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The Nine Realms #3
A Broken Queen
Sarah Kozloff, author of Queen of Raiders, continues her breathtaking and cinematic epic fantasy series The Nine Realms with book three, A Broken Queen, and all four books will be published within a month of each other, so you can binge your favorite new fantasy series.
Time can heal all wounds, but not all wounds are visible.
Barely surviving her ordeal in Oromondo and scarred by its Fire Spirit, Cerulia is taken to a recovery house in Wyeland to heal from the trauma. In a ward with others who are all bound to serve each other, she discovers that not all scars are visible, and dying can be done with grace and acceptance.
While she would like to stay in this place of healing, will she ever be able to the peace she has found to re-take the throne?
The Nine Realms Series
#1 A Queen in Hiding
#2 The Queen of Raiders
#3 A Broken Queen
Time can heal all wounds, but not all wounds are visible.
Barely surviving her ordeal in Oromondo and scarred by its Fire Spirit, Cerulia is taken to a recovery house in Wyeland to heal from the trauma. In a ward with others who are all bound to serve each other, she discovers that not all scars are visible, and dying can be done with grace and acceptance.
While she would like to stay in this place of healing, will she ever be able to the peace she has found to re-take the throne?
The Nine Realms Series
#1 A Queen in Hiding
#2 The Queen of Raiders
#3 A Broken Queen
419 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2020
210 people are currently reading
1636 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Kozloff
17 books320 followersSarah has spent her life immersed in literature, narrative, and film.
After a degree in English at Dartmouth she worked in film production in NYC. She earned a Ph.D. from an interdisciplinary program at Stanford University, joining the Film Department of Vassar College in 1988. In 2009 she was awarded the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowed Chair.
In 2012, while teaching a senior seminar on American Women Directors, she realized that neither the books nor films of Lord of the Rings could pass the Bechdel Test. That summer, she grabbed her laptop and started imagining a world that awaited the return of the queen.
She didn’t know then that this leap into creative writing would spark a new career. Her epic fantasy quartet, The Nine Realms, was published by TOR on a rapid publications schedule. All four books, A Queen in Hiding, The Queen of Raiders, A Broken Queen, and The Cerulean Queen, came out from January through April 2020.
She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and a shifting menagerie of pets, who mistakenly believe they are suitable replacements for grown sons.
After a degree in English at Dartmouth she worked in film production in NYC. She earned a Ph.D. from an interdisciplinary program at Stanford University, joining the Film Department of Vassar College in 1988. In 2009 she was awarded the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowed Chair.
In 2012, while teaching a senior seminar on American Women Directors, she realized that neither the books nor films of Lord of the Rings could pass the Bechdel Test. That summer, she grabbed her laptop and started imagining a world that awaited the return of the queen.
She didn’t know then that this leap into creative writing would spark a new career. Her epic fantasy quartet, The Nine Realms, was published by TOR on a rapid publications schedule. All four books, A Queen in Hiding, The Queen of Raiders, A Broken Queen, and The Cerulean Queen, came out from January through April 2020.
She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and a shifting menagerie of pets, who mistakenly believe they are suitable replacements for grown sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
March 23, 2020
Review to come.
April 14, 2020
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/04/13/...
To start, I have to say I’m a little disappointed with this installment, considering how strong the first two were. This one was still good but not my favorite, given the shift away from our main character to focus on some others. Pacing also took a hit as the author was clearly pulling things back, rearranging the stage in preparation for the next book, the conclusion.
The Broken Queen by Sarah Kozloff picks up not long after the end of the previous book, The Queen of Raiders. After the epic battle, Cérulia is left beaten, burned and, well…broken. Luckily for her, she is rescued by a group of travelers, who take her to be healed and nursed back to health. Unfortunately though, the damage has been done, and Cérulia’s trauma is more than just the physical, as this setback has also demoralized her and made her doubt her purpose.
Still, while her quest for revenge may have almost gotten her killed, it did provide her with a new sense of clarity. Cérulia realizes now that her fate lies back home in Weirandale, where she is meant to retake her mother’s stolen throne. But first, she’ll need to retain her strength and muster up her resources and allies. Her connection to her talent, the power to speak with animals, has also been affected when she was grievously injured, so she must learn to feel comfortable using her abilities again.
If only this novel’s focus had been more on Cérulia and her journey to physical and mental recovery, I think I would have felt a deeper connection to the story. Instead, Kozloff misses this opportunity further explore our protagonist’s internal conflicts, choosing to follow different characters for most of the book, so that Cérulia’s tale is almost relegated to the backburner. It is also starting to grate on me that she takes on so many aliases, especially now that these bird nicknames are getting a little contrived and cheesy—she calls herself “Phénix” in this volume, for example, and that’s just a little too put on for me.
