The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue

Heirs of Magic #2

by Jeffe Kennedy

Book Two in the adult Fantasy Romance adventure series from award-winning, bestselling author Jeffe Kennedy. Follows the prequel novella,The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon,in the Under a Winter Sky romantic fantasy holiday anthology and Book One of Heirs of Magic,The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince.

A Lonely Road
Stella has always been one to count her blessings. Empath, sorceress, shapeshifter, and healer, she’s grateful for the gifts the goddess of shadows has bestowed upon her. Yes, she’s sensitive to emotions and can’t bear to be in large crowds for long. And yes, that means she’ll never be able to take a lover as she’s unable to withstand physical contact with anyone but her twin brother. Certainly now that he’s found his true love, she feels more alone than ever. None of it haunts her, however, like the vision of the lonely tower where her life path ends.

An Unrequited Love
Jakral Konyngrr is a man of simple tastes: good whiskey, some coin in his pocket, and a fine blade in his hand. Though he’s no prince, not a shapeshifter, and not blessed with any magic, he’s happy in his skin. And yet he seems doomed to live the life of a hero from a tragic ballad, because the only woman he’s ever wanted barely knows he’s alive. As much as Jak longs for Stella, he’s resigned himself to being forever in the background. At least he can guard her back.

A Quest to Stop a Monster
But now Jak and Stella have been thrown together—along with a mismatched group of shifters, warriors, and sorceress friends—chasing and attempting to avert magic rifts that release monsters into their world. Worse, the strange intelligence behind the bizarre and deadly attacks seems to have developed a fascination for Stella. Battling for their lives and the good of the realm, they must fight—and perhaps love—together to alter the course of the future before it’s too late.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Paranormal Romance

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 19, 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

[Timitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated 4.5 Stars

I thought I was ready for The Sorceress Queen and The Pirate Rogue but I clearly wasn’t. I eagerly anticipated it but I was in no way shape or form ready for how this book arrested me and held me captive for the duration. I loved Stella and Jak’s even though my heart took up residence in my throat for its entirety. There’s action, adventure, sexual tension, love and so much more. I loved it and can’t wait to be wrecked by the next book in the series.


Copy provided by author

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment in this series and like the others it floats long with a bit more action than the first book but a lot of romantic interaction and a hero who just never heard the word "quit". Most of the book is dedicated to the on/off love affair between Jak and Stella which involves a lot of the action since it seems that Stella is the target for much of the unseen entity that is casing havoc throughout the kingdom. The story was great but possibly frustrating at times but as always a big finish and close to a cliffhanger ending just to move on to our final couple and the resolution of this story (I assume it is a trilogy). Bottom Line: Loved it, dragged a bit in a few places but overall a great story, great mix of action and romance, close to 5 Stars but I will reserve that for the final book I hope.

[Visionary Druid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Jakral “Jak” Konyngrr is the only child of a Dasnarian prince-turned-sailor and a former Hawk – a royal elite guard and hunter. He has always loved Stella, but the woman-in-question treats him like a meddlesome brother. Jak accompanies his friends on a quest to investigate strange and odd magical rifts. He risks everything to protect Stella from the otherworldly being stalking her. Can Jak convince Stella to take a chance with him? Can he carve a future with her? Or will he lose her to the metaphysical entity?
Princess Stella is the daughter of Princess Amelia and the late Prince of Avonlidgh and Astar’s twin sister. She is also an empath, a healer, a shape-shifter, and a sorceress. Stella must keep everyone at a distance because of her sensitivity to touch. She knows what her future holds, and Jak has no place in it, so she tries to discourage his interest. When Stella attracts a supernatural being’s notice, she trusts Jak to protect her. Can Stella escape her bleak future? But at what cost?
Jak has to be my favorite hero from all of Jeffe Kennedy’s books. He is the perfect melding of his parents, who will always be my favorite couple. I absolutely love Jak’s rascally personality. His devil-may-care attitude is a front to hide a keen mind and strong strength-of-will. He may not have magic or shape-shifting abilities like his friends, but that does not hinder him. What I adore the most about Jak is his thoughtfulness towards Stella’s empathic sensitivities. He is considerate to her needs without making her feel like a fragile invalid.
Usually, I dislike heroines like Stella. However, she endeared herself to me. Stella has been gifted with incredible powers; however, those powers come with a debilitating handicap, one that has dominated her life. I like how Stella looks after her friends’ welfare and mental state. If she can help her friends in any way, she does it without any regard to her health. What I love the most about Stella is how she never thought less of Jak for not having magic or being a shapeshifter. She acknowledged his skills and keen mind, which proved to be an asset to their party.
THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is book two in Jeffe Kennedy’s fantasy-romance series, HEIRS OF MAGIC, a spinoff from her series, THE TWELVE KINGDOMS and THE UNCHARTED REALMS. It is necessary to read the prior book and novella to understand the world’s current situation. Also, I highly recommend reading the previous two series to understand the world, how its magic works, and the characters’ background, which plays an important role in the story.
THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE is a spellbinding tale of two soulmates facing incredible odds to find a way to be together. I am so happy that Gen’s book is next! She deserves to find her special someone. I cannot wait!
A recommended read

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.

I had a great time with this novel. The characters continue to grow (the first book starts off more YA than my liking, but moves away from that YA feel to a more adult style story as the characters grow with their experiences). This story picks up where the first one leaves off (you need to read this series in order).

Jakral “Jak” Konyngrr is a full human raised on a ship with his warrior mother and pirate-like father. He feels like he doesn’t live up to the shifters of the group. He is a bit self destructive with excessive drinking (though he holds his liquor well). He is also great with his knives and makes up for his inability to shift with his deadly accuracy with his blades.

Princess Stella is the twin sister of Astar (hero of the first book in the series, The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince). She is a very powerful sorceress, especially for her age. She is able to see into the future and has seen part of her future, but is only seeing so far into the future. She is convinced she is destined to die alone, so she distances herself from the others. She’s also an empath, so she avoids touching except when she’s healing someone. How could she ever have a relationship that involves touching.

The thing I love most about this series (and really all of Kennedy’s books) are the characters. I love all the different personalities that she creates. I love how all of these characters have pieces of the parents (who you meet if you read The Twelve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms series, though you don’t have to read them to follow along with this series), but are their own person. I have had such a great time with this world she has built. I look forward to the next book in this series.

**I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half
I had looked forward to more in this series and can only say I wasn’t disappointed. Have you ever looked at a piece of cake and wanted to just gobble it up ? Well that’s exactly my feelings when it comes to the boisterous, oh so confident Jakral ! He might be fully human and younger than Stella but he knows what he wants and always pays attention.
Stella is often crippled by her empathetic abilities but her fears hold her back even more. Trying to stop a monster from another dimension is putting those she loves at risk but ignoring the blatant flirting of Jakral tests her resolve . That infuriating, gorgeous man just doesn’t know how to stop but then again does Stella really want him to ?
There’s everything I want in a fantasy romance here with characters that delight, swoon worthy sexual tension and danger. I love this world and this time the author has upped her game with different dimensions for our heroes to get sucked into. Plus there’s joyful camaraderie amongst these characters but they all have their own unique identities and flaws. For this reader it could have been longer ( admittedly I seem to always want more ! ) and the ending did feel a little abrupt but as usual I’m desperate to find out where the journey will take them. Final thoughts are I loved Jakral and enjoyed seeing Stella step out from the background and finally claim centre stage.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Love and companionship were not in her destiny. She’d seen her fate, and her life path ended always at the same place…”

The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue is the electrifying second novel in Jeffe Kennedy’s Heirs of Magic series.

Stella has always been one to count her blessings. Empath, sorceress, shapeshifter, and healer, she’s grateful for the gifts the goddess of shadows has bestowed upon her even if they’ve left her sensitive to emotions, or stand physical contact with anyone but her twin brother. But now that her brother has found his true love, Stella feels more alone than ever before.

But nothing haunts her like the vision of the lonely tower where her life path ends.

Jakral Konyngrr is a man of simple taste: good whiskey, some coin in his pocket, and a fine blade in his hand. Though he’s no prince, not a shapeshifter, and not blessed with any magic, he’s happy in his skin. And yet he seems doomed to live the life of a hero from a tragic ballad because the only woman he’s ever wanted barely knows he’s alive.

As much as Jak longs for Stella, he’s resigned himself to being in the background forever – but at least he can guard her back.

But now Jak and Stella have been thrown together – along with a mismatched group of shifters, warriors and sorceress friends – attempting to avert magic rifts that release monsters into their world. The strange Intelligence behind the bizarre and deadly attacks seems to have developed a fascination for Stella.

“Jak…” She sounded so sad, turning away to look out over the glassy lake. “You’re such a good person. A fearless fighter. A loyal friend, handsome, fun. You make everyone laugh.”
Each word flayed him open more surely than Rhy’s wolf teeth had.
“Please don’t say any more,” he whispered soundlessly, mostly a prayer to his merciless goddess, but Stella’s keen shapeshifter ears heard him anyway.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, pity in her gaze. “I mean it, Jak. You really are the finest of men.”

I have been a massive fan of Jeffe Kennedy’s work for a long time and her Twelve Kingdom Universe books are some of my absolute favourite books of all time. I was so excited when I found out she was writing another series set in this vibrant and enthralling world. I absolutely adored The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince, the first book in the Heirs of Magic Series, and think The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue was a fantastic addition.

I loved getting to see more about this charismatic group of friends, and I really enjoyed getting to see them from a different point of view and all the new insights that came with that. The book is split between Stella & Jak’s POV and I liked seeing the different ways the characters interacted with one another, along with the dynamic between the individual members of the group from their perspective and be able to compare that to how they were portrayed when we saw them from Astar and Zephyr’s perspectives in the first book. It also meant we got to explore more of the characters personalities & get to know them even better.

This created an engaging and insightful depth to not just individual character’s development, but the overarching plot and dynamic between the characters.

I laughed quite a lot throughout this book. I loved the chemistry and witty repartee & ribbing between the characters and that, along with their camaraderie, meant there was never a dull moment.

“I wasn’t behaving badly,” he complained.
“You’re being an ass,” Gen hissed at him under her breath, as if there were any way in the world Stella wouldn’t hear that.
…
“It might be. And I do know what I’m doing,” she said to Jak. “So stop acting like a mother hen.”
“Am I an ass or am I a hen?” he asked philosophically.
“It’s entirely possible to be both,” Gen shot at him…

This light-hearted humour is well balanced with the more serious & suspenseful action scenes, along with romance between Jak and Stella.

I am a reader who tends to prefer books that skew slightly towards being more character-oriented and I did find that The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue seemed to be more plot oriented than the first book in the series. I feel like The Golden Gryphon and The Bear Prince focused a bit more on Astar & Zephyr’s relationship and while there were still great moments between Jak and Stella during this book, I would have liked some more.

I did find that the plot was incredibly engaging and had me hooked right till the end, and while the shift between character/plot orientation between the two books wasn’t a big one, it was one that made sense considering the book is only about 280 pages on kindle – which is around the same as The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince – but the stakes are higher and the threat is escalating. I think if there had been more Jak and Stella moments, with a book this length it probably would have meant having to sacrifice important aspects of the plot or pacing.

I loved getting to see Jak and Stella’s relationship develop, it was so well written and very well paced for the length of the novel. I found the balance between the heart-warming emotional intimacy they shared & the steamier and more sexual moments was perfectly done.

“If I could touch you, my star, I would tease you past endurance,” he said, his voice as caressing as if he’d touched her indeed. “I’d start seducing you with occasional touches. Nothing too intimate. All publicly polite. My hand on the small of your back. A brush of my fingers against yours as I handed you something. And you’d wonder if they were accidents, but they wouldn’t be. I’d go slow, so I wouldn’t frighten you. Just little caresses, until you began to look forward to the next one, began to yearn for the feel of my hand against yours…”

I also loved how much focus was put on consent, which was something that stood out to me during The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince as well. The consistent & continuous seeking of consent is something that doesn’t seem to come up in a lot of books very often. I’ve found that more often than not there will generally be a single conversation about consent and that’s it. It’s really refreshing to read books that have such a consistent focus on consent, not just throughout the entire novel but during intimate or sexual scenes as well.

“It means that telling Stella of my strong feelings might create a sense of responsibility on her part,” he explained. “Especially for Stella, who feels everyone else’s pain so keenly. If she decides to be with me, it will be on her terms, because that’s what she wants, not because she feels the burden of making me happy.”

The third book, The Dragons Daughter and the Winter Mage (releasing September 2021) looks to be Gendra’s book and I can’t wait to read it. I really like Gen and I’m excited to read her point of view, as well as the fact that it looks like her love interest will be someone we haven’t met yet. I’m really looking forward to getting to see the point of view of someone who isn’t familiar with – or grown up with – any of them, and see how the group interacts with them.

I’m particularly interested in seeing how they’ll all react considering Gen’s last attempt at love – which also happened to be with someone they hadn’t known before – unfortunately, didn’t end so well.

