Kingdom Of Veil And Vow

The Five Realms #4

by Jenessa Ren

He is bound by rules. She is bound in iron.

Together, they will shatter it all.

Xander is no stranger to pretending. Forced to serve in the King’s Guard since childhood, he has been bound to the mortal ruler for most of his life. But behind his false loyalty to the king, and hidden within secret rooms of the castle, a rebellion grows. One Xander is the leader of. His plans, however, are halted when a woman is brought to the dungeon. With knowledge of the escaped mortal princess which Xander needs to help his resistance, he makes it his mission to interrogate her. But the woman might hold more secrets than Xander himself, and in order for her to trust him, he is going to have to break the rules he’s carefully crafted. Ones that were meant to protect more than just the resistance.

Siyala Hoku has been running from her past for years, but she never thought that when she finally got a taste of freedom again, it would quickly be replaced by stone walls and iron bars. Now locked in a dungeon cell beneath the Mortal Kingdom's castle, Siyala knows that she must escape if she is to keep what she values most safe. But the guard sent to get information from her isn’t as he seems, and when Siyala devises a plan to trick him into helping her, she convinces herself that sacrificing him is worth her freedom.

With so much at stake between the two of them, Xander and Siyala must decide if their secrets should remain hidden, or if the forbidden feelings growing between them are worth shattering everything for.

Kingdom Of Veil And Vow is the fourth book in The Five Realms Series. The story takes place during the events of book 2, Crowns Of Stars And Tides, and is recommended to be read in publication order.

Genres: Fantasy

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2026

About the author

Writing is something Jenessa never dreamed of doing professionally, but it is a journey that has completely altered the course of her life.
When the vision of a woman locked in a tower, one who longed for freedom, sparked, Jenessa ran with it. Months later, Heir Of Sun And Moon was written, and the entirety of The Five Realms Series was born.

Now Jenessa spends her days writing in the fictional world of Olymazi, creating emotional, character driven romantasies where the men fall first and hard, and the women are strong and capable.

You can catch her hanging out on Instagram at @jenessalikes, where she is likely fangirling over Pedro Pascal edits.

Reviews

[Lena]

After taking a lil break from this series to read some other books on my TBR, I was so excited to be back in this world! This book focuses entirely on Siyala and Xander, and the most of the book takes place during book 2, albeit in the mortal kingdom. Siyala is a prisoner of King Dolian, and Xander is the Trusted guard. The two form an unlikely romance that was definitely hinted at in the other books. I really liked getting their story and seeing what was happening in the Mortal Kingdom after Rhea and Nox escaped to the Mage Kingdom. I do think this one was a little slower than the other books in the series, which makes sense bc most of it takes place in the prison. It was basically just a different perspective of book 2, with the last 10% or so happening during/after the events of book 3. I can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the next book!!

[The Fabled Librarian🖤]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Kingdom of Veil and Vow
Kingdom of Veil and Vow absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. There are some books you read and enjoy… and then there are books that completely consume your brain until you’re done. This was the second kind. Book 4 of The Five Realms series follows Siyala and Xander, two characters who have been waiting in the shadows of this story, and getting their POVs was EVERYTHING. Their stories are heartbreaking, their pasts are brutal, and watching them slowly find safety in each other had me emotionally destroyed. 🥹
Siyala is such a quietly powerful character. She has survived so much and still manages to be compassionate, resilient, and brave—even when she doesn’t see those qualities in herself. And Xander??? XANDER. The man really said I will break every rule, burn every bridge, and go to war if that’s what it takes for her. And I ate it UP.
Their romance is everything I want in a slow burn. The tension? Insane. The yearning? Criminal. The fake kiss that absolutely did NOT feel fake? I was GONE. 😭
But what made their relationship hit even harder was that it wasn’t just about protecting each other. They learned how to understand each other. They created a safe space for one another, held space for each other’s pain, and showed each other what it feels like to be chosen without conditions.
And because this is Jenessa Ren, you KNOW she wasn’t going to let us have happiness without making us suffer for it first. 😂
I also loved getting to see what was happening behind the scenes in the Mortal Kingdom while everything else in the series was unfolding. The way all of these storylines continue moving toward one massive convergence has me desperate for book five. That ending??? EXCUSE ME??? I need answers immediately. Jenessa Ren has officially cemented herself as an auto-read author for me. Her books are immersive, dark, emotional, beautifully painful, and somehow always manage to make me feel WAY too attached to fictional people.
If you love:
✨ slow-burn romance
✨ forbidden romance
✨ prisoner x guard
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ yearning that should be illegal
✨ tragic backstories
✨ morally gray/dark fantasy
✨ “he would burn the world for her” energy
✨ fake kisses that feel VERY real
✨ dual POV
✨ found safety in another person
✨ emotional devastation

YOU NEED THIS SERIES.
And if you haven’t started The Five Realms yet… what are you waiting for?! 👀 Kingdom of Veil and Vow was beautiful, painful, romantic, and completely unforgettable. I loved Siyala and Xander with my whole heart, and I am already mourning the fact that I have to wait for the finale. Thank you so much to Jenessa Ren for allowing me to receive an ARC of Kingdom of Veil and Vow. 🖤 Thank you for trusting me with another one of your stories and for creating characters that I become far too emotionally attached to. I loved this book SO much, and it was an absolute honor to read it early.

5 ⭐️ — now excuse me while I emotionally recover and impatiently wait for book 5. 🫠🖤

[Merry]

Jenessa has blessed us lowly peasants with magic once again! ✨

Reading this book felt like coming home. Like sinking into your favorite spot by a fire, surrounded by warmth, comfort, and people who feel like family. This is a series where you get so comfortable in the world and with the characters that you genuinely don’t want to leave. And then you remember you have a life outside the book, which honestly feels pretty rude. (I read this in one day.)

Be warned: our babies go THROUGH it. I was intrigued by both Xander and 'Bella' in the previous books and I'm so happy they get their own story! I swallowed this book whole and was completely invested from beginning to end. Jenessa has such a gift for making you feel like you’re right there with the characters, experiencing everything alongside them. We get to know these characters on a deeper level, learning their (harrowing) backstories and what motivates them. Meanwhile, we never lose sight of the overarching story happening and this installment does move things along.

Anyway, infinity stars. Obviously. I have been emotionally compromised. Again. Thanks, Jenessa. 🤣

There needs to be more people talking about this series, it deserves so much more attention!

[ashleyc_hockeymom55]

First and foremost, thank you for this ARC!

Siyala and Xander may be my new favorite couple in The Five Realms series! Siyala is such a grumpy FMC that, to be fair, has had a pretty awful last couple of years. She assumes that things are inherently corrupt and there’s little sunshine left - unless it’s a certain other FMC. Cough cough.

Xander, on the other hand, is a green-light (but broody) MMC. Even though Siyala is in his custody, he’s always sneaking her food and letting her take baths. Because he’s trying to “get information…” Cough cough. Again.

You should read this book if you would like to support an indie author (especially if you’re located in Arizona)! Or if you enjoy reading epic fantasy that retells your favorite fairytales!

[Heathers Lit Voyage]

Kingdom Of Veil And Vow is the fourth book in The Five Realms series, and I absolutely loved diving deeper into Xander and Siyala’s stories. This book is everything I have come to expect from Jenessa’s writing: gut-wrenching, emotional, deeply personal, and filled with characters that have endured so much but continue to find the strength to fight.

This book takes place during the events of Crowns Of Stars And Tides, but gives the reader a completely different perspective on the world and the events. Xander and Siyala’s story feels independent enough to stand on its own, but it also adds so much depth to the overarching story of The Five Realms series. I loved seeing how their experiences intertwine and connect to the larger themes of the series making the world feel even more layered and intricate.

These two characters absolutely pulled me in. Xander’s gentleness despite everything he has endured - from his family lineage to the life he has been forced to live and his overarching rules to keep everything in place - made me fall for him even more. I love the strength he exhibits in his ability to remain gentle in spite of everything that he has experienced.