Fortunately, Cérulia takes back control her own story in the second half and towards the end. But before this can happen, we must cycle through a bunch of POVs, many of which failed to interest me much, to be completely honest. I realize that Kozloff wanted to show readers what else is happening around the realm, but it was done at the cost of “parking” Cérulia and not giving her the extra page time she deserved during this crucial stage of her development, and I don’t know if I can get past that. None of the other characters, from Thalen and the resistance to Matwyck really called to me in this book, and while the political situation in Weirandale was important to know, reading about it was also a drag so that admittedly killed some of my enthusiasm.
Still, a lot of great things also came out of this installment, not least of them the expansion to the world-building or the attention given to the spirits, who are becoming a more influential force on the lives of our characters. Apparently, the lives of gods are as complicated and full of drama as the mortals. We’re also edging our way ever closer to the end of the series, with all the pieces being maneuvered into their proper places on the gameboard. Cérulia is becoming stronger, and by the end of the novel, she is exactly where she needs to be, poised to strike.
The good news is, all these are signs we’re building up to an unforgettable conclusion, and I am still excited to read the fourth and final book, despite being slightly disappointed with The Broken Queen. I’m sure lot of my dissatisfaction had to do with the reasons discussed here, though I also think some of it was due to the diminished status of Cérulia herself. After all, it’s tough watching a character you love brought low, but at the same time, there is always the promise of them coming back stronger and more interesting than before. This is where I think we are now, and if I’m right, The Cerulean Queen will be a stunning finale.
To start, I have to say I’m a little disappointed with this installment, considering how strong the first two were. This one was still good but not my favorite, given the shift away from our main character to focus on some others. Pacing also took a hit as the author was clearly pulling things back, rearranging the stage in preparation for the next book, the conclusion.
The Broken Queen by Sarah Kozloff picks up not long after the end of the previous book, The Queen of Raiders. After the epic battle, Cérulia is left beaten, burned and, well…broken. Luckily for her, she is rescued by a group of travelers, who take her to be healed and nursed back to health. Unfortunately though, the damage has been done, and Cérulia’s trauma is more than just the physical, as this setback has also demoralized her and made her doubt her purpose.
Still, while her quest for revenge may have almost gotten her killed, it did provide her with a new sense of clarity. Cérulia realizes now that her fate lies back home in Weirandale, where she is meant to retake her mother’s stolen throne. But first, she’ll need to retain her strength and muster up her resources and allies. Her connection to her talent, the power to speak with animals, has also been affected when she was grievously injured, so she must learn to feel comfortable using her abilities again.
If only this novel’s focus had been more on Cérulia and her journey to physical and mental recovery, I think I would have felt a deeper connection to the story. Instead, Kozloff misses this opportunity further explore our protagonist’s internal conflicts, choosing to follow different characters for most of the book, so that Cérulia’s tale is almost relegated to the backburner. It is also starting to grate on me that she takes on so many aliases, especially now that these bird nicknames are getting a little contrived and cheesy—she calls herself “Phénix” in this volume, for example, and that’s just a little too put on for me.
Fortunately, Cérulia takes back control her own story in the second half and towards the end. But before this can happen, we must cycle through a bunch of POVs, many of which failed to interest me much, to be completely honest. I realize that Kozloff wanted to show readers what else is happening around the realm, but it was done at the cost of “parking” Cérulia and not giving her the extra page time she deserved during this crucial stage of her development, and I don’t know if I can get past that. None of the other characters, from Thalen and the resistance to Matwyck really called to me in this book, and while the political situation in Weirandale was important to know, reading about it was also a drag so that admittedly killed some of my enthusiasm.
Still, a lot of great things also came out of this installment, not least of them the expansion to the world-building or the attention given to the spirits, who are becoming a more influential force on the lives of our characters. Apparently, the lives of gods are as complicated and full of drama as the mortals. We’re also edging our way ever closer to the end of the series, with all the pieces being maneuvered into their proper places on the gameboard. Cérulia is becoming stronger, and by the end of the novel, she is exactly where she needs to be, poised to strike.
The good news is, all these are signs we’re building up to an unforgettable conclusion, and I am still excited to read the fourth and final book, despite being slightly disappointed with The Broken Queen. I’m sure lot of my dissatisfaction had to do with the reasons discussed here, though I also think some of it was due to the diminished status of Cérulia herself. After all, it’s tough watching a character you love brought low, but at the same time, there is always the promise of them coming back stronger and more interesting than before. This is where I think we are now, and if I’m right, The Cerulean Queen will be a stunning finale.
January 23, 2021
Check out my review of The Nine Realms series on Booktube!
April 24, 2021
Rating as full series: 3.75 stars
May 8, 2020
4 🌟
I liked book 1 and 2 much better. But hey this was enjoyable too. Now I need to read the final book I'm scared at how it'll all end. Omg.