The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue is a fantastic & heart-warming friends to lovers, high fantasy romance, packed with charismatic characters and a gripping plot, that perfectly balances action with humour and romance.

4.5 Stars.

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[Cristina Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The sorceress queen and the pirate rogue” is the second act in romantic fantasy Heirs of Magic series. Now is time and place for Jak and Stella solve their romance and unveil their most direct participation in the fight against the forces that want to destroy their realm. The action moves to the north of their world, in Erie, which we already knew in Cavan and Nix’ story (a lovely retelling of The goose girl, called “Hearth’s blood”). Well, I’m very partial for Jakral, a favorite character and, again, he doesn’t let me down. The boy continues deliciously irreverent, but – and it is all the difference – what a man conscious and sure of his feelings for a woman! Jak really loves Stella, he is not like the good part of romance heroes, who struggle with their own feelings. This is an amazing aspect in Jeffe’s novels: she creates not obvious heroes and heroines; they go beyond the traditional images of insecure libertines or timid ladies. Her men and women are unique in the forms how they act for love and sex. Stella is really the most fragile part in the couple. Yes, she has sorceress powers, but also a painful empathy. She is afraid of love, desire and any other feeling or emotion that can make hers vulnerable, so, she avoids all forms of intimacy, including, of course, the deepest of all, love. Then, the story of these two need to go through overcoming her fear, with lots of patience of him and, of course, his roguish and irresistible charm. Beyond romance, I really live for world building in fantasy fiction, and Jeffe is a master in this aspect. She is very descriptive and shows the different places and peoples with a color and naturalness that really make us feel part of the created universe. Can’wait to the moment we will go know more about the mysterious Kooncelund and Chiyajuan, the land of silk. May be, they’re not for this series, but it doesn’t hurt to dream. A place I know we will go in next book is Remus Isles, and the adventure is guaranteed, since the islands usually move between different dimensions, which I found incredible. It will be the story of self- underrated Gen and I have a certain premonition about her mage, who may well be young king Isyn. In all, this is a thrilling reading; perhaps the only flaw is the somewhat abrupt ending, but who knows if what the author intends to do is to leave readers with all the neurons working on what will happen next? This has already happened to me.

[Mary Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a marvelous ride, continuing the story started in the first book of the Heirs of Magic series. I just adored Jak and Stella because they’re constantly thinking of and considerate of others. Jak is one of the few humans in this group of shapeshifting friends on an epic journey to understand a rising danger in their world. Stella, on the other hand, is an extraordinary empath and shifter, someone uniquely trained to be the best healer in all the lands. This makes Jak amazingly protective of her, as he’s loved her from afar for years. But Stella’s empathic abilities make her aware of Jak’s interest when she knows that she’s doomed to be alone.

So we have Jak desperately interested in Stella, and Stella trying to deter a relationship with Jak to avoid causing further him pain. Something has to give in this scenario, and The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue covers the time when their relationship comes to a crux—and just when the danger from the rifts appearing in their world significantly increases, especially for Stella.

What a great couple Jak and Stella make! He is a rogue and a jokester, but he’s also so sensitive and so deeply in love with Stella, his star. And she needs a bedrock like Jak in her life, since Stella is giving to an extreme degree, and her sensitive empath mental state leads her to avoid people and their emotional support. Seeing her move away from reliance on family members to reliance on a life partner parallels a journey many of us undertake, so it’s easy to relate to Stella’s need to evolve independently.

When you’ve got great, engaging characters—and all of the troupe on this mission for the High Queen of the Twelve Kingdoms are—and you couple that with wonderful, daring action sequences, you got a book that keeps you turning the pages, and The Sorceress Queen and the Pirate Rogue is no exception to that. One key point to note is that you truly need to read the first book in the series (The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince) for this book to make sense. This book picks up almost exactly where the first book ended, and there’s an assumption that readers understand the group’s mission, the danger of the rifts, etc. Keep that in mind if you are looking at this book as your first Kennedy read.

What a great series Heirs of Magic is turning out to be. I can wait to see what future books bring.

[Carien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is yet another delicious read.

The action storyline continues where the last book left off, but in this book Jak and Stella take center stage.

I loved them both. Jak takes after both his parents, and Stella shows she's just as noble as her brother although in different ways. I rooted for them to find a way to be together, and for Stella to escape the future she foresees.

There's a lot of action, and our heroes have to face a lot of nastiness (including tentacle beasties!) and they have to fight to stay alive. I was as eagerly reading on to find out what was going on as I was to see Stella and Jak get together.

The ending was satisfying, but also leaves the action storyline open for much more to come. You bet I'll get my greedy trotters on the next book!

[Jessie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m really struggling getting through this one. The new series with the kids just does not mesh with any of the previous adult books. The kids just get more unlikeable every book. Rye (not a mistake I just hate his name) is still just as much of an a** in this book. Still has learned literally nothing and has progressed to treating his friends like dirt too.
Rather than slut shaming in these books we keep getting virgin shaming. Why the push that they all have to sleep around as much as Zeph? It’s so uncomfortable and not acceptable. Seriously, saying that Gen is being too picky in the previous book and then finding out Zeph’s advice caused her to sleep with that loser. Ugh. Making bets about when Stella will lose her virginity??!! Just no. Also, why the heck do none of the girls know how to use weapons?? With the strong women (and men) they are surrounded by you expect me to believe they were given no training? Why would Ash give Stella daggers that she has no idea how to use? You also expect me to believe Ami would do something like pluck her daughter’s widows peak? I’m not sure why Ami is written out to be so shallow in these books. I feel like she would have helped her daughter weaponize her beauty if anything. I’m just so frustrated at this point. These books feel like they were written by someone else and the characters are very one dimensional. Stella’s empathic abilities were glossed over and solved easily. Could have been explored in such an interesting manner. Both of the twins have lost the personality and spunk they had as children.

[Make · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

There is plenty of tension and battles with magical monsters from the other world to keep the story moving along. The romance between Jak and Stella moves pretty rapidly if you ask me. But it’s still heartwarming to see these two learn to use their strengths for the benefit of their relationship. THE SORCERESS QUEEN AND THE PIRATE ROGUE provides plenty of magic, danger, and sex for those who are immersed in Kennedy’s Twelve Kingdoms world.

See my full review at Fresh Fiction: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...

[Bethany Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I wasn't too fussed about the first book in this series (Zeph just annoys me), but this is a really pleasant surprise! Jak and Stella have a great dynamic, and the scene in the carriage is so deliciously hot. The plot continues to be light, but Kennedy has a great eye for little details, and in a series that's so clearly about the romance, we're not really here for the plot, are we? A very charming, quick read!

[Mskychick · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is so much modern phraseology in this one!
That is very different from the prior books
It’s very jarring to me, especially because a) it hasn’t been in her prior books and b) it’s not at all what I expect in a fantasy series
It keeps pulling me out of the story :-(

There also seems to be a lot more cursing than I remember from previous books?

I expect that Lena and Rhyian are going to get a book and get their HEA, but I’m feeling petulant about it. Rhy is an utter asshole, and does not deserve his own romance.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish we got a little more time with this couple. Also, it ended rather abruptly. Just because they defeated the intelligence in that moment didn't mean they completely defeated it, and why end it there instead of with being reunited with their friends. I don't know, I just found it an odd way to end the story.

[Lindy Studt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selena and Jak

I love Jeff's Kennedy books. They take you away to magical kingdoms where danger lerks at every corner. But love blooms too. I keep hoping that Rhys doesn't turn out to be a jerk.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in a fantasy romance series, so continuing the over-arching plot started in book one, but with a new lead couple. Intriguing hero, sympathetic heroine, steamy scenes and cool fantasy world... Pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but had a strong finish.

[Dragana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best in the series yet. (Not saying much but...)

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting romance - the fantasy saga continues focussing on another couple - perfect escapism

[Amanda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flipping heck!

Another great read,kept me on the edge of my seat right till the last page..wish I didn't get through them so quick though,its costing me a fortune!!

[Soma]

They're cute but the story felt a bit shallow?

[Jaycee Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book as soon as I finished the first book in The Twelve Kingdoms: the Next Generation (something I almost never do, since I like to rotate through my towering TBR pile) and I liked it even more than The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince. I feel like the real danger and overarching plotline for the series really got going in this book (which often happens in the second book, after the first one lays the groundwork for the world and characters) I just loved Jak and Stella--they have the potential to be my new favorite fantasy romance couple, which is really saying something! Ever since reading Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey as a teen, I've had a soft spot for empath heroines, and Stella is a fantastic example of the type, all knowing and yet also so very vulnerable. Jak was her perfect protective and understanding partner--and of course the danger and adventure were enough to satisfy any fantasy fan!

[Merideth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read. Definitely doesn’t compare to the first series.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to see him figure out how to be with her when she can't always be touched.

Like how they work together.