What Light Breaks

Idle Reputations #2

by Falon Ballard

Romeo and Juliet heats up in the second installation in the Idle Reputations romantasy series by beloved USA Today bestselling author Falon Ballard.

Princess Lia Boscosa of Talia has lived her whole life in isolation, her powerful Gift—the ability to plant memories in people’s minds—kept a secret by her family, even as they exploit her power behind closed doors.

But as Talia prepares for its first presidential election, August, the leader of the Uprising, proposes to put Lia forth as a candidate. Except as the daughter of the reviled monarchs, she can't win over Talia alone. She must be tied to someone sexy, someone handsome, someone charming—and so begins a marriage of convenience to no other than Maro Violaine, Talia’s most infamous playboy.

What starts as a calculated alliance erupts into an undeniable attraction that neither of them can resist. But as loyalties splinter and secrets emerge, Lia must decide where her heart lies—because loving Maro could either save her kingdom, or completely destroy it.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 29, 2026

About the author

Falon Ballard is a Los Angeles native who has been writing stories her whole life. After graduating with a degree in Creative Writing, Falon embarked on an eight-year teaching adventure before opening her own event planning business. When she’s not trolling Etsy for the latest merch from her favorite fandoms, she’s hanging out at Disneyland with a pretzel and beer in hand.

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

A calculated alliance erupts into an undeniable attraction that neither the Princess or the leader of an Uprising can resist.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons and the author, Falon Ballard for an early ARC!

Publication: December 29, 2026

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*


I'm overjoyed that I was lucky enough to receive this arc and I'm beyond excited to read this!!!!
I really enjoyed the first book in the Idle Reputations series, so I'm hoping I'd enjoy this one (more) as well.

Side note: This also requires re-read for Something Wicked.

[mimi (catching up)]

Thanks to Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[cara ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lia, a sheltered princess who is a presidential candidate for Avon and Maro the sexy, charming playboy. A marriage of convenience that can possibly save the kingdom or ruin everything.

While it is not necessary to read book one, I highly recommend it. I’m so glad I did because it made this one all the more enjoyable. I went into the book familiar with the world and the politics. I really enjoyed the world of Avon. I was able to connect all the dots which made it all the better.

I did feel the chemistry between Lia and Maro but I do wish the romance did not move as quickly. The first chunk of the book is only focused on the romance between these two. However that did help so in part two they were able to focus more on the political aspect with the romance feeding into it. Which was just as interesting as book one. Part two was a bit frustrating to read and made me want a scream a bit. Even though so parts were a little up and down I still throughly enjoyed the drama and the romance.

I really liked the main characters in the book. I found Lia really interesting, especially with her gift, so intelligent, and powerful. She has such a sad backstory, being sheltered most of her life. She just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, I really felt for her. Maro was so charming, charismatic, and quickly grew on me

If you are a fan of books with of marriage of convenience that turns real, romantasy with a political aspect, characters with powers, a playboy mmc and a princess fmc this is the book for you.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia Bozza · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get an ARC of this because I love Falon Ballard, and it absolutely delivered. I liked this even more than the first book. The romance moved a little quickly for my taste, but it also allowed more focus on the political plot, which I found really interesting and engaging.

Maro was a great MMC and felt more layered than I expected based on his description. I also really liked Lia: her development, backstory, and growth all felt well done. Even some reveals I had forgotten from the first book still landed in a fun way, because I was figuring things out right alongside the characters.

Overall, this was a strong sequel/standalone with compelling characters, high stakes, and a story that kept me invested the whole way through.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a free e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

wtf😭😭😭😭

“Retelling” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here…as are the words “plot” and “coherent worldbuilding”

“Show don’t tell” challenge level impossible

First 1/2 was interesting/had me sat bc I love R &
J and this premise seemed cool, but the number of plot-related things that were just never explained or minimally explained (beyond the issue of being book #2 in a series-yet-each-book-is-a-semi-standalone situation) was baffling. Once we hit 75/80% all I could do was laugh— like oh, yes, “Ty” is just going to randomly kill “Meri” and then also try to go for and fight “Maro” at some big wedding celebration ball bc he’s lowkey brainwashed. While it aligns in a purely plot-event sense with R&J, the reasoning behind it no sense in the world of this book!!! Like why is he brainwashed by “Lia”’s evil mother to kill Meri? How did she manage to do that via Lia with her gift? And on and on and on

I did appreciate the balcony integration, Lia’s nurse, Ty not being 100% intransigent and evil (maybe only 80%), and the last line of “no other name is as sweet”

Truly using the word “retelling” was doing so much work. The R&J similarities/callbacks were either not important to the plot (solely appearing in character names or backgrounds) or were shoehorned in at the last moment. Like where was Paris? Why were Tybalt & Paris merged into one? Why did Maro & Lia still have the faux-death-crypt scene occur, despite us not learning about the faux-death plots in the world of this book? What in the ever-loving hell was up with Lia’s mom and her sudden reveal of having sisters? I didn’t mind the changes, but having this sold as a “retelling” when it’s really much closer to a “loose relation/basis” sort of story set me up for failure

You would think Lia, growing up with such abusive and controlling parents that only see her as a tool, would hightail it away from her birth mother starting to do the same thing (even despite the fact that she is, fact, her mother). However that would require Lia to step back for a moment and realize that, hey, maybe Maro’s concerns are valid and not unfounded, he’s not out to get me, and i should listen to him. We were constantly being told how smart and witty and unbelievably amazing and beautiful she was but she sure didn’t show that intellect. Her naïveté was extremely frustrating though it did align with her character/her flaws towards always wanting a loving parent

I also hated how in Maro’s first impression of her/first real interaction he noted her “perfect waist” along with her smile/compassion/supposed extraordinary intelligence. You really couldn’t have fully thought with your brain for one moment? Couldn’t have conjured one other possible reason for liking this girl and wanting to engage in the marriage ruse beyond “damn she’s snatched”??

It’s a VERY LOOSE VERY BROAD AND WIDE retelling of Romeo & Juliet so I expected the instalove…….the absolute cornball dialogue didn’t make it any better when it arrived😭😭😭😭😭😭these ppl were talking about how their souls are melded into one another forever or some shit after like 2 weeks together. Pls spare me. The dialogue also felt too modern for the supposed fantasyland time— I was actually jarred for a moment when the book mentioned them taking off their cloaks bc their diction was so contemporary (almost “therapy speak” at times with how little subtext Maro or Lia spoke with…)

Again this may be a “I didn’t read book 1/the other standalone” problem but when they mentioned that Lia and Maro were “Bonded” (AKA their “star crossed love”)….i was ctfu. Like these people are not werewolves please stop this madness

Lia & Maro’s household staff….omfg they deserve two full years of paid PTO for putting up with their freaky antics

I was on board with most of the story— the arc of Lia reclaiming her life and her ambitions & the marriage of convenience part & the lonely rich playboy realizing his worth— until suddenly we were at a secluded vineyard and just HAAAAAD to participate in a 72hr freaklympics marathon for VERY IMPORTANT PLOT REASONS. It’s one thing to consummate the fake marriage so Lia’s evil abusive adoptive mother can’t tank the political marriage - it’s another thing to do what they did and take it to a whole different stratosphere of freak

These two were just a little too giddy for comfort to uphold the marriage of convenience (and then fully believe in it)!!!!

Tbh this could have done with another 50-75 pages of just explanations. The little journal/diary entries before each chapter weren’t enough to fix the glaring plot holes. This may be the only time in my life I ask for more infodumping!

Despite all this I will be reading #1 and #3 (Hamlet it looks like)

[BookishKB]

👑✨ What Light Breaks ✨👑

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.


❤️‍🔥 What to Expect
• Romantasy
• Marriage of Convenience
• Political Intrigue
• Slow Burn Romance
• Hidden Magic
• Forbidden Love
• Royal Romance
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: December 29, 2026
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Hunter Villarreal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this book!
I wanted to love this. I really did. I loved her contemporary romance a few months ago. This just lacked in so many ways for me.

The plot was messy, the way it was written was a little too choppy for my liking, and the insta love trope was a little much for me. It was hard to connect to the characters. I felt like I was reading an “everything but the kitchen sink” type of book. It was a bit cheesy in places.

I love Falon Ballard, I just think this book needed more time. More attention to details so the plot twist wasn’t so obvious. The death in this book could’ve REALLY hit home if we had the chance to get to know the character better and had a little more time with her. I saw where Falon was going with it but it was too rushed to deliver the effect I think she was trying to make with it.

I will still gladly read her books, one flop doesn’t ruin the author for me. I really think she could’ve made this a big one, but it needed more time.

[EJ Foreman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Falon Ballard for providing an ARC copy of What Light Breaks in exchange for an honest review.

I went back and forth between three and four stars on this one because What Light Breaks had pieces I really loved and pieces that did not fully hold their own for me. Ultimately, I landed on four because even with the parts that felt a little uneven, this really is a great read overall. It was fun, dramatic, romantic, and very much giving “fantasy politics, but make everyone hot and emotionally compromised.”

The setup immediately had me interested: a princess with a powerful secret Gift, a kingdom on the edge of change, a political arrangement, and a marriage of convenience to a famously charming playboy. That is basically catnip for my romantasy brain. I love when a relationship starts as a strategy and then everyone involved is shocked, confused, and personally victimized by their own feelings. Like babe, the marriage may be fake, but the yearning has entered the chat.

What worked best for me was the concept and the emotional tension between Lia and Maro. Their dynamic had that fun push-pull of convenience, attraction, distrust, and “this is absolutely going to complicate the entire government.” I also enjoyed the political elements and the way the story played with power, public image, loyalty, and identity. Lia’s Gift added a darker edge that made the stakes feel more personal, especially because her power is not just magical, but deeply tied to control, memory, and exploitation.

That said, there were moments where the book did not fully land for me. Some parts felt stronger than others, and a few emotional beats or plot points did not have quite the depth or impact I wanted. The premise has so much juicy potential that I occasionally wanted the story to dig in harder, especially around the political tension and the consequences of Lia’s power. When it worked, it really worked. When it didn’t, I could feel the seams a bit.

What worked for me:
- The marriage of convenience setup was fun, dramatic, and immediately addictive.
- Lia’s Gift was one of the most interesting parts of the story.
- The political stakes gave the romance more weight than a simple “oops, feelings” plot.
- Maro had exactly the kind of charming disaster energy this setup needed.
- The book had strong romantasy momentum and kept me invested overall.

