What do you think?
Asperfell Trilogy #2
The Forest Kingdom
Briony is free from the walls of Asperfell.
But not from its strange and savage world.
Lost in the frozen wilderness, Briony leads her friends ever northward, in search of a rumored cave wherein lies their only hope of returning home to the kingdom of Tiralaen with Prince Elyan, the rightful heir to the throne, to save her people from civil war.
What she discovers instead is an impossible kingdom of opulence and decadence beyond her wildest imagining. Here, an ancient goddess is about to awaken once more… and she has never forgiven Briony’s people for their intrusion into this world, nor the centuries of bloodshed that followed.
Caught in a deadly web of secrets and lies that stretches across generations, Briony holds the fate of two kingdoms in her hands. To leave this new world behind is to condemn its people to anguish and death. But to stay and fight, Briony must abandon her home and everyone she’s ever loved—including Elyan.
To save one kingdom, the other must fall.
But not from its strange and savage world.
Lost in the frozen wilderness, Briony leads her friends ever northward, in search of a rumored cave wherein lies their only hope of returning home to the kingdom of Tiralaen with Prince Elyan, the rightful heir to the throne, to save her people from civil war.
What she discovers instead is an impossible kingdom of opulence and decadence beyond her wildest imagining. Here, an ancient goddess is about to awaken once more… and she has never forgiven Briony’s people for their intrusion into this world, nor the centuries of bloodshed that followed.
Caught in a deadly web of secrets and lies that stretches across generations, Briony holds the fate of two kingdoms in her hands. To leave this new world behind is to condemn its people to anguish and death. But to stay and fight, Briony must abandon her home and everyone she’s ever loved—including Elyan.
To save one kingdom, the other must fall.
Unknown Binding
First published August 24, 2021
About the author
Jamie Thomas
3 books161 followersJamie Thomas began crafting stories in the fourth grade with a tale of a brother and sister who accidentally bring the birds on their hotel wallpaper to life. Even though she ended with the cliched “It was all a dream” gimmick, she still won a regional young writers competition that year, thus beginning a lifelong love affair with the written word.
A certified Language Arts teacher in the state of Washington, Jamie holds a Master’s degree in English Education and did her graduate research in the area of gender equality in high school literary curriculum. Jamie is an avid lover of Victorian novels and poetry, Gothic Romanticism, and feminist literature, as well as epic female-led fantasy and historical fiction. Jamie aims to smash the patriarchy one novel at a time, creating characters and worlds that inspire, empower, and elevate women.
Previously, Jamie studied opera and received her formal training at the University of Montana and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and she still enjoys performing occasionally, as well as teaching vocal technique. She lives in Wenatchee, Washington, with her husband, daughter, two enormous dogs, and two mischievous cats.
A certified Language Arts teacher in the state of Washington, Jamie holds a Master’s degree in English Education and did her graduate research in the area of gender equality in high school literary curriculum. Jamie is an avid lover of Victorian novels and poetry, Gothic Romanticism, and feminist literature, as well as epic female-led fantasy and historical fiction. Jamie aims to smash the patriarchy one novel at a time, creating characters and worlds that inspire, empower, and elevate women.
Previously, Jamie studied opera and received her formal training at the University of Montana and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and she still enjoys performing occasionally, as well as teaching vocal technique. She lives in Wenatchee, Washington, with her husband, daughter, two enormous dogs, and two mischievous cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
June 22, 2026
Just like the first book there were moments where I wondered why I was reading this but then by the end I was ready to immediately jump into the next one!
Overall the first book was stronger but this one held its own. I found having a narrowed cast of characters more fun to focus on. Our MFC was somehow even more reckless & irresponsible in this book. The consequences of her actions could mean death for her friends but she never pauses to consider that. When confronted over her behavior she swings too far in the other direction, assuming everything that goes wrong is her fault.
The plot was a bit more straightforward than in the last book. I kept wanting more twisty reveals, however I was completely engaged for the second half of the book.
Essentially this series is summer fun light fantasy reading. I’ll be baking in the sun and reading book 3 ASAP!
Overall the first book was stronger but this one held its own. I found having a narrowed cast of characters more fun to focus on. Our MFC was somehow even more reckless & irresponsible in this book. The consequences of her actions could mean death for her friends but she never pauses to consider that. When confronted over her behavior she swings too far in the other direction, assuming everything that goes wrong is her fault.
The plot was a bit more straightforward than in the last book. I kept wanting more twisty reveals, however I was completely engaged for the second half of the book.
Essentially this series is summer fun light fantasy reading. I’ll be baking in the sun and reading book 3 ASAP!
May 20, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley
This review is marked for spoilers, but I want to place another warning here that it does contain spoilers!! Please only read further if you are okay with that.
I really felt the slow pacing in this one and I think it could have benefited a lot from cutting down the length. I hate to say it, but there were many points where I was simply bored. The story in this book was very much a detour from the actual plot (which will resume in book three). I didn’t know how to feel about that at first, but I landed on that I did like it, but would have enjoyed it more if it didn’t drag as much as it did.
Elyan was quite rude to Briony as they ventured through the forest, and while I can empathize with his fears, I don’t think the way they manifested was okay. I also wish that once they were in the actual palace that Briony would have involved him in more of her scheming instead of just sneaking around behind his back the whole time. Some of what she did wasn’t defensible, but some of it was necessary.
Unfortunately though, there were a lot of moments where I wished Briony were real just so I could smack her in the face. Traits that made her endearing in the previous book rendered her idiotic and obnoxious in this one.
Her hubris constantly puts the group in unnecessary peril (she feels bad about her actions, then repeats them). She bites Elyan to run defenseless toward the sound of strangers and a Phaelor (extremely dangerous and huge feline creature). Literally bites him. She jumps into battles in which they have no stake, between peoples they do not know, despite her companions begging her not to endanger them, and she is contrary for the sake of being contrary.
There is a moment where she asks Elyan if he has considered that perhaps it’s not her who is contrary, but everyone else who is simply wrong, and I genuinely wanted to hit her. I also didn’t like how Elyan was so okay with leaving the people of the forest kingdom to just die. I understand he had a lot weighing on him in making that decision, but I’m only okay with it because he more than redeemed himself.
As for the romance: what felt like a steadfast partnership in the first book felt barely existent in this one. At many points, it was like Briony was a petulant child and Elyan a frustrated parent—needless to say, that is NOT what you want your romance to feel like. We got crumbs of affection between the two here and there, but for so long, Elyan was heavily sidelined. Seriously, there was a scene where Princess Evolet was giving them a tour, and he was technically there, but I had to go back and make sure he was, because he literally didn’t speak for most of it.
Then Briony did to Elyan that thing men usually do, where they abandon the woman “for her own good,” instead of letting her decide for herself what she wants to do with her own life, effectively robbing her of free will. As if by leaving him, she could force him to marry another. And how can she be so utterly naive? Claiming Anwar has nothing but platonic intentions with her, that he was only being kind when he asked her to stay? Like come on Briony, you are not this stupid. Where’s the girl I was fully behind in book one?
I especially appreciated how the novel explored themes of colonialism. Subtle details forced Briony to gradually grow aware of how the “forest kingdom” had actually come to be—how often she would note similarities to the Citadel, when she found out the people used to have their own language and wondered why they would abandon it in favor of her own, among many others. I thought it was very well done, and once these pieces eventually came together to form the complete puzzle, Briony was forced to confront the violence of her people’s actions and the damage they caused. I also liked how the misogyny of Tiralaen was finally acknowledged, and I hope that continues in the next book.
Despite my grievances, I still really enjoyed the book and am fully invested in seeing it through. The last maybe 25–30% was great, easily the best part of the book.
In book three, I hope to see Briony do anything but regress. Please. I like to think she has shown growth here that I have zero desire to lose.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you to the publisher for the arc♡
This review is marked for spoilers, but I want to place another warning here that it does contain spoilers!! Please only read further if you are okay with that.
I really felt the slow pacing in this one and I think it could have benefited a lot from cutting down the length. I hate to say it, but there were many points where I was simply bored. The story in this book was very much a detour from the actual plot (which will resume in book three). I didn’t know how to feel about that at first, but I landed on that I did like it, but would have enjoyed it more if it didn’t drag as much as it did.
Elyan was quite rude to Briony as they ventured through the forest, and while I can empathize with his fears, I don’t think the way they manifested was okay. I also wish that once they were in the actual palace that Briony would have involved him in more of her scheming instead of just sneaking around behind his back the whole time. Some of what she did wasn’t defensible, but some of it was necessary.
Unfortunately though, there were a lot of moments where I wished Briony were real just so I could smack her in the face. Traits that made her endearing in the previous book rendered her idiotic and obnoxious in this one.
Her hubris constantly puts the group in unnecessary peril (she feels bad about her actions, then repeats them). She bites Elyan to run defenseless toward the sound of strangers and a Phaelor (extremely dangerous and huge feline creature). Literally bites him. She jumps into battles in which they have no stake, between peoples they do not know, despite her companions begging her not to endanger them, and she is contrary for the sake of being contrary.
