, it all feels incredibly real.
Also, I need to talk about Rhea because I absolutely adored her. Every scene with her immediately had my attention. She’s sharp, emotionally layered, chaotic in the best way, and honestly one of the most compelling characters in the entire series for me. I went from being interested in her to fully emotionally attached before I even realized it happened.
And Draven and Rhea together??? Completely obsessed. Every interaction between them had so much tension and emotional weight behind it that I was fully invested no matter what they were doing. They somehow manage to be frustrating, devastating, and perfect for each other all at once. Their dynamic never felt forced or overly dramatic either, it felt messy and believable in the best way. Every conversation between them felt like it mattered.
Don’t get me started on Gray… His ending absolutely broke me. What happened to him was genuinely horrifying. All I wanted after that chapters was for him to somehow make it through all of this and still get the future he deserves with Marcella. At this point I am fully emotionally attached to the idea of Gray getting his happy ending because I cannot handle this man being destroyed like this.
I don’t get it either but somehow… SOMEHOW… this book also managed to make me genuinely feel for Casmir??? Which honestly has me questioning myself a little. Am I the toxic one now? Because the fact that I caught myself understanding him after everything was deeply concerning. Hazel has a terrifying talent for making you sympathize with characters you absolutely did not plan on sympathizing with.
I also really appreciated the multiple POVs. Usually that format loses me a little, but here every perspective added something important. It made the world feel bigger while also making the emotional stakes feel more personal.
The writing is beautiful without feeling overdone. It’s immersive, emotional, and incredibly easy to fall into. There were so many scenes that felt so vivid in my head that I forgot I was reading for a second.
And the relationships in this series are genuinely one of its strongest points. Every bond feels developed and earned.
By the end of this book, I was even more emotionally invested than I thought was possible, attached to everyone, and already wanting to reread it. This series just keeps getting better and somehow more emotionally damaging at the same time. That ending will stay with me for a LONG time.
Thank you so much for the e-arc Hazel and TheNerdFam. A truly special series that I will cherish forever 🥹
The Ballad of the Broken completely exceeded every expectation I had. It’s one of those books where every part of it feels intentional, the characters, the relationships, the politics, the emotional moments, all of it. I finished this feeling genuinely attached to these people in a way that almost never happens for me.
What impressed me most was how emotionally honest the story felt. Nobody is simplified into being purely good or bad, and because of that, every conflict hurts more. The characters make mistakes, say the wrong things, hurt each other, love each other anyway, it all feels incredibly real.
Also, I need to talk about Rhea because I absolutely adored her. Every scene with her immediately had my attention. She’s sharp, emotionally layered, chaotic in the best way, and honestly one of the most compelling characters in the entire series for me. I went from being interested in her to fully emotionally attached before I even realized it happened.
And Draven and Rhea together??? Completely obsessed. Every interaction between them had so much tension and emotional weight behind it that I was fully invested no matter what they were doing. They somehow manage to be frustrating, devastating, and perfect for each other all at once. Their dynamic never felt forced or overly dramatic either, it felt messy and believable in the best way. Every conversation between them felt like it mattered.
Don’t get me started on Gray… His ending absolutely broke me. What happened to him was genuinely horrifying. All I wanted after that chapters was for him to somehow make it through all of this and still get the future he deserves with Marcella. At this point I am fully emotionally attached to the idea of Gray getting his happy ending because I cannot handle this man being destroyed like this.
I don’t get it either but somehow… SOMEHOW… this book also managed to make me genuinely feel for Casmir??? Which honestly has me questioning myself a little. Am I the toxic one now? Because the fact that I caught myself understanding him after everything was deeply concerning. Hazel has a terrifying talent for making you sympathize with characters you absolutely did not plan on sympathizing with.
I also really appreciated the multiple POVs. Usually that format loses me a little, but here every perspective added something important. It made the world feel bigger while also making the emotional stakes feel more personal.
The writing is beautiful without feeling overdone. It’s immersive, emotional, and incredibly easy to fall into. There were so many scenes that felt so vivid in my head that I forgot I was reading for a second.
And the relationships in this series are genuinely one of its strongest points. Every bond feels developed and earned.
By the end of this book, I was even more emotionally invested than I thought was possible, attached to everyone, and already wanting to reread it. This series just keeps getting better and somehow more emotionally damaging at the same time. That ending will stay with me for a LONG time.
Thank you so much for the e-arc Hazel and TheNerdFam. A truly special series that I will cherish forever 🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“the world is more beautiful to me when it’s painted in lilac.”
—
a ballad for the broken completely consumed me while simultaneously ripping my heart out and stomping on it repeatedly.
the characters in this book were beyond layered and complex. the constant battle of morality, and nobody really knowing what the “right” choice even was anymore, had me questioning so many things. everyone was grieving, yearning, keeping secrets, making mistakes, loving people they maybe shouldn’t, and trying to survive the consequences of it all. the way those conflicting emotions were handled was done SO well. nobody is purely good or evil, and it felt completely necessary for the story moving forward.
the side characters and romances were SUCH a highlight for me. while i loved all the new povs and chapters, i especially adored learning more about rhea. i swear someone was hiding in my walls while writing her because her insecurities felt way too real. and her relationship with a certain someone had me pulling my hair out and screaming over every interaction.
“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏, 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅, 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆. 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏.”
gray — my sweet angel baby. he’s officially on the book bf list. the way he YEARNS is actually insane. everything he says had me losing my mind and highlighting half the page. and that ending… don’t touch me. he’s such a strong, supportive side character and i love him so much.
“𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
and draven… my god. after reading a composition of scars, i genuinely didn’t think this man could suffer any more. oh, how wrong i was. please protect him at all costs. like i was fully getting war flashbacks to lionel and darius, and that alone should speak for itself.
the writing itself was beautiful and lyrical without ever losing the emotional intensity behind it. the world building and expansion of the magic added so much depth, and the found family was my absolute favorite. i fear i’ve become emotionally attached to every single one of them.
i also really appreciated the pov structure. while lyra’s chapters are written in first person and the others in third, i thought it worked so well. it reinforced that lyra remains the heart of the story while still allowing every other character and storyline to intertwine in such an impactful way.
my heart is still broken over that ending and i need the next book in my hands asap to figure out how we’re all supposed to move on from here.
thank you so much hazel and her team for this amazing e-arc! it’s such an honor to be a part of this incredible street team. ♥︎
“𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
—
a ballad for the broken completely consumed me while simultaneously ripping my heart out and stomping on it repeatedly.
the characters in this book were beyond layered and complex. the constant battle of morality, and nobody really knowing what the “right” choice even was anymore, had me questioning so many things. everyone was grieving, yearning, keeping secrets, making mistakes, loving people they maybe shouldn’t, and trying to survive the consequences of it all. the way those conflicting emotions were handled was done SO well. nobody is purely good or evil, and it felt completely necessary for the story moving forward.
the side characters and romances were SUCH a highlight for me. while i loved all the new povs and chapters, i especially adored learning more about rhea. i swear someone was hiding in my walls while writing her because her insecurities felt way too real. and her relationship with a certain someone had me pulling my hair out and screaming over every interaction.
“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏, 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅, 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆. 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏.”
gray — my sweet angel baby. he’s officially on the book bf list. the way he YEARNS is actually insane. everything he says had me losing my mind and highlighting half the page. and that ending… don’t touch me. he’s such a strong, supportive side character and i love him so much.
“𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
and draven… my god. after reading a composition of scars, i genuinely didn’t think this man could suffer any more. oh, how wrong i was. please protect him at all costs. like i was fully getting war flashbacks to lionel and darius, and that alone should speak for itself.
the writing itself was beautiful and lyrical without ever losing the emotional intensity behind it. the world building and expansion of the magic added so much depth, and the found family was my absolute favorite. i fear i’ve become emotionally attached to every single one of them.
i also really appreciated the pov structure. while lyra’s chapters are written in first person and the others in third, i thought it worked so well. it reinforced that lyra remains the heart of the story while still allowing every other character and storyline to intertwine in such an impactful way.
my heart is still broken over that ending and i need the next book in my hands asap to figure out how we’re all supposed to move on from here.
thank you so much hazel and her team for this amazing e-arc! it’s such an honor to be a part of this incredible street team. ♥︎
“𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”
May 26, 2026
Hazel S. Wilkes is on an infinity star roll and you’ve got to stop sleeping on this series!
It’s detail heavy with beautiful world building and one of the most breathtaking romances I’ve read in romantasy. Draven Dalmar holds my heart in his hands and I don’t see me dislodging myself from his clutches anytime soon.
Requiem stole my breath and heart, leaving me desperate for more.
Composition gave more depth to Draven that made the events in Requiem so much sweeter.
Ballad? Buckle up, buttercup. The prophesy is coming to be and no one is prepared. We pick up where Requiem left us—right on the edge of our dang seats.
We get more POV’s, offering more insights to these characters which only left me loving, and loathing, them more. For some, understanding why they do as they do makes me go, “Oh, yeah. Sure. Not hating you for that.” For others, I’m left thinking “Wtf…no, just, no. You can’t be redeemed for that.”
I’m left with so many questions and have no doubt my mind will be spinning conspiracies for the foreseeable future, because that’s all I’ve done for hours since finishing this, while trying to determine what to write in this review.
I can’t leave those questions here because I want this to be spoiler free, but there is one speculation I can expand on…
While initially, I kept checking to see whether the first person POV for Lyra and third person for everyone else may have been a mistake, I came to the conclusion that it’s intentional. Brilliant, honestly. Maintaining alternating tense within the POV’s is truly challenging, and Wilkes mastered it. I’m conspiring as to why it could be and feel like I have a solid theory, but I anticipate I’m way off base. While this alternation made reading slow initially, I eventually caught up with the theme and tore straight through.
The first forty percent had its moments of feeling slow, detail heavy when I was ready for action since this is book two, but once the pace picked up and every single detail became critical to the action, I was no longer frustrated with the pace.
I’m sad to say I have no heartwarming quotes to add because my Kindle lost all of my annotations and honestly, came really close to being thrown across the room as I hyperventilated. It’s okay, though. My paperback of Requiem is already heavily annotated and my signed copies of Composition and Ballad will be following suit soon, even if it would have been slightly easier had this little device with my life in its clutches behaved appropriately.
Thank you, Hazel S Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
It’s detail heavy with beautiful world building and one of the most breathtaking romances I’ve read in romantasy. Draven Dalmar holds my heart in his hands and I don’t see me dislodging myself from his clutches anytime soon.
Requiem stole my breath and heart, leaving me desperate for more.
Composition gave more depth to Draven that made the events in Requiem so much sweeter.
Ballad? Buckle up, buttercup. The prophesy is coming to be and no one is prepared. We pick up where Requiem left us—right on the edge of our dang seats.
We get more POV’s, offering more insights to these characters which only left me loving, and loathing, them more. For some, understanding why they do as they do makes me go, “Oh, yeah. Sure. Not hating you for that.” For others, I’m left thinking “Wtf…no, just, no. You can’t be redeemed for that.”
I’m left with so many questions and have no doubt my mind will be spinning conspiracies for the foreseeable future, because that’s all I’ve done for hours since finishing this, while trying to determine what to write in this review.
I can’t leave those questions here because I want this to be spoiler free, but there is one speculation I can expand on…
While initially, I kept checking to see whether the first person POV for Lyra and third person for everyone else may have been a mistake, I came to the conclusion that it’s intentional. Brilliant, honestly. Maintaining alternating tense within the POV’s is truly challenging, and Wilkes mastered it. I’m conspiring as to why it could be and feel like I have a solid theory, but I anticipate I’m way off base. While this alternation made reading slow initially, I eventually caught up with the theme and tore straight through.
The first forty percent had its moments of feeling slow, detail heavy when I was ready for action since this is book two, but once the pace picked up and every single detail became critical to the action, I was no longer frustrated with the pace.
I’m sad to say I have no heartwarming quotes to add because my Kindle lost all of my annotations and honestly, came really close to being thrown across the room as I hyperventilated. It’s okay, though. My paperback of Requiem is already heavily annotated and my signed copies of Composition and Ballad will be following suit soon, even if it would have been slightly easier had this little device with my life in its clutches behaved appropriately.
Thank you, Hazel S Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Hazel and The Nerd Fam for the ARC!
I need everyone to understand that there are books you love… and then there are books that fundamentally alter your brain chemistry. A Ballad for the Broken by Hazel Wilkes is the latter. This is not a five star read. This is not even a six star read. This is an infinity goddess tier, soul-evaporating, emotional support animal required kind of read.
And somehow…SOMEHOW…I thought I had already reached peak devastation after reading A Composition of Scars. I truly believed Draven had already emotionally waterboarded me enough for one lifetime. Incorrect. Hazel said, "LOL jokes on you, you CAN actually suffer more,” and then delivered one of the most emotionally consuming books I’ve ever read.
This series has an actual chokehold on me.
The thing that makes this book hurt so much is the found family dynamic. And as we all know, I am weak for the found family trope. Every moment of grief, sacrifice, and love lands harder because of these characters' connection to one another. Their bonds feel earned and real. What makes the trope so great (when written well) is you don’t just read about these relationships, you become part of them. Which means every twist feels personal.
Lyra continues to be one of my favorite fantasy heroines ever. She is fierce & powerful in ways that feel human. Even captured and surrounded by shifting truths, she refuses to become anyone’s pawn. Watching her fight back against forces trying to reshape her was mesmerizing. And the relationships that bloomed out of that were just as beautiful.
And Draven…goddess, DRAVEN. After A Composition of Scars...I just...ughhhhh... I CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT HUUUUURTS. Knowing the boy he once was. And the man he is now. oof.
Back to being serious, I promise! One of my favorite things about this book was the step back from the romance between Draven and Lyra for much of the story. It gave way for the relationship between Lyra and Casimir and the Abdites, and more worldbuilding. Let me just say that decision paid off.
And the side characters??? Inject them directly into my bloodstream. And their romances, too. Yes, yes, and YES. The spotlight on the supporting relationships made the story even more bingeable.
ALSO. RHEA. RHEA!!!!!!!!! If you saw my review for A Composition of Scars you know how I feel about this sassy younger sister. I am SO unbelievably happy she made it out of the novella and into the main storyline because she is an absolute badass, and every scene she’s in instantly became better. I loved her before, but now? I LOOOOOVE HER. And the banter between her and ____ was top-tier. No notes. I was laughing my booty off.
What’s wild is that I could have devoured this book in a single sitting. Instead, I forced myself to pace at around 100 pages a day because I genuinely did not want it to end.
