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The Broken Dawn
Not yet published
Expected 15 Jan 26Some 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.
- GenresRomanceM M Romance
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 15, 2026
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31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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 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 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.
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.
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 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!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews