The Promised Queen

Forgotten Empires #3

by Jeffe Kennedy

In The Promised Queen, the thrilling finale to Jeffe Kennedy's Forgotten Empires trilogy, the fate of the world hangs in the balance as Con, Lia, and their allies sacrifice everything in a final bid to destroy the corrupt empire.



Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, the lush romantic fantasy world of the Forgotten Empires series will sweep you away.

Claim the hand that wears the ring, and the empire falls.

Conr�, former Crown Prince of Oriel, claimed the hand that wears the Abiding Ring, but the prophecy remains unfulfilled. Queen Euthalia of Calanthe returned to her island kingdom, but broken in mind and body. With the blood of war unleashing ancient terrors, Calanthe isn't the haven it once was.

Lia must use her magical bond with Calanthe to save their people while Con fights to hold off the vengeful Emperor Anure and his wizards. Con and Lia will have to trust in each other--and in love--to fend off ultimate disaster.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Ebooks, Magic, Paranormal, Fiction

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 25, 2021

About the author

💙She/her💙 Award-winning Bestselling Author of epic fantasy romance. Taoist. Swiftie. Santa Fean. Cat lady @sfwa_inc Past-President. Rep by @seyitsme

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promised Queen delivers. If you like fantasy romance, do check this out. I love the relationship between Lia and Con, and I also love how badass they both are. This feels so much like the fantasy movies I love watching, and it makes me want to find more great fantasy romance books to devour.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

I reviewed this book for Affaire de Coeur Magazine courtesy of Netgalley.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨


First Impressions
The Promised Queen is the finale in the "Forgotten Kingdom" series. I was so thrilled to finally get to this one and it definitely satisfied me completely for a fantasy romance. This really just hit the spot especially emotionally. It was a bit longer than the first two books it felt like, but I was easily swept away by this story and I really loved the aspects of this married couple, the heroine recovering from her trauma and this couple learning to navigate these waters and having a coming battle to face up and plan for. And the way it all ends was just right for me here.

First Line
"Lia? Wake up."

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Conri, Crown Prince of Oriel
The Heroine: Queen Euthalia

Summary
Queen Euthalia has just been rescued from being held captive from Emperor Anure, and been tortured and gone through some severe trauma. She still holds the abiding ring but the prophecy of it is still unfulfilled. Conri is so relieved the woman he has come to love is alive and is determined to protect her no matter what. But Lia is used to pushing people away to protect them. We have a hero who doesn't understand why he is being pushed away. But both Lia and Conri will have to learn to trust each other to really make what they have worth fighting for...

What I Loved
The Promised Queen was the best book of the series. I really loved the build up of the relationship that we got to see and seeing the finale and all the details really all come together as it should. It really pulled me in so quickly in the beginning and I loved the way in which this author built up the tension between them. I also grew to admire our hero so much. Lia is so independent and in control all the time, and seeing her really learn to let go and let him take care of her was superb in every way. I found it intriguing. The plot kept me on my toes, I was so fascinated by the plot of seeing Lia recover, the moments in the dark court, and then taking on the Emperor. There was some drama here and there that might not work for everyone, but I found it so entertaining. The third act was intense and not the way that you expect. The story also was finished out so right.

What I Struggled With
Not much to be honest with the story itself.

Narration
The narration was solid, but it could have been better. I think the narration felt a bit slow in the middle.

Overall View
The Promised Queen was a satisfying finale that is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet. Its a stoyr that emotionally resonates, keep you on your toes with the twists of the plot and delivers the swoons in the end!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
Character Types: Royalty, Abused Heroine, Alpha Male
Themes: Danger/Suspense, PTSD Trauma, Married Couple Pairing
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience

Book Perspective
3Rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Elizabeth Vaughan
CL Wilson
Grace Draven

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Gabrielle Baker

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a satisfying ending to a good YA Fantasy trilogy. Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, married Queen Euthalia of Calanthe to fulfill the prophecy that would end Emperor Anure's cruel hold over the empire. But they failed. Con gave it all he had and Lia gave her life - temporarily- but nothing worked.

The couple return to Lia's island kingdom of Calanthe, which has awakened and wants blood. It is tearing the island up and Lia's subjects are in mortal danger. Slowly a plan is formed to return to Anure's fortress, rescue the other royal captives, and kill Anure. This time they must not fail.

