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

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)

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Kimberley Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this was written for the 18 year old me sat in English class wishing everyone would understand how romantic and sexy Shakespeare is. This series and world of Avon built by Ballard is stellar, and my love for both are infinite.

I swear Shakespeare would agree that fantasy interpretations of his work are among the best of the best. The magic system compliments the plot of Romeo and Juliet in such a beautiful way. I was so swept up in the romance of it all and then I suddenly remembered Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy and I was so nervous to turn the next page - and yet unable to stop.

I would argue, even if you hated Shakespeare in school, you would still love this series. Classic Romantasy tropes such as fake marriage/marriage of convenience, reluctant allies, princess x bad boy, are reignited with flair and tenderness that make them feel original. The spice is phenomenal, the political intrigue is deep, and you will find yourself arguing with yourself constantly over which power couple in the series you love more. (I am still undecided…)

The premise of taking a well known tale, putting it with tropes that could potentially be described as over-done is risky. Yet Falon Ballard has crafted a world which is simultaneously fresh and familiar, and wholly unique in the Romantasy space. I cannot wait to see what happens in Avon next.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

This is a romantasy Romeo and Juliet retelling. It is the second book in the Idle Reputation series, which is best enjoyed in order.

FMC Princess Lia has been locked away since her “gift” manifested. But now she’s been given the opportunity for more and must kill her father for a chance at the presidency. Since nobody knows who she is as a candidate, she enters into an arranged marriage with rival household heir MMC Maro, a charming and renowned bachelor.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Romeo and Juliet is such a classic story that I’m very familiar with, so I was able to spot a lot of parallels. I liked how romantic this book felt compared to the first one, which was darker. This one was sweeter and more endearing. I thought the MCs had great chemistry together, and there was definitely plenty of spice, but the FMC was a little naïve at times. It fit her backstory, though it could still be frustrating as a reader.

Overall, this was a really great read. The ending hinted at a Hamlet inspired storyline, so I’m excited to see what happens next in the series.

Spice 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5

*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[LitAndLustful · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adored Something Wicked and was so excited for this next story.

Before you read this one, you need to read the first. I even found myself having to go back to the first book to connect some dots so this definitely isn't a stand alone.

I am not a fan of Romeo and Juliet (sorry) but knowing Fallon Ballard's writing was excited to give this one a chance. It unfortunately was a little too Romeo and Juliet for me.

The romance was rushed so quickly and you don't really understand why until near the end of the story.

The premise is that our main fmc is supposed to run for president when having been locked away for years, the head of the uprising having choose her as the candidate for her city.

It was hard to like her and think that she should be put in the position she was in. Especially when we already fell in love with the Something Wicked couple who also could be in office soon.

I do like how the stories connect, but it did leave me wanting to go back to our Something Wicked couple and leave this one behind.

The ending didn't feel complete for a couples storyline. I know we are getting more books in the series though, and I am looking forward to those, I think that maybe this one just didn't resonate with me.

[Sara Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit, I struggled with rating this one. While I loved Part 1, I really disliked Part 2.

When it comes to instant love, it typically works for me. I think that is why I liked Part 1 so much. We got to see the love between Lia and Maro bloom. What was an arranged marriage actually works. They had chemistry and I liked how they took their time with the physical stuff. I mean, this was spicy 🥵🔥��🔥🔥not gonna lie, but it worked.

Part 2 brought about a character I hated from the first book. I literally had to roll my eyes and groan when I realized that was the journey the book was taking me on. Ugh. I don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t state who.

There were many similarities between this and Romeo and Juliet. I’m not a huge fan of Shakespeare, and I found there were times when the similarities just didn’t work. Near the end it was a bit rushed and it didn’t make sense. Sort of building up this big ending that was quickly solved in two chapters? I don’t know…it didn’t work.

I’m a huge fan of Ballard and I loved the first book in this series. I will continue with the series so we will see what happens next.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lia Boscosa, adopted daughter of King Frederico and Queen Alessandra Boscosa, must do the unthinkable during the killing period for the Talia monarch if she wishes to be considered the candidate to represent Talia in a presidential election of Avon. Amidst political intrigue and machinations, Lia must also ally herself with someone who will help her win the election. Thus begins the story of Lia Boscosa and Maro Violaine and how they navigate politics, deception, the Gifted, and love.

Author Ballard has provided a modern Romeo & Juliet story (complete with balcony action) since Violaines and the Boscosas have stood on opposite sides of Talian history, a clear parallel to the Capulet and Montague feuding noble families in R&J. What Light Breaks is the 2nd book in Ballard’s Idle Reputations series, and she continues to lean into romantasy and spice as found in the 1st book of the series, Something Wicked. I am a fan of Ballard’s books but I must say that I found What Light Breaks to be more accessible, readable and the characters more likable than in Something Wicked. Both books can be read as standalones, but they do provide a more complete story if read in order.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

NetGalley was kind enough to let me read this ahead of the pub date. Whoever is doing the cover art for this series is fun and talented. It’s half of why I wanted to read this.

I actually hadn’t read the first book but I clicked so fast to request this when I saw it was marriage of convenience with a new MMC that wasn’t in the first book. Two best tropes.
I don’t think this follows the same people from book one. This story is about Lia and Maro marrying for political reasons and dealing with an uprising and falling in love. The set up is perfect. The dialog is snappy and fun. It’s also a fairly fast read at only 267 pages.

My two big issues with this were the pacing felt forced overall. Things didn’t flow easily thru the story or sometimes things happened quickly in the plot that didn’t connect. Then things got so smutty without actual character development or tension to back it up. When it was becoming every other chapter, I had to roll my eyes.
The times when the story redirects to the castle and world building and political things it’s much more engaging.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Light Breaks by Falon Ballard was the perfect blend of romance and fantasy, and I was completely swept away by Lia and Maro’s story.

Maro absolutely stole my heart. The way he instantly became protective of Lia had me swooning from the start, and I am always a sucker for a he falls first romance. Watching their marriage of convenience evolve into something real, heartfelt, and impossible to resist was everything I wanted.

Lia’s journey from a sheltered princess to finding her own voice and power kept me invested, while the political intrigue and magical elements added just the right amount of tension to the story. The romance and fantasy balanced each other beautifully, making it easy to get lost in this world.

If you love:

✨ He falls first
✨ Protective MMC
✨ Romantic fantasy
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Swoon-worthy chemistry

Then this one deserves a spot on your TBR. Maro and Lia’s love story had me hooked from beginning to end, and now I can’t wait to see where this series goes next. 💕📚

[Lauren AMR · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Light Breaks brings us back to Avon, and now we are focused on Talia.

Our FMC is a sheltered, naive and innocent princess. She has to marry a notorious playboy in order to win the Presidential election (just go with it). The first half focuses intently on this romance. We get angst, spice, and emotional connection. Everything does go a bit fast - this is for sure an insta-love situation. The push/pull also gave me a little whiplash for how fast it all happened, but it was a great time.

We get to the actual plot in the second half of the book. Nothing is that deep - you see where things are going from a mile away, but it was still an enjoyable ride. I found it really hard to root for the FMC as 'president' due to her naivety and lack of a backbone (she seems to only have one when she is being mean to her husband??). She didn't really seem to deserve all the support she had, but everything wraps up nicely and the ending is satisfying.

If you like arranged marriages, forbidden magic and an MMC who would burn the world down for her, then give this one a try.