I will absolutely be waiting for book three with open arms!
I need everyone to understand that there are books you love… and then there are books that fundamentally alter your brain chemistry. A Ballad for the Broken by Hazel Wilkes is the latter. This is not a five star read. This is not even a six star read. This is an infinity goddess tier, soul-evaporating, emotional support animal required kind of read.
And somehow…SOMEHOW…I thought I had already reached peak devastation after reading A Composition of Scars. I truly believed Draven had already emotionally waterboarded me enough for one lifetime. Incorrect. Hazel said, "LOL jokes on you, you CAN actually suffer more,” and then delivered one of the most emotionally consuming books I’ve ever read.
This series has an actual chokehold on me.
The thing that makes this book hurt so much is the found family dynamic. And as we all know, I am weak for the found family trope. Every moment of grief, sacrifice, and love lands harder because of these characters' connection to one another. Their bonds feel earned and real. What makes the trope so great (when written well) is you don’t just read about these relationships, you become part of them. Which means every twist feels personal.
Lyra continues to be one of my favorite fantasy heroines ever. She is fierce & powerful in ways that feel human. Even captured and surrounded by shifting truths, she refuses to become anyone’s pawn. Watching her fight back against forces trying to reshape her was mesmerizing. And the relationships that bloomed out of that were just as beautiful.
And Draven…goddess, DRAVEN. After A Composition of Scars...I just...ughhhhh... I CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT HUUUUURTS. Knowing the boy he once was. And the man he is now. oof.
Back to being serious, I promise! One of my favorite things about this book was the step back from the romance between Draven and Lyra for much of the story. It gave way for the relationship between Lyra and Casimir and the Abdites, and more worldbuilding. Let me just say that decision paid off.
And the side characters??? Inject them directly into my bloodstream. And their romances, too. Yes, yes, and YES. The spotlight on the supporting relationships made the story even more bingeable.
ALSO. RHEA. RHEA!!!!!!!!! If you saw my review for A Composition of Scars you know how I feel about this sassy younger sister. I am SO unbelievably happy she made it out of the novella and into the main storyline because she is an absolute badass, and every scene she’s in instantly became better. I loved her before, but now? I LOOOOOVE HER. And the banter between her and ____ was top-tier. No notes. I was laughing my booty off.
What’s wild is that I could have devoured this book in a single sitting. Instead, I forced myself to pace at around 100 pages a day because I genuinely did not want it to end.
I will absolutely be waiting for book three with open arms!
Review of advance copy
All of the stars. Every single one of them.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!
In A Requiem of Fallen Stars I fell in love with who Lyra was. Her strength, determination, and her heart. It was amazing to have a truly strong FMC, one who overcame so much and still continued to fight. The chemistry between her and Draven was electric warmth. It brought me to tears.
A Composition of Scars gave me more insight into who Draven is. What made him the character we get to see. The character we fell in love with. It was heartbreaking, but so insightful. Hopeful, but so much hatred. It is absolutely required reading.
A Ballad for the Broken immersed me. I usually hate when I start a series in one POV and the next book has several, but in this case it was necessary and it was done well. You need the change of scenes to have the right sense.
This book though, oh it crushed me in so many ways, yet healed me too. One minute I'm laughing, next I'm crying, and immediately following I'm wanting someone to die. The well of emotions that Ms Wilkes is able to pull out of a reader continues to be masterful. Her ability to not just tell a story, but bring you into it, is awe inspiring.
Hands down one of, if not THE best series I've read to date. These books will continue to stay with me as they have marked my soul and I am dying for the next one. Lifetime reader over here, I will be telling everyone about these books. They are dark, twisted, beautiful, hopeful, heartbreaking, healing, awe inspiring. They keep you on the edge of your seat, yelling at the characters, actively involved. Get ready for some major twists, betrayals, redemptions, and sacrifices. When we say morally gray characters, we mean it.
I could go on about this series, this book forever, I don't ever feel like I've said enough. So I'll leave with, if you haven't read the first two yet, get them. Ballad for the Broken comes out 6.9.2026 and I NEED to talk about it.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!
In A Requiem of Fallen Stars I fell in love with who Lyra was. Her strength, determination, and her heart. It was amazing to have a truly strong FMC, one who overcame so much and still continued to fight. The chemistry between her and Draven was electric warmth. It brought me to tears.
A Composition of Scars gave me more insight into who Draven is. What made him the character we get to see. The character we fell in love with. It was heartbreaking, but so insightful. Hopeful, but so much hatred. It is absolutely required reading.
A Ballad for the Broken immersed me. I usually hate when I start a series in one POV and the next book has several, but in this case it was necessary and it was done well. You need the change of scenes to have the right sense.
This book though, oh it crushed me in so many ways, yet healed me too. One minute I'm laughing, next I'm crying, and immediately following I'm wanting someone to die. The well of emotions that Ms Wilkes is able to pull out of a reader continues to be masterful. Her ability to not just tell a story, but bring you into it, is awe inspiring.
Hands down one of, if not THE best series I've read to date. These books will continue to stay with me as they have marked my soul and I am dying for the next one. Lifetime reader over here, I will be telling everyone about these books. They are dark, twisted, beautiful, hopeful, heartbreaking, healing, awe inspiring. They keep you on the edge of your seat, yelling at the characters, actively involved. Get ready for some major twists, betrayals, redemptions, and sacrifices. When we say morally gray characters, we mean it.
I could go on about this series, this book forever, I don't ever feel like I've said enough. So I'll leave with, if you haven't read the first two yet, get them. Ballad for the Broken comes out 6.9.2026 and I NEED to talk about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
***e-ARC review***
Thank you to Hazel S. Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for the opportunity.
“…𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦.”
rating: above 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautifully poetic masterpiece that completely consumed me from start to finish. I’m usually not the biggest fan of multiple POVs, but this author handled them flawlessly. Every perspective felt intentional, adding layers to the story while seamlessly developing the plot and emotional depth of each character. For me, nothing felt unnecessary because every thread was perfectly intertwined.
What made this book stand out the most for me was how raw and relatable it felt. The author captures so many deeply human moments and insecurities that so many of us experience, especially the struggles surrounding self-confidence and self-worth. As a woman, there were so many passages that felt painfully familiar in the best way possible. It’s rare to feel this emotionally seen through fiction, and that’s what made the writing feel so unique and unforgettable.
This story balances everything beautifully: emotional depth, meaningful character development, immersive world-building, and romances that feel authentic and consuming. It truly gives you the best of both worlds without sacrificing one for the other.
Final note: someone owes me reimbursement for the emotional damage because finishing this book at 3 a.m. while crying into my shirt instead of grabbing actual tissues was an experience I may never recover from.
tropes + themes
— unique magic system
— found family
— yearning for daysssss
— one bed
Thank you to Hazel S. Wilkes and The Nerd Fam for the opportunity.
“…𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦.”
rating: above 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautifully poetic masterpiece that completely consumed me from start to finish. I’m usually not the biggest fan of multiple POVs, but this author handled them flawlessly. Every perspective felt intentional, adding layers to the story while seamlessly developing the plot and emotional depth of each character. For me, nothing felt unnecessary because every thread was perfectly intertwined.
What made this book stand out the most for me was how raw and relatable it felt. The author captures so many deeply human moments and insecurities that so many of us experience, especially the struggles surrounding self-confidence and self-worth. As a woman, there were so many passages that felt painfully familiar in the best way possible. It’s rare to feel this emotionally seen through fiction, and that’s what made the writing feel so unique and unforgettable.
