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The Broken Dawn
Some secrets are worth a crown...
Born second in line for the Swedish throne, Prince Harald has always lived in someone else's shadow. At the elite Riddarhuset Military Academy, the bookish prince feels lost among the sons of nobility—until he meets Jakob Eliasberg, a scholarship cadet who sees past his royal title to the man beneath.
Jakob Eliasberg shouldn't be here. A brilliant student with Russian-Jewish roots, fighting for every scrap of respect in a world determined to see him fail. When the awkward prince seeks his help, Jakob discovers Harald's quiet determination and hidden depths. Their connection grows during stolen moments into something far more dangerous—and infinitely more precious.
As the sparks of war burn across Europe and Sweden flights to remain neutral, the Royal Family will do anything to protect the crown—even if it costs the young Prince his happiness. As the Queen’s threats loom over Jakob's family, the young lovers face an impossible choice. Harald must use every ounce of his wits and privilege to shield Jakob from his mother's machinations, while Jakob sacrifices everything to protect Harald from forces that would see them both destroyed. In a world on the brink of war, where love is rebellion, they will risk everything - their families, the positions and their lives - for a chance at a a life together.
Born second in line for the Swedish throne, Prince Harald has always lived in someone else's shadow. At the elite Riddarhuset Military Academy, the bookish prince feels lost among the sons of nobility—until he meets Jakob Eliasberg, a scholarship cadet who sees past his royal title to the man beneath.
Jakob Eliasberg shouldn't be here. A brilliant student with Russian-Jewish roots, fighting for every scrap of respect in a world determined to see him fail. When the awkward prince seeks his help, Jakob discovers Harald's quiet determination and hidden depths. Their connection grows during stolen moments into something far more dangerous—and infinitely more precious.
As the sparks of war burn across Europe and Sweden flights to remain neutral, the Royal Family will do anything to protect the crown—even if it costs the young Prince his happiness. As the Queen’s threats loom over Jakob's family, the young lovers face an impossible choice. Harald must use every ounce of his wits and privilege to shield Jakob from his mother's machinations, while Jakob sacrifices everything to protect Harald from forces that would see them both destroyed. In a world on the brink of war, where love is rebellion, they will risk everything - their families, the positions and their lives - for a chance at a a life together.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 4, 2026
5⭐️
Great way to start the year!
Hal is not the prince his family wants - in more ways than one. When he’s sent off to military academy, he meets Jakob, a Jewish Russian immigrant, that opens new doors for Hal. But, will their love survive against hatred, jealousy, and bigotry?
I’m so glad I got to read this! This was a such a wonderful read, full of in-depth characters, wonderful tension and a passionate love that I found absolutely irresistible. Chapter 8 stands out in particular to me, and is probably my favorite part of the entire book. Hands down a great read, and one that I hope everyone gets to experience! Also, I can’t wait for the sequel!
Thank you to the author Aurora Chatsworth, NetGalley, and Victory Editing for this ARC!
Great way to start the year!
Hal is not the prince his family wants - in more ways than one. When he’s sent off to military academy, he meets Jakob, a Jewish Russian immigrant, that opens new doors for Hal. But, will their love survive against hatred, jealousy, and bigotry?
I’m so glad I got to read this! This was a such a wonderful read, full of in-depth characters, wonderful tension and a passionate love that I found absolutely irresistible. Chapter 8 stands out in particular to me, and is probably my favorite part of the entire book. Hands down a great read, and one that I hope everyone gets to experience! Also, I can’t wait for the sequel!
Thank you to the author Aurora Chatsworth, NetGalley, and Victory Editing for this ARC!
January 22, 2026
*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
“The worst sin is lying to yourself.”
When I first downloaded this, it showed it was over 100 pages shorter than the updated version. The second copy was nearly 400 pages, which made it drag on, especially with the small print.
On the plus side, if you liked The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, you may want to check this out. I feel like the vibes are similar. I would say this book is better than Miller’s. War and strategy discussions are a huge part of this book, which dulled it for me.
I really thought this book would be way more popular. The cover is something I would pick up. I always check out historical fiction books with M M romance. The characters were okay. The plot was very slow in the middle, though.
I think the book would have benefited from being cut down a bunch. A lot of the writing was repetitive, particularly where certain ideas and descriptions were reiterated in close proximity. For example, there are multiple instances where the narration repeatedly emphasizes that a character didn’t mean to sound so harsh, refers to Jakob several times in a short span as an “odd duck,” or has one character recount an event to another when the reader has already experienced it firsthand. Tightening or trimming these moments would help improve pacing and maintain momentum.