This book picks up almost immediately after the last book ends. While I liked this book, there seemed to be something missing. Although their circumstances were dire, I didn't really feel a sense of urgency. The book focused on Con and Lia almost exclusively, with almost no minor characters making an appearance. The minor characters rounded out the stories in the first two books, and that was missing here. There was also a lot of inner dialogue which started to annoy me. For two commanding characters, there was way too much indecisiveness and angst.

Overall, however, I enjoyed the book and am pleased with the ending. If you want a fun, quick and easy YA Fantasy series to read, I recommend you read this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so first, me and my memory. But, what I do know is that I liked this last one the best. I remember not feeling connected to the characters in book 1, in book 2 ( I cheated and checked, I started to like them, you see they were both rather harsh at first.) But here the strangest thing happened. I liked both at once, the story flowed at once. I jumped in feet first and was swam along.

Book 3, shit is going down! We have the evil emperor that, omg, srsly, the events in book 2, I am not going to say anything, but that felt like a first! I mean damn, damn! Whaaaaaat?! Pure evil, pure evil. Right, evil emperor to bring down. Lia, who is not really human, but, it was weird, like born from a flower, connected to the island that is a goodess, monster, island. Loved the fact that regents here are connected to their land, and there is a connection that must thrive or the land fails. And it is blood that counts, so a invading emperor does not cut it. I am rambling, but there is so much to say!

Where was I? Lia, queen of the last kingdom standing. Conri, her husband invaded her country to have a stand against the evil emperor. They had a rocky start, but now they, almost fully trust and want each other. She is insecure as she must always stay in her country, and he has his own. But hey love will conquer all.

A fight is coming. Win or loose. Nothing in between.

There was a side character that I really wanted more about, then I got more and got a bit disappointed, why? Well because I kind of wanted an entire book, lol.

Book 1 is usually the book that I like the most in a series, but here book 3 was the one. Things came together, and they did not behave like aholes. But truly, the best part was that foundation that the ruler of the country, is by blood its rightful ruler. I found that concept really interesting. Because what happens when said rulers are killed? Or taken away.

I enjoyed this last book. Nice finish that left nothing to worry about

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Promised Queen is the third and final book in the Forgotten Empires series. After devouring the first two books, I'll admit that I was really excited to see how this was all going to end. Especially with how the second book ended. Heck, I'll even admit that I honestly wasn't expecting everything that went down in this one either. I mean.. this book had some deep, dark, and horrible things throughout it. Which is probably why I devoured it to begin with.

Now the characters themselves were beautifully written. Whether they were growing or adapting from certain situations or trying to figure out their own internal battle (duty vs. heart). They were just so easy to like and eventually love. While that's happening, though, you get so much more. There's romance and potential for true happiness. There's cunning characters that will throw you endless surprises and twists.

Again, I wasn't prepared for what went down in this book and that's completely okay. In the end, I devoured this and I have no idea what to do with myself now that the series is over. I'm just super excited for the next book that Jeffe writes!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Promised Queen is the final book in the Forgotten Empires Series, and it wraps up the story very well. The last book contained some horrible things and this one starts right in the aftermath. Now, Lia and Conri need to save not only their kingdom, but all of the kingdoms.

I never like to describe the plot much, especially in the final book of a trilogy. I don't want to spoil things. Here are the things about this book (and the series) that stood out to me:

Lia - her essence is unique. And I also like how sworn to duty she is, even when her heart might say otherwise. She not only loves Conri, but she loves her country and she acts responsibly.

Conri actually can learn and change for the better. I love when characters progress in a realistic fashion.

I finally got to find out what in the world was going on with Ambrose.

The descriptions of the culture on the island were well done - I felt like I could see the places and the outfits (which are described in a lot of detail, but I enjoyed that).

I was really glad to see that the Main Page listed this as adult vs. Young Adult. I totally agree.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I recommend it - after reading the first two in the series.

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the final book catches up with Conri and Lia straight after the absolutely horrifying events in the last book. Lia needs to convince Conri that she's strong enough to face anything but naturally all he wants to do is wrap her up in cotton wool. Having previously protested at Conris warlike ways now Lia needs him to employ his wits and cunning to finally face the Emperor and his heinous, evil Wizards. Yet the Emperor controls so many with his use of political prisoners that it's doubtful they will find allies. Perhaps Lia can finally tap into her full potential but if she does that those who believe her dead will suspect the truth about what it truly means to claim the hand that holds the ring !
This couple deserve their happiness although there have been times I seriously wondered how on earth it would happen. Lia is in many ways trapped by her beloved island and the revelations about just exactly what she is were stunningly done. I particularly liked that in this book it's Conri who instead of charging in makes plans that sadly could seriously go awry but luckily he is not alone. There's a revelation or two about that pesky thorn in Conris side Ambrose and perhaps I am bloodthirsty and wanted certain evil characters to suffer more but the conclusion was exactly what I wanted and I'm left with a smile on my face.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

My English review

MMon avis en Français

I had a great time with the first two novels and was curious to see the conclusion of the story between Con and Lia. They’ve both been through a lot and I was wondering how they were going to get through the last events.