This story balances everything beautifully: emotional depth, meaningful character development, immersive world-building, and romances that feel authentic and consuming. It truly gives you the best of both worlds without sacrificing one for the other.
Final note: someone owes me reimbursement for the emotional damage because finishing this book at 3 a.m. while crying into my shirt instead of grabbing actual tissues was an experience I may never recover from.
tropes + themes
— unique magic system
— found family
— yearning for daysssss
— one bed
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25🌟
If you know me at all then you have heard me rave about this series!!!
A Requiem for Fallen Stars is a God Tier book for me!!!
Then Hazel destroyed me with A Composition of Scars!
So when I was invited onto her street team and given the opportunity to ARC read this one, I was over the moon!!!
Now… let’s dive into what I loved about this book!
I loved that it picks up right after book 1 ends! That cliffhanger in book 1 was a brutal one so picking up right there was amazing! I also loved getting the POV’s of a lot of our favorite characters from book 1! I love having multiple POV’s… I feel like it allows me to get the story from every angle! I don’t have to feel left out… I’m in on all the secrets! 😂😂
The twists and betrayals in this book kept me reeling! I was full of gasps! And the FINALLY moment with Lyra and Draven was everything I hoped for and more!!! I seriously just love them so much!!!
This book had me in my feelings! I was rage reading, swooning, devastated, and laughing! Hazel’s writing really is just so beautiful!
The only things that kept this from being another 5 star read for me was the pacing and the pov perspectives….
I felt like the book was really slow to start… and I found myself wanting to skip ahead.. I didn’t but I wanted to…
As far as the pov perspectives… there was a lot of switching back and forth between 1st and 3rd person and it kept taking me out of the story… I would get confused and have to go back and reread… that is just a preference thing for me though.. a lot of people will have no problems switching between them so often…
Over all this is still an amazing book! This series is still so so good!!!
If you know me at all then you have heard me rave about this series!!!
A Requiem for Fallen Stars is a God Tier book for me!!!
Then Hazel destroyed me with A Composition of Scars!
So when I was invited onto her street team and given the opportunity to ARC read this one, I was over the moon!!!
Now… let’s dive into what I loved about this book!
I loved that it picks up right after book 1 ends! That cliffhanger in book 1 was a brutal one so picking up right there was amazing! I also loved getting the POV’s of a lot of our favorite characters from book 1! I love having multiple POV’s… I feel like it allows me to get the story from every angle! I don’t have to feel left out… I’m in on all the secrets! 😂😂
The twists and betrayals in this book kept me reeling! I was full of gasps! And the FINALLY moment with Lyra and Draven was everything I hoped for and more!!! I seriously just love them so much!!!
This book had me in my feelings! I was rage reading, swooning, devastated, and laughing! Hazel’s writing really is just so beautiful!
The only things that kept this from being another 5 star read for me was the pacing and the pov perspectives….
I felt like the book was really slow to start… and I found myself wanting to skip ahead.. I didn’t but I wanted to…
As far as the pov perspectives… there was a lot of switching back and forth between 1st and 3rd person and it kept taking me out of the story… I would get confused and have to go back and reread… that is just a preference thing for me though.. a lot of people will have no problems switching between them so often…
Over all this is still an amazing book! This series is still so so good!!!
Review of advance copy
I would like to thank The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
After binge-reading #1 and #1.5 in the Cadence of the Fallen series, I was beyond excited to read #2. The previous books were amazing and ensnared my attention the entire time. To say that I am disappointed in this book is an understatement. Let’s talk about it.
The pace was slow until the last quarter of the book. I found myself putting the book down every chapter and becoming disinterested. A big reason for this is the excess amount of perspectives. I have read books in the past that have incorporated multiple viewpoints slowly throughout several books to really build every single character. However, the author went from one perspective in #1 and #1.5 to eight in #2. This made the story feel distant and choppy. I have a lot of unanswered questions as a result. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the end of the book. I just wish that I had felt that way from the very beginning.
The author is an incredible writer. She does an excellent job describing the scenery around her with ease. Hazel depicts what is happening perfectly throughout the book. There are little to no repetitive words. I will say that since this specific book had so many viewpoints, the romantic scenes amongst several characters started to blend and feel the same.
Overall, I would recommend reading this series. I will likely read the next one despite everything that was discussed in this review. I am hoping that everything pulls together more seamlessly in the next one. The series itself does have great potential. I love the unique magic system and the characters.
After binge-reading #1 and #1.5 in the Cadence of the Fallen series, I was beyond excited to read #2. The previous books were amazing and ensnared my attention the entire time. To say that I am disappointed in this book is an understatement. Let’s talk about it.
The pace was slow until the last quarter of the book. I found myself putting the book down every chapter and becoming disinterested. A big reason for this is the excess amount of perspectives. I have read books in the past that have incorporated multiple viewpoints slowly throughout several books to really build every single character. However, the author went from one perspective in #1 and #1.5 to eight in #2. This made the story feel distant and choppy. I have a lot of unanswered questions as a result. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the end of the book. I just wish that I had felt that way from the very beginning.
The author is an incredible writer. She does an excellent job describing the scenery around her with ease. Hazel depicts what is happening perfectly throughout the book. There are little to no repetitive words. I will say that since this specific book had so many viewpoints, the romantic scenes amongst several characters started to blend and feel the same.
Overall, I would recommend reading this series. I will likely read the next one despite everything that was discussed in this review. I am hoping that everything pulls together more seamlessly in the next one. The series itself does have great potential. I love the unique magic system and the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and Hazel S. Wilkes for the eARC of this incredible book!
Last year I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of the first book in this series, A Requiem for Fallen Stars, and it turned out to be a 6 star read and also one of the best books of last year. Dare I say, this book was even better and is yet another 6 star read.
This book was incredible from the very first page until the very last. I didn't realize how much I missed being in this world until I started to read this book.
So many tears were shed in this one. The references both to the first book and the prequel novella hurt my heart so much in the best way.
I loved so much in this book. I adored Lyra (as usual), Draven, Marcella, Gray, Casimir (FOR SOME REASON???) and everyone else (except SOMEONE *i wont name names*).
I loved having a truly evil villain. There's no doubts on if he'll turn good, or if he'll change. He's just well and truly evil, and I eat it up every time.
There were SO many POVs in this one and I genuinely had a great time living in some of those character's heads for a while, it was such an interesting look at the story and their world from their heads.
Where do I even begin with Lyra and Draven. Those 2 give me so much life and so much hurt at the same time. Chapter 18 lives rent free in my mind.
I don't think there will ever be enough words to describe how much I love this series. It hurts in the best way, is beautifully written, and is such a high stakes and epic book. If you haven't started this one, you need to!
Last year I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of the first book in this series, A Requiem for Fallen Stars, and it turned out to be a 6 star read and also one of the best books of last year. Dare I say, this book was even better and is yet another 6 star read.
This book was incredible from the very first page until the very last. I didn't realize how much I missed being in this world until I started to read this book.
So many tears were shed in this one. The references both to the first book and the prequel novella hurt my heart so much in the best way.
I loved so much in this book. I adored Lyra (as usual), Draven, Marcella, Gray, Casimir (FOR SOME REASON???) and everyone else (except SOMEONE *i wont name names*).
I loved having a truly evil villain. There's no doubts on if he'll turn good, or if he'll change. He's just well and truly evil, and I eat it up every time.
There were SO many POVs in this one and I genuinely had a great time living in some of those character's heads for a while, it was such an interesting look at the story and their world from their heads.
Where do I even begin with Lyra and Draven. Those 2 give me so much life and so much hurt at the same time. Chapter 18 lives rent free in my mind.
I don't think there will ever be enough words to describe how much I love this series. It hurts in the best way, is beautifully written, and is such a high stakes and epic book. If you haven't started this one, you need to!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This is a review of an advanced reader copy.
My advice? Grab the tissues. This is not a light and joyful Romantasy series. This gets raw, emotional, dark and desperate over and over again. The writing is beautiful and gripping and the imagery is phenomenal. This is a book that will throw you over its shoulder and march you through the full spectrum of human emotion. And I love it.
My favorite part of this was the addition of more POVs. We get to hear from the main characters plenty, but I loved having more from other well loved characters because the found family element in this series is so good! Almost every character in this series has a past that has left a mark on their soul. It’s absolutely heart breaking to watch them struggle, and some of their struggles feel so painfully familiar that it was quite jarring and stunning at times. Reading a character that has had the exact same torturous thoughts as I have in my life was a very unique experience in this genre. I felt so seen, and that is a testament to the depth of the characters, I think.
As gut wrenching as it is, it is also beautiful to watch them overcome, to watch them reach out to each other for support and love and to watch them try to be better. Sometimes the addition of too many POVs can be overwhelming but this just brought more emotional depth to an already emotional story.
I was really happy to hop back into this series. We are finally figuring out the depth of evil in our villain. The end blindsided me and it was crushing! It’s going to be very difficult waiting for the next one. I can’t wait to see how things unfold from here.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
My advice? Grab the tissues. This is not a light and joyful Romantasy series. This gets raw, emotional, dark and desperate over and over again. The writing is beautiful and gripping and the imagery is phenomenal. This is a book that will throw you over its shoulder and march you through the full spectrum of human emotion. And I love it.
My favorite part of this was the addition of more POVs. We get to hear from the main characters plenty, but I loved having more from other well loved characters because the found family element in this series is so good! Almost every character in this series has a past that has left a mark on their soul. It’s absolutely heart breaking to watch them struggle, and some of their struggles feel so painfully familiar that it was quite jarring and stunning at times. Reading a character that has had the exact same torturous thoughts as I have in my life was a very unique experience in this genre. I felt so seen, and that is a testament to the depth of the characters, I think.
As gut wrenching as it is, it is also beautiful to watch them overcome, to watch them reach out to each other for support and love and to watch them try to be better. Sometimes the addition of too many POVs can be overwhelming but this just brought more emotional depth to an already emotional story.
I was really happy to hop back into this series. We are finally figuring out the depth of evil in our villain. The end blindsided me and it was crushing! It’s going to be very difficult waiting for the next one. I can’t wait to see how things unfold from here.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
Review of advance copy
Release date: 6.9.26!
A Ballad for the Broken completely exceeded my expectations as a sequel and pulled me right back into the world of Cadence of the Fallen. After recently reading The Composition of Scars novella, returning to this series felt seamless, and I was so happy to be back with these characters again.
This installment leans even more into character development, world building, and multi-POV storytelling, and I absolutely loved it. Watching everyone grow through the aftermath of book one was emotional, but Lyra’s journey especially stood out to me. Her resilience, strength, and refusal to become a pawn made her such a compelling character to follow.
What surprised me most was how much more attached I became to the secondary characters this time around. Grey, Marcella, Rhea, Finlay, and Kiran? ALL amazing. Their storylines added so much depth, and the shifting relationships, betrayals, and impossible choices made the entire story feel heartbreaking in the best way. Every character was forced to confront painful decisions while chaos unfolded around them, and you could really feel the emotional weight of it all.
And that ending?! I genuinely did not see it coming. This book shattered my heart multiple times and still left me desperate for more.
If you love complex characters, political intrigue, emotional fantasy, found family, and romance woven into a richly imaginative world, this series is absolutely worth reading. I’m already counting down the days until the next book.
I received an e-ARC, thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
A Ballad for the Broken completely exceeded my expectations as a sequel and pulled me right back into the world of Cadence of the Fallen. After recently reading The Composition of Scars novella, returning to this series felt seamless, and I was so happy to be back with these characters again.
This installment leans even more into character development, world building, and multi-POV storytelling, and I absolutely loved it. Watching everyone grow through the aftermath of book one was emotional, but Lyra’s journey especially stood out to me. Her resilience, strength, and refusal to become a pawn made her such a compelling character to follow.
What surprised me most was how much more attached I became to the secondary characters this time around. Grey, Marcella, Rhea, Finlay, and Kiran? ALL amazing. Their storylines added so much depth, and the shifting relationships, betrayals, and impossible choices made the entire story feel heartbreaking in the best way. Every character was forced to confront painful decisions while chaos unfolded around them, and you could really feel the emotional weight of it all.
And that ending?! I genuinely did not see it coming. This book shattered my heart multiple times and still left me desperate for more.
If you love complex characters, political intrigue, emotional fantasy, found family, and romance woven into a richly imaginative world, this series is absolutely worth reading. I’m already counting down the days until the next book.
I received an e-ARC, thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book!
May 27, 2026
Talk about a devastating ending, this book had all the emotional highs and lows that kept me both completely engrossed and also ready to chuck my e-reader across my room!
You pickup where the last book left off, with Lyra having just caused devastation in her own kingdom, and whisked off to another by the man from the journal, after he murdered someone she cared for, and the man she loves, unable to save her. Draven will do anything to get Lyra back, and enlists both his friends and her friends to find a way to discover where she went. At the same time, Lyra must learn more about her own magic, and the people she never knew she could come to care for in this land hidden from the world. Of course at the same time, her friends all have their own bonds tested and deal with the wake of more betrayals and hidden plots.
This book was a roller coaster that had me so devastated right along with all the characters and jaw dropped with how it ended. I loved getting the progression of the story through all of the POVs and how each characters actions affected their situation and getting to see inside their heads on how they made choices and processed their complex situations. I have so much fear for some of my favorite characters and if they can come back from what they experienced at the end of this book but I’m hopeful this author writes another beautiful book soon! Overall my rating 4.6/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You pickup where the last book left off, with Lyra having just caused devastation in her own kingdom, and whisked off to another by the man from the journal, after he murdered someone she cared for, and the man she loves, unable to save her. Draven will do anything to get Lyra back, and enlists both his friends and her friends to find a way to discover where she went. At the same time, Lyra must learn more about her own magic, and the people she never knew she could come to care for in this land hidden from the world. Of course at the same time, her friends all have their own bonds tested and deal with the wake of more betrayals and hidden plots.
This book was a roller coaster that had me so devastated right along with all the characters and jaw dropped with how it ended. I loved getting the progression of the story through all of the POVs and how each characters actions affected their situation and getting to see inside their heads on how they made choices and processed their complex situations. I have so much fear for some of my favorite characters and if they can come back from what they experienced at the end of this book but I’m hopeful this author writes another beautiful book soon! Overall my rating 4.6/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Ballad for the Broken is everything I could want from a book and more. It’s undying love. It’s family. It’s emotional heartbreak. It’s impossible choices you’d never want to have to make.