What didn’t fully work for me:
- Some sections felt stronger and more developed than others.
- A few emotional moments did not hit as hard as they could have.
- I wanted more depth around the political world and the larger consequences of Lia’s power.
- Certain plot points felt like they moved a little too easily.
- The book had great ingredients, but not every part felt equally rich or fully explored.

Tropes and vibes:

Marriage of convenience
Romantasy
Political fantasy
Princess heroine
Playboy love interest
Fake arrangement, real feelings
“This was supposed to be strategic, please explain the feelings”

Who should read it:
Read this if you like romantasy with political stakes, marriage of convenience, secret powers, royal drama, and romantic tension that starts as strategy and then becomes everyone’s problem. What Light Breaks was a little uneven for me in places, but the concept, romance, and overall momentum made it a really enjoyable read. Four stars for the political mess, the fake marriage feelings, and the very specific fantasy problem of accidentally falling for the person who might either save your kingdom or ruin your life.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 2.4/5

I went into What Light Breaks by Falon Ballard expecting a fantasy romance with political intrigue, emotional tension, and a sweeping world to get lost in. While there were moments that kept me interested early on, this ultimately wasn’t the story I was hoping it would be.

One of the things that worked best for me was the marriage of convenience romance. It was written in a way that felt easy to settle into without becoming overly dramatic or relying on exaggerated declarations of love every few pages. The relationship developed at a comfortable pace, allowing the romance to naturally support the story rather than completely overshadow it. I also appreciated that this trope helped move the plot forward instead of existing simply because it’s popular. Their partnership gave the story direction and created opportunities for character interactions that I genuinely enjoyed.

The first part of the novel was probably my favorite. It laid a solid foundation, introduced the world at a steady pace, and made me curious about where everything was heading. There were glimpses of interesting court dynamics and enough mystery surrounding the characters to keep me turning the pages. I kept waiting for those threads to weave together into something bigger.

Unfortunately, that’s where the book started to lose me.

Some scenes were beautifully constructed and carried emotional weight, while others felt rushed or underdeveloped. The pacing became uneven, and just as the story seemed ready to build toward an exciting climax, it lost much of its momentum. Instead of escalating the tension, it felt like the narrative began drifting, making the final stretch less impactful than it could have been.

The fantasy elements were also lighter than I expected. I wanted richer world-building, stronger magical elements, and political conflicts that felt complex and significant. The fantasy politics never fully came alive for me, and the world often felt like a backdrop instead of an active part of the story. Likewise, the emotional connection between Lia and Marco was present, but only slightly. I could see what the story wanted me to feel, yet I rarely found myself emotionally invested in their relationship.

The Romeo and Juliet comparison also felt like a stretch. While there are a few familiar ideas that may remind readers of the classic tragedy, I don’t think the retelling aspect was strong enough to market it that way. If you’re picking this up specifically for a Romeo and Juliet retelling, you may come away disappointed.

Overall, I think this is a book that starts with promise but struggles to maintain that momentum through the second half. There are enjoyable moments, especially if you appreciate slower romance development, but the fantasy and political aspects never reached the depth I was hoping for.

Tropes

* Marriage of convenience
* Political marriage
* Slow-burn romance
* Court intrigue
* Star-crossed lovers (loosely)
* Romeo and Juliet-inspired elements

Vibes

* Romantic fantasy
* Royal court politics
* Soft romance
* Slow pacing
* Character-driven over action-driven

Who should read this?

* Readers who enjoy romance taking center stage over fantasy.
* Fans of marriage of convenience stories.
* Those looking for a lighter romantic fantasy without dense world-building.
* Readers who prefer character interactions more than action-heavy plots.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Daniela M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand that Romantasy is going to be romance first, fantasy second, but to call this fantasy at all is a stretch. To call this a Romeo and Juliette retelling is also a stretch TBH.

The world building in this sequel does not add anything to the world that was presented in book one, and with this being considered and interconnected standalone, the world is not explained enough for someone looking to jump into this one.

This also takes the story of Romeo and Juliette to a very surface level. We don’t really have the same plot happening here, and the story beats that are used in this are so disjointed and it doesn’t really work as well as it does in the original play.

In this installment, we have Lia as our FMC who is a sheltered princess that kills her father to become the new candidate to rule per the rebellion’s decisions. Why? Because he beats her. What makes her think she can do a better job than him? IDK he sucks mkay. She doesn’t really have any knowledge on how to rule, and outside of wanting to tax the rich, we don’t hear any of her platform of change. Instead, she complains about the high society only seeing her as a pretty thing to look at. But from book one, we assume that the rebellion is trying to divorce themselves from these archaic monarchy thoughts, so why is she not being taken seriously?

The whole plot of her forced marriage with Maro (Romeo) is that he is well liked by the rebellion, but she’s got the candidacy since she killed the king. So, we are going to unite them via marriage to appease the rebellion. But again, we are falling into typical monarchy things that I would think they would want to stray from.

What proceeds from here is over 60% of the book being these two exploring one another sexually before any semblance of a plot shows up. We literally have the first 5% establishing this weird ass reason to force these two to marry, then over 50% from there with these two banging it out in a room alone and away from any plot, characters, world building, and politics. Once they decide to resurface from their shenanigans, we are given a very week plot of Lia’s magic being used by her mother to do her bidding. Bidding that I honestly did not understand and was too convoluted to make any sense. And also, more sex. Don’t think that final 40% is all plot, it’s mostly sex. It’s just the first time in the book that we actually get a semblance of plot.

We as the audience also know that this book is about the third sister of Cate’s from book one, and Maro knows Cate, so how the hell did he not put two-and-two together that they are related. They are literal triplets, and we don’t have him realizing until the sisters figure it out, and then he gives us a “oh wow, they totally do look alike”. Like bro, what? How unobservant are you?

I was really disappointed with this one because it took what frustrated me in book one (the instalust and lack of connection between the leads) and dialed it up to 100. There is no personality between these two, they can’t seem to explain why they like each other beyond the sex, and they continually fight what they will do when they come into power. I just wanted this to end compared to the first book.

Thank you NetGalley, Falon Ballard, and Putnam for the ARC!

[Britt_Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Putnam Books, and Falon Ballard for an eARC in excahnge for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Following the introduction to Avon in Something Wicked, What Light Breaks takes the reader to Talia to meet Lia, the former Talian princess, and Maro, Talia's infamous playboy. Lia has spent most of her life sheltered while Maro knows nothing more than being in the light of the public's eye. So ensues a marriage of convenience with more feelings than initially planned and a political backdrop with many players.

Lia, unlike our first protagonist, is a character who shows a lot fire and compassion along the way. She is determined in her cause and hearing her thoughts about how she is gaining the backing of supporters, what restricts her and what she wishes to convey, is interesting. Although at times the character read very naive to me, I enjoyed her introduction and found her inner thoughts to be funny or fair. I hope to see her grow more in the following books, even if only from afar. Maro seems like a playboy to whom one may never expect to be a good husband, but he serves her well and they grow to care for one another truly. He has moral ground which he would not cross and remains a man who stands by that word. I would have liked more personal development for Maro but he is an enjoyable character nevertheless. We also have the benefit of seeing more into pivotal characters mentioned in Something Wicked that we had yet to see on the page fully. There are more familiar returning players from book one that we knew and loved who unbeknownst to readers to have more tales to tell as well.

Meanwhile, the plot of the book was split into part one and part two. I enjoyed the first part of the book, waiting for certain persons to enter and how they might act. Act two gave a good shift in tone for me as a reader, however I found the plot confused me near the end. Elements I would have liked to read more about were not as deeply explored and I felt as if I was missing pieces near the end. It all came to be clear by the finale however I almost lost my understanding amongst the chapters and I would like to see more growth in certain characters and depth in some aspects. As for the political plot behind this all, I felt like I was able to see another side hinted at that may have yet to be full explored in book 2. With those pieces in place, one can only wonder how everything with go for the next province in Avon and the fate of the next candidate of the election.

Overall, if you love fantasy with focused world-building, likable characters, webbed politics, and true love, this is another book for you. Come join the rest of us as we follow the potential leaders of Avon make their moves in this tricky web.

Rating: 3.5 stars

[sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Miss Falon Ballard and Netgalley for giving me this ARC to read and review. I truly enjoyed this read.

4.5 I was surprised by how quickly this book hooked me (I literally finished this book in 2 days). The pacing was perfect, and while I usually prefer romances that take a little longer to develop, this one unfolded naturally and was executed very well.

I am also a fan of how the female characters were portrayed. Although our main character did not have much physical strength due to being locked up for most of her life, the writing never focused on her physical weakness. Instead, it highlighted her intelligence, emotional strength, relationships, and power. I also appreciated that there was a “breadwinning” woman intertwined in the story as well. It was refreshing to read.

Was there some part I was rolling my eyes at, yes. For example, Lia putting too much attention on her mom was a bit aggravating, but I saw where it was coming from. Not to mention, Lia was not her mother's first victim, so I can believe the mom being a master of the manipulation craft. Same with all her "broken" relationships. She just wants to be loved. An unfortunate character flaw making her easy to influence.

Lastly, I admired the relationship between our main characters. Yes, there were outside forces contributing to their instant connection, but the way they handled their differences was uplifting. Unlike many novels where miscommunication creates an entirely new set of problems, this story addressed those issues early on instead of dragging them out. That made me value the couple even more while also allowing me to focus on the unraveling plot. Because of this, I loved both the romance and the overall plot, and I felt the story was balanced nicely between the two. Everything felt intentional and well thought-out.

I didn’t read the first book in the series before starting this one, and while I don’t think it’s necessary to enjoy the story, I could tell that reading it beforehand would have helped me better understand the world and its dynamics. Even so, this book completely drew me in. It was amazing, and it definitely convinced me to go back and read the first book.

[Janèt A · Rating 4 out of 5]

My inner theatre kid was so excited to pick up What Light Breaks, the second book in the Idle Reputations series. As a fan of Romeo and Juliet, I couldn't resist a romantasy inspired by the classic tale, complete with a marriage of convenience, and political intrigue.