And Siyala? I love her. Her strength and resilience in the face of some truly harrowing circumstances is incredible, but her snark and attitude also brings levity that I appreciated amidst the painful experiences and harsh environment. Give me a strong and powerful FMC any day, especially when you combine her with a man who will literally do anything for her. ❤️

I felt their pain throughout the pages, but I also felt their resilience and fight. How their past defines who they are now, but also provides them with the opportunity to rise above and fight against the powers that have crushed them in the past. Their stories are heavy, but there is so much heart and hope woven throughout.

Jenessa’s writing continues to evolve and grow with every book, and watching that progression has been such an immense joy. She has a way of creating characters with depth and layers that give their experiences the space to feel both personal and meaningful.

And those bonus chapters at the end?! So many gasps, arm flails, and feelings. They left me craving the next and final book even more!

At its heart, Kingdom Of Veil And Vow is a story about survival, trust, sacrifice, freedom, and what we are willing to endure for the people we love. Both Xander and Siyala were shaped by circumstances they never asked for, but neither one allowed those experiences to define them. Their resilience and determination define this story and make it an incredibly impactful experience.

I loved getting to know Xander and Siyala on a deeper level through this book. If you haven't started The Five Realms yet, please dive in now! This world is filled with strong women, complicated characters, incredible relationships, secrets, sacrifice, and so much heart.

[Ren Staser]

Somehow, even though she is the queen of delivering emotional devastation, Jenessa's writing has become like a warm hug for me. This world is so easy to slip into, and the characters and couples are so specific; I feel like I know them so well.

The threads crossing over to the wider story at the end of this book, catching up with the ending of Thrones of Shadows and Flames was an absolute treat.

Side note- I didn't read the Throne of Glass series until it was complete, but I imagine this is what readers felt like in real time at the end of Empire of Storms. A cliffhanger so delicious with so many threads left waiting to resolve that I know picking up the final book will feel indescribable.

Regarding Xander and Siala's story, their romance is so sweet. Jenessa writes relationships and falling in love so well. I did not anticipate loving Xander as much as I do.

Don't sleep on this installment!! The scope is smaller throughout most of this book, but focusing on Xander and Siyala for it felt like it was meant to be. The way it waves into the larger world at the end makes the story feel inevitable.

Also, maybe this is niche, but the last sentence in the book contains dialogue from Daje that made me laugh out loud through my tears. "Welcome to the fucking mage kingdom" -V appropriate for the state of things when everyone shows up 😂😂😂

I've said this in reviews of the earlier books, but it's worth saying again- this series is so epic. It's the perfect mix of romance and epic fantasy. I can't wait to see how Jenessa ties it all up in the end. If you haven't started this series yet, you're missing out!

Can't wait for the wider book world to discover this god-tier series so that I can "told you so" @ everyone 😌

[B Gregory]

This is book four in The Five Realms series. The events primarily take place during book two and end after book three. The story follows Siyala and Xander. Siyala is a fox shifter from the Shifter Kingdom that has been living as a fox with the princess of the Mortal Kingdom for the past four years due to her inability to shift in a land with no magic. Xander is a royal gaurd who is leading the resistance against the king of the Mortal Kingdom. After the princess escapes, Siyala is able to shift and is then recaptured and Xander is tasked with finding out what she knows about the princess.

This was such a beautiful book. To take two side characters and give them their own story like this is such a gift. The author really knows how to do a tragic background well. I feel so strongly for these characters and I am never more stressed out when reading than when I read one of her books.

Siyala is so strong and brave and doesn't give herself enough credit for all she has endured. Xander makes you believe that there are still good people in the world and they're willing to do whatever it takes to fight for what's right. The tension, the slow burn, it's immaculate. Yes they would burn the world down for each other but more importantly they are kind to one another, they hold space for each other, once they truly know one another they don't judge or place blame.

I would recommend this book to people looking for a forbidden romance, he breaks all his rules for her, emotional devastation, a fake kiss that feels real, epic fantasy and a dark fairytale retelling.