When I finished book one, I thought: this isn’t five stars—this is infinity stars. Absolute perfection. So how could you possibly top perfection? Well… just ask Hazel S. Wilkes, because somehow she managed the impossible. A Ballad for the Broken is better than perfection. It is everything.
The writing in this book is beautiful. It’s heartbreaking, but beautiful nonetheless. Hazel has such a poetic way of writing and truly makes you feel every emotion alongside the characters.
This book introduces multiple POVs and I loved every second of it. Each chapter was completely captivating. I was especially excited to see Rhea join the crew—and even more excited that we get chapters from her POV.
The story is fast-paced with incredible world-building that keeps you turning page after page.
And that ending… this story leaves us with a massive cliffhanger and I already cannot wait for more!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes ✨:
Political intrigue
Unique magic system
Immersive world building
Moral conflict
Touch her and die
All the yearning
Found family
Masquerade Ball
🖤: “Wherever you go, I follow.”
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
When I finished book one, I thought: this isn’t five stars—this is infinity stars. Absolute perfection. So how could you possibly top perfection? Well… just ask Hazel S. Wilkes, because somehow she managed the impossible. A Ballad for the Broken is better than perfection. It is everything.
The writing in this book is beautiful. It’s heartbreaking, but beautiful nonetheless. Hazel has such a poetic way of writing and truly makes you feel every emotion alongside the characters.
This book introduces multiple POVs and I loved every second of it. Each chapter was completely captivating. I was especially excited to see Rhea join the crew—and even more excited that we get chapters from her POV.
The story is fast-paced with incredible world-building that keeps you turning page after page.
And that ending… this story leaves us with a massive cliffhanger and I already cannot wait for more!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes ✨:
Political intrigue
Unique magic system
Immersive world building
Moral conflict
Touch her and die
All the yearning
Found family
Masquerade Ball
🖤: “Wherever you go, I follow.”
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you NerdFam and Hazel S. Wilkes for this E-ARC!
I genuinely don’t know how to put into words the level of emotional devastation A Ballad for the Broken left me with.
This book made me feel everything from stress, rage, sadness, hope, and the smallest slivers of happiness woven between it all. Hazel has a way of writing that completely consumes you, forcing you to experience every emotion right alongside her characters.
What stood out to me most was how layered every character felt. This story was such a powerful reminder that you never truly know what someone is carrying beneath the surface, and watching those layers slowly unravel was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.
And somehow… against all odds… I found myself rooting for Casimir. His story became just as compelling to me as everyone else’s, which is not something I expected at all.
But Draven and Lyra?
Their story will live rent free in my mind forever. The depth of what they feel for one another was written with such rawness that parts of it genuinely lodged themselves into my heart.
(And if you’ve read Chapter 18… you understand.)
As for that ending?
Absolutely not.
I never would have predicted things unfolding the way they did, but the ending and especially that epilogue left me desperate to see where book three goes next!
I genuinely don’t know how to put into words the level of emotional devastation A Ballad for the Broken left me with.
This book made me feel everything from stress, rage, sadness, hope, and the smallest slivers of happiness woven between it all. Hazel has a way of writing that completely consumes you, forcing you to experience every emotion right alongside her characters.
What stood out to me most was how layered every character felt. This story was such a powerful reminder that you never truly know what someone is carrying beneath the surface, and watching those layers slowly unravel was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.
And somehow… against all odds… I found myself rooting for Casimir. His story became just as compelling to me as everyone else’s, which is not something I expected at all.
But Draven and Lyra?
Their story will live rent free in my mind forever. The depth of what they feel for one another was written with such rawness that parts of it genuinely lodged themselves into my heart.
(And if you’ve read Chapter 18… you understand.)
As for that ending?
Absolutely not.
I never would have predicted things unfolding the way they did, but the ending and especially that epilogue left me desperate to see where book three goes next!
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for this ARC!
I was beyond thrilled to receive an ARC of A Ballad for the Broken after A Requiem for Fallen Stars completely stole my heart as a five-star favorite. Hazel S. Wilkes has done it again; delivering a story that is equal parts devastating, hopeful, and breathtakingly beautiful.
There were moments that shattered my heart into pieces, scenes so intense I literally wanted to scream at the pages, and quiet, luminous passages that left me in absolute awe. Wilkes’s prose is stunning, and her characters feel so raw and real that I couldn’t help but become deeply invested in their journeys. The emotional depth and payoff made every twist and turn worth it.
I did feel a little sidetracked at times by the multiple POVs and the sheer amount of content packed into the story. It occasionally pulled focus from the main emotional threads, but even with that, the richness of the world and the complexity of the relationships more than made up for it. This is a book that demands your full attention, and it rewards you generously for giving it.
Ultimately, I loved A Ballad for the Broken. If you fell in love with A Requiem for Fallen Stars, this sequel will hit you right in the feels. Hazel S. Wilkes is a brilliant storyteller, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommended! Clear your schedule, grab the tissues, and dive in.
I was beyond thrilled to receive an ARC of A Ballad for the Broken after A Requiem for Fallen Stars completely stole my heart as a five-star favorite. Hazel S. Wilkes has done it again; delivering a story that is equal parts devastating, hopeful, and breathtakingly beautiful.
There were moments that shattered my heart into pieces, scenes so intense I literally wanted to scream at the pages, and quiet, luminous passages that left me in absolute awe. Wilkes’s prose is stunning, and her characters feel so raw and real that I couldn’t help but become deeply invested in their journeys. The emotional depth and payoff made every twist and turn worth it.
I did feel a little sidetracked at times by the multiple POVs and the sheer amount of content packed into the story. It occasionally pulled focus from the main emotional threads, but even with that, the richness of the world and the complexity of the relationships more than made up for it. This is a book that demands your full attention, and it rewards you generously for giving it.
Ultimately, I loved A Ballad for the Broken. If you fell in love with A Requiem for Fallen Stars, this sequel will hit you right in the feels. Hazel S. Wilkes is a brilliant storyteller, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommended! Clear your schedule, grab the tissues, and dive in.
Review of advance copy
Thank you NerdFam & Hazel S. Wilkes for this ARC
⭐: INFINITY/5
🧠: 3/5
🌶️: 2/5
── ⋆˙⟡♡⟡˙⋆ ──
🌸 political
🌸 magical letters
🌸 one bed
🌸 slow burn
🌸 true morally grey
🌸 true enemies to lovers
── ⋆˙⟡♡⟡˙⋆ ──
Time does not exist for a soul - only feeling does.
Hazel…. HAZEL. HAZELLLLLLLLL........
WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO ME.
LAUGHING. SCREAMING. CRYING. THROWING UP.
GOD, I have SO many words and I’m trying to keep this spoiler free but you kept me on my toes. I went into this concerned about the multiple POVS but i ended up LOVING following all of the different arcs.
You want to talk about TRUE enemies to loves, TRUE morally grey. MY GOD.
This is a MASTERPIECE.
HOW IS THIS BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK WHEN THE FIRST BOOK WAS MY TOP READ OF 2026? HOW IS A 780 PAGE BOOK TOO SHORT? I NEED MORE NOW!!!!
I’ve said it before but I’ve solidified my decision. This is my FAVOURITE series of all time, this beats EVERYTHING for me.