Lia Boscosa is the presidential candidate in the upcoming Avon election. Because of her rare gift, and other circumstances that are revealed throughout the story, she has spent much of her life isolated from the world. As a result, Lia is socially awkward but incredibly determined. Secretly working with the rebellion, she dreams of creating a more equal future for both the gifted and the people of Avon.

Enter Maro Violaine. Charismatic, charming, and beloved by the public, Maro seems like the perfect person to help win over the people. There's just one complication: their families have been enemies for centuries. Despite their history, the two agree to a political marriage, and watching their relationship develop from there was one of my favorite parts of the story.

I especially enjoyed all the nods to Romeo and Juliet woven throughout the novel. While the romance develops quickly, I didn't mind the insta-love aspect because it felt true to the source material that inspired it. The chemistry between Lia and Maro is undeniable from the start, and their devotion to one another made it easy to root for them.

This is definitely a high-heat romantasy, but the romance never overshadows the larger story. The political tensions, rebellion, family conflicts, and character growth all continue to move the plot forward, creating a well-balanced read.

Overall, What Light Breaks delivers a compelling mix of romance, intrigue, and fantasy while paying homage to one of literature's most iconic love stories. If you enjoy star-crossed lovers, political scheming, powerful magic, and a romance that burns bright from the very beginning, this is a book worth picking up.

Thank you to Putnam, NetGalley, and Falon Ballard for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book in this series well enough, but I did have some issues with it and yes, some of those same issues carried over into What Light Breaks. That said, I do think this was a step up overall, especially in the second half.

My biggest struggle continues to be the worldbuilding. I wanted so much more depth when it came to the politics, magic, and overall structure of the world. It felt like the story mostly revolved around the marriage of convenience, their physical relationship, and the election, with only small glimpses of the bigger picture. There are definitely interesting elements here, especially with political alliances and royalty dynamics, but they weren’t explored as much as I would have liked.

I also still found the dialogue to feel a bit too modern for the setting, which pulled me out of the story at times.

That said, there were things I really enjoyed. Lia’s Gift was incredibly unique and one of the standout elements of the book and I loved how different it felt. The journal entries were another highlight for me; they added emotional depth and helped round out the story in a way I wish the main narrative had done more of.

The romance was definitely a strong point. I loved watching Lia and Maro go from strangers in completely different worlds to something real and emotional. Their chemistry was great, and I especially enjoyed seeing how their dynamic evolved over time. The secondary characters also felt more developed in this installment, which I appreciated.

I think this is a solid romantasy and a fun Romeo and Juliet–inspired story. While I still wanted more depth in the worldbuilding, it’s clear Falon Ballard has a lot of talent, and this series has a lot of potential. I can appreciate this romance forward fantasy with great chemistry and a unique magical element, and I am hoping she continues to write more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Falon Ballard, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC of this book.

[Tanisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Falon Ballard ever since I read my first book by her. When I first heard about “Something Wicked,” I will admit that I was a little nervous because it was such a departure from her previous books. It ended up becoming one of my favorite reads, so I could not wait to return to this world. I was especially excited when I realized that Maro, who was such an intriguing side character in the first book, would be getting his own story.

One of my favorite things about this book was getting to see a completely different side of Maro. In “Something Wicked,” he often came across as someone who was more interested in spending his parents' money and enjoying life than taking anything seriously. This book peels back those layers and reveals just how much more there is to him. Lia was equally compelling. She is a character who has spent so much of her life carrying an enormous burden, and I found myself rooting for her almost immediately. Their marriage of convenience slowly grows into something much deeper, and I loved watching their relationship develop.

I also have to mention the twists. Without spoiling anything, there was one revelation involving Lia that completely caught me off guard and made me look back at events from the first book in a whole new way. I also continue to enjoy how this series blends romance with political intrigue and suspense. The romance is wonderful, but it is everything happening around it that keeps the stakes feeling so high.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent follow-up to “Something Wicked.” In fact, I may have enjoyed it even more than the first book. It expands the world, gives readers a deeper understanding of characters we thought we already knew, and leaves plenty of reasons to be excited about what comes next. I cannot wait to continue following the journey toward the Avon presidency.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐️

I’m so conflicted on how to rate this book because there were parts I genuinely loved and parts that had me rolling my eyes. Part 1 completely pulled me in. I loved watching Lia and Maro’s relationship develop, especially since arranged marriage and insta love can either work really well or completely crash and burn. Thankfully, this one worked for me. Their chemistry was so good, the emotional connection felt believable, and I liked that the physical relationship didn’t completely overtake everything right away.

What really kept me invested was the romance. I’m such a sucker for a Romeo and Juliet inspired story, and this definitely delivered on the forbidden-love aspect. Lia and Maro together were easily the strongest part of the book for me.

That being said, I definitely had issues with the pacing. Some plot points felt rushed or didn’t connect smoothly, and there were moments where the story would jump forward so quickly that it felt a little forced. Part 2 especially lost me a bit because it focused on a certain character/storyline that I already disliked from the first book, so realizing where things were headed made me cringe a little. The ending also felt strange because there was all this buildup for a huge dramatic conclusion just for everything to get wrapped up super quickly.