There is a moment where she asks Elyan if he has considered that perhaps it’s not her who is contrary, but everyone else who is simply wrong, and I genuinely wanted to hit her. I also didn’t like how Elyan was so okay with leaving the people of the forest kingdom to just die. I understand he had a lot weighing on him in making that decision, but I’m only okay with it because he more than redeemed himself.
As for the romance: what felt like a steadfast partnership in the first book felt barely existent in this one. At many points, it was like Briony was a petulant child and Elyan a frustrated parent—needless to say, that is NOT what you want your romance to feel like. We got crumbs of affection between the two here and there, but for so long, Elyan was heavily sidelined. Seriously, there was a scene where Princess Evolet was giving them a tour, and he was technically there, but I had to go back and make sure he was, because he literally didn’t speak for most of it.
Then Briony did to Elyan that thing men usually do, where they abandon the woman “for her own good,” instead of letting her decide for herself what she wants to do with her own life, effectively robbing her of free will. As if by leaving him, she could force him to marry another. And how can she be so utterly naive? Claiming Anwar has nothing but platonic intentions with her, that he was only being kind when he asked her to stay? Like come on Briony, you are not this stupid. Where’s the girl I was fully behind in book one?
I especially appreciated how the novel explored themes of colonialism. Subtle details forced Briony to gradually grow aware of how the “forest kingdom” had actually come to be—how often she would note similarities to the Citadel, when she found out the people used to have their own language and wondered why they would abandon it in favor of her own, among many others. I thought it was very well done, and once these pieces eventually came together to form the complete puzzle, Briony was forced to confront the violence of her people’s actions and the damage they caused. I also liked how the misogyny of Tiralaen was finally acknowledged, and I hope that continues in the next book.
Despite my grievances, I still really enjoyed the book and am fully invested in seeing it through. The last maybe 25–30% was great, easily the best part of the book.
In book three, I hope to see Briony do anything but regress. Please. I like to think she has shown growth here that I have zero desire to lose.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you to the publisher for the arc♡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
April 16, 2021Ahhhh im so excited 😅😅 I really loved Asperfell and have been checking this space religiously to see updates for #2 🤞🏽🥺
July 29, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Uproar Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Asperfell was one of the first books I ever reviewed on NetGalley. I was captivated from the start and loved Briony and Elyan and their relationship and quest to return him to the usurped throne. After that ending I was not sure where a sequel would go, would they make their way back fast to Tiralean or would they have a detour. Well, this one had a detour, which can frustrate the reader as you don’t get momentum in the story. However, this detour is a doozy and I think I actually liked The Forest Kingdom more than Asperfell, something which I didn’t think possible.
The Forest Kingdom is linked with Asperfell, having been established by escaped prisoners. The magic here is strange, the palace opulent and the occupants live in a bubble of food, drink and pleasure of all forms. Briony is visited by a long dead goddess and she fights to uncover the secrets of this place while Elyan tries to find the cave they seek to go back to their world. You knew going in that our little band of found family would shake this place to the core and they don’t disappoint. I love the character development of Phyra, Arlo and Thaniel in this book. They became so much more than side characters in this and left their mark on the pages. I also loved the relationship development not only between the characters we already knew but also with new ones.
My only super minor issue is that I read Asperfell too long ago to remember some plot points and a recap would have helped. Some of the details were sprinkled throughout the book but it would have been handy to have. I probably should have reread the last few chapters of the first book before diving in.
This was a super fast read and now I can’t wait until the final book in the trilogy to see where the author takes this.
Asperfell was one of the first books I ever reviewed on NetGalley. I was captivated from the start and loved Briony and Elyan and their relationship and quest to return him to the usurped throne. After that ending I was not sure where a sequel would go, would they make their way back fast to Tiralean or would they have a detour. Well, this one had a detour, which can frustrate the reader as you don’t get momentum in the story. However, this detour is a doozy and I think I actually liked The Forest Kingdom more than Asperfell, something which I didn’t think possible.
The Forest Kingdom is linked with Asperfell, having been established by escaped prisoners. The magic here is strange, the palace opulent and the occupants live in a bubble of food, drink and pleasure of all forms. Briony is visited by a long dead goddess and she fights to uncover the secrets of this place while Elyan tries to find the cave they seek to go back to their world. You knew going in that our little band of found family would shake this place to the core and they don’t disappoint. I love the character development of Phyra, Arlo and Thaniel in this book. They became so much more than side characters in this and left their mark on the pages. I also loved the relationship development not only between the characters we already knew but also with new ones.
My only super minor issue is that I read Asperfell too long ago to remember some plot points and a recap would have helped. Some of the details were sprinkled throughout the book but it would have been handy to have. I probably should have reread the last few chapters of the first book before diving in.
This was a super fast read and now I can’t wait until the final book in the trilogy to see where the author takes this.
August 22, 2021
ARC from NetGalley
This book, this series really, deserves a better cover. The cover makes it seem as if the writing will be a lot more "indie" than it is. Jamie Thomas is an excellent writer. I do think she would benefit from a bit more experience, a bit more polish and development of her craft. I can see the potential for greatness, and I don't mean that in like a War and Peace kind of way, but she could be a really good, really popular fantasy writer one day.
Okay so this one started off a bit slow for me, and actually a bit young. It was around the 40% mark that suddenly we're dropping F-bombs and people are getting randy. Briony can be so frustrating. She's super impulsive and often just dumb. Elyan is such a dick so much of the time. I mean, I usually like that, but he is the kind of dick where I'm like EXCUSE YOU SIR?
This could have been a 5-star read for me if there was just a bit more character development and relationship progress. We are pretty much in stasis with Elyan and Briony for the entirety of the book. The relationship doesn't progress. They profess their love for each other but rarely even talk. We get like a couple make-out scenes and that's it. They aren't really ever in the same room together for very long. It's a romance that's much more told than felt, and the book suffered for it, for me at least. The setting was great. The kingdom is so lush and vivid. It's very over the top with the bling and the decadence, and I really enjoyed that. There's a lot to this book that I really liked, but it just felt like there was something missing, a few somethings, but I can't really articulate exactly what.
I really quite enjoyed this book once I got into it, and I likely would have rated it more highly if I had remembered anything from the previous one when I started reading it because I didn't have any connection to the characters until like halfway through. I highly recommend giving Asperfell a re-read before you start this one if it's been a while. I read it in January 2020, and that was too long.
Also, this book marks me starting my note to self so that I have some semblance of an idea wtf is going on when I pick up the next one, which I will be doing. I most definitely want to read the next one.
Note to self:
This book, this series really, deserves a better cover. The cover makes it seem as if the writing will be a lot more "indie" than it is. Jamie Thomas is an excellent writer. I do think she would benefit from a bit more experience, a bit more polish and development of her craft. I can see the potential for greatness, and I don't mean that in like a War and Peace kind of way, but she could be a really good, really popular fantasy writer one day.
Okay so this one started off a bit slow for me, and actually a bit young. It was around the 40% mark that suddenly we're dropping F-bombs and people are getting randy. Briony can be so frustrating. She's super impulsive and often just dumb. Elyan is such a dick so much of the time. I mean, I usually like that, but he is the kind of dick where I'm like EXCUSE YOU SIR?
This could have been a 5-star read for me if there was just a bit more character development and relationship progress. We are pretty much in stasis with Elyan and Briony for the entirety of the book. The relationship doesn't progress. They profess their love for each other but rarely even talk. We get like a couple make-out scenes and that's it. They aren't really ever in the same room together for very long. It's a romance that's much more told than felt, and the book suffered for it, for me at least. The setting was great. The kingdom is so lush and vivid. It's very over the top with the bling and the decadence, and I really enjoyed that. There's a lot to this book that I really liked, but it just felt like there was something missing, a few somethings, but I can't really articulate exactly what.
I really quite enjoyed this book once I got into it, and I likely would have rated it more highly if I had remembered anything from the previous one when I started reading it because I didn't have any connection to the characters until like halfway through. I highly recommend giving Asperfell a re-read before you start this one if it's been a while. I read it in January 2020, and that was too long.
Also, this book marks me starting my note to self so that I have some semblance of an idea wtf is going on when I pick up the next one, which I will be doing. I most definitely want to read the next one.
Note to self:
July 22, 2021
This may have been better than the first! Thanks to NetGallet for the arc.
May 13, 2025
i love this world so much, ive read a lot of fantasy and i can honestly say this world is unique and i didn’t even realize i’ve craved that in a book until reading this
September 6, 2021
Briony and her companions' have managed to escape Asperfell, however she realizes quickly that the escape was only the first part of a long and trying journey.
To get home they must first gain the help of another kingdom, one that seems to embody everything Brony hates about wealth. It seems that even the need for help wont stop Briony specking and acting as she sees fit. This irritates Elyan no end. It's almost as if he has never met Briony.
In the end it might be an ancient goddess they need help from and not a kingdom.
Spoilers
In some ways the second in the Asperfell series repeats some of the aspects and themes of the first book. We see unconditional friendship and loyalty. Some new aspects include the coming out of a character as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. There were also the themes of equality, poverty, murder, abuse, and more. .