Strangely enough, the preview of the sequel looks a lot better than this one does. With tighter editing—and especially having an audiobook format—I can see this series improving significantly. Overall, not the worst book ever; it just missed the mark for me in a few areas. (Side note: the author does thank her polycule, which is a dealbreaker for me to read any of their books in the future.)
“The worst sin is lying to yourself.”
When I first downloaded this, it showed it was over 100 pages shorter than the updated version. The second copy was nearly 400 pages, which made it drag on, especially with the small print.
On the plus side, if you liked The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, you may want to check this out. I feel like the vibes are similar. I would say this book is better than Miller’s. War and strategy discussions are a huge part of this book, which dulled it for me.
I really thought this book would be way more popular. The cover is something I would pick up. I always check out historical fiction books with M M romance. The characters were okay. The plot was very slow in the middle, though.
I think the book would have benefited from being cut down a bunch. A lot of the writing was repetitive, particularly where certain ideas and descriptions were reiterated in close proximity. For example, there are multiple instances where the narration repeatedly emphasizes that a character didn’t mean to sound so harsh, refers to Jakob several times in a short span as an “odd duck,” or has one character recount an event to another when the reader has already experienced it firsthand. Tightening or trimming these moments would help improve pacing and maintain momentum.
Strangely enough, the preview of the sequel looks a lot better than this one does. With tighter editing—and especially having an audiobook format—I can see this series improving significantly. Overall, not the worst book ever; it just missed the mark for me in a few areas. (Side note: the author does thank her polycule, which is a dealbreaker for me to read any of their books in the future.)
January 16, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
I enjoyed The Broken Dawn by Aurora Chatsworth on a multitude of levels. The characters were endearing and well developed, and the historical tension was gripping in a way few works of historical fiction actually achieve. The author has done an excellent job exploring the various moral, economic, and societal quandaries facing the small nations of Europe, like Sweden, in the months prior to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. As historical fiction, The Broken Dawn is compelling, but often more fiction than history, and the author never forgets that the story is really about Harald and Jakob and their burgeoning romance.
The Broken Dawn is the first book in a series and ends on the eve of war, with Jakob and Harald separated by duty and distance. I’m looking forward to the next book to see how the realities of war impact both the couple and the world around them. Consider this one highly recommended!
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
I enjoyed The Broken Dawn by Aurora Chatsworth on a multitude of levels. The characters were endearing and well developed, and the historical tension was gripping in a way few works of historical fiction actually achieve. The author has done an excellent job exploring the various moral, economic, and societal quandaries facing the small nations of Europe, like Sweden, in the months prior to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. As historical fiction, The Broken Dawn is compelling, but often more fiction than history, and the author never forgets that the story is really about Harald and Jakob and their burgeoning romance.
The Broken Dawn is the first book in a series and ends on the eve of war, with Jakob and Harald separated by duty and distance. I’m looking forward to the next book to see how the realities of war impact both the couple and the world around them. Consider this one highly recommended!
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
December 26, 2025
ARC provided by Netgalley and this is my honest review:
I’m conflicted and disappointed. Most importantly, let me make clear. I LOVED the central story and romance here. While it is arguably derivative of Young Royals, I think Chatsworth adds enough of her own flair to make it unique. To read an alt-historical queer romance where one character is a proud Jew? That’s nothing to be sneered at.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the execution was entirely successful. The book was much too short and rushed. I didn’t quite buy where we left the romance at the end. I think we easily could have had another hundred pages to flesh out the central romance and side characters - why should I be sad about a a character dying who we’ve maybe spent 5 pages with.
There were also many typos (missing words, tenses changing) and strange choices too, such as non sequiturs and callbacks to scenes that we weren’t privy to, but read like we’re supposed to have been.
Frankly, I hope the published version has a more final edit than the ARC!
I will gladly read the sequel since I do enjoy the main story here. I think I’ll reserve my final thoughts until I read it as well. I hope we also see this take a further alt-historical path where Sweden does not remain neutral. You’re telling me the crown prince wouldn’t push for war against Nazi Germany when he has a Jewish lover and knows what is happening in Poland??