I also wish there had been more worldbuilding, politics, and magic woven into the story because those elements were honestly some of the most interesting parts. Whenever the book shifted back to the castle, political tension, or the fantasy aspects, I found myself way more engaged. At times, the smut started outweighing actual character or plot development, which made some scenes lose their impact for me.

Still, despite my complaints, I honestly had a really good time reading this. It’s fast-paced, entertaining, and the romance absolutely carried the story for me.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: What Light Breaks by Falon Ballard

This book is doing a lot at once: political fantasy, romantasy, a loose Romeo + Juliet inspired structure, and a steady stream of family and court intrigue. At its best, it leans into that heightened, dramatic energy and feels intentionally stylized, almost campy in a way that can be fun if you are along for the ride.

The central romance between Lia and Maro has strong chemistry and plenty of tension, especially once the marriage, separation, and later bond mechanics enter the picture. The emotional pull of their relationship is the most consistent part of the story and ultimately carries a lot of the book.

Where it struggles is cohesion. The political storyline is framed as high stakes, with Lia positioned as a presidential candidate, but much of the “campaigning” happens through social events and donor dinners rather than meaningful political strategy or decision making. Her leadership credentials are mostly asserted through backstory and personality rather than demonstrated through action, which made it difficult to fully buy into the political stakes.

The plot also relies heavily on rapid escalation: sudden revelations, obvious betrayals, fake deaths, and illusion twists that keep raising the stakes but do not always give enough space for the emotional or narrative consequences to settle. As a result, some major moments lose impact quickly because the story is already moving to the next crisis.

Overall, this feels like a romantasy that is strongest when it embraces its melodramatic, stylized nature, but less convincing when it asks to be taken seriously as political fantasy. It is entertaining and emotionally engaging in parts, but uneven in execution. 3 stars.

[Tiana Spata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and G.P Putnam’s sons for an advanced copy for an honest review.

A Fun Return to the World, Even If It Felt Familiar

After enjoying Something Wicked, I was excited to continue the series with What Light Breaks. I still found myself invested in the story and eager to keep turning the pages, which is always a good sign.

The characters and magical world continue to be enjoyable, but I did find myself wishing this installment had taken more risks. The overall storyline felt very similar to book one, with several familiar relationship dynamics and conflicts that made parts of the plot feel predictable. Because of that, it didn’t have quite the same fresh feeling as the first book.

One of the biggest differences for me was the shift in perspective and focus. This story spends much more time centered on the FMC’s journey, while I missed having as much insight from the MMC as I did in the previous book. Their relationship was still engaging, but I also thought the spice was just okay. It fit the story, but I was hoping for a little more chemistry and intensity than what we ultimately got.

One thing that also stood out to me was the title. By the time I finished the book, I still wasn’t quite able to connect how What Light Breaks tied into the story. I kept expecting that connection to become clear, but it never fully clicked for me.

Even with those criticisms, I still enjoyed my time with the book and was invested enough to finish it quickly. The ending has me curious about where the series is headed next, especially with a new couple likely taking center stage. I’m hoping book three explores a different dynamic and brings something fresh to the series, because I’ll definitely be back to find out.

[Gabby L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy Received from NetGalley

This is the next book in the “Idle Reputations” series, in which the author weaves together a Shakespeare tale (Romeo and Juliet in this one) in a world where people have “Gifts”, which are powers that allow them to do many things. Lia is one of these people, and she has the Gift of altering memories. She also happens to be one of the next presidential candidates, but with no support from her family, she is forced to accept the help from infamous playboy and rake, Maro! This help comes in the form of a marriage of convenience, in which Maro helps make her a more popular candidate in exchange for his own selfish intentions. However, this marriage starts becoming all too real, and both Lia and Maro start to realize that maybe they don't hate each other all too much…

I always love a good arranged marriage/marriage of convenience trope, and this book definitely did a good job of delivering this, especially with the forced proximity and spicy scenes! I enjoyed the spicy scenes much more in this book, too! I felt this story had better pacing and more growth in the main characters’ relationship than in the first book, and the author did a good job with making me frustrated at Lia's decisions in this book, especially near the end! I was surprised to see that an aspect from the first book pops up as a big plot point here, and did enjoy that twist. However, after building up so much of a certain plot line in this series…the ending of this one did feel pretty anticlimactic. Makes me wonder what's going to happen in the next book, though!

[Corey Cesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much NetGalley, Falon Ballard, and Penguin Random House Publishing for sending me this arc!!!🩷

Princess Lia Boscosa of Talia has lived her entire life boxed in both metaphorically and physically. She comes from a family that doesn’t appreciate her and her gift and is seeking more out of life, while also trying to maintain her class status. She knows that her status will never be solidified alone based on the events that occur in this books predecessor “Something Wicked,” so enter Maro Violaine.

Maro has a history as a playboy and is known around town, but with the convincing of his father, he’s willing to settle down. With who? None other than the princess.

I read “Something Wicked” immediately before reading “What Light Breaks,” and between the two, “What Light Breaks” was my favorite. I seriously couldn’t put this book down, I devoured it in roughly a week (I had to slow myself down). I’m a sucker for a classic story retelling so I knew I was going to like this one due to the description.

Even though I knew roughly what would happen in this story (because I know Romeo and Juliet) I could never predict where this was going. I absolutely adored Maro and Lia’s relationship and (to keep this spoiler free) I was very excited to see a few others from “Something Wicked.” The first book leaned a little too spicy for me, but the second I felt was more even between spice and storyline. I also think I liked this storyline more than “Something Wicked,” but truly it’s because I’m such a fan of classic retellings. I cannot wait to see where everyone from this book goes (assuming there’s a third in the works).

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Shakespeare x romantasy is so spectacularly my niche, and Ms. Ballard has nailed it again. This time, we’re stepping into Romeo & Juliet, and I devoured every second of Lia and Maro’s love story. Their chemistry sizzled right off the page, and their wedding scene in the vineyard was so cute I nearly cried. I really hope once this series is over (far in the future, please!) we get some sort of epilogue novella with every couple, because I get so attached to them all! The Cate and Callum cameo had me giggling and kicking my feet.

This was an issue in the first book as well, but I would love to see more of the political intrigue that keeps being threaded through. Aside from initially killing the king and a few lines from August, we don’t see much more of the Uprising and its resulting political upheaval for it supposedly being the impetus behind everything. The ending also felt a bit rushed, but that might just be me expecting more of a Shakespearean flow - I would have liked to see the plan and its execution rather than doing a jump-cut to Lia in a crypt.

The only thing that truly irked me was how much trust Lia put in her mother when everyone else around her thought something was off. Trust your loved ones, girl!! Not the woman you just met that you yourself feel is suspicious!!!

As for the third book, it appears something’s rotten in the state of Kalmar…since Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare play and one that heavily focuses on politics, I have a feeling it will be my favorite. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

[Lexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

What Light Breaks is a magical Romeo and Juliet inspired fantasy romance that picks up immediately after Something Wicked. The premise is compelling: forbidden love, political tensions, family conflict, and a richly magical setting. Unfortunately, the story had none of those things. All the ingredients for an emotional and engaging read where there, the execution felt underdeveloped.

The biggest issue for me was that nearly every aspect of the story lacked depth. The romance moved quickly but didn’t give me enough time to fully connect with the characters or invest in their relationship. The political conflict had potential, but it often felt more like background information than a fully realized struggle with meaningful stakes. Likewise, the magic system was interesting but never explored deeply enough to feel immersive.

Because so many elements felt rushed or underdeveloped, the emotional moments didn’t land as strongly as they could have. I kept waiting for the story to dig deeper into the characters, the world, and the conflict, but it never quite reached that level. As a result, the book felt underwhelming despite having a premise that should have been right up my alley.

That said, readers who enjoy lighter fantasy romances and want a quick standalone story connected to Something Wicked may still find things to enjoy here. For me, however, the book never fully delivered on the promise of its intriguing concept.

I received an advance copy from netgalley for exchange for my review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an eARC!

I read Something Wicked last year as an eARC and gave it 3.5 stars, so when I saw this come up I thought it would be fun to see a continuation of that story. It kind of straddles the line between “interconnected standalone” and “series” - I realized about halfway through I probably needed a reread of SW to fully understand this book. I wish the marketing on this had been a little clearer. If you’re going in for the first time, the second half is not going to make much sense if you haven’t read book 1.

The pacing of the book kind of felt weird - most of the romance was crammed in the first half, with basically no plot, and then the plot was relegated to the second half. As in book 1, we had the death of a character who was very important to an MC that felt very glossed over, so I was disappointed to see that same thing happen again. The nature of some character’s relationships is still unclear as well, but I assume there will be more books in this series. Somehow there was even less magic/world building in this book than in book 1, which was disappointing. I would also say that this is a very loose interpretation of a “Romeo & Juliet adaptation” - a few elements were there but not in a meaningful way for me at least.

I give this a solid 3 stars - plenty of good things if you like a contemporary romance, but I still wouldn’t call this “Romantasy”. I could see myself elevating that with the continuation of the series and/or with doing a full series reread.

[JetteSoars4Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really thought this was about to become one of those books i couldn't stop talking about because on paper it has literally everything i love. marriage of convenience, fantasy politics, romance, court drama... say less. i was actually having a great time in the beginning and kept waiting for the moment where everything was going to click together and completely consume my life. i've also always had a soft spot for *Romeo and Juliet*. one because... hi, i'm Juliette 😂 and two because my parents are literally Romeo and Juliet, so i've always been a little biased. there is just something so romantic and dramatic about that story that i will eat up every single time. unfortunately i don't think i'd go into this expecting a strong Romeo and Juliet retelling because that wasn't really the vibe i walked away with.

the marriage of convenience was definitely my favorite part because i liked watching Lia and Marco slowly become partners instead of immediately falling head over heels for each other. but i kept wanting... more. more magic, more political chaos, more emotional damage, more reasons to become completely obsessed with these characters. i know this is going to work for readers who prefer romance taking center stage over fantasy but i realized i'm the opposite. i wanted the world to completely swallow me whole and it just never quite got there for me.

✨ tropes ✨
⭐️ marriage of convenience
🌙 political fantasy
💫 slow burn romance
⭐️ court intrigue
🌙 royalty
💫 Romeo and Juliet inspired

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to putnam, g.p. putnam's sons, and netgalley for the arc!

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
4 ★

what light breaks was such a fun romantasy filled with royal drama, political intrigue, and a marriage of convenience that had me hooked from the start.

lia and maro were easy characters to root for. lia has spent most of her life being controlled by other people and forced to hide parts of herself, so watching her step into her own power and confidence was one of my favorite parts of the book. her gift was also really fascinating and added an extra layer of tension to both the romance and the larger story.

maro surprised me in the best way. i expected a charming playboy, and while he definitely has that side to him, there was a lot more depth beneath the surface. i loved how supportive he became of lia and how their relationship developed over the course of the story.

the romance moved a little faster than i typically prefer, but i enjoyed the chemistry between them and appreciated that it allowed more room for the political plot to shine. the kingdom's future, the shifting alliances, and the high-stakes decisions kept me invested throughout.

overall, this was an entertaining romantasy with compelling characters, political tension, magical powers, and plenty of royal drama. if you love marriage of convenience, princess heroines, and romances that become a lot more complicated than either person planned, this is definitely worth picking up.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[Kathleen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is the third book I’ve read by Falon Ballard and it definitely lived up to the other works I’ve read by her. I really enjoy her stories and her writing style.

This is the second book in the Idle Reputations series and follows loosely a “Romeo and Juliet” plot line. This series was Ballard’s intro into Romantasy and while there is a unique magic system, these books still focus more on the romance aspect. If you’re a high fantasy lover, with a splash of romance, these books may not be for you. The world building is eh, so so, better than in book one I suppose, and there are no epic magic battles as is typical in a high fantasy driven romance. Did I miss it? No. I was happy with the romance part of it.

I would most definitely recommend this series to people who like a spicy good time, with fierce heroines and MMC’s who you immediately love from the first time they throw out their signature smirk. Ballard writes spice better than most authors and writes love in a way where even if it’s “instalove”, you don’t even care, because you just love them together.

I also love how Ballard sets us up for the next book within the current one. Unfortunately, as this one does not come out until December of 2026, I know I’ll be waiting a long time, but you better believe I’ll be continuing with this series.

4 stars!

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Net Galley for giving me an advance E-Arc copy!!
Some spoilers to be warned!

I love love love this series so much. The first book had me hooked completely on the world, characters, and plot.
There were many things about this book that I found to add a lot into the story of the first book. The closer peak into August and his motivations was something I liked because the first book left a lot of mystery behind him. It was pretty self explanatory after the reveal of Lia's parents not being who they all thought, that she was related to the twins. I knew it was coming but I still adored it anyway. I was hoping we got a bit more from them meeting than we did towards the end of the book. I was frustrated with how Lia acted after meeting Grecia but I do realize it is a vital part of her character of always wanting a loving parent. I do also wish we saw more of an explanation with the concepts of the bonds that the characters are having. It would be nice to see that explained in more detail moving forward.

Overall, I really enjoyed how the story and plot developed in this book and it added to the first without completely overshadowing it. The couple was very well developed in my opinion and it was a romeo and juliet concept that I actually enjoyed. I look forward to the next book in the series!!

[Bianca C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A romantasy full of political tension, hidden powers, and a marriage of convenience between an isolated princess and Talia’s most infamous playboy? Yeahhh this had me hooked sooo fast 😭 Lia has spent her whole life hidden away because of her dangerous Gift, but when she’s suddenly thrown into the spotlight during Talia’s first presidential election, she ends up forced into an alliance with Maro… and obviously feelings start getting VERY involved 👀

The romance, the tension, the political drama… it all kept me turning pages.

Maro was definitely one of my favorite parts. The way his entire instinct is just to protect Lia and take care of her?? I ate that UP. And the constant pet names for her had me giggling every time 🫠

I also really connected with Lia. Her love for reading and wanting to escape into books felt way too relatable, especially with how isolated she’s been her whole life. Watching her slowly find people who truly care about her and build her own found family was honestly one of the best parts of the story.

My only real issue was the ending felt a little rushed. I wanted more time with everything because it wrapped up so quickly after such a strong build up. But overall this was such an addictive romantasy read and I’m really excited to see where the series goes next 👀📚

Huge thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC 🤍💙

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

{2.75⭐️}

{thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my own, honest opinions!}

guys i NEED to stop getting my hopes up for these books.

for the first 65% i was with it, having fun, and vibing. the writing, much like the first book, was decent but not great for fantasy (which was there was very little of in this book, but i digress).

also, ik this series is supposed to be intentionally steamy and not skimp out on 1.) the detail of those scenes & 2.) the sheer amount of them, but like even i was getting tired of how much sex they were having and yearned for more drama/plot instead. and it’s HARD for me to say “hey i’m sick of the sex scenes” LOL!

{SPOILER!! 💡 maybe? i tried to be vague}
what pmo the most was how all of the progress that lia made in reclaiming herself went out the window as soon as [redacted but ifykyk] showed up. like GIRL, you’ve read so many books and have so much personal experiences with untrustworthy ppl…why the fuck didn’t you clock that 😭 even the sheep detectives used what they’ve heard in the books to contribute to their narrative 😭😭😭😭 i lowk wanted to DNF out of pure frustration. from there, i feel like the writing went downhill :(

will i likely be reading the third book? (hamlet i think?) yeah. bc yknow what? i do have fun with these for the first half and they are candy for my brain.