Unfortunately I can not say I liked this book as much as the first. To begin with a lot of what were meant to be plot twists were actually quiet obvious and therefor dragged out.
Some parts of the story seemed conveniences that only appeared to speak to the political ideals of the writer. For example the abortion plot was extremely unnecessary. None of the characters were mentioned again once the woman escaped the palace. This leads to the question did Thomas add this "sub plot" to voice her anti-abortion opinion?
As if this was all a reader would question about an author who considers themselves to "Aim to smash patriarchy one novel at a time" and who hopes to "Inspire, empower and elevate women."
Unfortunately not. Briony is painted as someone who believes in equality., this seems questionable at times. For example even in the first book Briony questions the relationships around her. Particularly where sex is involved. She constantly judged anyone at Asperfell for having sex and not being married. In this book the same judgement arises. It seems as though when it comes to feminism Briony draws the line at sex before marriage and female bodily autonomy. Meaning that Briony is judging others by standers set by the patriarchy.
Perhaps if these were my only arguments I could give this book four starts but then there are two other major problems.
Firstly Elyan is an abusive character. What was plaid of as brooding and emotional, misunderstood should-be-King has mutated in to controlling and abusive behavior.. In too many scenes to count Elyan's behavior to the others and Briony is abusing and gas-lighting. Ranging from him demanding that she be quiet to grabbing her.
Are we not advanced enough to see this as abuse and not romance?
Secondly, and worst of all Thomas goes on to use one of the worst and most damaging tropes there are. After Briony is sexually assaulted by the King of Syr'Aliem and other men of the palace she then tries to have sex with Elyan. (you know once he has saved her from the cluches of her attacker *rolls eyes*) We are supposed to believe that Briony now thinks her self not worth Elyan and suddenly does not believe in marriage before sex? If Thomas thinks that sexual assault is foreplay or a turn then she is mistaken and to write such a scene between Briony and Elyan seconds after an assault scene is disgusting. and worthy of a bad Hollywood movie.
Regardless of how much I liked Phyra's character, the LGBTQ+ relationship, the goddess or what feminism there was I will be rating this book 2 stars for the reasons above. Bitterly disappointed
To get home they must first gain the help of another kingdom, one that seems to embody everything Brony hates about wealth. It seems that even the need for help wont stop Briony specking and acting as she sees fit. This irritates Elyan no end. It's almost as if he has never met Briony.
In the end it might be an ancient goddess they need help from and not a kingdom.
Spoilers
In some ways the second in the Asperfell series repeats some of the aspects and themes of the first book. We see unconditional friendship and loyalty. Some new aspects include the coming out of a character as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. There were also the themes of equality, poverty, murder, abuse, and more. .
Unfortunately I can not say I liked this book as much as the first. To begin with a lot of what were meant to be plot twists were actually quiet obvious and therefor dragged out.
Some parts of the story seemed conveniences that only appeared to speak to the political ideals of the writer. For example the abortion plot was extremely unnecessary. None of the characters were mentioned again once the woman escaped the palace. This leads to the question did Thomas add this "sub plot" to voice her anti-abortion opinion?
As if this was all a reader would question about an author who considers themselves to "Aim to smash patriarchy one novel at a time" and who hopes to "Inspire, empower and elevate women."
Unfortunately not. Briony is painted as someone who believes in equality., this seems questionable at times. For example even in the first book Briony questions the relationships around her. Particularly where sex is involved. She constantly judged anyone at Asperfell for having sex and not being married. In this book the same judgement arises. It seems as though when it comes to feminism Briony draws the line at sex before marriage and female bodily autonomy. Meaning that Briony is judging others by standers set by the patriarchy.
Perhaps if these were my only arguments I could give this book four starts but then there are two other major problems.
Firstly Elyan is an abusive character. What was plaid of as brooding and emotional, misunderstood should-be-King has mutated in to controlling and abusive behavior.. In too many scenes to count Elyan's behavior to the others and Briony is abusing and gas-lighting. Ranging from him demanding that she be quiet to grabbing her.
Are we not advanced enough to see this as abuse and not romance?
Secondly, and worst of all Thomas goes on to use one of the worst and most damaging tropes there are. After Briony is sexually assaulted by the King of Syr'Aliem and other men of the palace she then tries to have sex with Elyan. (you know once he has saved her from the cluches of her attacker *rolls eyes*) We are supposed to believe that Briony now thinks her self not worth Elyan and suddenly does not believe in marriage before sex? If Thomas thinks that sexual assault is foreplay or a turn then she is mistaken and to write such a scene between Briony and Elyan seconds after an assault scene is disgusting. and worthy of a bad Hollywood movie.
Regardless of how much I liked Phyra's character, the LGBTQ+ relationship, the goddess or what feminism there was I will be rating this book 2 stars for the reasons above. Bitterly disappointed
July 7, 2021
The Forest Kingdom was a great sequel to Asperfell, following Briony, Elyan and more as they attempt to return to Tiralaen. They encounter appealing luxury and horrifying secrets, unexpected kindnesses and many surprising developments. Briony is what you look for in a main character; compassionate and strong willed, with good morals and a kind heart. Jamie Thomas has a wonderful writing style, causing me to laugh and cry on multiple occasions. It is clear she has put much effort into the book, coming up with unique themes, detailed descriptions and emphasised the importance of friends and family throughout. All of the characters were extremely well written, and overall I would recommend The Forest Kingdom, and cannot wait for the next book in the trilogy!
Did Not Finish
August 20, 2021I really liked Asperfell when I read it, and was grateful to receive an ARC of the sequel. Unfortunately, The Forest Kingdom struggled to capture my attention. Partly, the long gap between books meant that I’d forgotten much of Asperfell, so struggled to follow what was happening early. However this book also lacks what I do remember liking about book one, notably the eerie gothic atmosphere. And, maybe it’s just because I’ve read a lot of fantasy since then, but I couldn’t help noticing the lack of diversity relative to other books. I could have kept reading and maybe this book would have gotten an ok rating, but I’d rather a book inspire more in me than ‘meh’.
July 22, 2021
The sequel of Asperfell did not disappoint.
If you are looking for a series that is fantasy where you are not confused the entire time, then this is for you.
Strong female lead who shows incredible amount of development in this sequel.
The world building continues and just becomes more intriguing. It would have been easy to push the book in a completely different direction, and I am so glad that Jamie Thomas did not.
I cannot wait for the 3rd book to be released.
If you are looking for a series that is fantasy where you are not confused the entire time, then this is for you.
Strong female lead who shows incredible amount of development in this sequel.
The world building continues and just becomes more intriguing. It would have been easy to push the book in a completely different direction, and I am so glad that Jamie Thomas did not.
I cannot wait for the 3rd book to be released.
August 23, 2021
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Uproar Books for providing an ARC of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
When I requested this ARC, I did not pay close enough attention to the fact that it was a sequel. And so, without intending to, I quickly had to read Asperfell last month… and I was left somewhat underwhelmed. Not a good sign for an ARC. However, The Forest Kingdom stepped up its game and told a tale that was entertaining from start to finish.
Our characters have moved on from the prison and in their search of the gate to bring them home, they came across, you guessed it, The Forest Kingdom. Here they are met by extravagant people living grand lives of indulgence, all while a suppressed magic source strains beneath their feet.
This book had a vibe I can't quite articulate, but I really enjoyed it. I think I was in the mood for an easy story. The prose flowed with grace and I was genuinely interested in the characters from the first page to the last. It's been a bit since I've read something romantic, and this really scratched the itch. Also, I much preferred the smaller group in this story. It felt like a found family, and I genuinely connected with each member.
However, just as in Asperfell, there wasn't a ton of depth and I was a bit confused on the magical side. Magic seemed to be more of a convenience to the story, and I wasn't quite tracking with the climactic events. It's maybe the lack of concrete rules? The magic seems to do what it wants when it wants to…and then at other points it's of no use. In particular, I couldn't tell the difference between those who had magic in their blood and those who used magic from the source-thingy (already forgot the proper name). Despite this, I was happy to somewhat gloss over the parts I didn't get and enjoy the story anyway.
As a debut series, I think what Jamie Thomas is creating is a genuinely interesting world fleshed out through beautiful prose. Though I came into this series by accident, I intend to see it through when the third book releases next year.
TL;DR
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
▌3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Uproar Books for providing an ARC of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
When I requested this ARC, I did not pay close enough attention to the fact that it was a sequel. And so, without intending to, I quickly had to read Asperfell last month… and I was left somewhat underwhelmed. Not a good sign for an ARC. However, The Forest Kingdom stepped up its game and told a tale that was entertaining from start to finish.
Our characters have moved on from the prison and in their search of the gate to bring them home, they came across, you guessed it, The Forest Kingdom. Here they are met by extravagant people living grand lives of indulgence, all while a suppressed magic source strains beneath their feet.
This book had a vibe I can't quite articulate, but I really enjoyed it. I think I was in the mood for an easy story. The prose flowed with grace and I was genuinely interested in the characters from the first page to the last. It's been a bit since I've read something romantic, and this really scratched the itch. Also, I much preferred the smaller group in this story. It felt like a found family, and I genuinely connected with each member.
