What do you think?
Rate this book
War of Broken Hearts
Adara Rhyes was born with the magic of a goddess in her veins. Being the product of the crown and the flame, a prophecy has written her fate in the stars. But her enemies are set on changing that fate.
Seeking refuge on Andreilia, an island with enchanted water that grants eternal youth, exiled Princess Adara Rhyes is buying herself time to plot revenge against the empire that took everything from her. Captured and molded into a weapon by the Shadow Empire, Adara has been cast into foreign lands after her failed rebellion. With her homeland wiped from the collective memory of the world, time isn’t the only thing against her.
Dominic Nite, the notorious King of Keys, has a reputation for manipulating desperate girls like Adara into giving him the keys to their hearts … then breaking them when they least expect it. Stealing Adara’s heart is more than just a sadistic game to Dominic, and he has his own agenda. In this delicate dance of power and deceit, Dominic might have just met his match.
Their fates intertwine when Adara challenges the King of Keys to a high-stakes game of love, a feat that will either win her enough power to defeat the empire, or cut her revenge at its knees. The rules are whoever falls in love first loses and must relinquish their key. Adara can’t afford to lose. She needs the panoply of magic contained within Dominic’s key and his knowledge of ancient relics in her quest to forge the Realm Fracturer, a weapon capable of tearing through space and time. With it, she just might be able to restore her home and acquire enough power to fulfill an ancient prophecy, destroying the empire once and for all.
Only one can hold the keys in this dangerous war of hearts, where the price of victory might be higher than either is willing to pay.
Seeking refuge on Andreilia, an island with enchanted water that grants eternal youth, exiled Princess Adara Rhyes is buying herself time to plot revenge against the empire that took everything from her. Captured and molded into a weapon by the Shadow Empire, Adara has been cast into foreign lands after her failed rebellion. With her homeland wiped from the collective memory of the world, time isn’t the only thing against her.
Dominic Nite, the notorious King of Keys, has a reputation for manipulating desperate girls like Adara into giving him the keys to their hearts … then breaking them when they least expect it. Stealing Adara’s heart is more than just a sadistic game to Dominic, and he has his own agenda. In this delicate dance of power and deceit, Dominic might have just met his match.
Their fates intertwine when Adara challenges the King of Keys to a high-stakes game of love, a feat that will either win her enough power to defeat the empire, or cut her revenge at its knees. The rules are whoever falls in love first loses and must relinquish their key. Adara can’t afford to lose. She needs the panoply of magic contained within Dominic’s key and his knowledge of ancient relics in her quest to forge the Realm Fracturer, a weapon capable of tearing through space and time. With it, she just might be able to restore her home and acquire enough power to fulfill an ancient prophecy, destroying the empire once and for all.
Only one can hold the keys in this dangerous war of hearts, where the price of victory might be higher than either is willing to pay.
- GenresFantasyFantasy Romance
600 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
9 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 28, 2025
Adara is lost, she cannot find her home and no one has heard of it. Determined to return home and help her people, she decides she must enter a war with the King of Keys to steal his key (his life) and forge a magical weapon to help her return to her home. But the King of Keys is ruthless, heartless and known for manipulating people into giving them their key. But she needs his help and his key. So they enter a deal to find the relics they need to forge the Realm Fracturer and whoever falls in love first, must hand over their key. Adara is willing to do anything.
A story that is full of so much hate and tension. Yearning for more from each other, but both focused on their on agendas. Learning there’s so much more to their story.
Once Upon a Broken Heart meets Throne of Glass! Jaelynn Page’s debut novel is one you are going to devour and be begging for book 2 LIKE I AM. WHAT WAS THAT ENDING 😭😭
Talk about ending the year on a high note! I’ve never preordered a book so fast! I was 25% in, read one phrase (you’ll have to read it and guess which quote 🤭) and immediately went and preordered. I knew I was going to love this book!!
⚔️Lost kingdom
⚔️Magic and Gods
⚔️Found family
⚔️Enemies to lovers
⚔️One bed
⚔️Tension and yearning
⚔️The slowest of burns
A story that is full of so much hate and tension. Yearning for more from each other, but both focused on their on agendas. Learning there’s so much more to their story.
Once Upon a Broken Heart meets Throne of Glass! Jaelynn Page’s debut novel is one you are going to devour and be begging for book 2 LIKE I AM. WHAT WAS THAT ENDING 😭😭
Talk about ending the year on a high note! I’ve never preordered a book so fast! I was 25% in, read one phrase (you’ll have to read it and guess which quote 🤭) and immediately went and preordered. I knew I was going to love this book!!
⚔️Lost kingdom
⚔️Magic and Gods
⚔️Found family
⚔️Enemies to lovers
⚔️One bed
⚔️Tension and yearning
⚔️The slowest of burns
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐
This was an incredible read! The story is slow-burn, but completely worth it, full of rich world-building and carefully developed emotions. Adara is strong and fierce, and I loved seeing her navigate her feelings while staying true to herself. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Dominic was intense, full of tension, betrayal, and longing -their interactions kept me hooked.
“Darling, you could set the world on fire, and I’d gladly burn in the flames of desire.”
The story blends magic, intrigue, and deep emotion beautifully. I also really appreciated the ARC - it was such a treat to read.
This was an incredible read! The story is slow-burn, but completely worth it, full of rich world-building and carefully developed emotions. Adara is strong and fierce, and I loved seeing her navigate her feelings while staying true to herself. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Dominic was intense, full of tension, betrayal, and longing -their interactions kept me hooked.
“Darling, you could set the world on fire, and I’d gladly burn in the flames of desire.”
The story blends magic, intrigue, and deep emotion beautifully. I also really appreciated the ARC - it was such a treat to read.
January 20, 2026
ARC. My jaw is still on the floor from that amazing, heartbreaking, beautiful, and tragic ending. I cannot believe that this novel is Jaelynn Page’s first published work. Every single piece of this was incredible and I feel so privileged to have read it. The scenes and environments are described so thoroughly that you feel as if you are actually experiencing every single emotion and action that the characters do. Speaking of the characters, Adara and Dominic are two of the most complex people I have ever had the chance to read about. Their backstories tie in so perfectly with their current personalities and choices in a way that I would never have thought possible. The amount of foreshadowing in this is just enough to keep you guessing but not enough to distract you from the main plot. Onto the main plot, the tension in this is so intense. If you are looking for a book with actual enemies to lovers this will fulfill that wish to a degree not previously known to mankind. Literally thought they would finally end up killing each other at least five different times. The side characters are just as interesting as Adara and Dominic and the author does use them to tug on your heartstrings quite a bit. All in all, this was a novel that I cannot wait to read again and will be doing so many times before the second is released, which I am waiting on the edge of my seat for! Thank you to Jaelynn Page for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review as this book has changed my life and the way I will view fantasy romance from now on.
January 16, 2026
For a debut novel, War of Broken Hearts was INCREDIBLE!! FMC Adara and MMC Dominic Nite are both equally morally gray in their own right. The magic system is so unique, with the Phera (magic users) and magical keys for each person. If the person you give your key to is truly your soulmate, then your key turns into a ring. It also grants you power over that person (in different ways). Adara, with her fiery temper and secrets (honestly with a heart of gold though!) is trying to find a way back to her kingdom. So she challenges Dominic Nite, the Thief of Keys himself to a challenge—whoever falls in love first has to give their key to the other, thus giving the other person power over each others magic and life. It’s a dangerous game and both Adara and Dominic want to win.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book where the main characters really do start off with hating each other-a true enemies to lovers beginning! With their intense fights (basically both beating the ever living sh*t out of each other!) and the trials to get items for a magical weapon, this story had it all. The world building was thought out and descriptive, the banter was bantering and the emotional toll the characters had on my heart definitely made my cry at times. This book, with the subtle slow burn, was giving me butterflies and I enjoyed every second of it. 5/5 Star read for me!! I cannot WAIT to see what book 2 brings!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book where the main characters really do start off with hating each other-a true enemies to lovers beginning! With their intense fights (basically both beating the ever living sh*t out of each other!) and the trials to get items for a magical weapon, this story had it all. The world building was thought out and descriptive, the banter was bantering and the emotional toll the characters had on my heart definitely made my cry at times. This book, with the subtle slow burn, was giving me butterflies and I enjoyed every second of it. 5/5 Star read for me!! I cannot WAIT to see what book 2 brings!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a legendary story! I'm literally speechless at how in love with this book I became. I didn't even realize it's 600 pages because I couldn't put it down! I was completely immersed in the story and went through all the emotions. Adara is the FMC; she is fierce, independent, and full of fiery strength. Dominic is the MMC; he is power hungry, full of rage and mischief, and dark in all the best ways. I'm obsessed with all the characters in this book and can't wait for book 2! The ending had me internally screaming, so be prepared. If you love witty banter, true enemies to lovers, found family, magical islands, and epic twists that will leave you wide-eyed and gasping for breath; this is the book for you!
December 5, 2025
ARC reader. Jaelynn did not disappoint. A jaw dropping debut novel. Her writing is polished, vivid, and immersive. I was pulled in right from the beginning. This is a clean young adult romantasy but the tension is still there!
January 20, 2026
I received an ARC from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own :)
Wow... This was a stunning and captivating debut novel. I am astounded by Jaelynn Page and this story she has created.
Welcome to a book where Once Upon a Broken Heart, Peter Pan, and Throne of Glass come together! This story is full of tension, lies, hidden pasts, a quest, a war, and a true enemies to lovers. One thing, many authors struggle with is creating a true enemies to lovers; we often see characters that are deemed as "enemies" but often have an instant love. Jaelynn did in right with Adara and Dominic actually having their own agendas that clash with each other and having no fear, if not finding pleasure, in hurting the other.
Adara and Dominic are quite complex characters and their hidden pasts blend nicely into the people we see them as. I love even seeing how hate has become so strong with them that it starts bleeding into the other side of the spectrum of possibly loving each other (again showing how enemies to lovers should be done). I love the inner turmoil both characters have and where they are willing to let some walls down and where they build them even higher and stronger with revenge, agendas, and hate.
The book had quite a bit of foreshadowing but you were always kept on your toes and didn't take away from the current moment you were in. Even as I have reached the end of the book, there is so much I know, so much I think I know, and so much I don't know and that is just brilliant on Jaelynn's part as an author to write and create.
The world is complex and the magic system is well built and easy to understand. However, your understanding of both comes the more you read.
The romantic moments are kept PG-PG13 with no on page explicit moments. While this book is marketed as YA, I recommend this book for actually the New Adult age range (18-25) due to the age of the characters and the mature subjects (war, violence, gore, and emotional manipulation). However, I understand the author marketed this book at YA to help readers who do not read smut understand her book is on the YA level of romance which is totally understandable and respectable, just know a lot of the other elements could be and might be better for someone in the New Adult age range!
This was an outstanding read and I am so privileged to have been an ARC reader. Jaelynn Page deserves all the hype for her amazing debut novel!
Wow... This was a stunning and captivating debut novel. I am astounded by Jaelynn Page and this story she has created.
Welcome to a book where Once Upon a Broken Heart, Peter Pan, and Throne of Glass come together! This story is full of tension, lies, hidden pasts, a quest, a war, and a true enemies to lovers. One thing, many authors struggle with is creating a true enemies to lovers; we often see characters that are deemed as "enemies" but often have an instant love. Jaelynn did in right with Adara and Dominic actually having their own agendas that clash with each other and having no fear, if not finding pleasure, in hurting the other.
Adara and Dominic are quite complex characters and their hidden pasts blend nicely into the people we see them as. I love even seeing how hate has become so strong with them that it starts bleeding into the other side of the spectrum of possibly loving each other (again showing how enemies to lovers should be done). I love the inner turmoil both characters have and where they are willing to let some walls down and where they build them even higher and stronger with revenge, agendas, and hate.
The book had quite a bit of foreshadowing but you were always kept on your toes and didn't take away from the current moment you were in. Even as I have reached the end of the book, there is so much I know, so much I think I know, and so much I don't know and that is just brilliant on Jaelynn's part as an author to write and create.
The world is complex and the magic system is well built and easy to understand. However, your understanding of both comes the more you read.
The romantic moments are kept PG-PG13 with no on page explicit moments. While this book is marketed as YA, I recommend this book for actually the New Adult age range (18-25) due to the age of the characters and the mature subjects (war, violence, gore, and emotional manipulation). However, I understand the author marketed this book at YA to help readers who do not read smut understand her book is on the YA level of romance which is totally understandable and respectable, just know a lot of the other elements could be and might be better for someone in the New Adult age range!
This was an outstanding read and I am so privileged to have been an ARC reader. Jaelynn Page deserves all the hype for her amazing debut novel!
Review of advance copy received from Author
For this being her debut novel, Jaelynn Page knocked this one out of the park!! War of Broken Hearts is a story filled with lies, betrayal, false hope, and violence. Everything was done so perfectly that at times I wasn’t sure which character I should be rooting for. Adara is a badass female that takes shit from no one, especially Dominic Nite. He is the last person she wants to make a bargain with but she will do anything to get back to the kingdom she was exiled from. Dominic Nite is incapable of love and having stolen multiple keys to women’s hearts it’s a no brained for him when Adara offers him a bargain he can’t refuse. Her key and help finding the items needed to build the realm fracturer if he could make her foolishly fall in love with him.
A war of broken hearts is exactly what this book was and it ended in mine being ripped in two. From the moment I picked up the book I was sucked in and found myself not wanting to put the book down. There was never a dull moment. All of the action in this book lead you to wanting more and more. Watching Adara and Dominic work together and play with each others emotions (and their own) was so much fun. Also the side characters were just so lovable and fun to read about. They reminded me of the lost boys from Neverland in a way.
Jaelynn Page is such a wonderful writer. She describes everything in perfect clarity making it easy for you to picture the world, characters, and monsters. Her opening scene sucks you in right away and leaves you wanting to know more about Adara and what her plans are. The ending of the book literally had my mind blown with a plot twist I didn’t see coming and cannot wait to have more answers for.
Overall, such an amazing read!! Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to arc read this in return for an honest review.
This book release on January 20th and you’re definitely going to want to add it to you tbr! It’s such a captivating read that will leave you wanting more!
A war of broken hearts is exactly what this book was and it ended in mine being ripped in two. From the moment I picked up the book I was sucked in and found myself not wanting to put the book down. There was never a dull moment. All of the action in this book lead you to wanting more and more. Watching Adara and Dominic work together and play with each others emotions (and their own) was so much fun. Also the side characters were just so lovable and fun to read about. They reminded me of the lost boys from Neverland in a way.
Jaelynn Page is such a wonderful writer. She describes everything in perfect clarity making it easy for you to picture the world, characters, and monsters. Her opening scene sucks you in right away and leaves you wanting to know more about Adara and what her plans are. The ending of the book literally had my mind blown with a plot twist I didn’t see coming and cannot wait to have more answers for.
Overall, such an amazing read!! Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to arc read this in return for an honest review.
This book release on January 20th and you’re definitely going to want to add it to you tbr! It’s such a captivating read that will leave you wanting more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an ARC of War of Broken Hearts…let me just say if you’re looking for a book with enemies to lovers, morally grey characters and lots of tension you’ve come to the right place.
The story starts with Adara, who was born with goddesses’s magic flowing through her veins. Determine not to let a prophecy decide her fate, she decides to travel to an island with waters that grant eternal youth in order to have time to plot revenge against the empire that took everything from her. She’s amazing, no questions asked.
Next up we have Dominic, who’s known for manipulating girls into giving him the keys to their heart and then breaking them. And ironically, he doesn’t have a heart of his own.
The two cross paths on the island when Adara challenges Dominic to a war of hearts, in which the loser hands over their key. I loved this aspect of the book, its truly unique and I loved how it was executed 🤭
I was NOT expecting that plot twist with Adara 👀 so points to Jaelynn for catching me off guard!!
And the slowburn 💔 oh my heart. Right when you thought Dominic and Adara were making progress it was another ten steps backwards. They were everything in this book and I cannot wait for the next one!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story starts with Adara, who was born with goddesses’s magic flowing through her veins. Determine not to let a prophecy decide her fate, she decides to travel to an island with waters that grant eternal youth in order to have time to plot revenge against the empire that took everything from her. She’s amazing, no questions asked.
Next up we have Dominic, who’s known for manipulating girls into giving him the keys to their heart and then breaking them. And ironically, he doesn’t have a heart of his own.
The two cross paths on the island when Adara challenges Dominic to a war of hearts, in which the loser hands over their key. I loved this aspect of the book, its truly unique and I loved how it was executed 🤭
I was NOT expecting that plot twist with Adara 👀 so points to Jaelynn for catching me off guard!!
And the slowburn 💔 oh my heart. Right when you thought Dominic and Adara were making progress it was another ten steps backwards. They were everything in this book and I cannot wait for the next one!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 25, 2026
“Life is a risk I must take.”
Were you obsessed with Peter Pan as a child? Because I definitely was (specifically the 2003 Jeremy Sumpter version). And if this movie/fairytale also had you in a chokehold, I’ve got some good news for you. Jaelynn Page has written the perfect romantasy novel that encompasses themes from our beloved Peter Pan with so many other delicious tropes that we look for in this genre. Here’s a bit of what you can expect while avoiding major spoilers:
🗝️ Exiled Princess x Wendy FMC
🗝️ Peter Pan x Hook MMC
🗝️ Prophecy & Trials
🗝️ Elemental Magic
🗝️ Found Family (a la Lost Boys)
🗝️ Eternal Youth
🗝️ Soulmate Magic
🗝️ Enemies forced to work together via pact
🗝️ Will they, won’t they
There might even be a one bed scene but you didn’t hear that from me 🤭
I adored this story from the outset. It was fun and heartbreaking and thrilling all at the same time. I deeply resonated with Adara, particularly how real she felt, and Dominic was brilliantly morally grey but also emotionally complex. This was an incredible debut novel and I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you so much to Jaelynn Page for entrusting an ARC of your debut novel to me!! Congratulations on becoming an author 💕 I’m so excited to follow along with your publishing journey
Were you obsessed with Peter Pan as a child? Because I definitely was (specifically the 2003 Jeremy Sumpter version). And if this movie/fairytale also had you in a chokehold, I’ve got some good news for you. Jaelynn Page has written the perfect romantasy novel that encompasses themes from our beloved Peter Pan with so many other delicious tropes that we look for in this genre. Here’s a bit of what you can expect while avoiding major spoilers:
🗝️ Exiled Princess x Wendy FMC
🗝️ Peter Pan x Hook MMC
🗝️ Prophecy & Trials
🗝️ Elemental Magic
🗝️ Found Family (a la Lost Boys)
🗝️ Eternal Youth
🗝️ Soulmate Magic
🗝️ Enemies forced to work together via pact
🗝️ Will they, won’t they
There might even be a one bed scene but you didn’t hear that from me 🤭
I adored this story from the outset. It was fun and heartbreaking and thrilling all at the same time. I deeply resonated with Adara, particularly how real she felt, and Dominic was brilliantly morally grey but also emotionally complex. This was an incredible debut novel and I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you so much to Jaelynn Page for entrusting an ARC of your debut novel to me!! Congratulations on becoming an author 💕 I’m so excited to follow along with your publishing journey
January 22, 2026
“Itryla al rone yi mon taka. Life is a risk that I must take.”
I had the privilege of reading Jaelynn’s debut novel as an ARC reader, and it absolutely did not disappoint.
For fans of fantasy with easy-to-follow worldbuilding, high-stakes circumstances, and characters with complex pasts just waiting to be uncovered, War of Broken Hearts is such a fun ride. This book had me laughing, shipping characters hard, and then fully ready to throw my Kindle at the wall (in the best way possible).
I was especially impressed knowing this is Jaelynn’s debut novel—it felt confident, immersive, and emotionally engaging in a way that’s hard to believe is a first release. Reading it honestly inspired me to start thinking seriously about finally putting the story that’s been living in my head down on paper.
I can’t wait to dive back into Adara and Dominic’s world and see where Jaelynn takes their story next.
Featured Tropes:
✨ Slow burn
✨ Found family
✨ High-stakes circumstances
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I had the privilege of reading Jaelynn’s debut novel as an ARC reader, and it absolutely did not disappoint.
For fans of fantasy with easy-to-follow worldbuilding, high-stakes circumstances, and characters with complex pasts just waiting to be uncovered, War of Broken Hearts is such a fun ride. This book had me laughing, shipping characters hard, and then fully ready to throw my Kindle at the wall (in the best way possible).
I was especially impressed knowing this is Jaelynn’s debut novel—it felt confident, immersive, and emotionally engaging in a way that’s hard to believe is a first release. Reading it honestly inspired me to start thinking seriously about finally putting the story that’s been living in my head down on paper.
I can’t wait to dive back into Adara and Dominic’s world and see where Jaelynn takes their story next.
Featured Tropes:
✨ Slow burn
✨ Found family
✨ High-stakes circumstances
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
January 24, 2026
Amazing journey and incredible characters !
This book was such an adventure to read, the plot twist and the lies just made it perfect ! I especially love Adara and how badass she is despite her heartbreaking past. Just an amazing story!!
This book was such an adventure to read, the plot twist and the lies just made it perfect ! I especially love Adara and how badass she is despite her heartbreaking past. Just an amazing story!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Great book, the main character was perfect, loved her snarky powerful character. And the burn for them to be together, I was dying. And I can’t wait for the next book!!! 📖
January 25, 2026
Great writing, addictive story and fun characters! The only downsides are how much language was used, and the cliffhanger at the end
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews