The Shining Prince

The Thayar Crown

by Alexandria Arden

“Your days are numbered, father, because my mate is coming for me. She’s coming for you.”

In the aftermath of The Golden King’s incursion into Thayaria, the Witch Queen has disappeared. Nemesia, Fionn, and Carex must prepare Thayaria for war, despite the mistrust brewing between them. The kingdom has relied on its wall of mist to keep it safe for centuries, but Mazus’s aggression and Laurel’s absence has put that security in jeopardy.

On the other side of the Four Kingdoms, Laurel has no idea where Mazus has spirited her mate. She’ll stop at nothing to get him back, even if it means becoming the villain the world believes her to be.

After a devastating loss at the end of book one, Thayaria’s broken and disparate court must fight just to survive. Can Laurel rescue Hawthorne before she loses her mind, and her friends? Will they ever forgive her for abandoning them with war on the horizon?

In the highly anticipated second installment of The Thayar Crown series, tensions reach their breaking point, and millennia of secrets will be revealed.

Paperback

Expected publication June 12, 2026

About the author

Alexandria Arden, or Alley, has been writing since she was young. Somewhere between the self-consciousness of her teenage years and the soul crushing experience that was grad school, she stopped writing creatively, convincing herself that the thing she loved doing as a child just “wasn’t her skillset.“

Cue the pandemic and the rise of popular Fantasy Romance books. Alley rediscovered her love of reading and stories. Throughout that process, she started an Instagram account and podcast dedicated to talking about books. She’s built an incredible community of readers and authors alike, and it was this community who inspired her to revisit that childhood passion of writing.

Alley lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and the true love of her life, her cat Willow. When she’s not reading or writing, Alley can be found working in her yard, starting a house project she can’t finish, or complaining while hiking in the Wasatch mountains. Alley is most active on her Instagram accounts, @alexandriaardenauthor and @alleycatsandbooks

Reviews

[Ali Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this story was a true joy. Revisiting Thayaria and being back with the characters I have come to know and love so much felt like more than I deserved!

*I want to note upfront that as a beta reader I did not read the final published version of The Shining Prince.*

I loved the moments with Thorne and his mom in this book. So much. There was a really special moment we got from these interactions that I don't want to spoil but it was my favorite. And as much as I loathe Mazus I was glad to get even more glimpses into what makes that monster tick.

I can't believe how hard I fell for Fionn in this book! (Which is really saying something because I already really enjoyed him in book one!) In The Shining Prince we REALLY got to "peek behind the curtain" and get to know Fionn in an even more real, genuine, & intimate way. And I have to say I am such a fan of it and of him!!!

Another character that surprised the hell out of me? Carex. Getting to see another side of that man was a TREAT! And that's all I will say about that.

I was really, really so impressed by the quality of writing in The Shining Prince. (Impressed but not at all surprised as this is my second Alexandria Arden reading experience.) Everything in this story came together so well and the care and consideration Arden gives everything is so evident. There was also a sense of all these tiny, invisible strings tying us to a MUCH bigger world and story that is just out of reach but definitely on the horizon. The story unfolds slowly and beautifully and left me both very satisfied and somehow also completely bereft because I just wanted more!!! I absolutely cannot wait to continue this series! And true to my experience with finishing The Witch Queen, after I finished The Shining Prince I felt a very real loss. The book hangover was REAL which is a sure sign of a fantastic, unforgettable read.

Thank you to Alexandria Arden for the chance to beta read -- all opinions are my own.

[Mrs Holm Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second installment of the Thayarian series, The Shining Prince, we pick up with Laurel, who is consumed by grief after Thorne’s abduction. In her desperation, she leaves her kingdom to search for him, but her sorrow clouds her judgment and her memories begin to fade. As she struggles, her magic falters, leaving her vulnerable.

Meanwhile, in Thayeria, Carex, Fionn, and Alesia are faced with the looming threat of the Valmaram army. They must act quickly to rally support from their own people while grappling with the fallout of past battles. Nemesia, overwhelmed by her own grief, feels the weight of keeping the kingdom intact. Haunted by previous failures as a general, she grapples with insecurity and fear, questioning whether she can lead her people to victory without repeating the mistakes of the past.

The paths of both Laurel and Nemesia are fraught with peril and challenge. Throughout the narrative, I found myself captivated by unexpected twists, particularly the development of new relationships and Laurel’s attempts to rescue Thorne, which are marked by their own trials and heartbreaks. The secretive alliances and revelations unfold beautifully, adding depth to the storyline.

The Shining Prince is a mesmerizing journey of love, loss, and the struggle for redemption. I am completely enchanted by this second book; it encompasses everything I hoped for and more.

[Kelsey Keckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure once again to read the ARC copy of this series. And what a great and solid book 2 we were provided.

I wasn’t able to reread book 1 but I easily jumped back into the world.

I think my favorite things about this book is we got to focus more on the journey and development of the side characters. The relationships that are being to bloom in this one has me cheering for them more than in the first book. It is so nice to care not just about the main characters, but about the side characters. I really want everyone to have a happy ending…but I get a feeling that will not happen and I have a foreboding feeling that I will be crying in the next book in the series.

I also enjoyed watching the main characters go through so much darkness and work through it together. They both know it will never leave them but they have each other to help them through the dark times and I love that. We need to talk about trauma and how we work through it but know it will always be there.

Overall a wonderful book to an amazing and interesting series. Can’t wait to see where we go next.

[Nikki Burdette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not explain how honored I am to have received the shining prince as an arc read. I’ve been dying to get it into my hands since finishing the witch queen.

In the second book of the thayar crown series Laural must retrieve her mate from his fathers clutches while also loosing herself and trying to keep her kingdom from being attacked and taken over by the “golden king”


The revelations and struggle in this book just grabs your hy the heart strings and pulls you right along with it. Alexandria truely takes you on a joy ride of emotions from start to finish with this one, and the opening up to more of the back stories with the “side characters” gives you a much bigger picture into the world that has been built for us. Found family really is one of my favorite troupes and to have not just one character experience it but several only makes me love the story that much more.

[Valeria Jiun · Rating 5 out of 5]

GIRL>>> if you want emotional depth & turmoil, fantasy adventure, and edge of your seat political intrigue ••• THIS BOOK 👏🏽 in book 1 we fall in LOVE with laurel and thorne >>> now this story dives even deeper into exactly what makes them who they are as we race against the clock to prepare a rebellion army while SCREAMING for thorne’s return. ++++ we get multiple POV from all our favorite found family characters, more Lunaria, AND FIONN & CAREX BANTER >>> Perfection.

Be prepared for emotional damage (i cried before chapter 1) and every feeling to be felt HARD.

i was honored to beta read this story 🥰 book 2 releases in June 2026

[Mala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 has no shortage of plot that’s for sure.

Not only do we get more of Laurel and Thorne and the torture and pain they suffer in their story. But we also get to know their friends a lot better.

Without spoiling this one, Thorne and Laurel must learn to lean on their true feelings for each instead of depending on their mate bond.

Also, quite enjoyed the fact that there was a multi POV from more of the side characters. Honestly enjoyed the growth of the MM “relationship”

Will be patiently waiting for book 3.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic sequel to The Witch Queen! I really enjoyed every second of reading this! This romance fantasy novel does not disappoint. It hooked me from reading the prologue. I am glad to have read this because the first book left me on such a cliffhanger. It centers around Prince Hawthorne and Queen Laurel. It is emotional, powerful, and tense, with plot twists I did not see coming.

I enjoyed reading about the main characters and the side characters. This is a very strong world-building story. The author includes a map in the book, which really helped me understand all the world-building. It is written in multiple points of view and includes a glossary of the characters. This is definitely an adult, very spicy read, and does have content warnings.

All in all, this book was fun, well-written, and extremely entertaining! I give this book 4 out of 5 stars! Thank you very much to the author, Alexandria Arden, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book will be published on June 12, 2026!

[Dan Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second entry in The Thayar Crown is nothing short of epic! We deeply explore this amazing world and its characters. We expand to a bigger cast of fae to love and different and exciting corners of the world. The payoff is amazing and well worth the torture we (and the characters) endure to get there. I love the politics here: we have that big view of the world but we also zoom into deep inner and personal details. Peak romantasy!

[Christina Kackos Brunelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find romantasy to be very hit or miss but The Witch Queen was an absolute bullseye. The Shining Prince picks up where The Witch Queen left off and oh boy, does it deliver. The lore is expanded, the stakes rise, and the relationships deepen. Not only do we continue to follow Laurel and Thorne, but side characters are given their own journeys into love and loss. I couldn't put this book down and now I don't know how I'm going to survive the wait until the next one.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shining Prince was such an enjoyable read. Alexandria Arden’s writing is beautifully descriptive and she makes it so easy to visualize the events. I felt completely immersed in the story and connected to the characters from the start. The romance, fantasy, and overall storytelling came together perfectly. I couldn’t put it down and was always eager to see what happened next. Definitely a 5-star read for me just as The Witch Queen was!

[Cassie Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alley did it again! There was incredible story development, world building and character growth. Some of my high level favorites were Fionn, Carex, Thorne’s mother’s story and always Thorne’s love for Laurel. It left me wanting more with dragging me off a cliff.

You need to pick up the second book to the Thayar Crown Series!

[Gloria Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not believe it was possible for this book to be as good as the 1st but here we are and it was incredible! Alexandria has written another beautiful masterpiece. There was so much heartbreak, but it made the reunions even more breathtaking. I will now be a recluse awaiting the next book.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid book 2. This one felt like the standard romantasy today, not overly unique but enjoyable. I think 200 pages less would have made the story richer.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Okay, this took me a few days to even be able to write a review. Laurel, in her complete BADDIE era, is taking no prisoners to start this book. We are getting more POVs, we are getting the yearning that Alexandria Arden is herself a Witch Queen at delivering, we are getting more unhinged Mazus (which I live for but am also terrified of). This book went by too fast, I am left waiting for more in this series, and I am not well. Infinite stars.