God, I hope you don’t get sick of me and all the content I’m about to spew out about this series because I genuinely believe that I am Cadence of The Fallens number one fan.
It’s a god damn crime this hasn’t blown up everywhere because this is the BEST thing I have EVER read.
Seriously, if anyone reads just ONE thing I recommend - PLEASE I BEG OF YOU - LET IT BE THIS SERIES!!!
── ⋆˙⟡♡⟡˙⋆ ──
https://www.instagram.com/kylieinpryt...
⭐: INFINITY/5
🧠: 3/5
🌶️: 2/5
── ⋆˙⟡♡⟡˙⋆ ──
🌸 political
🌸 magical letters
🌸 one bed
🌸 slow burn
🌸 true morally grey
🌸 true enemies to lovers
── ⋆˙⟡♡⟡˙⋆ ──
Time does not exist for a soul - only feeling does.
Hazel…. HAZEL. HAZELLLLLLLLL........
WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO ME.
LAUGHING. SCREAMING. CRYING. THROWING UP.
GOD, I have SO many words and I’m trying to keep this spoiler free but you kept me on my toes. I went into this concerned about the multiple POVS but i ended up LOVING following all of the different arcs.
You want to talk about TRUE enemies to loves, TRUE morally grey. MY GOD.
This is a MASTERPIECE.
HOW IS THIS BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK WHEN THE FIRST BOOK WAS MY TOP READ OF 2026? HOW IS A 780 PAGE BOOK TOO SHORT? I NEED MORE NOW!!!!
I’ve said it before but I’ve solidified my decision. This is my FAVOURITE series of all time, this beats EVERYTHING for me.
God, I hope you don’t get sick of me and all the content I’m about to spew out about this series because I genuinely believe that I am Cadence of The Fallens number one fan.
It’s a god damn crime this hasn’t blown up everywhere because this is the BEST thing I have EVER read.
Seriously, if anyone reads just ONE thing I recommend - PLEASE I BEG OF YOU - LET IT BE THIS SERIES!!!
── ⋆˙⟡♡⟡˙⋆ ──
https://www.instagram.com/kylieinpryt...
May 26, 2026
This sequel completely swept me away. One of my favorite aspects was the use of multiple POVs—it added so much depth to the story and gave a richer understanding of the characters and the world they inhabit. Each perspective felt purposeful and engaging, never slowing the pace.
And the letters… wow. Those moments absolutely had me clutching my heart. They were beautifully written, emotional, and added such an intimate layer to the story that I didn’t expect but completely adored.
The final stretch of the book—especially the last 30%—was intense in the best way. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat, gasping and unable to put it down. The tension built so effectively, and every twist felt earned and impactful.
That ending deserves special praise. It was the perfect cliffhanger—satisfying enough to close this chapter, but leaving me desperate for the next book immediately. Truly the kind of ending that lingers with you.
The world-building continues to be incredible. I already appreciated it in the first book, but this book expanded everything so much further. We get deeper insight into the world itself and into a wider range of characters, which made the story feel even more immersive and alive.
Finally, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this as an eARC by The Nerd Fam!!!
And the letters… wow. Those moments absolutely had me clutching my heart. They were beautifully written, emotional, and added such an intimate layer to the story that I didn’t expect but completely adored.
The final stretch of the book—especially the last 30%—was intense in the best way. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat, gasping and unable to put it down. The tension built so effectively, and every twist felt earned and impactful.
That ending deserves special praise. It was the perfect cliffhanger—satisfying enough to close this chapter, but leaving me desperate for the next book immediately. Truly the kind of ending that lingers with you.
The world-building continues to be incredible. I already appreciated it in the first book, but this book expanded everything so much further. We get deeper insight into the world itself and into a wider range of characters, which made the story feel even more immersive and alive.
Finally, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this as an eARC by The Nerd Fam!!!
May 24, 2026
4.5 ⭐ Thank you as always to Hazel & the team for gifting me an ARC and early access to book 2.
It’s no secret I love this series and Hazels writing style. After finishing the novella a few months ago I couldn’t wait to jump back into the main story.
I spent the majority of this book trying to guess what was going to happen. It all felt way too safe and that’s always a one way ticket to misery, and boy was I right 🙂🙂🙂🥲
This book has multiple POVs which I loved, but it did affect the pacing. Some POVs were left on mini cliffhangers that you didn’t get back to for a while which affected the flow ever so slightly, but on the other hand this gave such a broader insight to those characters and took the world building to a whole new level. So although it got slow in places the pay off was worth it.
My baby boy Draven & Lyra just can’t catch a break and it’s KILLING ME. I loved the growth they both got in this book along with the other characters too.
The ending I found not as torturous as book one but still, OUCH. My heart hurts but I am so eager to get my hands on book 3 already.
A Ballad for the broken is available from June, with book one and 1.5 already available on kindle unlimited or to buy.
It’s no secret I love this series and Hazels writing style. After finishing the novella a few months ago I couldn’t wait to jump back into the main story.
I spent the majority of this book trying to guess what was going to happen. It all felt way too safe and that’s always a one way ticket to misery, and boy was I right 🙂🙂🙂🥲
This book has multiple POVs which I loved, but it did affect the pacing. Some POVs were left on mini cliffhangers that you didn’t get back to for a while which affected the flow ever so slightly, but on the other hand this gave such a broader insight to those characters and took the world building to a whole new level. So although it got slow in places the pay off was worth it.
My baby boy Draven & Lyra just can’t catch a break and it’s KILLING ME. I loved the growth they both got in this book along with the other characters too.
The ending I found not as torturous as book one but still, OUCH. My heart hurts but I am so eager to get my hands on book 3 already.
A Ballad for the broken is available from June, with book one and 1.5 already available on kindle unlimited or to buy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow thank you nerdfamily for the ARC.
Her first book and novella where 5 star reads for me and so it continues.
In this book we get multiple POVS. Multiple love interests. It reminds me a lot of TOG in away of all the couples pairing of in a sense.
This book has a complex villian Casimir. Can’t wait to get more of him.
Love how this book explores the complex reality’s of war, greed, power and the price of change or fixing a broken system.
It was hard to have the FMC & MMC apart for most of this book but the yearning made it worth it.
The ending is truly diabolical and I need book 3 asap.
Be prepared for heartbreak.
Tropes
💙 complex villain
💙 one bed
💙 multiple POVs
💙 world expansion
💙 hidden identities
💙 found family
💙 betrayals
Fav quotes-
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? What is the true appeal of inciting mass chaos— causing such damage to so many lives—only to hold threads of corruptive
It does not make me broken to feel so many complicated, messy things simultaneously. It makes me human.
She is the unbidden Moon and he is the bewitched Tide-her magnetic force capable of pulling him in whichever direction she pleases.
Her first book and novella where 5 star reads for me and so it continues.
In this book we get multiple POVS. Multiple love interests. It reminds me a lot of TOG in away of all the couples pairing of in a sense.
This book has a complex villian Casimir. Can’t wait to get more of him.
Love how this book explores the complex reality’s of war, greed, power and the price of change or fixing a broken system.
It was hard to have the FMC & MMC apart for most of this book but the yearning made it worth it.
The ending is truly diabolical and I need book 3 asap.
Be prepared for heartbreak.
Tropes
💙 complex villain
💙 one bed
💙 multiple POVs
💙 world expansion
💙 hidden identities
💙 found family
💙 betrayals
Fav quotes-
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? What is the true appeal of inciting mass chaos— causing such damage to so many lives—only to hold threads of corruptive
It does not make me broken to feel so many complicated, messy things simultaneously. It makes me human.
She is the unbidden Moon and he is the bewitched Tide-her magnetic force capable of pulling him in whichever direction she pleases.
May 27, 2026
I’m fully immersed in the Hazel Wilkes Emotional Trauma Cinematic Universe, and thank god books take time to write because having inhaled Requiem, Scars and Ballad one after the other, I think a fourth instalment might just be my undoing. Hazel, baby, WHO HURT YOU? Who hurt you sm that you had to hurt me???
The world building, lore, prophecy and trauma is extended with Ballad, along with our character POVs and the roster of complex relationships Wilkes has written, and it is delectable. The way that Wilkes writes empathy as something which starts as a small seed, but builds, grows and strives for the sunshine when nurtured by Lyra and her relationships with those around her is so dazzling, and her kinship with the Abdites, and their perspectives, deepens her understanding that there is no universal “truth”, just people doing what they have to do in order to survive a world which is cruel, and oftentimes unfair. That narrative thread is woven throughout Ballad, in the shifting politics and in the perspectives of characters both good, bad and somewhere in between. It’s a magnificent book, and I will not stop talking about it I fear.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book. #aballadforthebroken #thenerdfam
The world building, lore, prophecy and trauma is extended with Ballad, along with our character POVs and the roster of complex relationships Wilkes has written, and it is delectable. The way that Wilkes writes empathy as something which starts as a small seed, but builds, grows and strives for the sunshine when nurtured by Lyra and her relationships with those around her is so dazzling, and her kinship with the Abdites, and their perspectives, deepens her understanding that there is no universal “truth”, just people doing what they have to do in order to survive a world which is cruel, and oftentimes unfair. That narrative thread is woven throughout Ballad, in the shifting politics and in the perspectives of characters both good, bad and somewhere in between. It’s a magnificent book, and I will not stop talking about it I fear.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book. #aballadforthebroken #thenerdfam
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review (thank you to The Nerd Fam)
I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of the book with the multiple POVs in quick succession, but the character development was on point. This book really illustrates well how multilayered we are, and how so much can be happening below the surface that foes unseen.
The story picks up right where it left off, which is something I love for a sequel. And I would highly recommend reading in publication order vs story chronological order.
Honestly, this was beautifully written. Things unfold in a natural way, including thought processes and self realization (especially Lyra). While the world building was kept to a minimum, this book really sits in the rage and hopelessness, but with those small pockets or hope and happiness all woven together in such a beautiful way.
All is not as it seems, and I certainly couldn't have guessed the last 20% of the book. That ending - while bittersweet and absolutely devastating in some regards, I am all in to see where that kernel of hope takes us in book three.
I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of the book with the multiple POVs in quick succession, but the character development was on point. This book really illustrates well how multilayered we are, and how so much can be happening below the surface that foes unseen.
The story picks up right where it left off, which is something I love for a sequel. And I would highly recommend reading in publication order vs story chronological order.
Honestly, this was beautifully written. Things unfold in a natural way, including thought processes and self realization (especially Lyra). While the world building was kept to a minimum, this book really sits in the rage and hopelessness, but with those small pockets or hope and happiness all woven together in such a beautiful way.
All is not as it seems, and I certainly couldn't have guessed the last 20% of the book. That ending - while bittersweet and absolutely devastating in some regards, I am all in to see where that kernel of hope takes us in book three.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I need more than 5 stars for this book! This series has a vice grip on my heart and soul. I love these characters so much!
Arc Review!
This series is so special to me and I am utterly OBSESSED. I cried more times than I can count, cursed some characters out loud, and am now staring at walls to try and make sense of it all. There is SO MUCH packed into this second book of this series and I already need more!
I have fallen in love with so many characters in the Cadejce of the Fallen series. This books had me hurting for them, crying for them and with them, wanting to actually see some of them harmed! The bonds between them is incredible and their love for one another(and themselves) just grows and strengthens in this book. They are all so uniquely amazing (and pains in the a**).
That is all I am physically able to say about this book right now as I just finished it, the feelings are RAW and my tears are still drying.
If you have not started the Cadence of the Fallen series, it truly needs to be added to your list because it will forever be one of my favorites.
Arc Review!
This series is so special to me and I am utterly OBSESSED. I cried more times than I can count, cursed some characters out loud, and am now staring at walls to try and make sense of it all. There is SO MUCH packed into this second book of this series and I already need more!
I have fallen in love with so many characters in the Cadejce of the Fallen series. This books had me hurting for them, crying for them and with them, wanting to actually see some of them harmed! The bonds between them is incredible and their love for one another(and themselves) just grows and strengthens in this book. They are all so uniquely amazing (and pains in the a**).
That is all I am physically able to say about this book right now as I just finished it, the feelings are RAW and my tears are still drying.
If you have not started the Cadence of the Fallen series, it truly needs to be added to your list because it will forever be one of my favorites.
Review of advance copy
Beautiful. Heart-wrenching. Addictive. An incredible second installment, with the same rich world and character building as the first, with twists coming at the moments you least expect them.
Wilkes has a wonderful, lyrical way with words - I've highlighted so many poetic descriptions and monologues that brought so much colour and character to this book.
The character development is second-to-none in my opinion. Complex and messy, as we all are, which makes it more relatable and real, despite the fantasy context. I love everyone - especially Rhea - and while Finlay has some very obvious flaws I'm excited to see how his character arc develops.
It was a little slow to start, but in a good way, and once I got going, I couldn't put it down (she says writing this review at 1.30am). I have only given four full 5* ratings so far this year - including this and Composition of Scars. Cannot recommend this series enough.
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Thank you to The Nerd Fam for gifting the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wilkes has a wonderful, lyrical way with words - I've highlighted so many poetic descriptions and monologues that brought so much colour and character to this book.
The character development is second-to-none in my opinion. Complex and messy, as we all are, which makes it more relatable and real, despite the fantasy context. I love everyone - especially Rhea - and while Finlay has some very obvious flaws I'm excited to see how his character arc develops.
It was a little slow to start, but in a good way, and once I got going, I couldn't put it down (she says writing this review at 1.30am). I have only given four full 5* ratings so far this year - including this and Composition of Scars. Cannot recommend this series enough.
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Thank you to The Nerd Fam for gifting the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2026
I enjoyed following Lyra through her journey of self discovery. I liked that this was different than most of the romantacies available today. Very descriptive in world building and fully submerges you in to the fantasy world. Great build up to the cliffhanger ending. All of the inner monologue really helps you understand and start to feel the emotions from the different characters in the story. The multiple POV’s added to the depth and connection with each character. Lyra has a lot of potential to be a complete bad a** and I hope we get to see her fully embrace that in the next book.
After the time Lyra spent with Casimir, I felt a little distant towards Draven. That made the spicy scenes after her rescue feel a little awkward because it felt rushed. The inner monologue was repetitive at times.
After that being said I would recommend this book. It is a beautiful journey with an epic future and I can’t wait to read the next one!!
After the time Lyra spent with Casimir, I felt a little distant towards Draven. That made the spicy scenes after her rescue feel a little awkward because it felt rushed. The inner monologue was repetitive at times.
After that being said I would recommend this book. It is a beautiful journey with an epic future and I can’t wait to read the next one!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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