I’m conflicted and disappointed. Most importantly, let me make clear. I LOVED the central story and romance here. While it is arguably derivative of Young Royals, I think Chatsworth adds enough of her own flair to make it unique. To read an alt-historical queer romance where one character is a proud Jew? That’s nothing to be sneered at.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the execution was entirely successful. The book was much too short and rushed. I didn’t quite buy where we left the romance at the end. I think we easily could have had another hundred pages to flesh out the central romance and side characters - why should I be sad about a a character dying who we’ve maybe spent 5 pages with.
There were also many typos (missing words, tenses changing) and strange choices too, such as non sequiturs and callbacks to scenes that we weren’t privy to, but read like we’re supposed to have been.
Frankly, I hope the published version has a more final edit than the ARC!
I will gladly read the sequel since I do enjoy the main story here. I think I’ll reserve my final thoughts until I read it as well. I hope we also see this take a further alt-historical path where Sweden does not remain neutral. You’re telling me the crown prince wouldn’t push for war against Nazi Germany when he has a Jewish lover and knows what is happening in Poland??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2026
OMG!! I absolutely loved this book it was beautifully written and the character development throughout was done well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1.5 stars rounded up. Between my love for Young Royals and the 1939 setting, this should have been a slam dunk, but it just didn’t really come together for me, sadly. Would have DNF’d if it wasn’t an ARC.
The premise: Swedish Prince Harald the spare is sent to a military academy where he falls in love with an immigrant charity student who lives with his mother and younger sister; their love is epic but threatened by the prince’s scheming cousin and the demands of the Crown, and then tragedy befalls and changes everything.
Sound familiar? Yeah. I have complicated feelings about authors making money off of fanfic, but basically as long as you make at least a good-faith attempt to file off the serial numbers, fine, if you must. But this is Young Royals in 1939 with maybe a bit of RW&RB sprinkled on top and that’s it. The story steers far too close to the source in its main elements to ever have a chance to become its own thing. Worse, it’s like the character configurations of Young Royals but with every bit of nuance ground out of them. I felt this most keenly with Prince Harald’s cousin Christian, who spends every single scene being sneery and threatening and cartoonishly evil, and the Queen, who is cold, cruel, and manipulative, with absolutely no redeeming qualities. Not even a shred of grey morality.
Several aspects of the main premise made no sense: I don’t know how military academies in Sweden work or worked at the time, but it seemed off that Harald would be sent to one as a first-year at age 20, not having been to university before. I got the impression we needed Harald to be older than his Young Royals counterpart so he could make more grown-up decisions, but especially in the beginning he acts like a much younger teenager in the way he defers to his family. I had a hard time getting a handle on his supposed age.
Then we have several scenes where Harald, a first-year, is in the same class as his love interest Jakob, a second-year, and his cousin Christian, a fourth-year, just so those particular characters can have a debate on a certain topic in a classroom setting, in which Harald and Jakob’s opinions are correct and moral, and Christian’s are incorrect and bad. I frequently felt like the author just wanted to hit certain scenes, no matter whether they made sense within the setting or structure.
The romance was sweet but it felt underbaked and overdramatic. Harald and Jakob fall in love at first sight and within less than three months are so unshakeably devoted that they defy royal ultimatums, threats to Jakob’s family, and are prepared to make lifetime commitments. Which I guess is nice when unshakeable devotion from minute one is what you want from your romance pairings, but it felt a little flat to me. Love is powerful, but these are powerful obstacles, and I would’ve been more invested if there had been more internal struggle, even a sliver of doubt.
The setting at the dawn of World War Two is the one unique thing that distinguished the story, and I did enjoy what we saw of that, although again, there was so little nuance. Within a couple of months, Harald, who is initially described as an aspiring scholar, becomes an expert military and political strategist to the point where multiple generals, teachers, and members of the royal family point out that he’s better at it than his brother, who’s been trained as Crown Prince all his life. Jakob, too, excels at everything academic, strategic, and military. He and Harald are blindingly pretty and endlessly kind while their adversaries are evil and callous and scheming, but not even very good at it. I just couldn’t really believe in any stakes when it was all so black and white.
I did enjoy that Jakob and his family were Russian Jews, which added a poignant component to their expat status at this particular point in time. The writing is competent, a bit on the over-emotional side but in a way that works for the characters. It’s entirely possible that the second book will take developments in a direction that allows the story to find its own feet rather than lean so heavily on an existing IP, but I’m more than happy to leave it here (and just rewatch Young Royals probably, tbh).