Lia has beaten death, but that doesn’t mean she’s okay. She’s having a hard time getting back to who she was, who everyone expects her to be. But Calanthe is on the brink and she has no choice: she must act or she will lose everything! As for Con, he is still driven by his desire for revenge, but he will have to decide if it is more important than anything else.

This is the final confrontation, the conclusion of a saga that I enjoyed discovering. I loved following Lia and Con. They will do everything to move forward and achieve their goals, something that will be far from easy. It was a very good trilogy!

[Visionary Druid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Conri, the Slave King, has successfully completed half of the prophecy by claiming the hand that wears the Abiding Ring. He rescues his wife and returns her back to her island home. Conri must devise a plan to defeat the false emperor and his wizards. Can Conri complete the second half of the prophecy? Will he give up his need for vengeance? But at what cost?
Euthalia (Lia), the Queen of Flowers, returns to Calanthe a changed woman. Her brief time as a captive has opened her eyes to the world’s plight. She must come to terms with her true nature before she can assist Conri in defeating Anure. What role will Lia play in the upcoming battle? Will her magic be enough? And will she have to give Conri up?
Conri has shown significant growth throughout the trilogy. He finally learns that his reckless nature has dire consequences, especially for his friends and family. I admire Conri’s willingness to step up and temporary assume the monarchy role in his wife’s absence. He knows how much Calanthe means to Lia, so he wants to resolve some of the island’s problems until her return. What I love the most about Conri is his refusal to let Lia push him away. He knows that he had messed up, but he tries to rectify it. Also, Conri sticks close to give Lia everything she needs to recover.
Lia also shows incredible growth. She no longer tries to conceal or hide her supernatural side but embraces it. I like that Lia flounders a bit with self-doubt and uncertainty. It shows that she is not infallible or perfect. I love the positive influence Lia has on Conri. She helps him explore other options when vengeance clouds his thinking. What I adore the most about Lia is her ability to see and acknowledge Conri’s strengths and skills. She does not let him downcast his person or his abilities.
THE PROMISED QUEEN is book three in Jeffe Kennedy’s fantasy-romance series, FORGOTTEN EMPIRES. It is prudent to read the previous two books in the series to fully understand the world, its troubles, and the characters’ personal growth. The story picks up where the prior one left off. This series stands apart from the author’s other works.
THE PROMISED QUEEN is the exciting conclusion to a spellbinding trilogy. I have really enjoyed Conri and Lia’s exploits. I am sad to see this magical series come to an end.

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book of Con and Lia and the battle for each other's heart plus a need to save the world from a horrible monster of a dictator that had already killed many members of royal families around the world. This story has a ton of ups and downs in the romance and the struggle to battle for freedom. The imaginative plots and battle plans were interesting but it seemed we were dragging in the middle as these books often do but the finish was glorious except for one major WTF??? I am a confirmed revenge junkie and the reader gets cheated IMHO and we don't really even get a good final answer so for that I have to give it 4 Stars and glad it was so good or I would drop it to 3. Taken as a whole the trilogy was entertaining and held my attention well so considering the whole story I would have to highly recommend this trilogy.

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Promised Queen was an epic adventure filled with magic, love, action and so much more. I love this world and it’s magic system. I admit I’m sad to see this end but I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion to Con and Lia’s story. It was a fitting end to wonderfully-epic story. I definitely recommend this trilogy.



Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and lovely

I went into this series blind and I was pleasantly surprised. The author is new to me but I will be watching for more from him. This series is Adult fantasy with a fairly series spice level. It is more plot driven than romance focased.

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent finale to this exciting fantasy romance trilogy! I hope it's not going to be the end of this world though, I'd love to see more of the secondary characters. I recommend reading the previous books in the series as it's not meant as a standalone.

Coming on the heels of the terror and tragedy of book 2, book 3 dives right in to the story with Lia and Conri returning to a storm filled and vengeful island. Lia is trying to heal but it's slow going, filled with nightmares, and Conri wants nothing more than to protect her. But the Emperor Anure isn't going to give up his quest to have the abiding ring so they are not done with their fight. And their fight isn't just for Calanthe - it's for all the kingdoms who have come under Anure's rule. As a result, the action never really lets up and there are surprising revelations one after another which makes for another page-turning read. Lia and Conri's relationship has to survive all of these things and comes out stronger for it. The worldbuilding is epic and unforgettable. I am very satisfied with how things ended, and the whole series will go on my keeper shelf!

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

[i_hype_romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first two books in this series. However, I found my mind wandering as I struggled to finish the latest installment. The writing is lush and beautiful, and I still adored the hero, Conri.

However, I found it difficult to follow the evolution of the magical system. Because it was confusing to grasp the intricacies of the world-building, I think the depiction of the relationship between the hero and the heroine suffered. This is the dynamic that enthralled me in the first two books, and I found it lacking here. The heroine annoyed me in this wrap-up to the trilogy, and it felt like unnecessary obstacles were thrown in the path of the couple to prolong the plot. I think the trilogy should have been a duology.

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was I hooked by that book? Absolutely. The final installment of the Forgotten Empires series most definitely lived up to my expectations.

Con and Lia are finally back on Calanthe's soil after saving Lia from Anare's wizards. But Calanthe is not doing so well. The land needs healing just as much as Lia does.

Lia's struggle to figure out how she is connected to Calanthe and what it means for her was very emotional. She had so many insecurities to overcome to figure it all out. She was trying to save Calanthe while also having to come to grips with the new changes in her. At times I found Lia a bit too marterish. She was way too willing to sacrifice her potential happiness. Con was a constant throughout it all. He never gave up on her or them. And the final confrontation with Anare was quite satisfying.

The writing captivated me. I wanted to read faster so I can find out what happens, but I also wanted to read slowly so I didn't miss anything. I ended up going the slow route, if you wondered.

I can definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves reading fantasy. But start at the beginning, you can't just jump into it wherever.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promised Queen by Jeffe Kennedy
Forgotten Empires #3

All good things must come to an end…unless this author decides to carry on with the other worlds mentioned in this trilogy and perhaps builds a spinoff to a delightful fantasy romance that ended just as it should by the end of book three of this series.

What I liked:
* Lia: a species I have never seen before with all the positive attributes necessary to make this story special. She and Con were perfect for one another.
* Con: someone deprived of his birthright who managed to survive and perhaps thrive as a result of the horrific life he was forced to live. He was perfect with and for Lia.
* The love that grew between Con and Lia
* The magical elements of the story
* Calanthe: home to Lia, an island, magical, and so much more
* The mythology and prophecy of this series
* The supporting characters – many could have stories of their own
* The way that Con and Lia were there for one another
* That good overcame evil
* The way all the threads were tied up by the end of the series
* Thinking about the future and the possibilities for Con, Lia and the others

What I didn’t like:
* Anure, the evil wizards, and the suffering they meted out on so many

Could this series have been many books? Yes.
Did it tell the story and do it well in three books? Yes.
Will I miss spending more time with Con and Lia? Definitely
Would I read more by this author? I am sure I would!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

.....And Ms. Kennedy wrapped this series up with a BANG!!

The Promised Queen was my absolute favorite and the perfect completion to the Forgotten Empires trilogy. It had the perfect mix of romance, action and unexpected twists. Con and Lia's relationship takes a beating. It's uncertain if they'll be able to last for the long haul. There are too many uncertainties and other responsibilities on their shoulders. Yet, their love for one another is undeniable. However, before they can address any of that, they must first restore the island of Calanthe, find a way to free some royal captives and take down an evil emperor and his wizards.

I'm sad to see this series end, but very content with how things wrapped up for the characters. Ms. Kennedy definitely knows how to spin a story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review this book and the opinions contained within are my own.

[Jessica Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promised Queen takes up right where the cliffhanger in The Fiery Crown left off. This book must be read in the order of the series or the reader will be LOST! Queen Euthalia of Calanthe is forever changed but back home and back in touch with the magic of her land. Conri gave up his chance at revenge when he saved Lia. But now that he knows his sister is still alive, he knows he has to finally take on the false emperor and destroy his power. Love, honor, and justice come out to play in the epic ending to the best fantasy series in years. Jeffe Kennedy's world building draws the reader into the story and makes them never want to leave with complex characters and rich plots that leave you coming back for more. The Promised Queen is the perfect ending to an impressive fantasy series. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

[Milsi ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting conclusion to an already amazing trilogy. Unlike the previous book, this one doesn't drag at all, in fact, I'd say all the events in this book take a little less than a month. The plot goes back to being quite fast paced, in an excellent way.

I genuinely enjoyed the characters and the weight the events had on them. No one ever felt like they were going OOC, or anything of the sort - their reactions, in particular Lia coping with what happened in book 2, were heartfelt and made sense.

Big kudos to Ambrose and Merle suddenly becoming two of my favorite side characters.

On a side note, however, there were a few typos in my digital copy. Nothing annoying, just a few things that escaped editing.

5 full stars

[sherbereads ✧.* ᰔᩚ🍉 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good conclusion to a pretty encapsulating series. When I first started this journey it was slow to start but once I got in it, it was great. A great balance of love/spice and action/plot motion. Turns were not expected and I enjoyed our hero Konri not being a perfect man saying all the right things. If anything both lead characters were perfectly imperfect which made it more relatable. A wonderful ending with stress, love, fun and danger along the way.

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Promised Queen is the final book in the Forgotten Empires series by Jeffe Kennedy and I'm happy with the way this one wrapped up. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you should consider picking it up.

This book picks up where book 2 left off and without giving any spoilers, Con and Lia have a bit to work through. As they work to figure out what they need to do to save Calanthe and stop Emperor Anure and his wizards, they have to learn to trust each other. As they figure out how to navigate their relationship alongside all of the other challenges they are facing, they start to determine what is important and that they truly can rely on each other.

If you're looking for an adult fantasy series I recommend picking this up. I look forward to the Kennedy's next book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Francesca ❆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the conclusion on how the main characters worked together in this one. It was a long time coming.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to visit Calanthe… and the Night Court 😉

It kind of cracks me up that romance stories can accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. Don’t get me wrong, I actually want it to be this way, but it does make me laugh. Love, trust, and belief in your partner is something that has to grow in real life. In romancelandia, two weeks in and you've got them all covered. Every time I read a romance with a scene where either the hero or heroine are hurt and the other looks after them, it makes me feel all mushy and gushy. Is it realistic? Probably not, as I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want my hubby to have seen me at my worst when we were in the early stages of our relationship. In romancelandia, he better bloody be taking care of her and telling her she's the most beautiful woman on earth. 😁

In The Promised Queen, we start this final instalment with Conri and Lia struggling with the repercussions of their decisions. Conri feels guilty for putting Lia in danger and each day that he sees her struggle to get back to normal, leaves him feeling helpless. He wants to be the person she turns to for comfort and support, but he doesn’t blame her when she turns him away. Lia feels guilty for putting Calanthe, and her people in danger and feels vulnerable while her body is so weak. She knows she is hurting Conri by pushing him away, but feels their situation is hopeless while she and Calanthe are so weak. With a little guidance from Ambrose, they finally work together to put things right.

This story was definitely my favourite in the series. I enjoyed getting to know the additional characters better and I loved that each of them had such interesting stories to tell. The trust that developed between Conri and Lia made their love for each other stronger. I’m just a wee bit sorry that we didn’t get to ‘see’ the trust growing between Conri and Lia when they went for a visit to the Night Court. There I was getting all excited when things got hot and heavy with the night-time revels in the Night Court, but low and behold … they shut the door in my face. Just a wee bit disappointed. 😉

The Promised Queen was the perfect conclusion to the Forgotten Empires series. The love story was beautiful, and I loved seeing this couple grow together. Conri is my kind of hero. Big, gruff and totally in control, but with a wee bit of a vulnerable side that makes you want to give him a hug. Lia definitely comes into her own in this story and I loved seeing her wield her power.

If you’re a fan of Fantasy Romance, I highly suggest giving the Forgotten Empires series a try, but, you must start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[Barb Lie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promised Queen by Jeffe Kennedy is the 3rd and final book in her Forgotten Empires series. The story picks up shortly after the last book left off, with Lia having been brought back from death, and broken. Lia continues with terrible nightmares, especially with her land being torn apart, due to Calanthe’s wild crazed reactions to her death. Conri refuses to leave her side, and gradually she will work to calm and bring Calanthe into control, as well as recovering from her horrific injuries; such as losing her hand and the orchid finger. The evil emperor, Anure and his wizards who tortured Lia, are still around, but not knowing that Lia still lives, as they continue to batter Calanthe. When Conri sees Lia continually faltering, he realizes she is starving, and needs his blood, which will bring her fully back, and in time, her injuries will slowly regenerate. Calanthe will then be magically restored, thanks to Lia’s influence.

As Lia recovers, she learns about their marriage that is now broken, due to her death, but both still love each other. Lia knows Conri is out for revenge, and in her insecurity, she feels he will want to go home to his land; and since she cannot leave Calanthe; they may not have a future. They made a great couple, over two books, their love for each other was very apparent, and I hoped somehow things would work out.

Conri, loves Lia, but he is determined to avenge what has been done to her, as well as save many prisoners held by Anure, some of those former royals of their own lands. Lia is a wonderful heroine, who is tough, independent, and steps up to strengthen her supernatural ability; she is still tied to the island, but opens herself to embrace her powers, especially to help Conri, when he goes to free the captives. Together with the team, they manage to convince Conri that his plan was sure to fail, with lives lost, a new plan gives them a chance. Who will survive?

What follows is a fantastic fantasy set in a world of magic with an amazing queen who continues to learn how to use more of her powers. As we raced to the exciting climax, it was amazing to watch Lia become the Promised Queen that she was destined to be.

Jeffe Kennedy has created some wonderful characters, Lia, Conri, Sonia, Kara, Ibolya, Vesno, Ambrose, Merle, Brenda and Agatha to name a few. To tell too much more would be spoilers, and I do not want to ruin this book for you. You need to read and enjoy every moment.

THE PROMISED QUEEN is the exciting and satisfying conclusion to this wonderful trilogy, very well written by Jeffe Kennedy. I loved both Lia and Conri, who were fabulous heroes. If you enjoy exciting fantasy, romance, great couple, wonderful characters, you need to read this series.

Barb
The Reading Cafe

[Tani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the conclusion to the Forgotten Empires trilogy, Lia and Con must fully face their pasts so that they can move forward into the future. This picks up directly after the end of the second book and builds on the dramatic events therein, so if you haven't read the prior books in the series, this is not a good entry point. However, for those who are all caught up, this is a great addition, and probably the strongest entry in the series thus far.

I think that the thing that I appreciated most about this book was the way that it tied up loose ends for Con and Lia. They both have some pretty substantial emotional issues that have been recurring themes throughout the earlier two books, but in this book, the threads of those issues are really followed through. We see a lot of discussion of Con's pathological need for revenge, as well as Lia's inability to cede control to anyone. These issues are dealt with thoughtfully and empathetically, and I really loved seeing the path that they took to deal with them. Nothing is brushed off or made more easy than it should be, and complicated emotions and situations are left without easy solutions, which is something that I really appreciated. It definitely felt like their relationship came full circle by the end of the book.

Another thing that I really liked was the focus that some of the secondary characters received. Sondra has been a constant presence throughout the books, but this book also incorporated more about Ambrose, Merle, Percy, Agatha, and Ibolya, just to name a few. I love an ensemble cast, so I definitely appreciated this widening of the story's focus. Although Lia and Con remain central, there's still plenty of space given to these secondary characters, and I think that really livened things up when they might have otherwise grown a bit stale.

I think my only complaint would be that sometimes the emotional development took precedence over the action of the plot, so at times I was left feeling a touch like things just weren't moving quickly enough. However, I think that may also be a product of my frame of mind, which is just a bit unfocused these days, as I move into the later stages of pregnancy. I do think that the pacing was consistent with prior books, and will yield a lot of enjoyment for people who are deeply invested in Lia and Con's relationship. It just wasn't quite the right balance for me at this particular moment.

However, I was extremely happy with the ending. I was a bit worried that there wasn't going to be time to wrap everything up without feeling rushed, but my worries were completely unfounded. Kennedy did an excellent job of pulling all of the threads together in a way that I found deeply satisfying, and I was completely happy with how everything ended up shaking out. Jeffe Kennedy is definitely an author that I will be keeping an eye on in the future, and I look forward to exploring her backlist at some point as well. I'm sure both will be extremely rewarding.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful wrap-up to an exciting and original romance-fantasy series.

Con might have managed to rescue Lia from the grip of the evil wizards, but by bringing her back to life, none of them came out scar-free. Lia's more than confused...and those around Con keep reminding him it is the brain which rots first. But there's more to it; he's sure there is. But as she's lost in a muddled-mental-nightmare, the island is dying and sending the entire kingdom into chaos. But even if he finds a way to help her heal, there's still the question of what to do now that he knows the plans of the one who took her captive.

I'll admit, I can't remember if I read the second book in this series or not, but the first one definitely still sticks in my memories. So, while it took a bit to sink into this third installment and figure out what was going on, it wasn't too difficult either. Still, I recommend reading this as a series, since none of these are stand-alones.

There are so many original elements about this fantasy and surprises that it's hard to put this one down. Con has developed so much from the first book and is finally filling the shoes of the king he's meant to be. Lia has always been a force to be reckoned with, but now, the secret behind her entire existence is being exposed (one she doesn't know herself). It sheds an entire new light on her and the island, and she embraces all of this only the way a true heroine can. Of course, they have all of their allies on their side, which round off the richness and depth. I've learned to like every single one and am sad to see them go.

The pacing in this one is quick but by no means ignores the psychological and character development. There's just so much tension and darkness still to be unraveled that this bunch has more than enough to deal with. Of course, the writing is grabbing and the world building still draws in. So, the fantasy side of this sits solid and promises an exciting ride.

Then, there's romance. These two have long bonded, and despite several lingering doubts, are a couple through and through. Their relationship goes beyond superficial, which was really nice to see. There are a couple of steamier moments, but these are kept in check and don't overtake the main story in any way. The development in this one does leave the reader wondering how it will all turn out in the end, but the author does know how to close this one up in a wonderful way, too.

I received an ARC through Netgalley and really enjoyed the dive into this fantasy world.

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Promised Queen by Jeffe Kennedy

4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
In The Promised Queen, the thrilling finale to Jeffe Kennedy's Forgotten Empires trilogy, the fate of the world hangs in the balance as Con, Lia, and their allies sacrifice everything in a final bid to destroy the corrupt empire.

Claim the hand that wears the ring, and the empire falls.

Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, claimed the hand that wears the Abiding Ring, but the prophecy remains unfulfilled. Queen Euthalia of Calanthe returned to her island kingdom, but broken in mind and body. With the blood of war unleashing ancient terrors, Calanthe isn’t the haven it once was.

Lia must use her magical bond with Calanthe to save their people while Con fights to hold off the vengeful Emperor Anure and his wizards. Con and Lia will have to trust in each other—and in love—to fend off ultimate disaster.



EN: Now we also come to the last part of a trilogy and here we also accompany Lia and Conri again and exactly after the events in the second part. I was surprised when Lia was back in Calanthe and changed even when it was about time, but in some places I didn't like her even if she was right. Conri, on the other hand, made mistakes but didn't learn again, although it got better in the second part. The first half dragged on a bit and was quite lengthy because it didn't happen very much, but the second half of the book got better and a lot came to light and especially it finally came to the showdown. All in all it was good, even if I found it too long and sometimes had a bit of a dispute with the characters, it was still a good end to the series and overall good.

DE: Nun kommen wir ebenfalls zum letzten Teil einer Trilogie und auch hier begleiten wir wieder Lia und Conri und genau nach denn Ereignissen im zweiten Teil. Ich war überrascht als Lia wieder in Calanthe war und sich verändert hat auch wenn es langsam Zeit wurde dennoch mochte ich sie an manchen stellen nicht auch wenn sie recht hatte. Conri dagegen hat zwar Fehler gemacht aber auch wieder nicht gelernt obwohl es besser wurde im zweiten Teil. Die erste Hälfte hat sich etwas gezogen und war ziemlich langatmig da nicht besonders passiert aber die zweite Hälfte des Buches wurde es besser und es sind auch einiges ans Licht gekommen und besonders kam es dann endlich zum Showdown. Im ganzen war es gut auch wenn ich zwischen durch zu lang gefunden habe und manchmal etwas Zwist mit den Charakteren hatte war es dennoch ein guter Abschluss Band der Reihe und im ganzen gut.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review will be posted on my blog on 5/6/21*
**4.5 STARS**
I Liked:
*This is the perfect conclusion to a unique, romance fantasy series. I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t even think I’d remember what happened in book two but wow, it took off right away and it transported me back to Lia’s world and the cliffhanger of book two.

*Lia’s transformation from dead to her every potential is inspiring and beautiful. She becomes what she is meant to be and embraces all her orchid uniqueness! Lia is Calanthe. We also learn more of how she was born/created which is so cool.

*Conri, I love him. He really is a wolf, so rough around the edges compared to Lia’s control and regal manner. I love how they are complete opposites but they compliment each other so well. Conri is a wing-it kind of lone wolf and Lia reminds him help sometimes is okay.

*I love the world building but Conri and Lia’s love story is just the best to me. They will be added to my favorite book couples for sure! I love their insecurities but how they both work things out, most Conri who is so persistent and will fight for her for always. Their wedding vows at the end made my heart melt. I love them. Also, there is a very sexy, hot scene in the night court, it’s erotic but tastefully done!

*The supporting cast is great as well and we get a very happy ending.

Random Notes:
*Triggers: memories of torture

*I felt like the fight with Anure was just a tiny bit anti-climatic? I was expecting more when they confronted him, but Conri and Lia did debate about how much of exacting vengeance was enough (okay so I wanted Conri to hammer him haha). But that’s okay, Lia was right and I think it was a very just ending for Anure though.

*We get to find out more about Ambrose’s role in this prophetic destiny about Lia.

Final Thoughts:
This series got better with every book that came out, culminating to this wonderful conclusion in The Promised Queen. I was swept away in this lush world of Calanthe where Lia rules with a fair hand. I fell in love with Lia and Conri who fight for each other and the lands that Anure stole from other royals. I was inspired by Lia’s transformation to accept all the different parts of her and be the person she was destined to be. If you like an enemies to lover’s romance story set in a lush fantasy world with a Queen who is a bit more than human, this one may be to your liking.

[Sara G · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars

***ARC received from St Martins Press and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

The conclusion to a series is always bittersweet. Its nice to see it come to a satisfying conclusion but it is sad to know that you won’t be returning to that world and the characters that I have come to truly adore.

This book takes up immediately after the ending of the previous book with Lia and Conri struggling with the aftermath of the conflict with Anure. As with the prior books while there is the overarching conflict with Anure this story is primarily driven by the main characters developments. Lia is having to come to terms with herself and who she is. The icy queen from the first book has slowly evolved to no longer need her facade she is finally growing comfortable with who she is and her connection with Calanthe. I really loved watching Lia come into the person she was always meant to be both a magical creature born from Calanthe and human and through her struggles and her triumphs she finally comes to accept and embrace who she is.

Conri’s growth is not as big as Lia but he still develops from the headstrong single minded revenge seeker we were introduced to into a man who sees more options and outcomes. I still love Conri and Lia relationship which remains the core driver of the story. Watching them develop from strained allies to strong partners in the book made me so happy. They still bicker, they still disagree but both have mutual respect and love for the other.

One character that surprised me was Percy, he always seems this superficial character but we finally get to learn his full backstory and while it does not change who he is it gives him more depth. It makes more sense as why he would decide to take such an active role in helping return Lia to her lands. There is also a satisfying conclusion to who Ambrose and Merle are, so thankful that this story left almost no questions unanswered. It doesn’t tie everything up in a nice little bow at the end but it

The world building in this series was always lovely, we get more magic and more about the connection that the royal families have to their land. We also finally get to see the Night Court that was mentioned but it is sadly too little time spent there.

In the end this is a truly satisfying conclusion to Conri and Lia’s story even if I am sad to see it end.

[Elsa Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. This ending. Just wow! Lia and Con both have grown so much. Their relationship has gone from merely being of convenience to being something that has helped them both heal wounds that they thought were beyond healing. Con is a man that likes to be in control but also likes to just barge right in and do what he wants. Lia teaches him the importance of knowing how to handle each situation with equal parts care and determination. Lia is a woman who also loves being in control but to the point of micromanaging every detail. Con taught Lia that somethings can be better solved when the leadership burdens are shared amongst many. I loved that these two opposites learned to truly love each other with their glaring flaws and see through that to find a heart that loves without restraints. They are honestly relationship goals because they are in no way a perfect couple. They have fights, they argue and sometimes throw insults that wound but they have the strength and humbleness to admit they were wrong and only resorted to that because they didn't want to lose the other one. I loved seeing Con help Lia overcome her traumatic experiences while she'd been held captive. Lia had also helped Con with his fear of being beyond help. Con learns to love and he loved again through Lia. And idk if any of that made sense but I truly loved their relationship!😭 Now then, moving on! Iboyla definitely stepped up in this book!! She takes on a more active role and I love her for that! She becomes a true friend to Lia, being there and nurturing Lia's fractured soul. Another character that I fell more in love with was Percy!🤣 He's an absolute darling and I love that he always kept a light-hearted attitude about things but was always ready for seriousness if the situation called for it. Plus....that plot twist about his family ties O.O......wow. And no review could be complete with an honorary mention of Ambrose and Merle!!!😍 They sort of stole the show, okay? They were cryptic as ever and had a few surprises up their sleeves but they came through in the end. As in they surprised everyone with some of their secrets but....in a way I understand their reasoning....I won't spoil it for you guys, though!