However, just as in Asperfell, there wasn't a ton of depth and I was a bit confused on the magical side. Magic seemed to be more of a convenience to the story, and I wasn't quite tracking with the climactic events. It's maybe the lack of concrete rules? The magic seems to do what it wants when it wants to…and then at other points it's of no use. In particular, I couldn't tell the difference between those who had magic in their blood and those who used magic from the source-thingy (already forgot the proper name). Despite this, I was happy to somewhat gloss over the parts I didn't get and enjoy the story anyway.
As a debut series, I think what Jamie Thomas is creating is a genuinely interesting world fleshed out through beautiful prose. Though I came into this series by accident, I intend to see it through when the third book releases next year.
TL;DR
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
▌3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
July 13, 2021
The Asperfell Trilogy is my favourite accidental find for this year. After receiving an eArc from Netgalley I quickly went back to read Asperfell and absolutely fell in love with it. This is a stay up all night kind of read.
I adore magic and intrigue so this was really up my alley. The Forest Kingdom continues to provide plenty of secrets and mysteries to unravel, much like Asperfell. While the twists aren't necessarily jaw dropping, the way they all piece together in the end is very satisfying. Our characters all have a great amount of development although Briony still remains frustratingly naïve. Although, as the most sheltered person in the group, this should be expected.
The Forest Kingdom introduces another type of magic, a whole host of new characters and beautiful Narnia-esque landscapes. I am very interested to see how this series concludes because it simply beautiful, imaginative and a little twisted.
I adore magic and intrigue so this was really up my alley. The Forest Kingdom continues to provide plenty of secrets and mysteries to unravel, much like Asperfell. While the twists aren't necessarily jaw dropping, the way they all piece together in the end is very satisfying. Our characters all have a great amount of development although Briony still remains frustratingly naïve. Although, as the most sheltered person in the group, this should be expected.
The Forest Kingdom introduces another type of magic, a whole host of new characters and beautiful Narnia-esque landscapes. I am very interested to see how this series concludes because it simply beautiful, imaginative and a little twisted.
August 18, 2026
I think I liked Asperfell more.
I was interested in the expansion of the world and all the political stuff, and King Anwan definitely caught my attention. I was constantly wondering what his deal was and why he seemed so focused on Briony. 👀
But overall, I felt like this one dragged in places. There was a lot happening, but I didn’t feel as invested in the story or the characters as I did in the first book. Briony was still enjoyable to follow, and I liked seeing more of her abilities and the world outside of Asperfell.
Elyan is still probably my favorite if I had to choose, but I’ve never been obsessed with him. 😂 The romance also wasn’t really enough to make this book stand out for me.
I didn’t dislike it, but it definitely felt more like a middle book than something that completely hooked me. I’m still curious enough to see where the series goes next, though.
I was interested in the expansion of the world and all the political stuff, and King Anwan definitely caught my attention. I was constantly wondering what his deal was and why he seemed so focused on Briony. 👀
But overall, I felt like this one dragged in places. There was a lot happening, but I didn’t feel as invested in the story or the characters as I did in the first book. Briony was still enjoyable to follow, and I liked seeing more of her abilities and the world outside of Asperfell.
Elyan is still probably my favorite if I had to choose, but I’ve never been obsessed with him. 😂 The romance also wasn’t really enough to make this book stand out for me.
I didn’t dislike it, but it definitely felt more like a middle book than something that completely hooked me. I’m still curious enough to see where the series goes next, though.
February 23, 2022
What a let down! 1.5 stars. The first book was so good and unique. It had wonderful world building and a mature, if stubborn, h; a H who was moody and smart, but came around to h. It had so much going for it. This on the other hand felt like generic YA. Characters who were interesting/complex in book one reverted to hormonal teenagers with superficial reasoning. This entire book read like the author was pushed by the publisher to make her story YA because It iS So HoT RiGhT NoW. Also, the mystery of this book was lame and I was nowhere near as invested in it as in the first book. First book is for adults, second book is for YA/14 year olds who think they’re edgy. Sigh. Alright rant over, on to my next read.
August 25, 2021
I really struggled on what rating to give this book, as I truly love the world of Asperfell and the unique characters within. In the end I went with my gut and had to go 4 star.
I will say what I love about the Asperfell trilogy in the sense that it feels real. The characters aren't larger than life, yes they have powers that I'd imagine the majority of people in this world do not, however the benefit of their magic is crippled by their own humanity. Phyra, a necromancer, cannot control her empathy for others and by using her powers she puts herself and others at risk. Brionny, who ironically has the power of words, can't keep her mouth shut long enough without putting herself and her friends in danger. The characters in this story have consequences for their actions and I love that aspect of this world. Likewise I love the world building and the politics in the societies. I won't go into details, because spoilers, but I loved the contrast between all of them. I think the saving grace of this book though are the characters, they feel so human with all their insecurities, fears and love for one another that you can't help but love them too.
That being said the characters were allowed to roam a certain kingdom far more than I thought was believable given their importance to said kingdom. I think the biggest disappointment for me though, was that Asperfell book 1 felt like it was building up to an epic war in Tiralaen that just never resolved in book 2. It felt very much like a tangent from the original story that I couldn't help but feel a bit put out by the end. Don't get me wrong through, the story of the Forest Kingdom was very enjoyable in itself, it just feels like I could have skipped this book and it wouldn't have made much difference. The key issues of book 1 are still the issues of book 3 and it feels like no progress was made which is the main reason I had to rate this 4 stars.
On a more positive note I can't wait for book 3 and to see how we resolve the issues in Tiralaen.
I will say what I love about the Asperfell trilogy in the sense that it feels real. The characters aren't larger than life, yes they have powers that I'd imagine the majority of people in this world do not, however the benefit of their magic is crippled by their own humanity. Phyra, a necromancer, cannot control her empathy for others and by using her powers she puts herself and others at risk. Brionny, who ironically has the power of words, can't keep her mouth shut long enough without putting herself and her friends in danger. The characters in this story have consequences for their actions and I love that aspect of this world. Likewise I love the world building and the politics in the societies. I won't go into details, because spoilers, but I loved the contrast between all of them. I think the saving grace of this book though are the characters, they feel so human with all their insecurities, fears and love for one another that you can't help but love them too.
That being said the characters were allowed to roam a certain kingdom far more than I thought was believable given their importance to said kingdom. I think the biggest disappointment for me though, was that Asperfell book 1 felt like it was building up to an epic war in Tiralaen that just never resolved in book 2. It felt very much like a tangent from the original story that I couldn't help but feel a bit put out by the end. Don't get me wrong through, the story of the Forest Kingdom was very enjoyable in itself, it just feels like I could have skipped this book and it wouldn't have made much difference. The key issues of book 1 are still the issues of book 3 and it feels like no progress was made which is the main reason I had to rate this 4 stars.
On a more positive note I can't wait for book 3 and to see how we resolve the issues in Tiralaen.
June 30, 2026
I would just skip this book and move onto book 3. The prisoners have escaped Asperfell and enter a land ruled by a mysterious king. Secrets abound and the tension is palpable. While I was intrigued by the story at the first, the issue is that this story moves forward neither the plot nor character development. This is just Briony's side adventure with a strong author agenda.
Everyone was almost in the exact same position they were at the end of book 1 as the end of book 2. The author wanted to write a book about colonialism (as stated in her acknowledgements at the end) and shoehorned it into this series instead of writing a book that would fit it.
My other issue with it is Briony's lack of involvement in this plot. It felt like an almost Indiana Jones story where everything would have happened anyway even without her. Yes there were some things that needed her and Elyan, but it seemed like everything could have been resolved easily without them.
Briony takes steps back in her character growth from book 1. She's back to being impulsive, rude and disrespectful. She constantly puts her friends in danger and ignores their pleas because she believes she is right. She also is incredibly outspoken and wants to change everyone/everything/every location to fit her ideal of how people should be and countries should be run. When you impose your own values on someone else, you are no better than the people in power. I kept wishing her friends would just abandon her in the forest, but it is Briony's recklessness that propels the story.
Even more Briony made the whole book about her. While she is the main character, this was not her story. This is not her guilt or burden to bear. She just wanted to assuage her own guilt instead of actually helping people. They are not helpless without her intervention. She's not that powerful, and that is a dehumanizing view for her to take.
No character growth, no romantic movement, no real involvement in a plot and a heavy handed colonialism book because the author wanted to make a point instead of move along this story leads me to being annoyed. Not worth the read.
Originally published in 2021, The Forest Kingdom is being republished in anticipation of book 3. Thank you Netgalley and Orbit Publishing for sending me a re-released version to read.
Everyone was almost in the exact same position they were at the end of book 1 as the end of book 2. The author wanted to write a book about colonialism (as stated in her acknowledgements at the end) and shoehorned it into this series instead of writing a book that would fit it.
My other issue with it is Briony's lack of involvement in this plot. It felt like an almost Indiana Jones story where everything would have happened anyway even without her. Yes there were some things that needed her and Elyan, but it seemed like everything could have been resolved easily without them.
Briony takes steps back in her character growth from book 1. She's back to being impulsive, rude and disrespectful. She constantly puts her friends in danger and ignores their pleas because she believes she is right. She also is incredibly outspoken and wants to change everyone/everything/every location to fit her ideal of how people should be and countries should be run. When you impose your own values on someone else, you are no better than the people in power. I kept wishing her friends would just abandon her in the forest, but it is Briony's recklessness that propels the story.
Even more Briony made the whole book about her. While she is the main character, this was not her story. This is not her guilt or burden to bear. She just wanted to assuage her own guilt instead of actually helping people. They are not helpless without her intervention. She's not that powerful, and that is a dehumanizing view for her to take.
No character growth, no romantic movement, no real involvement in a plot and a heavy handed colonialism book because the author wanted to make a point instead of move along this story leads me to being annoyed. Not worth the read.
Originally published in 2021, The Forest Kingdom is being republished in anticipation of book 3. Thank you Netgalley and Orbit Publishing for sending me a re-released version to read.
August 24, 2021
The Forest Kingdom is the second in the Asperfell Trilogy and having escaped the walls of Asperfell our mixed band of intrepid heroes and wandering in the wilderness aiming to find a mysterious cave that will allow them back to their own world.
I read the first book in this series without knowing very much about it and enjoyed it very much, this second book was very much a Second Book. The main arc of the trilogy concerns Elyan getting back to his kingdom to reclaim his throne from his dastardly brother but this whole second book is all about another kingdom and their problems (which are many) so it all seemed a bit spurious. Thomas aims to make it relevant by holding up this corrupt kingdom and comparing it to where they originally come from and the main take away we are supposed to get from that is that monarchies are bad we want democracy!
Elyan makes himself pretty scarce throughout this whole book and when we do get him he is usually just there to have a go a Brionay who is at her most tiresome for the majority of the book. Even she knows she’s being tiresome but still she keeps opening her mouth because that’s what plucky heroines do and all the powerful men around them can’t help but love her. It is well known that men in positions of power are hot for outspoken, tactless women…
There is a lot packed in here and it reads easily and moves forward quickly, the secondary characters are well rounded and interesting as is the world itself but I will be happy to get back to the main plot in the last book after this, what I am sure will turn out to be completely necessary, interlude.
I read the first book in this series without knowing very much about it and enjoyed it very much, this second book was very much a Second Book. The main arc of the trilogy concerns Elyan getting back to his kingdom to reclaim his throne from his dastardly brother but this whole second book is all about another kingdom and their problems (which are many) so it all seemed a bit spurious. Thomas aims to make it relevant by holding up this corrupt kingdom and comparing it to where they originally come from and the main take away we are supposed to get from that is that monarchies are bad we want democracy!
Elyan makes himself pretty scarce throughout this whole book and when we do get him he is usually just there to have a go a Brionay who is at her most tiresome for the majority of the book. Even she knows she’s being tiresome but still she keeps opening her mouth because that’s what plucky heroines do and all the powerful men around them can’t help but love her. It is well known that men in positions of power are hot for outspoken, tactless women…
There is a lot packed in here and it reads easily and moves forward quickly, the secondary characters are well rounded and interesting as is the world itself but I will be happy to get back to the main plot in the last book after this, what I am sure will turn out to be completely necessary, interlude.
August 23, 2021
I would be the First to tell you that Asperfell, the first in this trilogy was one of my favourite books in this rather distinct genre. A gothic Fantasy with the added bonus of a streak of feminist steel to the spine of our Heroine. Despite the gap between books, I found it easy to fall in again with our less than merry band of intrepid escapees. From the prison city of Asperfell.
The banter between two of the five has not subsided and the Romance still sizzles despite the increasingly dire circumstances that Briony and Elyan find themselves. The world that Jamie Thomas created both expands and contracts in this second instalment. We still get eerie spectral appearances, magics born of life and death . Nature is still a major character in her own right, and creatures tragic, majestic and ridiculous pepper this story too which was part of the allure for me in the first place.
Where our favourites learn to adjust and evolve in a plot of rescue, growth redemption , greed and compassion . The ultimate big reveal to set up the big finale was counterpointed by a loving subplot so delicately played and movingly resolved that it warmed my heart-immensely… I honestly think this is the more interesting of the two books thus far.. Ms Thomas takes the braver less trodden paths away from tropes to empower her characters and lay their foibles bare so they become nuanced and more relatable… men are both strong and vulnerable and women, wise, impetuous and committed to each other. There is power in those facets that made this a book I enjoyed immensely.
The banter between two of the five has not subsided and the Romance still sizzles despite the increasingly dire circumstances that Briony and Elyan find themselves. The world that Jamie Thomas created both expands and contracts in this second instalment. We still get eerie spectral appearances, magics born of life and death . Nature is still a major character in her own right, and creatures tragic, majestic and ridiculous pepper this story too which was part of the allure for me in the first place.
Where our favourites learn to adjust and evolve in a plot of rescue, growth redemption , greed and compassion . The ultimate big reveal to set up the big finale was counterpointed by a loving subplot so delicately played and movingly resolved that it warmed my heart-immensely… I honestly think this is the more interesting of the two books thus far.. Ms Thomas takes the braver less trodden paths away from tropes to empower her characters and lay their foibles bare so they become nuanced and more relatable… men are both strong and vulnerable and women, wise, impetuous and committed to each other. There is power in those facets that made this a book I enjoyed immensely.
August 11, 2021
Quote: "I do not think ignorance can ever be an advantage, no matter what the circumstances."
Pros: Excellent world building and good writing.
Cons: Just like in the first book, there is little to no diversity in this book. The pacing was much slower than the first book, and it took getting to the halfway mark for the plotline to actually start picking up. Even though Briony and Elyan are together now, Elyan is still a but of an asshole and constantly disregards Briony and treats her like she's careless and a burden at times. The story started to get a bit political and went down a pro life path where the main character, Briony, shamed a woman for wishing to end her pregnancy and it awful and the death of a child. I get everyone has their different political views, but this could have been handled a bit more gracefully, and honestly made me DNF the book.
Content Warnings: Talks of abortion.
Overall Rating: 3 star DNF (stopped at chapter 18/58%)
P.S. I received an arc copy to read and review before the official publishing of ths book. That being said this is an honest review with honest opinions.
Pros: Excellent world building and good writing.
Cons: Just like in the first book, there is little to no diversity in this book. The pacing was much slower than the first book, and it took getting to the halfway mark for the plotline to actually start picking up. Even though Briony and Elyan are together now, Elyan is still a but of an asshole and constantly disregards Briony and treats her like she's careless and a burden at times. The story started to get a bit political and went down a pro life path where the main character, Briony, shamed a woman for wishing to end her pregnancy and it awful and the death of a child. I get everyone has their different political views, but this could have been handled a bit more gracefully, and honestly made me DNF the book.
Content Warnings: Talks of abortion.
Overall Rating: 3 star DNF (stopped at chapter 18/58%)
P.S. I received an arc copy to read and review before the official publishing of ths book. That being said this is an honest review with honest opinions.
August 31, 2021
I was looking forward to this book because I liked the first one so much! The story had a different feel in this sequel. First, they encounter a people who really, really enjoy debauchery. I so enjoyed the development of Briony and Elyan's relationship in the first book. In this book, he's either mad at her, contemptuous of her, or clearly physically attracted to her. Yuck. I understand the importance of keeping tension in a relationship, but that combination does not lead to a romantic relationship that I want to buy in to. Actually, all of Briony's companions had unexplained, dramatic personality shifts. The best character development (as in most understandable and appearing to lead him to be a better, mature person) was Arlo's. I'm not sure I'll read the third book. I just didn't like the characters very much in this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
Still not for me
I hated the relationship between Briony and Elyan. I kept thinking it was going to get better. But there is no redeeming factor in it. Briony is still whiny and immature. She doesn't listen when others are telling her she's making mistakes or that something is a terrible idea. And Elyan just wants to change her. There is no explanation for why he loves her. What's worse is he doesn't act like it. He just shuts himself away and then yells at her. Apparently in the woods they're always fighting with each other, too. Why does Briony want to be with someone who treats her so horribly.
And the writing itself is so hard to get through. Its like wading through mud. There is so much that could be taken out. We don't need to know what Briony is doing every single moment. Leave some mystery. It wad so slow, which made it hard to read.
I hated the relationship between Briony and Elyan. I kept thinking it was going to get better. But there is no redeeming factor in it. Briony is still whiny and immature. She doesn't listen when others are telling her she's making mistakes or that something is a terrible idea. And Elyan just wants to change her. There is no explanation for why he loves her. What's worse is he doesn't act like it. He just shuts himself away and then yells at her. Apparently in the woods they're always fighting with each other, too. Why does Briony want to be with someone who treats her so horribly.
And the writing itself is so hard to get through. Its like wading through mud. There is so much that could be taken out. We don't need to know what Briony is doing every single moment. Leave some mystery. It wad so slow, which made it hard to read.
April 16, 2026
I read an ARC from Orbit Books of The Forest Kingdom.
The storyline picks up where Asperfell left off, with the goal of finding the cave, accessing the gate to Tiralean, and returning Elyan to his throne. However, it quickly veers into what feels like an extended side quest.
By the end, I could understand why the story went in that direction, but for most of the book I kept wondering when we’d get back to the original journey.
Because of that, the plot twist at the end didn’t land as well as it could have, I was already feeling frustrated by how far we’d strayed from the main storyline.
I will be reading book three because I am looking forward to seeing how it ends.
The storyline picks up where Asperfell left off, with the goal of finding the cave, accessing the gate to Tiralean, and returning Elyan to his throne. However, it quickly veers into what feels like an extended side quest.
By the end, I could understand why the story went in that direction, but for most of the book I kept wondering when we’d get back to the original journey.
Because of that, the plot twist at the end didn’t land as well as it could have, I was already feeling frustrated by how far we’d strayed from the main storyline.
I will be reading book three because I am looking forward to seeing how it ends.
April 24, 2023
I love this book! The first book had me hooked and wanting more, now I can only say one bad thing. The next one doesn't come out until 2024!! This book picks up where the first left off and took you into a whole new kingdom.
August 30, 2026
*3.1/5 Stars
"A good king cares for his people," he answered, "but a good man cares for all people. To be a good king, I rather think I must be a good man."
I debated giving this book one star at one point in the story because I could not stand Briony one bit.
Jamie Thomas, what happened? I adored Briony in the first book! Then her annoying recklessness and lack of critical thinking before jumping head first into things was amplified 10x of what she would normally be like! The whole freaking book could be summed up to Elyan saying, "Briony NO!" and Briony replying, "Briony YES!"
I saw some of the reviews saying that they didn't like that Elyan kept telling Briony to basically calm down but I disagree 100%. I'm surprised that he didn't completely blow his lid off because I surely would have if I were in his place.
What annoyed me the most was that Elyan asked her to promise him SO MANY FREAKING TIMES if she can just hold her tongue and not spout whatever rude or opinionated thing came to her head first because they're in a fragile diplomatic situation and playing nice is the best approach they have at getting the help they need.
But does Briony "I know better" listen? NO. SHE BROKE HER PROMISES EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Briony herself admitted that she was no good at diplomacy and never paid attention in her lessons when the subject came up. LIKE GIRL, THEN WHY ARE YOU NOT LETTING THE HEIR OF THE THRONE OF TIRALAEN DO HIS JOB IN DIPLOMACY, WHICH HE HAS BEEN TRAINED FOR SINCE BIRTH TO DO?
I was so incredibly frustrated with her running head first into dangerous and unknown situations in an unknown kingdom with no regard to what could happen to her friends and to the man she claims to love. Her stubborn ass almost got Phyra killed because she just HAD to go see the village despite being told by Princess Evolet MULTIPLE TIMES that the village was too dangerous to see and they might run into trouble. But OF COURSE, Briony does what Briony wants.
Reckless. Stupid. Idiotic. Stubborn. FOOLISH.
Every time she was chastised for her stupidity I clapped and cheered because I was so incredibly done with her.
*sigh* I need to calm down because I'm working myself up to the point I want to rate this book lower than it currently is.
Now, storyline. I felt as if me and Elyan were the only one's who remembered that Tiralaen is at stake and time is of the essence!!! Like okay Briony, I know you want to help every single living thing that breathes but GIRL FOCUS.
I knew they would not reach the cave soon, that would be ridiculous if they did. But my goodness did I worry one hundred pages in that I accidently picked up a different book because the story just veered off dramatically from the main storyline. I was impatient for them to reach Tiralaen but I still settled in to read this freaking side quest of a book because I did not want to miss anything that would help me understand the third book.
I didn't mind it, this side quest, but I didn't care for it either, if you understand my meaning? It would've been better if Briony's annoying ass wasn't in it but oh well, we can't always get what we want.
When all was said and done, I felt as if the reveal of the cave and them crossing over into Tiralaen was underwhelming. I was like...so Briony figures it out in 10 seconds and that's it? I was expecting something a little bit more dramatic. I know this trilogy is not a high fantasy saga, but c'mon.
Actually, now that I think about it, everything came a little too easy for Briony. Like "Oh here's problem #1, well would you look at that the solution is right next to me!" in the span of not even 10 minutes.
I don't consider these books fantasy romances because there is actually so little romance. Which is fine by me.
But, I felt like something was lacking between Elyan and Briony.
I liked their blossoming feelings for each other in the first book and I hoped that their connection would deepen in the second book, but it felt like Elyan spent this entire book being angry and disappointed in Briony (WHICH I DON'T BLAME HIM FOR). They spent so little time together and when they were with each other, all they did was argue except for like once or twice.
I really hope to see a deeper connection in the final book somehow now that this freaking "forest kingdom" isn't in the way. Yes they have bigger fish to fry but at least it's fish from their own lakes and rivers.
I felt like I could only stand Elyan and Arlo in this book. Elyan who kept his logical mind straight and focused on getting back to their world. Arlo who went through such great character development. Funny how I liked Arlo this time around but disliked Briony.
Overall, I am disappointed. I had hoped to love this one as much as the first.
But despite my disappointment, I WILL be reading the final book because the main storyline is back on track and I MUST know how this all ends and if Elyan will get his throne back.
If Briony annoys me even more than she did in this book, I will just ignore her (even though these books are told through her POV, I will find a way) and focus on Elyan since I hope this is his time to SHINE.
Also, yes author we see your progressive talking points please let’s just get back to the story 🫡
"A good king cares for his people," he answered, "but a good man cares for all people. To be a good king, I rather think I must be a good man."
I debated giving this book one star at one point in the story because I could not stand Briony one bit.
Jamie Thomas, what happened? I adored Briony in the first book! Then her annoying recklessness and lack of critical thinking before jumping head first into things was amplified 10x of what she would normally be like! The whole freaking book could be summed up to Elyan saying, "Briony NO!" and Briony replying, "Briony YES!"
I saw some of the reviews saying that they didn't like that Elyan kept telling Briony to basically calm down but I disagree 100%. I'm surprised that he didn't completely blow his lid off because I surely would have if I were in his place.
What annoyed me the most was that Elyan asked her to promise him SO MANY FREAKING TIMES if she can just hold her tongue and not spout whatever rude or opinionated thing came to her head first because they're in a fragile diplomatic situation and playing nice is the best approach they have at getting the help they need.
But does Briony "I know better" listen? NO. SHE BROKE HER PROMISES EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Briony herself admitted that she was no good at diplomacy and never paid attention in her lessons when the subject came up. LIKE GIRL, THEN WHY ARE YOU NOT LETTING THE HEIR OF THE THRONE OF TIRALAEN DO HIS JOB IN DIPLOMACY, WHICH HE HAS BEEN TRAINED FOR SINCE BIRTH TO DO?
I was so incredibly frustrated with her running head first into dangerous and unknown situations in an unknown kingdom with no regard to what could happen to her friends and to the man she claims to love. Her stubborn ass almost got Phyra killed because she just HAD to go see the village despite being told by Princess Evolet MULTIPLE TIMES that the village was too dangerous to see and they might run into trouble. But OF COURSE, Briony does what Briony wants.
Reckless. Stupid. Idiotic. Stubborn. FOOLISH.
Every time she was chastised for her stupidity I clapped and cheered because I was so incredibly done with her.
*sigh* I need to calm down because I'm working myself up to the point I want to rate this book lower than it currently is.
Now, storyline. I felt as if me and Elyan were the only one's who remembered that Tiralaen is at stake and time is of the essence!!! Like okay Briony, I know you want to help every single living thing that breathes but GIRL FOCUS.
I knew they would not reach the cave soon, that would be ridiculous if they did. But my goodness did I worry one hundred pages in that I accidently picked up a different book because the story just veered off dramatically from the main storyline. I was impatient for them to reach Tiralaen but I still settled in to read this freaking side quest of a book because I did not want to miss anything that would help me understand the third book.
I didn't mind it, this side quest, but I didn't care for it either, if you understand my meaning? It would've been better if Briony's annoying ass wasn't in it but oh well, we can't always get what we want.
When all was said and done, I felt as if the reveal of the cave and them crossing over into Tiralaen was underwhelming. I was like...so Briony figures it out in 10 seconds and that's it? I was expecting something a little bit more dramatic. I know this trilogy is not a high fantasy saga, but c'mon.
Actually, now that I think about it, everything came a little too easy for Briony. Like "Oh here's problem #1, well would you look at that the solution is right next to me!" in the span of not even 10 minutes.
I don't consider these books fantasy romances because there is actually so little romance. Which is fine by me.
But, I felt like something was lacking between Elyan and Briony.
I liked their blossoming feelings for each other in the first book and I hoped that their connection would deepen in the second book, but it felt like Elyan spent this entire book being angry and disappointed in Briony (WHICH I DON'T BLAME HIM FOR). They spent so little time together and when they were with each other, all they did was argue except for like once or twice.
I really hope to see a deeper connection in the final book somehow now that this freaking "forest kingdom" isn't in the way. Yes they have bigger fish to fry but at least it's fish from their own lakes and rivers.
I felt like I could only stand Elyan and Arlo in this book. Elyan who kept his logical mind straight and focused on getting back to their world. Arlo who went through such great character development. Funny how I liked Arlo this time around but disliked Briony.
Overall, I am disappointed. I had hoped to love this one as much as the first.
But despite my disappointment, I WILL be reading the final book because the main storyline is back on track and I MUST know how this all ends and if Elyan will get his throne back.
If Briony annoys me even more than she did in this book, I will just ignore her (even though these books are told through her POV, I will find a way) and focus on Elyan since I hope this is his time to SHINE.
Also, yes author we see your progressive talking points please let’s just get back to the story 🫡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2021
4.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In terms of action, The Forest Kingdom picks up pretty much when Asperfell stopped. After our mixed bag of criminals/heroes escaped the Sentinels, they went into the woods where they have been travelling for a few weeks now, looking for a mythical cave that should return them to their world. We find them hunting for their dinner.
In a trilogy, the second book is often the weakest, kind of a transition between the juicy bits. This is very much NOT the case here. The story is so well crafted that it could almost be a standalone. The world development is fairly extensive, the newly introduced characters have their own agendas, there is a lot of action, a different magic system, goddesses, creatures... I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of the world beyond the Gate and that some of the new characters will play a role in the third book, their stories don't seem quite finished yet.
The Forest Kingdom starts with a memory, a memory of when Briony was a teenager living a sheltered if somewhat wild life with her aunt in a remote estate. The power of the memories in the book is perhaps one of my favourite things about it. I love how Briony looks at her past from a more mature point of view and a sense of irony, and at the same time is able to engage us and transport us there completely. She still can look and laugh at herself with kindness and to me that makes her very human. At the same time, she is very impulsive and makes some pretty dumb decisions without really thinking them out or talking to the people that surround her.
Elyan, as a character, did not get the development I was hoping for. He spends a lot of the book brooding, being evasive or just being rude. He is so focused on finding the Gate that he often looses sight of everything else. The love between him and Briony develops at a very slow pace, they don't have a lot of space to be alone. BUT I love the fact that they see the other's faults and foibles, they bicker if they are frustrated and they fight, they sometimes doubt each other and their hearts get hurt. That is what real people do.
This was a great and engaging read, and it will be great to revisit it when the third book hits the shelves.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In terms of action, The Forest Kingdom picks up pretty much when Asperfell stopped. After our mixed bag of criminals/heroes escaped the Sentinels, they went into the woods where they have been travelling for a few weeks now, looking for a mythical cave that should return them to their world. We find them hunting for their dinner.
In a trilogy, the second book is often the weakest, kind of a transition between the juicy bits. This is very much NOT the case here. The story is so well crafted that it could almost be a standalone. The world development is fairly extensive, the newly introduced characters have their own agendas, there is a lot of action, a different magic system, goddesses, creatures... I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of the world beyond the Gate and that some of the new characters will play a role in the third book, their stories don't seem quite finished yet.
The Forest Kingdom starts with a memory, a memory of when Briony was a teenager living a sheltered if somewhat wild life with her aunt in a remote estate. The power of the memories in the book is perhaps one of my favourite things about it. I love how Briony looks at her past from a more mature point of view and a sense of irony, and at the same time is able to engage us and transport us there completely. She still can look and laugh at herself with kindness and to me that makes her very human. At the same time, she is very impulsive and makes some pretty dumb decisions without really thinking them out or talking to the people that surround her.
Elyan, as a character, did not get the development I was hoping for. He spends a lot of the book brooding, being evasive or just being rude. He is so focused on finding the Gate that he often looses sight of everything else. The love between him and Briony develops at a very slow pace, they don't have a lot of space to be alone. BUT I love the fact that they see the other's faults and foibles, they bicker if they are frustrated and they fight, they sometimes doubt each other and their hearts get hurt. That is what real people do.
This was a great and engaging read, and it will be great to revisit it when the third book hits the shelves.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️s | As the second book in the Asperfell trilogy, The Forest Kingdom took the story in a direction I definitely wasn’t expecting. Instead of immediately pushing forward with the journey back to Tiralaen, the book detours into this strange, lush, deeply unsettling kingdom hidden within the forest, and while I didn’t always love the pacing of that choice, I can appreciate what Jamie Thomas was trying to do with it.
The atmosphere here is honestly the strongest part of the book. The Forest Kingdom itself feels vivid and consuming, and it’s full of palaces, eerie magic, old gods, buried histories, and this constant sense that something underneath the beauty is deeply (DEEPLY) wrong. The worldbuilding continues to be immersive, and I especially loved the gradual unraveling of the kingdom’s origins and the themes of colonialism woven throughout the story. Watching Briony slowly realize the violence and damage tied to her own people’s history added a lot of depth to the narrative.
That said, this book really dragged for me in places. A huge portion of the story feels like an extended side quest, and while the payoff becomes clearer toward the end, getting there felt frustratingly slow. There were multiple stretches where I found myself waiting for the plot to regain momentum.
I also struggled more with Briony in this installment. I loved her in Asperfell, but here her impulsiveness crossed the line into recklessness too often, and some of her decisions genuinely made me want to scream. To be completely honest, I actually DID scream. It felt like she kept acknowledging her mistakes only to immediately repeat them, and Elyan wasn’t perfect either. The tension between them often made the romance feel strained instead of romantic, and it felt like they were more exhausted with each other than actually connected. Still, I did appreciate the emotional complexity of their relationship and the impossible choices both of them are forced to make.
What kept me invested was the cast as a whole. The side characters really shine here, especially Phyra, Arlo, and Thaniel, who all felt much more fleshed out than they did in the first book. And once the final 25-30% of the book hits, everything finally starts clicking into place. The reveals, emotional stakes, and setup for book three really helped strengthen this book and reminded me why I’m still invested in this series.
Overall, this wasn’t quite as gripping or entertaining for me as Asperfell, mostly because of the uneven pacing and character frustrations, but the atmosphere, themes, and ending were strong enough that I’m absolutely continuing the trilogy. Book three has a lot to deliver, and I’m genuinely excited to see how it all comes together in the end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this eARC!
The atmosphere here is honestly the strongest part of the book. The Forest Kingdom itself feels vivid and consuming, and it’s full of palaces, eerie magic, old gods, buried histories, and this constant sense that something underneath the beauty is deeply (DEEPLY) wrong. The worldbuilding continues to be immersive, and I especially loved the gradual unraveling of the kingdom’s origins and the themes of colonialism woven throughout the story. Watching Briony slowly realize the violence and damage tied to her own people’s history added a lot of depth to the narrative.
That said, this book really dragged for me in places. A huge portion of the story feels like an extended side quest, and while the payoff becomes clearer toward the end, getting there felt frustratingly slow. There were multiple stretches where I found myself waiting for the plot to regain momentum.
I also struggled more with Briony in this installment. I loved her in Asperfell, but here her impulsiveness crossed the line into recklessness too often, and some of her decisions genuinely made me want to scream. To be completely honest, I actually DID scream. It felt like she kept acknowledging her mistakes only to immediately repeat them, and Elyan wasn’t perfect either. The tension between them often made the romance feel strained instead of romantic, and it felt like they were more exhausted with each other than actually connected. Still, I did appreciate the emotional complexity of their relationship and the impossible choices both of them are forced to make.
What kept me invested was the cast as a whole. The side characters really shine here, especially Phyra, Arlo, and Thaniel, who all felt much more fleshed out than they did in the first book. And once the final 25-30% of the book hits, everything finally starts clicking into place. The reveals, emotional stakes, and setup for book three really helped strengthen this book and reminded me why I’m still invested in this series.
Overall, this wasn’t quite as gripping or entertaining for me as Asperfell, mostly because of the uneven pacing and character frustrations, but the atmosphere, themes, and ending were strong enough that I’m absolutely continuing the trilogy. Book three has a lot to deliver, and I’m genuinely excited to see how it all comes together in the end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this eARC!
June 9, 2026
Well, what can I say? I am extremely grateful that I, once again, got offered this book from Netgalley and that the book lived up to my expectations, following on from Asperfell.
It has found family. Blossoming, yet delicately formed love. New love. Hope. Hatred. A kingdom where nothing is as it seems. Characters to get behind. Characters to dislike. Adventure. Heartbreak. Joy. And SO much more. I couldn't put it down and neither did I want it to end (so I read the last chapters very slowly!)
We once again follow Briony, Elyan, Arlo, Phyra and Thaniel as they embark on their escape from Asperfell. They encounter Garundel along the way and she predicts a future that nobody wants to think about. Then they come across the Forest Kingdom - a giant golden palace that looks remarkably similar. A King, who's family has ruled for generations and a spirit that won't leave Briony alone.
Yet, nothing is as it seems.
Briony needs to help the Dae Spiria (the spirit that haunts her dreams) and in doing so unravels a history so dark and a future full of light. But can her and her friends pull together and help? Or is their quest to get back to Tiralaon (home) more important?
The love between Briony and Elyan blossoms even more and it made me so happy. Then there was new love found for another member of the party which was even sweeter.
I was drawn into the adventure and the twists and turns that it kept unveiling. I couldn't predict any of it, so much of it that there was! I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait for the final in the series!
5⭐️
0🌶
Fave quotes:
"I'd expected loam and rot and decay beneath my feet, and Shadows upon my skin"
"Indeed I should hate for something as inconsequential as my appearance to have any bearing upon my skill"
"The forest glade beneath my feet was moss and bone; I walked upon death, held fast by life"
"He moved toward the door, and I reached out and grasped his hand. "And if she returns?"
He looked down at me and smiled. "Well, are you an Orare or aren't you? Tell her to go fuck off".
"... a curious sort of cage was beauty..."
"With joyful abandon I'd thrown open the door, and with a smile upon my face, I had stepped into the flames"
"How I want you," Elyan rasped. "But, by the Gods, you'll have my name first. I swear by it".
His name.
"Twas both a question asked, and a promise made"
"...fear whispered cruelly in my ear..."
"A good King cares for his people," he answered, "but a good man cares for all people. To be a good King, I rather think I must first be a good man".
It has found family. Blossoming, yet delicately formed love. New love. Hope. Hatred. A kingdom where nothing is as it seems. Characters to get behind. Characters to dislike. Adventure. Heartbreak. Joy. And SO much more. I couldn't put it down and neither did I want it to end (so I read the last chapters very slowly!)
We once again follow Briony, Elyan, Arlo, Phyra and Thaniel as they embark on their escape from Asperfell. They encounter Garundel along the way and she predicts a future that nobody wants to think about. Then they come across the Forest Kingdom - a giant golden palace that looks remarkably similar. A King, who's family has ruled for generations and a spirit that won't leave Briony alone.
Yet, nothing is as it seems.
Briony needs to help the Dae Spiria (the spirit that haunts her dreams) and in doing so unravels a history so dark and a future full of light. But can her and her friends pull together and help? Or is their quest to get back to Tiralaon (home) more important?
The love between Briony and Elyan blossoms even more and it made me so happy. Then there was new love found for another member of the party which was even sweeter.
I was drawn into the adventure and the twists and turns that it kept unveiling. I couldn't predict any of it, so much of it that there was! I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait for the final in the series!
5⭐️
0🌶
Fave quotes:
"I'd expected loam and rot and decay beneath my feet, and Shadows upon my skin"
"Indeed I should hate for something as inconsequential as my appearance to have any bearing upon my skill"
"The forest glade beneath my feet was moss and bone; I walked upon death, held fast by life"
"He moved toward the door, and I reached out and grasped his hand. "And if she returns?"
He looked down at me and smiled. "Well, are you an Orare or aren't you? Tell her to go fuck off".
"... a curious sort of cage was beauty..."
"With joyful abandon I'd thrown open the door, and with a smile upon my face, I had stepped into the flames"
"How I want you," Elyan rasped. "But, by the Gods, you'll have my name first. I swear by it".
His name.
"Twas both a question asked, and a promise made"
"...fear whispered cruelly in my ear..."
"A good King cares for his people," he answered, "but a good man cares for all people. To be a good King, I rather think I must first be a good man".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
4.5 Stars
The Forest Kingdom picks up pretty much when Asperfell stopped. After our mixed bag of criminals/heroes escaped the Sentinels, they went into the woods where they have been travelling for a few weeks now, looking for a mythical cave that should return them to their world. We find them hunting for their dinner.
In a trilogy, the second book is often the weakest, kind of a transition between the juicy bits. This is very much NOT the case here. The story is so well crafted that it could almost be a standalone. The world development is fairly extensive, the newly introduced characters have their own agendas, there is a lot of action, a different magic system, goddesses, creatures... I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of the world beyond the Gate and that some of the new characters will play a role in the third book, their stories don't seem quite finished yet.
The Forest Kingdom starts with a memory, a memory of when Briony was a teenager living a sheltered if somewhat wild life with her aunt in a remote estate. The power of the memories in the book is perhaps one of my favourite things about it. I love how Briony looks at her past from a more mature point of view and a sense of irony, and at the same time is able to engage us and transport us there completely. She still can look and laugh at herself with kindness and to me that makes her very human. At the same time, she is very impulsive and makes some pretty dumb decisions without really thinking them out or talking to the people that surround her.
Elyan, as a character, did not get the development I was hoping for. He spends a lot of the book brooding, being evasive or just being rude. He is so focused on finding the Gate that he often looses sight of everything else. The love between him and Briony develops at a very slow pace, they don't have a lot of space to be alone. BUT I love the fact that they see the other's faults and foibles, they bicker if they are frustrated and they fight, they sometimes doubt each other and their hearts get hurt. That is what real people do.
This was a great and engaging read, and it will be great to revisit it when the third book hits the shelves.
The Forest Kingdom picks up pretty much when Asperfell stopped. After our mixed bag of criminals/heroes escaped the Sentinels, they went into the woods where they have been travelling for a few weeks now, looking for a mythical cave that should return them to their world. We find them hunting for their dinner.
In a trilogy, the second book is often the weakest, kind of a transition between the juicy bits. This is very much NOT the case here. The story is so well crafted that it could almost be a standalone. The world development is fairly extensive, the newly introduced characters have their own agendas, there is a lot of action, a different magic system, goddesses, creatures... I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of the world beyond the Gate and that some of the new characters will play a role in the third book, their stories don't seem quite finished yet.
The Forest Kingdom starts with a memory, a memory of when Briony was a teenager living a sheltered if somewhat wild life with her aunt in a remote estate. The power of the memories in the book is perhaps one of my favourite things about it. I love how Briony looks at her past from a more mature point of view and a sense of irony, and at the same time is able to engage us and transport us there completely. She still can look and laugh at herself with kindness and to me that makes her very human. At the same time, she is very impulsive and makes some pretty dumb decisions without really thinking them out or talking to the people that surround her.
Elyan, as a character, did not get the development I was hoping for. He spends a lot of the book brooding, being evasive or just being rude. He is so focused on finding the Gate that he often looses sight of everything else. The love between him and Briony develops at a very slow pace, they don't have a lot of space to be alone. BUT I love the fact that they see the other's faults and foibles, they bicker if they are frustrated and they fight, they sometimes doubt each other and their hearts get hurt. That is what real people do.
This was a great and engaging read, and it will be great to revisit it when the third book hits the shelves.
June 16, 2026
Thank you, Orbit Books and Jamie THOMAS, for providing this re-release eBook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Secrets are exposed. Kingdoms are at stake. Who will survive?
Jamie THOMAS expands the Asperfell Trilogy in her second book, The Forest Kingdom, introducing new characters and kingdoms, as Briony and Prince Elyan try to return to Tiralaen. The main characters become guests of King Anwar, an enthusiastic and gracious host, hoping to learn from the mages and their journey to his kingdom. As Briony’s dreams lead her through abandoned corridors and secret tunnels, she starts to question the King’s motives.
The character development dives deeper into everyone's missions and personal motivations. A looming premonition threatens the main characters, which kept me hooked trying to figure out who would suffer what fate.
I found the overall plot engaging, but I felt the second book had more writing filler; I felt some sections of writing were not required for the storyline. I did find as well, one important part of the novel (a battle scene), quite short; I thought the writing of the scene should have been drawn out a bit more to portray the power of allies and the grief for those lost. I felt this in the first book as well; I feel the author could have focused her writing on more significant events over filler throughout.
3.5/5 ⭐️ Overall Recommendation
I am very thankful I was provided the ARC for the third book from Orbit Books. The multi-layered worlds and character arcs established in The Forest Kingdom serve as an excellent foundation for the series' finale, The Shining City.
I recommend The Forest Kingdom to anyone who enjoys romantasy, fantasy, and/or magical worlds, with a strong-willed protagonist who unlocks secrets that span generations in a kingdom that is not quite as it seems.
Secrets are exposed. Kingdoms are at stake. Who will survive?
Jamie THOMAS expands the Asperfell Trilogy in her second book, The Forest Kingdom, introducing new characters and kingdoms, as Briony and Prince Elyan try to return to Tiralaen. The main characters become guests of King Anwar, an enthusiastic and gracious host, hoping to learn from the mages and their journey to his kingdom. As Briony’s dreams lead her through abandoned corridors and secret tunnels, she starts to question the King’s motives.
The character development dives deeper into everyone's missions and personal motivations. A looming premonition threatens the main characters, which kept me hooked trying to figure out who would suffer what fate.
I found the overall plot engaging, but I felt the second book had more writing filler; I felt some sections of writing were not required for the storyline. I did find as well, one important part of the novel (a battle scene), quite short; I thought the writing of the scene should have been drawn out a bit more to portray the power of allies and the grief for those lost. I felt this in the first book as well; I feel the author could have focused her writing on more significant events over filler throughout.
3.5/5 ⭐️ Overall Recommendation
I am very thankful I was provided the ARC for the third book from Orbit Books. The multi-layered worlds and character arcs established in The Forest Kingdom serve as an excellent foundation for the series' finale, The Shining City.
I recommend The Forest Kingdom to anyone who enjoys romantasy, fantasy, and/or magical worlds, with a strong-willed protagonist who unlocks secrets that span generations in a kingdom that is not quite as it seems.
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