YMMV – I suspect this may work much better for readers who’ve never heard of Young Royals in their life.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise: Swedish Prince Harald the spare is sent to a military academy where he falls in love with an immigrant charity student who lives with his mother and younger sister; their love is epic but threatened by the prince’s scheming cousin and the demands of the Crown, and then tragedy befalls and changes everything.
Sound familiar? Yeah. I have complicated feelings about authors making money off of fanfic, but basically as long as you make at least a good-faith attempt to file off the serial numbers, fine, if you must. But this is Young Royals in 1939 with maybe a bit of RW&RB sprinkled on top and that’s it. The story steers far too close to the source in its main elements to ever have a chance to become its own thing. Worse, it’s like the character configurations of Young Royals but with every bit of nuance ground out of them. I felt this most keenly with Prince Harald’s cousin Christian, who spends every single scene being sneery and threatening and cartoonishly evil, and the Queen, who is cold, cruel, and manipulative, with absolutely no redeeming qualities. Not even a shred of grey morality.
Several aspects of the main premise made no sense: I don’t know how military academies in Sweden work or worked at the time, but it seemed off that Harald would be sent to one as a first-year at age 20, not having been to university before. I got the impression we needed Harald to be older than his Young Royals counterpart so he could make more grown-up decisions, but especially in the beginning he acts like a much younger teenager in the way he defers to his family. I had a hard time getting a handle on his supposed age.
Then we have several scenes where Harald, a first-year, is in the same class as his love interest Jakob, a second-year, and his cousin Christian, a fourth-year, just so those particular characters can have a debate on a certain topic in a classroom setting, in which Harald and Jakob’s opinions are correct and moral, and Christian’s are incorrect and bad. I frequently felt like the author just wanted to hit certain scenes, no matter whether they made sense within the setting or structure.
The romance was sweet but it felt underbaked and overdramatic. Harald and Jakob fall in love at first sight and within less than three months are so unshakeably devoted that they defy royal ultimatums, threats to Jakob’s family, and are prepared to make lifetime commitments. Which I guess is nice when unshakeable devotion from minute one is what you want from your romance pairings, but it felt a little flat to me. Love is powerful, but these are powerful obstacles, and I would’ve been more invested if there had been more internal struggle, even a sliver of doubt.
The setting at the dawn of World War Two is the one unique thing that distinguished the story, and I did enjoy what we saw of that, although again, there was so little nuance. Within a couple of months, Harald, who is initially described as an aspiring scholar, becomes an expert military and political strategist to the point where multiple generals, teachers, and members of the royal family point out that he’s better at it than his brother, who’s been trained as Crown Prince all his life. Jakob, too, excels at everything academic, strategic, and military. He and Harald are blindingly pretty and endlessly kind while their adversaries are evil and callous and scheming, but not even very good at it. I just couldn’t really believe in any stakes when it was all so black and white.
I did enjoy that Jakob and his family were Russian Jews, which added a poignant component to their expat status at this particular point in time. The writing is competent, a bit on the over-emotional side but in a way that works for the characters. It’s entirely possible that the second book will take developments in a direction that allows the story to find its own feet rather than lean so heavily on an existing IP, but I’m more than happy to leave it here (and just rewatch Young Royals probably, tbh).
YMMV – I suspect this may work much better for readers who’ve never heard of Young Royals in their life.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Playing out against the European theatre of the start of WWII, Aurora Chatsworth’s ‘Broken Dawn’ frames the call of duty versus personal choice and freedom from multiple angles, though it finds its sharpest focus in the unexpected bond between Sweden’s Crown Prince Harald and Jakob Eliasberg, a so-called “charity case” among the elite cadets. Through glances, stolen moments and touches in the dark, Harald’s and Jakob’s take centre stage during a time when political alliances teeter on a knife’s edge.
But the uncertainty of the period serves as a broader backdrop rather than a driver, as Chatsworth focuses on a more intimate, domestic story of two men trying to keep their heads up amid these pressures.
Characterisation is where ‘Broken Dawn’ shines—both protagonists are sharply drawn and clearly delineated as protagonists and antagonists (perhaps sometimes a little too cleanly), with the battle lines both literally and metaphorically drawn from the start. As a result, ‘Broken Dawn’ is slow going as it builds on Jakob’s and Harald’s growing chemistry, less concerned as it is with the spectacle of war than it is with the pressure of resisting the voices against them.