I liked book 1 and 2 much better. But hey this was enjoyable too. Now I need to read the final book I'm scared at how it'll all end. Omg.
January 31, 2021
Haven't read such an excellent series in years. Maybe never.
Kozloff connects relationships to the plot without getting sappy or gratuitous, adding depth and realism to the story telling.
Having three daughters only adds to my delight in reading a series that highlights strong women alongside strong and honorable men while avoiding absurd love triangles or pornographic trysts.
Kozloff connects relationships to the plot without getting sappy or gratuitous, adding depth and realism to the story telling.
Having three daughters only adds to my delight in reading a series that highlights strong women alongside strong and honorable men while avoiding absurd love triangles or pornographic trysts.
October 20, 2022
The Nine Realms series continues to be a perfectly serviceable read. Nothing is good enough for me to rave about, yet it isn't bad enough for me to DNF. I brought it on my rustic vacation because I knew I'd end up finishing it much faster in a cabin with no internet than I would at home.
There are so many ideas here that could be amazing. Kozloff has built a wide-spanning world that is filled with interesting places and characters. However, having all that setup ends up being to the story's detriment. I cannot fathom why some of these characters deserve multiple POV chapters. Their stories' lend nothing to the plot, and either go no where or get abandoned. The characters I do care about get almost no page time.
The book ended on a typical middle-book-syndrome cliff hanger, so NOW the part we've all been waiting for finally gets to start.
There are so many ideas here that could be amazing. Kozloff has built a wide-spanning world that is filled with interesting places and characters. However, having all that setup ends up being to the story's detriment. I cannot fathom why some of these characters deserve multiple POV chapters. Their stories' lend nothing to the plot, and either go no where or get abandoned. The characters I do care about get almost no page time.
The book ended on a typical middle-book-syndrome cliff hanger, so NOW the part we've all been waiting for finally gets to start.
November 4, 2019
I received this ARC copy of A Broken Queen from Tor Books - Macmillan. This is my honest and voluntary review. A Broken Queen is set for publication March 24, 2020.
March 5, 2020
Synopsis
Cerulia is damaged. Broken. Mutilated by the Fire Spirit incarnate that lives among the Oromondo. Forever scarred by the fireball that maimed her (both physically and emotionally), the Princella is found and brought to a house of healing, where the patients are expected to care for each other. Cerulia’s place among the wounded is only temporary, however, as she remains more steadfast than ever at creating a path to her rightful place on the throne.
She is not the only one on the move, however, as Cerulia’s old friends and enemies are also positioning themselves to make an impact in the war. The game of Chess continues, with all the players looking for checkmate.
Review
A Broken Queen is the third installment in the Nine Realms series, and it is very different than the first two books. This one is more of an ebb. A Yin. A diminuendo to a story that has been in constant crescendo. I have seen this pattern with a few series, now, where one book is used a kind of reset for plot. Everything starts with a sort of Big Bang scenario: the characters begin in their places, an ignition event scatters them over them over the World, and due to certain decisions that were made or universal magnetism (“fate” or “destiny”, I guess) many of those characters are brought together in different arrangements than they started. Alliances are formed and broken, friends and enemies are made.
Now everyone is preparing for a final countdown: who lives, who dies, who rules – THIS is the book where those pieces come together. In my mind, that makes it the most important. Do not get me wrong, I love the battles and the action, bad guys fighting good guys, people switching sides, and magic coming into play. But I am also down with a little castling and some en passant. Bring your bishops, hide your kings… get prepared to strike.
This book represents a much needed repositioning, a tensioning of the spring. It was also the most emotional of the three books, and the last 100 pages almost brought me to tears. I, for one, cannot wait for the final release.
As with the first two books, I continue to recommend this series as it is one of my favorites so far this year. The story gets better and more complex and intriguing and emotional with every page. I absolutely love it, and I think you will, too.
Cerulia is damaged. Broken. Mutilated by the Fire Spirit incarnate that lives among the Oromondo. Forever scarred by the fireball that maimed her (both physically and emotionally), the Princella is found and brought to a house of healing, where the patients are expected to care for each other. Cerulia’s place among the wounded is only temporary, however, as she remains more steadfast than ever at creating a path to her rightful place on the throne.
She is not the only one on the move, however, as Cerulia’s old friends and enemies are also positioning themselves to make an impact in the war. The game of Chess continues, with all the players looking for checkmate.
Review
A Broken Queen is the third installment in the Nine Realms series, and it is very different than the first two books. This one is more of an ebb. A Yin. A diminuendo to a story that has been in constant crescendo. I have seen this pattern with a few series, now, where one book is used a kind of reset for plot. Everything starts with a sort of Big Bang scenario: the characters begin in their places, an ignition event scatters them over them over the World, and due to certain decisions that were made or universal magnetism (“fate” or “destiny”, I guess) many of those characters are brought together in different arrangements than they started. Alliances are formed and broken, friends and enemies are made.
Now everyone is preparing for a final countdown: who lives, who dies, who rules – THIS is the book where those pieces come together. In my mind, that makes it the most important. Do not get me wrong, I love the battles and the action, bad guys fighting good guys, people switching sides, and magic coming into play. But I am also down with a little castling and some en passant. Bring your bishops, hide your kings… get prepared to strike.
This book represents a much needed repositioning, a tensioning of the spring. It was also the most emotional of the three books, and the last 100 pages almost brought me to tears. I, for one, cannot wait for the final release.
As with the first two books, I continue to recommend this series as it is one of my favorites so far this year. The story gets better and more complex and intriguing and emotional with every page. I absolutely love it, and I think you will, too.
September 21, 2021
Our wayward princess has been badly injured and is healing in a healing house. Her injuries are severe, and the recovery long as she comes around to where she arrived and who cares she is under. She has played at being a wren, a krestral, a finch, a skylark, and a phoenix. Now it was time to face her duty and make her way back to Cascada and reclaim her throne. The author weaves this plot, so wonderfully the twits and turns are so intriguing as our hidden princess makes her way back to claim her throne. The fantastic way she has kept herself from being discovered is so wonderfully crafted. This series is impressive in its creativeness, and I am ready for the final book and our princella to take back her kingdom.
April 11, 2020
I read the first two books in this series and became very involved in the story. This one not as much. It jumped around between multiple characters without much time for development. I don't think it would be understandable if someone were starting with this one. Although the title focuses on the queen (princella), she didn't have more time than the other characters.
This edition had a chapter from the upcoming The Cerulean Queen which makes me think that one will have more of a focus.
This edition had a chapter from the upcoming The Cerulean Queen which makes me think that one will have more of a focus.
February 12, 2020
This book is the most character driven one in the series and it shows! I'm excited and sad that there's one book left to read, but I'll see this story to the end!
RTC!
RTC!
May 20, 2020
3.5 ⭐️
July 14, 2020
I was on emotional turmoil reading this third installment. I was impatient and frustrated, because the Three Fates would not allow to dive right straight to what I was longing to happen. I despised Ciello. Hahaha 😂 I enjoyed the characters of Tilim, Gunnit, and Tristo. On the other hand, Cerúlia had reclaimed her throne and reunited with her foster family. Then, the Raiders had finally rid the Oros from Jutterdam. Kudos to the author for displacing me from my comfort zone. 😊
Moving on to the last book. I am hoping for HEA. 🤞
Moving on to the last book. I am hoping for HEA. 🤞
July 28, 2020
Loved this book— VERY MUCH looking forward to the conclusion.
January 16, 2024
This series just keeps getting better.
4.5/5 ⭐️
4.5/5 ⭐️
January 31, 2023
AMAZING! The last book (The Queen Of Raiders) was a definite page turner and I didn’t know how this book was going to do compared to the last one… but seriously this book never bored me. Not as action packed as the second book, but it was all focused on what happens after all the events in The Queen Of Raiders. When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking of what was going to happen next. Very entertaining.
February 23, 2022
Best of the 3. Hoping #4 equal or better.
November 15, 2020
This book really suffers from bloated middle book syndrome. Nothing really happens. We just waff about here and there. The focus should really be starting to pinpoint on the Queen and follow her around more faithfully. But we still have entire chapters dedicated to other characters doing absolutely nothing for the story. There's an entire chapter focused on Percia leaving the wedding party, going to her room, and then leaving the palace with Marcot. Ok? Why was this included? Why did this take up an entire chapter? Why was all of this not written more briefly from Wren's point of view?
This book has a lot of nothing happen and it suffers for it. Most of this could have been enfolded into the last book or even the end of the second book by cutting out the fluff. I fear the final book will also suffer from a lot of waffing about. In fact we are at a pivotal moment when the book ends. Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is what matters. Tomorrow the excitement starts. And yet the next book starts back in oromondo with smithy and I can't help but feel this dread that the pattern of needless character view points will continue.
This book and really this whole series has suffered because the author didn't cut out large unnecessary chapters that just end up weighing the whole thing down. This 3rd installment was a real struggle to get through. The writing wasn't bad but I just found once I put the book down I never cared enough to pick it back up. Something would be on the cusp of happening and I had to read more only to discover the next chapter was a different character in a different place doing different things. So I would put the book down because my interest was not being retained.
This book has a lot of nothing happen and it suffers for it. Most of this could have been enfolded into the last book or even the end of the second book by cutting out the fluff. I fear the final book will also suffer from a lot of waffing about. In fact we are at a pivotal moment when the book ends. Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is what matters. Tomorrow the excitement starts. And yet the next book starts back in oromondo with smithy and I can't help but feel this dread that the pattern of needless character view points will continue.
This book and really this whole series has suffered because the author didn't cut out large unnecessary chapters that just end up weighing the whole thing down. This 3rd installment was a real struggle to get through. The writing wasn't bad but I just found once I put the book down I never cared enough to pick it back up. Something would be on the cusp of happening and I had to read more only to discover the next chapter was a different character in a different place doing different things. So I would put the book down because my interest was not being retained.
May 22, 2020
So far, this has been my favorite book in the series. The pacing was a little slower, which for me was great because I felt the first 2 books kept jumping ahead to fast. Cerúlia was supposed to be physically and mentally broken, but it didn't feel like her mental state was that bad. And then her turn about happened a little to quick for me. The other thing that bothered me is the disconnection between Regent Matwyck and his son Marcot. As a reader who knows the things the Lord Regent has done, you know that he shouldn't be trusted. But, it felt like Marcot would still have strong feelings for him just because Matwyck is still his father. Instead you get the sense that Marcot doesn't trust him, and you don't really know why, and Matwyck never really did anything that would make him lose his favor. I think this could have been explored a little more.
My review seems a little harsh, but i really did like this story. And, aside from the few things I mentioned, the writing has gotten better, and I look forward to the reading the final book in this series.
My review seems a little harsh, but i really did like this story. And, aside from the few things I mentioned, the writing has gotten better, and I look forward to the reading the final book in this series.
March 30, 2020
Even if it's well written and I appreciated the world building I couldn't connect to the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 22, 2023
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
And we’re back with the third book already! Man, I’m really loving being able to read an entire series like this. In the “My Year with Jane Austen” series I’m writing, I’m getting near to reviewing the 1995 mini series version of “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s excellent for many reasons, but I’ll be honest, a large part of my love for it is simply that it’s nearly six hours long, meaning I can sink into one world with one set of characters for an extended period of time all once. It’s been a similar experience with this series.
Cerulia is badly injured, both physically by the scars left on her body by the flames, but also internally, unsure of her own role as a leader and queen going forward. In the quiet and peace of the healing ward where she is recovering, she is badly tempted to give up her quest of regaining her throne. The path has been harder than she ever thought, but she comes to see her responsibility to her people is greater than her own insecurities and fears. But without an army and with her sister poised to marry the son of her great enemy, Cerulia must work hard to remain free and in a position to challenge Matwyck for her throne.
I actually ended up liking this third book a bit more even than the first two, especially portions in the first half of the book while Cerulia is struggling to find her way again. For an individual who has been in exile for so long, jumping from one place to another, one entire identity to another, it’s no wonder that questions would arise about whether it is worth it and who she really is beneath all of the disguises. Through these reflections, she’s forced to confront her own insecurities and fears. She also come across the tried and true “with great responsibility” way of thinking, recognizing that her own struggles are ultimately not about what she has lost as a princess/queen forced from her home, but in the service of a greater duty to the country that’s been left behind. All of the people who don’t have the option to flee and re-create lives for themselves with the help of magical abilities and a grand heritage.
After this period of reflection, the action picks up again with Cerulia returning home, reuniting with her foster family, and facing the stark reality of the challenges ahead of her on her journey to the throne. There are also some interesting discussions regarding the necessity of a queen at all. It was fun seeing Cerulia go full circle and finally return to her home and her foster family, and it’s a great set-up for the final conflict to come in the last book.
But, with the increased interest I had in Cerulia’s story, I found myself feeling more disconnected from the other characters’ portions of the story. While there have been some moments where these other characters’ perspectives have added strength and context to the story, at this point, as we near the end of the series, their portions felt like more of a distraction than anything. I was always eager to return to Cerulia’s story and found myself more and more impatient with any breaks in the momentum of her plot line.
Lastly, I want to throw out a brief kudos to the cover art for this series! I always like covers that don’t include models, so that was a great start. But mostly I think the understated changes to the crown and how it reflects the action of each story was very clever. The first cover had a crown that was literally hidden behind vines. In the second, we see a crown being consumed by flames, a direct nod to Cerulia’s own perilous experience with fire. And here we have the broken remains of that ordeal, cracked but not destroyed. The final cover, of course, finally brings the crown to it’s completed state: regal and whole, free of damage or concealment. It’s a very simple little theme, but I think it works perfectly for this story.
Only one more month to go until we wrap this all up! In the meantime, make sure to enter the giveaway for a finished copy of “A Broken Queen.”
Rating 8: Poignant reflections on the responsibility of privilege and the definitions of self set a solid foundation for the final book to come.
And we’re back with the third book already! Man, I’m really loving being able to read an entire series like this. In the “My Year with Jane Austen” series I’m writing, I’m getting near to reviewing the 1995 mini series version of “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s excellent for many reasons, but I’ll be honest, a large part of my love for it is simply that it’s nearly six hours long, meaning I can sink into one world with one set of characters for an extended period of time all once. It’s been a similar experience with this series.
Cerulia is badly injured, both physically by the scars left on her body by the flames, but also internally, unsure of her own role as a leader and queen going forward. In the quiet and peace of the healing ward where she is recovering, she is badly tempted to give up her quest of regaining her throne. The path has been harder than she ever thought, but she comes to see her responsibility to her people is greater than her own insecurities and fears. But without an army and with her sister poised to marry the son of her great enemy, Cerulia must work hard to remain free and in a position to challenge Matwyck for her throne.
I actually ended up liking this third book a bit more even than the first two, especially portions in the first half of the book while Cerulia is struggling to find her way again. For an individual who has been in exile for so long, jumping from one place to another, one entire identity to another, it’s no wonder that questions would arise about whether it is worth it and who she really is beneath all of the disguises. Through these reflections, she’s forced to confront her own insecurities and fears. She also come across the tried and true “with great responsibility” way of thinking, recognizing that her own struggles are ultimately not about what she has lost as a princess/queen forced from her home, but in the service of a greater duty to the country that’s been left behind. All of the people who don’t have the option to flee and re-create lives for themselves with the help of magical abilities and a grand heritage.
After this period of reflection, the action picks up again with Cerulia returning home, reuniting with her foster family, and facing the stark reality of the challenges ahead of her on her journey to the throne. There are also some interesting discussions regarding the necessity of a queen at all. It was fun seeing Cerulia go full circle and finally return to her home and her foster family, and it’s a great set-up for the final conflict to come in the last book.
But, with the increased interest I had in Cerulia’s story, I found myself feeling more disconnected from the other characters’ portions of the story. While there have been some moments where these other characters’ perspectives have added strength and context to the story, at this point, as we near the end of the series, their portions felt like more of a distraction than anything. I was always eager to return to Cerulia’s story and found myself more and more impatient with any breaks in the momentum of her plot line.
Lastly, I want to throw out a brief kudos to the cover art for this series! I always like covers that don’t include models, so that was a great start. But mostly I think the understated changes to the crown and how it reflects the action of each story was very clever. The first cover had a crown that was literally hidden behind vines. In the second, we see a crown being consumed by flames, a direct nod to Cerulia’s own perilous experience with fire. And here we have the broken remains of that ordeal, cracked but not destroyed. The final cover, of course, finally brings the crown to it’s completed state: regal and whole, free of damage or concealment. It’s a very simple little theme, but I think it works perfectly for this story.
Only one more month to go until we wrap this all up! In the meantime, make sure to enter the giveaway for a finished copy of “A Broken Queen.”
Rating 8: Poignant reflections on the responsibility of privilege and the definitions of self set a solid foundation for the final book to come.
December 25, 2020
A Broken Queen is the third book in a four book series called The Nine Realms. It continues the story of Cerúlia, the princess of Weirandale, who rightfully should be Queen, but the evil Lord Regent Marwyck is seeking to murder her, so that he can remain in power himself. For the first two books in the series, Cerúlia was in hiding from the spies and assassins sent by Marwyck. But years have passed, and now she wants to return to her homeland and claim the crown.
There are many characters in this series. There is an eight page appendix at the back of the book, listing all the characters. True, the character names on the list are printed in big font, but still eight pages of characters indicates that there are a lot of people making an appearance. Kozloff does an impressive job of letting the reader keep all these characters straight. Despite their extensive number, and despite the fact that I finished the last volume several months ago, I did not get confused about who was who. However, because there are so many, the story of Cerúlia only occupies perhaps half of the book. The other half of the chapters tell the story of the adventures of all the other characters. I got the feeling that Kozloff spent most of book three positioning all of the people for the grand finale, to be revealed in the final book, The Cerulean Queen. Once they in their proper place, the chararacters are then left until the next book. Thus, we read all about shipwrecked Prince Mikil, but after the opening chapters, he never returns to the story. Sumroth, the diabolical general of Oromondo, appears in just one chapter and then is forgotten. Gunnit makes his way to Cascada, and then he too is forgotten.
The world building continues to be exceptional. There is a bit of magic, but it doesn't overwhelm the plot. The world has a pantheon of gods who look over the mortals, sort of like the classical Greek gods. The gods have their favorites, and influence what happens, like Hera and Artimes intervening in the events at Troy.
The depiction of Cerúlia is excellent, she is a sympathetic heroine. Tough and determined, but also plagued with self doubt, injured in spirit and body. Cerúlia is not a super hero who single-handedly slays an army of opponents; instead she has to rely on her wits and allies to achieve her goals - this makes Cerúlia more believable, and thus a more likable character. True, Cerúlia can speak with animals, so she isn't "normal", but this ability does not give her god-like powers.
I knocked one star off of a five star rating because I did not feel that the story had advanced far enough. Although Cerúlia has some adventures in A Broken Queen, there really isn't much that happens to her - a bit of convalesence, some journeys by ship. Compared to the first two volumes, Cerúlia's adventures seem tamer. I am looking forward to reading the final book in the Nine Realms, Kozloff has done a great job so far with this story, and I want to see how it all plays out. Presumably, each of these many characters all has a part to play (for good or ill) in the final story.
There are many characters in this series. There is an eight page appendix at the back of the book, listing all the characters. True, the character names on the list are printed in big font, but still eight pages of characters indicates that there are a lot of people making an appearance. Kozloff does an impressive job of letting the reader keep all these characters straight. Despite their extensive number, and despite the fact that I finished the last volume several months ago, I did not get confused about who was who. However, because there are so many, the story of Cerúlia only occupies perhaps half of the book. The other half of the chapters tell the story of the adventures of all the other characters. I got the feeling that Kozloff spent most of book three positioning all of the people for the grand finale, to be revealed in the final book, The Cerulean Queen. Once they in their proper place, the chararacters are then left until the next book. Thus, we read all about shipwrecked Prince Mikil, but after the opening chapters, he never returns to the story. Sumroth, the diabolical general of Oromondo, appears in just one chapter and then is forgotten. Gunnit makes his way to Cascada, and then he too is forgotten.
The world building continues to be exceptional. There is a bit of magic, but it doesn't overwhelm the plot. The world has a pantheon of gods who look over the mortals, sort of like the classical Greek gods. The gods have their favorites, and influence what happens, like Hera and Artimes intervening in the events at Troy.
The depiction of Cerúlia is excellent, she is a sympathetic heroine. Tough and determined, but also plagued with self doubt, injured in spirit and body. Cerúlia is not a super hero who single-handedly slays an army of opponents; instead she has to rely on her wits and allies to achieve her goals - this makes Cerúlia more believable, and thus a more likable character. True, Cerúlia can speak with animals, so she isn't "normal", but this ability does not give her god-like powers.
I knocked one star off of a five star rating because I did not feel that the story had advanced far enough. Although Cerúlia has some adventures in A Broken Queen, there really isn't much that happens to her - a bit of convalesence, some journeys by ship. Compared to the first two volumes, Cerúlia's adventures seem tamer. I am looking forward to reading the final book in the Nine Realms, Kozloff has done a great job so far with this story, and I want to see how it all plays out. Presumably, each of these many characters all has a part to play (for good or ill) in the final story.
October 12, 2021
A fantastic setting stone, that perfectly sets the stage for the fourth and final book.
Picking up right after that cliffhanger scene in book two, Queen Ceruila admirably picks herself back up from near death. Her journey to recovery is one that introduces new allies and leads her back to where it all began - Cascada. Political greediness and war still plague the lands, yet good happenings are found and celebrated.
This novel does detour from the tone of the previous two. The character growth and interactions are more stilted. In part, from the separation of character groups that were established in book two. Though, the multiple POVs help in filling the void of wanting to read more about a certain character(s). As well, there is a turn away from one of the main plots that unfolded in book two. It seems to have taken a back seat in this book, and that was unexpected in a nonorganic way. Nonetheless, it is understandable why book three developed this way, for it is setting the stage for the finale. In other words, this reads as a filler book - absolutely needed, but a bit dragged on in areas that seem of no importance.
Admittingly, this was my least favorite of the three books. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVED reading this and highly recommend the series! I will also be reading on to see how this series ends!
Picking up right after that cliffhanger scene in book two, Queen Ceruila admirably picks herself back up from near death. Her journey to recovery is one that introduces new allies and leads her back to where it all began - Cascada. Political greediness and war still plague the lands, yet good happenings are found and celebrated.
This novel does detour from the tone of the previous two. The character growth and interactions are more stilted. In part, from the separation of character groups that were established in book two. Though, the multiple POVs help in filling the void of wanting to read more about a certain character(s). As well, there is a turn away from one of the main plots that unfolded in book two. It seems to have taken a back seat in this book, and that was unexpected in a nonorganic way. Nonetheless, it is understandable why book three developed this way, for it is setting the stage for the finale. In other words, this reads as a filler book - absolutely needed, but a bit dragged on in areas that seem of no importance.
Admittingly, this was my least favorite of the three books. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVED reading this and highly recommend the series! I will also be reading on to see how this series ends!
April 24, 2020
I thought this book was just as good as the previous books in this series. I was not expecting the book to start the way it did, in the past with the queen and her brother. It made since later in the book why Cerulia’s uncle was mentioned at the beginning. I thought it was very creative how Cerulia was brought to her Uncle. I loved the way that Cerulia was brought to the island of healing for her injuries, but no one still new who she was, even her Uncle. The fact that Cerulia was required to help take care of the people in the house she was recovering in was interesting. She grew close to some people in this house, and had to deal with death in a different form than war. When she finely got to her homeland, she had to be creative on how she was going to get into the castle and reclame her rightful place on the throne.
Every time I read the names for some people and how they got them I felt like I was reading a children’s book. It always made me laugh. It helped take away from the gloominess of war. I really liked the fact that there was an appendix at the end of this book and the previous books. It helped when I would forget who a character was or where they fit in to the story. I can’t wait to read the last book.
Every time I read the names for some people and how they got them I felt like I was reading a children’s book. It always made me laugh. It helped take away from the gloominess of war. I really liked the fact that there was an appendix at the end of this book and the previous books. It helped when I would forget who a character was or where they fit in to the story. I can’t wait to read the last book.
August 1, 2020
A Broken Queen is the third book in the Nine Realms series. While it is not my favorite one, it’s still a fine installment in what is quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy series that I would highly recommend to any fantasy reader. This one had a bit of a slow start for me. Though I’m not sure if that’s because of the book or just because it had been quite a while since I finished the 2nd one, and so it took me longer to remember who everyone was and re-immerse myself in this world. But once I was in it I was IN IT, y’know what I mean? Cerulia continues to grow as a character and I love following her on her journey. The side characters kind of took a back seat in this one, but I didn’t mind. Instead I was captivated by Cerulia’s chapters and she’s really growing on me. I cannot wait to see how everything wraps up in the finale; at the same time I want to savor it and don’t want to let go of these characters and this world!
April 27, 2020
I know I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This series would make a great TV series! If Netflix, HBO, or anyone, really, wanted to adapt this wonderful series they would be doing themselves a favor. A Broken Queen was a great addition to the series. I've read some reviews that state the beginning is a bit slow, and I would agree with this, but I also think it was necessary for the story. I don't want to say anything more for fear of giving anything away, but I don't think it took anything away from the book as a whole. We get a whole lot of character development and see more of the world than we have during the previous two books. It sets up the last book nicely, and I can't wait to start it, although I'm said that it is the last one in the series. All fantasy fans need to give this a shot!
May 11, 2020
This series has swept me up, I can't belive it's the author's first fantasy series. The story gripped me from the beginning, all the way through you feel for this young girl as she grows into womanhood and faces challenge after challenge. I pray cerulia gets her happy ending but the ride through the first three books has been brilliant.
I can't wait to see what happens in book four, as we learn more about the spirits in this one I wonder what will eventually happen and where all my favourite characters will end up.
Every book has been well written and the story has grown with cerulia, I'm excited for the final book but sad too because I want to stay in the nine realms as long as I can. Fabulous series well worth a read reignited my love for fantasy novels best series I have read in a really long time.
I can't wait to see what happens in book four, as we learn more about the spirits in this one I wonder what will eventually happen and where all my favourite characters will end up.
Every book has been well written and the story has grown with cerulia, I'm excited for the final book but sad too because I want to stay in the nine realms as long as I can. Fabulous series well worth a read reignited my love for fantasy novels best series I have read in a really long time.
February 5, 2021
The third installment of the Nine Realms series, and it starts where the last book left off, with Cerulia having barely survived the attack on Oromondo and is taken to a recovery house in Wyeland to heal, where she takes yet another name, becoming Phoenix. Meanwhile, so many other key characters from her past are being pulled together, like threads in a tapestry, helping prepare the way for her eventual return and revealing herself as queen.
I really loved this book, and I think it may have been my favorite of the series so far. I really can't wait to read the final book of the series and see how everything comes together. Wonderfully rich characters and rich story, but not bogged down with unnecessary things that pull you away from the true story playing out, which sometimes happens in an epic fantasy series.
I really loved this book, and I think it may have been my favorite of the series so far. I really can't wait to read the final book of the series and see how everything comes together. Wonderfully rich characters and rich story, but not bogged down with unnecessary things that pull you away from the true story playing out, which sometimes happens in an epic fantasy series.
September 16, 2020
A Broken Queen felt a lot more lackluster than the amazingness of book 2, but Cerulia was injured and healing and, quite literally, a broken queen. It felt weird in contrast to the fierce and cunning escapades when she was with the raiders, but it still needed to happen. She needed to return to her throne and she needed to heal in order to get there.
I loved seeing the princess grow as she healed and encountered a culture even more different than the ones she was exposed to in here journey so far. She was also not able to really communicate with many animals while she was healing, which I think made her learn how to deal with different kinds of people as a result.
I loved how this one ended! It was worth a little bit of the slowness to get to where I know the series will go next.
I loved seeing the princess grow as she healed and encountered a culture even more different than the ones she was exposed to in here journey so far. She was also not able to really communicate with many animals while she was healing, which I think made her learn how to deal with different kinds of people as a result.
I loved how this one ended! It was worth a little bit of the slowness to get to where I know the series will go next.
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