I received an early copy of this book from the author.

[Lissie Reince]

First, a need-to-know:
*This story takes place during books 2/3 of the series.
*The romance shows up in the second half of the book, and though it’s important, it’s more of a subplot. This is not an insta-lust, they-can’t-stop-doing-it book (Though those are good, too, and we’re assured they’ll have it in the final book!).
*As with the rest of the series, this story carries much darkness. On-page death and torture, references to past sexual assault, child abuse, and more. Please be mindful of triggers.

Though this is a love story, KOVAV is foremost the story of Xander. You may know him as Dolian’s guard who dutifully stands by as Rhea and other beloved characters suffer by the king’s hand. Now we learn his story of the endless torture he’s suffered himself, along with the inner turmoil of allowing harm to come to others for the sake of the greater good (aka the resistance he’s organizing).

Siyala, our fearless FMC, is best known to us as Bella, Rhea’s white fox companion. She is incredibly tough. We learn her history and the horrors she’s survived, and we also get to see who she truly is apart from the girl who has spent so much of her life trying to find a place to belong.

Jenessa’s writing style always includes great world-building, internal monologues, and of course, emotional devastation. KOVAV makes an excellent addition to the series!

👥 First person, Dual POV
⚔️Prisoner x Guard
🗡️Touch her and d!e (same goes for him)
💞 Inexperienced MCs
💕 He throws away his rules for her
🌶️ Spice 🌶️ 1.5/5

[Nicole]

First this is not a continuation of the story this book takes place during Crowns of Stars and Tides. You will see events you are familiar with weaving through the story. I really enjoyed that part I thought it was a good way to really tie it into the main story.

The focus of this book is on Xander and Siyala. We will start with Xander. He had grown on me after book 3 but now I really like him. And feel worse for him about his upbringing and really hope he gets to stab the King soon (or maybe him and Rhea together - cousin bonding).

Siyala’s backstory ……. It will pull your heartstrings and hope that in book five Kai does some stabbing of his own. (I think there’s a list of people who need to get stabbed in book 5 at this point 🤣)

The two of them together….. watching them go from distrust to a relationship of sorts…. (I say of sorts because they weren’t in the right space to actually get a good relationship groove)…. I cannot wait to see them reunite in book 5. Plus seeing Siyala and Rhea reunite and I really hope become human besties not just Bella the fox with her human companion.

Bonus for those of us who have been impatiently waiting to dive back into the main story…. The ending fast forwards to everyone converging in the mage kingdom and you do get a snippet of the timeline moving forward (teeny tiny snippet but still worth it).

Make sure you read this when it comes out Aug 28!

[Samantha Bilodeau]

Holy crap, that ending! As always, wrapping things up but leaving me wanting more!!

This is Xander and Siyala's story, occuring at the same time as book 2, with the last few chapters occurring after book 3. So, if you haven't read those, make sure you do before you pick this one up.

I already really liked both of these characters a lot, so was really happy to get to know them better here. My heart broke for Xander and how he had to make so many incredibly hard decisions while pretending to be unaffected by them. As a Trusted guard to truly despicable King Doloan, he was merely surviving, and getting his perspective here really drove that home.

And Siyala? I will never forget the tears I cried as Rhea screamed for Bella in that first book, or the way I cheered when first meeting Siyala. I loved her ferocity and how SHE survived cage after cage.

As it is a side-step, this book has an element that makes you feel a bit like you are in a bubble after the 3rd book, stepping out of time, and things slow down in ways to explain even more why these characters are important. Then, you are brought back to where book 3 left off and BAM! Bubble has burst and everything speeds up again. I am so glad Jenessa chose to give us this "bubble" to see what was happening in the Mortal Kingdom during book 2.

I cannot wait until that last book!!

[Kim]

Kingdom of Veil and Vow is the perfect pallet cleanser after Thrones of Shadows and Flames. It both fills in some missing gaps story-wise and character building-wise, and then it has bonus
Scenes continuing the story after. We learn about what happened to Siyala between Crowns of Stars and Tides and TOSAF, as well as more of Xander’s history.
Jenessa Ren does what she does best, using such deep world building and fleshed out character arcs to invest readers into multifaceted and imperfect characters. You’ll care about each person, yearn when they do, cry when they do, fall in love when they do, etc.
Siyala, a shifter, is trapped as a prisoner in the mortal kingdom. Xander, both a member of the kings Trusted and the leader of the rebellion against him, is to get information from her about Rhea, the run away princess whom the shifter hid among for four years, no matter what the cost. But soon Siyala finds, he isn’t the monster she thought.
Xander lives by three rules:
Never show weakness, never deviate from a plan, and never let anyone get close.
And he will break them all for her.

.
.
.
.
•enemies to lovers
•slow burn
•touch him/her and 💀
•guard x prisoner
•HES a virgin
•He lives by 3 rules

[WenDeeDeeDee36]

I absolutely loved this 300+ page “novella” and how it fits with the rest of the series. Xander & Siyala’s story mostly takes place concurrently with Thrones of Shadows & Flame, but does give you a little glimpse of what comes after that book ends. Luckily, Jenessa (mostly) takes it easy on us this time around. I only wanted to throw my book once or twice while reading it 😆 You definitely get the trauma though. so don’t expect sunshine and rainbows.

I really enjoyed getting more of Xander’s backstory and seeing how it shaped his character when we first meet him at the beginning of the series. Who knew I would end up adoring that asshole guard who periodically showed up in the first book.

Siyala is such a complex character. Getting into her head was a wild experience because of her experiences. She comes across as a badass, Bahira-type FMC, but really she’s closer to Rhea or Aria. A little bit soft, but also fiercely protective.

The final part of KOVAV takes us past the ending of TOSAF, and perfectly sets us up to go into the final book of the series. We get some of the TOSAF cliffhanger get resolved (a little), but I cannot stress enough how very ready I am to get my hands on the final installment!

[Jenn | bookdragonbrunette]

Phenomenal as always.

The way Jenessa writes her characters makes you immediately attached to them and love them all (except one IYKYK).

This book takes place between two of the side characters from the end of Heir of Sun and Moon (book 1) and goes all the way through Crown of Stars and Tides (Book 2) and Throne of Shadows and Flames (Book 3). I definitely don't recommend reading this until after the first 3 books because there will be major spoilers and a lot of the references won't make sense to you.

But I love Xander and Siyala. Though they had the most tragic backstory. Jenessa likes to really grab your heart and twist it. Their romance starts off very slow and rocky, but does end with a tad bit of spice.

Also this ends a little bit further than the ending of TOSAF, so we get just a crumb more of what happened in that final battle and now I am DESPERATE for book 5, the finale!!


Read if you love:
-Slow burn
-Traumatic back story
-Shifter prisoner FMC x Mortal guard MMC
-Enemies to lovers

Thank you to the author for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 7/14/26, Release date: 8/28/26

[viv]

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel going into this book because I absolutely HATED Xander's guts in the first book. I genuinely didn't think it would be possible to redeem him, but oh god, his backstory completely broke my heart.

He puts on such a strong, intimidating front, but underneath all of that, he's actually such a sweet and soft guy. You can especially see that in the way he treats Siyala. Even from the beginning, they're supposedly sworn enemies, but honestly, I felt like the whole "enemies" thing was pretty one-sided from Siyala's end. This man tried SO hard to hate her, but he was already a goner. He never stood a chance.

I also don't read a lot of prisoner x guard romances, but apparently I have been missing out because this might officially be one of my favorite tropes now! There's just something about the forced proximity, the whole "we're supposed to hate each other" dynamic, and watching them slowly fall for each other that I absolutely ate up.

Honestly, I'm so glad I gave Xander a chance because I went from wanting to punch this man in the first book to having my heart hurt for him in this one. What a redemption arc.

[Lydia]

This book had me in its clutches the moment I opened it. This is a parallel novel for book 3; I strongly advise that you read book 3 as the ending of this book will spoil the ending of book 3.

Yet, we need to back up a bit and get to know our two characters Xander and Siyala more. Who are they? How did Siyala even get to the Mortal Kingdom? Is there more to Xander that we haven’t learned yet? Don’t worry, you’ll want to know the answers to these and more from this book.

Even knowing how this story ends, Ms. Ren’s attention to details, however minor, immerses the reader beautifully into the journey of the main two characters of this book. The tension that is built between the 2 MCs, their relationship and the circumstances that they are in, made me anxious for their future.

This book will happily give you some closure to a few of your unanswered questions from Book 3 as it expands slightly past that books ending. It also seems to perfectly set us up for the epic conclusion of this series.

[Melissa]

You all know that emotional devastation is my favorite thing, @jenessalikes is a master storyteller, she weaves amazing epic romantasy tales that completely wreck you in the very best way.

If you love a story with a slow burn, enemies to lovers with buckets of angst, yearning and trauma then this is the series for you! Kingdom of Veil and Vow is the fourth book in The Five Realms series and they are best read in order so you can get the full emotional destruction experience. While this book deals with some sensitive topics, it is very well done and respectful. It's not all darkness and tension, there is some delicious banter (which is a must for me in books, I love some good banter!). I love the dual POV and getting the back story of side characters from previous books who become main characters and we get insight into their actions (or lack thereof).

KOVAV is available now wherever you buy books, grab a copy now and buckle up! Grab some hydration, snacks and a fuzzy blanket because you will devour this book!

[AC_BadDecisionsBookClub]

Another incredible installment in The Five Realms series! Jenessa hit this novella-turned-full-length-novel out of the park! This guard x prisoner story has trauma, emotional devastation, political intrigue, slow burn, enemies to lovers, and enough tension to give you foot cramps and a sore throat from toe curls and squealing. And let me tell you, I SQUEALED! 😆

Xander and Siyala are originally side characters in the first three books and become the main characters and my reason for LIVING in this book. They are both closed off and guarded because of their individual pasts and the trauma they have each endured, but throughout this story, they slowly choose to trust and protect each other. I don't want to give anything away, but THIS BOOK! Every time these characters interact, every conversation, every fight and flashback slowly build the emotion until your are somehow immersed in this beautiful, unique relationship between two characters who so deeply deserve it. 🖤

[Rachel Blugrind]

I truly have fallen in love with Siyala's fierceness and energy. She and Xander make such an incredible power couple, yet they are so tender towards each other. I have never been a huge "don't touch her" trope fan, but OMG do I love it now.

When we first met Xander back in book one, I did not think much of him - but now, he is up there right behind my number one book bf Nox.

Book four was a much-needed story to tie loose ends and give a little context to the ending of book three. I am highly anticipating the final book in The Five Realms series. This is genuinely the best romantasy series I have ever read. Thank you BookTok for telling me about a series where the FMC and MMC are inspired by the leads in my favorite Disney movie (Tangled). I fell in love with this series from the first page. I am looking forward to reading the finale, yet also sad to finish the adventure with the characters I have grown close to.

[Jenny L]

Another heart wrenching book in The Five Realms series by Jenessa Ren. I am bouncing off the walls after finishing Kingdom of Veil and Vow. The way my heart ached for Xander and Siyala! I love those two, and I'm so glad we got a bit more of their stories.

Thank you to the author for the eARC.

I am so glad Jenessa decided to give us this look at Xander and Siyala and give us a bit more of what was going on in the Mortal Kingdom during Crowns of Stars and Tides. AND we got a peek at the aftermath from Thrones of Shadows and Flames! I am even more hyped for the series finale.

I love how The Five Realms series gives you both the epic fantasy with a big story, a cast of characters, lots of magic and political intrigue, and we also get this intense and beautiful character work. I fell in love with this series because I fell in love with the characters. The heart that drives all of them is what brings me back with each book.

[ataleoftomesandtropes]

~Thank you Jenessa for the Advanced Reader’s Copy!~

Wow. What to say about this incredible book. When I read the premise, I had no idea how Jenessa would convince me that a believable connection can grow between a guard and a captive without getting the ick, yet she absolutely did it. Masterful.

Avoiding spoilers, there is also some tense, potentially triggering backstory for the FMC shared throughout the book. I’ve read (and sometimes DNF’d) other books that have tried to navigate(and failed or fallen short) similar subject matter, but again, Jenessa tackles it brilliantly. Flawlessly. And your heart cracks in two 💔

And that last 10% of the book picking up events where we left off in book 3?! Freaking SOLID. Incredible.

Every book in this series gets better and better. The world expands, the characters grow, the tension builds, and the stories weave together. I’m honored to be here now with this series knowing it will be a “I was there when…” tale before long. 💖🥹🙌

[Luna]

“𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱.”

disclaimer: not sure if my review will contain spoilers for anyone who maybe hasn’t read the series but marking it as such just in case. please only continue reading if you’ve read all 3 of the previous books.

ꕀ
Ever since HOSAM ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped all over it, I have been impatiently waiting for this book. Even when i didn’t even know it was coming. Now im so glad that i finally got the chance to mend that gaping hole in my heart. 🥺

I loved these characters so much, being able to get backstories for someone I never knew but still hoped would play such an integral part in this world was healing (but also still heartbreaking because, of course).

While I can’t wait to see how this whole series will conclude, part of me is just happy we got this novella to hold us over a little longer. ♥

[Kaycee]

Thank you to Jenessa Ren for the ebook!

I think this may be Jenessa's strongest book yet. One of the things I love about Jenessa's writing is her ability to weave together multiple storylines in a way that keeps you engaged and never letting the story drag. However, in this novel we are focused on Siyala and Xander with a timeline running in tandem with the end of book 2 and through book 3. At no point did I miss the multiple storylines and thought Jenessa really let the characters shine through. I loved it.

Jenessa really knows how to pull at your heartstrings and does not shy away from emotional trauma. I always urge readers to check your trigger warnings before deciding if a book is for you. However, I love that she takes something like a bright and shiny fairytale and weaves in a darker side like an epic fairy tale for adults.

[Brandihreads]

Jenessa’s writing is PHENOMENAL!! I devoured this every chance I had. I love getting Xander’s and Siyala’s backstories! I am obsessed with them! They are enemies to lovers, both went through trauma, it is slow burn, she’s a shifter locked in the mortal kingdom cells, he’s the mortal guard, there’s a rebellion in the works, and EMOTIONAL DEVASTATION!! I am so ready for more of them in the final book! I NEED IT ASAP!

The Five Realms series has multiple POV’s and storylines, all fairytale retelling vibes. A series I’ll hold in my heart!! Kingdom of Veil and Vow takes place during the events of book two, Crown of Stars and Tides, but recommended to be read after book three, Thrones of Shadows and Flames!!

Thank you so much to the author for the early copy!!

[Kaylie Miller]

PHENOMENAL novella! This book is incredible. The slow burn romance creates a tension that makes you want to keep reading. The characters are SO lovable. And the deeper understanding of Xander’s back story and continued view of King Dolian’s depravity give the reader so much more to look forward to when the series concludes in the next book.
This series as a whole truly gives SJM vibes, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. As an early SJM fan, one of the things I love most about the Maas-verse is the way SJM can give depth to a breadth of diverse characters. She can have you obsessing over 5 different characters all in the same series. Jenessa has been able to accomplish that same feeling as I’ve read through The Five Realms series. I could not recommend this series enough!

[Shawna Parker]

Another fantastic book in this series! I actually have a hard time putting the words how much I love Jenessa’s writing. It took me a while to read this book because I only wanted to read it when I had absolutely zero distractions and could focus entirely on it.

This books carries such an emotional undercurrent for several different reasons. First of all, you can FEEL the emotional weight of Siyala’s past before you get any specific details as to why. The emotion just continues to build as you learn her story. Second, this story has the unique position in the series of going back to coincide with an earlier timeline. It was so heartbreaking (but also so meaningful) to get to spend some more time with characters that you know have tragedy in their future. And to top it off, this book also gives additional POVs and perspective to big emotional scenes from the previous books.

Don’t let the length of this book fool you. It may be shorter than the rest in the series but it still packs as big an emotional punch. And I loved every second of it.

I also really enjoyed the closing scenes that gave us a glimpse into where our favorite characters are going in the final book. I can’t wait to let Jenessa hurt me again!

[Devon]

If @jenessalikes is gonna do one thing and one thing only, she’s gonna make you SUFFER 😩 this book wrecked me. I knew going into it that Siyala and Xander’s backstories would be tragic (it’s Jenessa, duh), but I didn’t imagine the emotional roller coaster to be THAT intense. Their relationship is precious and tender, and they both deserve such a soft place to land with one another, so I’m forgiving Jenessa for the slow burn and unresolved tension because I know the payout in book five will be phenomenal. I was already chomping at the bit for the series finale, but book 4 has only made me more ravenous. I NEED the Siyala and Rhea reunion like I need oxygen.

I HIGHLY recommend The Five Realms series to anyone who loves swoony romantasies, interconnected storylines, multiple POVs, slow burn romances that hurt-comfort you, and badass female MCs.

[Destanie Torres]

Kingdom of Veil and Vow is a must read story in The Five Realm series!

We are following Xander & Siyala, who are vital characters in T5R series and Jenessa loved them so much she wrote a whole book for them! I am here for it!!

I love how Jenessa gives us different perspectives of the same plots happening throughout the books. It’s fun to know what was going on in a different kingdoms, and other little tid bits of information we may not of known before. We get to dive more into Xander’s story and learn what fuels his fire. We see the trials Siyala has faced and how it helps her in the end.

I loved this guardsman x prisoner match up. We have an evil king. We have an escaped princess. We have some spice. Plus the bonus chapter at the end?!

[reenie.reads]

*I received this as a BETA read from the author*

One of the main reasons I enjoy J.R's books is that in a world of fast-paced "lets get to the spice quickly" world of romantasies, she chooses to be "intimate" with her story, her character building and her world.

She allows for her characters to go through the growing pains and develop their emotions through subtle but powerful character interactions. Through this, she manages to built the tension between characters and leaves you wanting for more.

I enjoyed this read because that is exactly what she's done with the characters. She put the characters development in the forefront while also leaving me as a reader to salivate for the tension release (and the way she does it, kind of leaves a little promise for the readers that things are not over for the two characters)

If you are looking for plot centered book with the main focus on the characters plotlines (& a side of yearning & tension) this is for you. The story takes its time to develop. The characters have time to grow.

If you need a break from faster enemies to lovers and need more "bring me tension, give me teasing, need more angst", then this book is just right (please do read from the beginning with Heir of Sun and Moon). This book is a novella/4th in the series of the Five Realms by Jenessa Ren.

[Becca]

It’s no surprise to anyone the knows me that I LOVE the Five Realms series! Each both gets better and better and the cast of characters keeps expanding!

This series is such an intricately woven story that I can appreciate why Jenessa gave Xander and Siyala their own showcase in AKOVAV. We get a lot of background information about both these characters that better helps us understand how their relationship evolves but also the motives behind certain actions that have transpired in the other books.

I am left DYING for the next book in the series and can’t wait to see more of Xander and Siyala!

[MEP17]

I very much enjoyed this story and I would rank Xander and Siyala as my second favorite couple/story after Nox and Rhea.

You get to know both characters much better and it was interesting to see more of the mortal. I particularly liked getting see the different perspectives of King Dolian.

I do think the story might be a little too long (which is something I never thought I would say). during the last third I felt like it was ready to move forward. But again, I enjoyed it very much. The writing is well done and the story is easy to read and follow.

If you’ve been reading this series you won’t want to miss this installment.

4.5/5. Thank you Jenessa Ren for the eARC!