Jakob emerges as a compelling figure. As the son of Jewish immigrants, he has learned to be sharp, disciplined, and relentlessly capable—academically, socially, and emotionally. I was drawn to the quiet pride with which he holds himself among aristocrats and inherited privilege, never shrinking despite the odds stacked against him. Harald, by contrast, initially reads as softer and less assured: a prince more attuned to language and scholarship than the punishing rhythms of military life. My early doubts about him, however, give way to a more complex portrait, as Chatsworth gradually reveals his hidden resilience and a steely determination to wield his power as future King in a way that eschews the political machinations perpetuated by his mother.
I’m not entirely sure where this series is heading nonetheless. There’s a thoughtful pause rather than an affirmative conclusion—this is the end of Act I, just like the curtain closes on this particular phase in life for both Jakob and Harald. The inevitability of separation hangs heavily over them, even as the promises of a future whispered in the dark, don’t quite yet remain within reach. I’m curious to see how Chatsworth will take things further though and I’ll come back for the future instalments just to know how Chatsworth will lead our protagonists.
*ARC by Booksirens
But the uncertainty of the period serves as a broader backdrop rather than a driver, as Chatsworth focuses on a more intimate, domestic story of two men trying to keep their heads up amid these pressures.
Characterisation is where ‘Broken Dawn’ shines—both protagonists are sharply drawn and clearly delineated as protagonists and antagonists (perhaps sometimes a little too cleanly), with the battle lines both literally and metaphorically drawn from the start. As a result, ‘Broken Dawn’ is slow going as it builds on Jakob’s and Harald’s growing chemistry, less concerned as it is with the spectacle of war than it is with the pressure of resisting the voices against them.
Jakob emerges as a compelling figure. As the son of Jewish immigrants, he has learned to be sharp, disciplined, and relentlessly capable—academically, socially, and emotionally. I was drawn to the quiet pride with which he holds himself among aristocrats and inherited privilege, never shrinking despite the odds stacked against him. Harald, by contrast, initially reads as softer and less assured: a prince more attuned to language and scholarship than the punishing rhythms of military life. My early doubts about him, however, give way to a more complex portrait, as Chatsworth gradually reveals his hidden resilience and a steely determination to wield his power as future King in a way that eschews the political machinations perpetuated by his mother.
I’m not entirely sure where this series is heading nonetheless. There’s a thoughtful pause rather than an affirmative conclusion—this is the end of Act I, just like the curtain closes on this particular phase in life for both Jakob and Harald. The inevitability of separation hangs heavily over them, even as the promises of a future whispered in the dark, don’t quite yet remain within reach. I’m curious to see how Chatsworth will take things further though and I’ll come back for the future instalments just to know how Chatsworth will lead our protagonists.
*ARC by Booksirens
November 15, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Broken Dawn
(The Silver Throne: Book 1)
by Aurora Chatsworth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.75/5 stars)
First things first: the book was good. And honestly, that’s already something in a genre where historical fiction can easily fall flat if the tone is off. But here? The setting alone — Sweden in 1939 — was refreshing. You don’t often get queer historical fiction set in Scandinavia on the brink of WWII, and that alone kept me turning the pages.
We follow Prince Harald, second in line to the throne and absolutely not thrilled about being shoved into a military academy instead of going to Oxford like he actually wanted. His relationship with his siblings is warm and supportive, but his cousin Christian?
Oh no.
Christian is the walking embodiment of “I have a stick up my ass and I’m proud of it.” He ranks above Harald at the academy and uses every opportunity to harass him — and anyone else who looks at him sideways. Very on brand for the time period and for a man desperate to feel important.
At the academy, Harald meets Jacob, a young man with a… let’s say mysteriously questionable background. Jacob quickly becomes Harald’s anchor in an environment full of discipline, politics, and toxic masculinity. Their dynamic is slow-burning, cautious, and absolutely fitting for the era — full of unspoken things and heavy glances.
The pressures they’re under, the burdens they carry, the social expectations, and the obstacles thrown at them felt very believable for the late 1930s. I genuinely enjoyed seeing how their bond developed against all the odds.
It didn’t fully hit the “wow” level for me, but it was a solid, atmospheric, well-paced story with strong historical grounding and compelling emotional threads. A good start to a series — and I’m curious to see where Book 2 takes Harald, Jacob, and the Silver Throne.
The Broken Dawn
(The Silver Throne: Book 1)
by Aurora Chatsworth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.75/5 stars)
First things first: the book was good. And honestly, that’s already something in a genre where historical fiction can easily fall flat if the tone is off. But here? The setting alone — Sweden in 1939 — was refreshing. You don’t often get queer historical fiction set in Scandinavia on the brink of WWII, and that alone kept me turning the pages.
We follow Prince Harald, second in line to the throne and absolutely not thrilled about being shoved into a military academy instead of going to Oxford like he actually wanted. His relationship with his siblings is warm and supportive, but his cousin Christian?
Oh no.
Christian is the walking embodiment of “I have a stick up my ass and I’m proud of it.” He ranks above Harald at the academy and uses every opportunity to harass him — and anyone else who looks at him sideways. Very on brand for the time period and for a man desperate to feel important.
At the academy, Harald meets Jacob, a young man with a… let’s say mysteriously questionable background. Jacob quickly becomes Harald’s anchor in an environment full of discipline, politics, and toxic masculinity. Their dynamic is slow-burning, cautious, and absolutely fitting for the era — full of unspoken things and heavy glances.
The pressures they’re under, the burdens they carry, the social expectations, and the obstacles thrown at them felt very believable for the late 1930s. I genuinely enjoyed seeing how their bond developed against all the odds.
It didn’t fully hit the “wow” level for me, but it was a solid, atmospheric, well-paced story with strong historical grounding and compelling emotional threads. A good start to a series — and I’m curious to see where Book 2 takes Harald, Jacob, and the Silver Throne.
Review of advance copy
ARC review 4/5 ⭐
Thank you BookSirens for the eARC of The Broken Dawn by Aurora Chatsworth.
The Broken Dawn is history re-imagined during the start of the Second World War through the spare prince of Sweden, Harald and Jacob, the man he falls in love with. It's queer historical fiction set through actual events, which Chatsworth makes very clear the foreword. Personally I find this concept very interesting as I am Swedish, though I'll admit I have very little interest or knowledge about the real Swedish Royal Family. But make it queer and I'll be there.
I had a bit of a rough time reading The Broken Dawn, my brain kept switching to Swedish whenever something was in Swedish or had a Swedish spelling. It took a bit to get used to and not get annoyed with myself.
The famous "oh" moment in romance was fairly early in the book and it left me feeling paranoid of heartbreak. Chatsworth really delivered on that part, but also in instilling hope. There's so much hope filled into every hurtful thing that happens in the story. Harald and Jacob both from the start have an understanding that their love is doomed, yet they won't give up on hope or on love and it's truly beautifully written.
Also, it's been a long time since I've hated a character as much as I hated Christian. It got to a point that whenever his name appeared on page I would hope it was finally the time he got what he'd deserve. He really is written like a villain and it's really easy to dislike him.
I really enjoyed reading about Harald and Jacob and especially how Harald grew into himself. It's a bittersweet, hopeful love story that draws you in. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the sequel!
Thank you BookSirens for the eARC of The Broken Dawn by Aurora Chatsworth.
The Broken Dawn is history re-imagined during the start of the Second World War through the spare prince of Sweden, Harald and Jacob, the man he falls in love with. It's queer historical fiction set through actual events, which Chatsworth makes very clear the foreword. Personally I find this concept very interesting as I am Swedish, though I'll admit I have very little interest or knowledge about the real Swedish Royal Family. But make it queer and I'll be there.
I had a bit of a rough time reading The Broken Dawn, my brain kept switching to Swedish whenever something was in Swedish or had a Swedish spelling. It took a bit to get used to and not get annoyed with myself.
The famous "oh" moment in romance was fairly early in the book and it left me feeling paranoid of heartbreak. Chatsworth really delivered on that part, but also in instilling hope. There's so much hope filled into every hurtful thing that happens in the story. Harald and Jacob both from the start have an understanding that their love is doomed, yet they won't give up on hope or on love and it's truly beautifully written.
Also, it's been a long time since I've hated a character as much as I hated Christian. It got to a point that whenever his name appeared on page I would hope it was finally the time he got what he'd deserve. He really is written like a villain and it's really easy to dislike him.
I really enjoyed reading about Harald and Jacob and especially how Harald grew into himself. It's a bittersweet, hopeful love story that draws you in. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What if Young Royals took place in 1939?
I suspect this was one of the ideas Aurora Chatsowrth had, and from there she ran away with it! The Broken Dawn is the beginning of the story of Prince Harald, second in line for the Swedish throne, very much un-royal in the eyes of his mother and his cousin, and brilliant Jakob, a Jewish refugee in Sweden who has to fight for everything he has since his family fled from Russia.
The love story of Harald and Jakob is beautiful, full of emotions and devotion. On the backdrop of WW2 breaking out in Europe, the two very boys coming from very different world complete each other in the strict Riddarhuset military academy. Between Clausewitz, artillery trajectories and formation tactics, the Prince finds himself rolling in hay, milking cows and falling in love with a boy who gave him the final push to be himself, and not what his mother wanted to shape him into.
The book has some flaws - it could use some better editing, there are repetitive sentences and statements, while some of intimate scenes dialogue requires some suspension of disbelief given how lyrical it is, and some scenes are a bit too similar to Young Royals - but the central pillars of the plot are solid, and the main characters feel close to the reader. I will also always be generous to authors who hate cliche tropes like third-act breakup and the characters succumbing to an obvious blackmail/ultimatum - and Aurora Chatsworth shares my feelings: Harald and Jakob have no intentions to give up or be stupid, no matter how high the stakes are.
I cannot wait for the sequel!
I suspect this was one of the ideas Aurora Chatsowrth had, and from there she ran away with it! The Broken Dawn is the beginning of the story of Prince Harald, second in line for the Swedish throne, very much un-royal in the eyes of his mother and his cousin, and brilliant Jakob, a Jewish refugee in Sweden who has to fight for everything he has since his family fled from Russia.
The love story of Harald and Jakob is beautiful, full of emotions and devotion. On the backdrop of WW2 breaking out in Europe, the two very boys coming from very different world complete each other in the strict Riddarhuset military academy. Between Clausewitz, artillery trajectories and formation tactics, the Prince finds himself rolling in hay, milking cows and falling in love with a boy who gave him the final push to be himself, and not what his mother wanted to shape him into.
The book has some flaws - it could use some better editing, there are repetitive sentences and statements, while some of intimate scenes dialogue requires some suspension of disbelief given how lyrical it is, and some scenes are a bit too similar to Young Royals - but the central pillars of the plot are solid, and the main characters feel close to the reader. I will also always be generous to authors who hate cliche tropes like third-act breakup and the characters succumbing to an obvious blackmail/ultimatum - and Aurora Chatsworth shares my feelings: Harald and Jakob have no intentions to give up or be stupid, no matter how high the stakes are.
I cannot wait for the sequel!
December 22, 2025
This has definite Young Royals vibes, which should be a good thing since I loved that show... but these characters are supposed to be twenty/twenty-one. The setting, a military academy at the onset of WW2, lends itself to political exploration, but this wasn't fully developed enough to be satisfying. For example (spoiler alert), one of the characters ends up joining the Finnish army to fight against Russia, which in the context of WW2 means fighting Hitler's enemies, which is ripe for analysis but is never explored.
The characters are nice. Damned by faint praise, there. The emotions are painted in bold strokes that fail to cover a lack of depth. The romance is similarly one-dimensional.
Also, lots of minor continuity errors added up to a frustrating reading experience.
Overall, the setting and themes had potential, but the plot and characters didn't have enough scope or originality to make it stand out.
The characters are nice. Damned by faint praise, there. The emotions are painted in bold strokes that fail to cover a lack of depth. The romance is similarly one-dimensional.
Also, lots of minor continuity errors added up to a frustrating reading experience.
Overall, the setting and themes had potential, but the plot and characters didn't have enough scope or originality to make it stand out.
February 12, 2026
Usually, I don’t gravitate toward military romances set during WWII, but The Broken Dawn being an MM romance set in neutral Sweden convinced me to give it a try—and I’m so glad I did. I absolutely loved it.
The story follows Jacob and spare Prince Harald during their time at the military academy, and their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of carefully measured political intrigue. I especially appreciated that Harald, despite being royalty, isn’t portrayed as distant or above hard work. Seeing him engage in muddy tactics and even farm labor added depth and authenticity to his character.
The tension woven through the political dynamics—particularly the danger stemming from Harald’s cousin—keeps the stakes compelling without overwhelming the romance.
It’s a beautifully balanced story of duty, loyalty, and growing love. I’m already looking forward to the second installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows Jacob and spare Prince Harald during their time at the military academy, and their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of carefully measured political intrigue. I especially appreciated that Harald, despite being royalty, isn’t portrayed as distant or above hard work. Seeing him engage in muddy tactics and even farm labor added depth and authenticity to his character.
The tension woven through the political dynamics—particularly the danger stemming from Harald’s cousin—keeps the stakes compelling without overwhelming the romance.
It’s a beautifully balanced story of duty, loyalty, and growing love. I’m already looking forward to the second installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
November 22, 2025The Broken Dawn is a beautiful story about the love between a Swedish prince (Hal) and a Jewish boy (Jakob) who meet at a military academy and have to defy class differences, social norms, duty and expectations. Their love blossoms at the start of WWII.
The characters feel real, the dialogues are restrained and intimate where necessary, others are fire and have you reading in the edge of your seat. The author especially does the political threatening undertones well and both the Queen and Christian, who stand in the way of the main characters, come alive in their dialogues.
Overall the story is well written, all her characters feel real and rounded, even the minor ones, the historical setting feels real is treated with the nuance it deserves and the author has succeeded in writing a romance that touches the heart. I am looking forward to the next part of this trilogy.
The characters feel real, the dialogues are restrained and intimate where necessary, others are fire and have you reading in the edge of your seat. The author especially does the political threatening undertones well and both the Queen and Christian, who stand in the way of the main characters, come alive in their dialogues.
Overall the story is well written, all her characters feel real and rounded, even the minor ones, the historical setting feels real is treated with the nuance it deserves and the author has succeeded in writing a romance that touches the heart. I am looking forward to the next part of this trilogy.
Review of advance copy
Being second in line to the throne already comes with its complications. For Harald there are also other reasons why he does not fit the mold that is expected in his realm. He is sent to military academy where he meets Jakob, a scholarship student, who also has reasons to feel like an odd man out. They connect, they fall in love but this is not the beginning of a smooth journey or love story. Harald and Jakob not only live in precarious times for the kingdom, their connection is at risk because of expectations. This was such an engaging lead in to the duet that unfolds their story and introduces us to the realm within which it plays out. I am looking forward to the next book to see how things resolve for them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 11, 2026
This was such an emotional read. It took me a moment to get into it but when I did I was invested. The characters are interesting and multi-faceted and the relationship between Hal and Jakob had me in a chokehold. It was equal parts beautiful and devastating and tinged with desperation throughout.
Several parts of this feel very tense and it works wonderfully for the plot and story. I really did enjoy the way it was structured with dates at the beginning of each chapter and it felt like it rooted the story well to the setting and hammered home when exactly all of this was taking place. Some of the dialogue from background characters felt a little bit clunky at times but that was a minor issue that didn't take away from the story at all for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this and cannot wait for the release of the sequel.
Several parts of this feel very tense and it works wonderfully for the plot and story. I really did enjoy the way it was structured with dates at the beginning of each chapter and it felt like it rooted the story well to the setting and hammered home when exactly all of this was taking place. Some of the dialogue from background characters felt a little bit clunky at times but that was a minor issue that didn't take away from the story at all for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this and cannot wait for the release of the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm a sucker for a well-written Historical Fiction, and this definitely hits the mark for that! It takes place in Sweden, 1939, and while I tend to shy away from a lot of WWII-era (in that time frame anyway), this was unique and refreshing.
Our main character Harald has our second-born royal trope of not feeling good enough, and seeks out Jakob for assistance. Their romance builds as much as the stakes do, and I was hooked!
Our main character Harald has our second-born royal trope of not feeling good enough, and seeks out Jakob for assistance. Their romance builds as much as the stakes do, and I was hooked!
January 15, 2026
A wonderful romance between a Swedish Prince and a Jewish-Russian Academy cadet at the start of the Second World War. Their love was captivating as Harald faces threats from his mother to do his duty whilst trying to find a way to be with Jakob. A beautiful story that drew me in completely with so much tension and drama.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2026
He is the second son and he goes to a school where they see him as him and not as a prince. They will become friends and even more but his mother has plans of her own as war is threatened. How will it all go? Follow them to find out
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great love tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great love tale
January 26, 2026
Lots of twists and turns throughout this story, which kept it exciting, relatable, and a definite page Turner. Characters were multilayered. Their journey together was great to follow along with.. this was a new author to me and I really enjoyed their writing style. . Can’t wait to read more from them.
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