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Royal Hearts Academy #4
Broken Kingdom
Welcome to their kingdom...
They say you're happy now.
That you can't remember anything from your past and it's for the best.
They told me if I cared about you I'd stay far away and leave you alone for good.
Because you're getting married to a man you love.
Only problem is...
you loved me first.
This is the 4th and FINAL book in the Royal Hearts Academy series. Cruel Prince (Jace and Dylan's book) , Ruthless Knight (Cole and Sawyer's book), and Wicked Princess should be read first for a better understanding of the family dynamic.
They say you're happy now.
That you can't remember anything from your past and it's for the best.
They told me if I cared about you I'd stay far away and leave you alone for good.
Because you're getting married to a man you love.
Only problem is...
you loved me first.
This is the 4th and FINAL book in the Royal Hearts Academy series. Cruel Prince (Jace and Dylan's book) , Ruthless Knight (Cole and Sawyer's book), and Wicked Princess should be read first for a better understanding of the family dynamic.
490 pages, Hardcover
Published October 27, 2021
1472 people are currently reading
11710 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Jade
49 books9,724 followersLink to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Ashley-Jade-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,394 reviews
October 5, 2020
And the best book of the year award goes to Ashley Jade! I’m serious. She never fails to remind her readers why she is called the Queen of Unconventional. Her books are always told in a different way than another author might tell them. The entire Royal Heart’s Academy series is amazing, but Broken Kingdom is a hourse of a different color... okay, yes, I just finished watching The Wizard of Oz.
We thought Bianca’s story was over and done with, but if you know and love Ashley’s books, then you probably knew that it was nowhere from being finished. She had more to say, and plus, Oakley didn’t get to speak his mind.
Broken Kingdom is a mind shattering twisting tale full of emotions that will have you on the edge of your seat. You can’t predict what’s coming, and you will be hooked at every second.
This story is the best of the best. Jade has beyond outdone herself, and has taken her writing to a whole other level of incredible. I was speechless for an entire week after reading the book, and I can’t stop thinking about how good it is. She has blown my mind.
I’ve seen Bianca in a new light, and I love Oakley so much more than I already did. There just aren’t enough words to explain how phenomenal this book really truly is, and just how much these characters will stay in my heart.
It’s the best book of the year, and I’m so proud of Ashley jade for writing this book despite what everyone had to say about Wicked Princess. 2020 is one hell of a year, but the best part of it by far is for sure this book.
Thank you Ashley for doing what you do best, and creating an epic ending to an incredible unforgettable series.
6 Royal Heart Stars!
We thought Bianca’s story was over and done with, but if you know and love Ashley’s books, then you probably knew that it was nowhere from being finished. She had more to say, and plus, Oakley didn’t get to speak his mind.
Broken Kingdom is a mind shattering twisting tale full of emotions that will have you on the edge of your seat. You can’t predict what’s coming, and you will be hooked at every second.
This story is the best of the best. Jade has beyond outdone herself, and has taken her writing to a whole other level of incredible. I was speechless for an entire week after reading the book, and I can’t stop thinking about how good it is. She has blown my mind.
I’ve seen Bianca in a new light, and I love Oakley so much more than I already did. There just aren’t enough words to explain how phenomenal this book really truly is, and just how much these characters will stay in my heart.
It’s the best book of the year, and I’m so proud of Ashley jade for writing this book despite what everyone had to say about Wicked Princess. 2020 is one hell of a year, but the best part of it by far is for sure this book.
Thank you Ashley for doing what you do best, and creating an epic ending to an incredible unforgettable series.
6 Royal Heart Stars!
October 7, 2020
For those who doubted Ashley and her ability to do Bianca justice...THIS DAMN BOOK IS EVERYTHING!
By far my favorite series I’ve 🅴🆅🅴🆁 read.
Coming full circle with the crew of RHA, I feel like I’ve grown and learned along with them. This book wraps up everything so effortlessly. Ashley did not disappoint in bringing things home and connecting ALL the dots! The rawness of this storyline from start to finish will be one I’ll always revisit.
The struggles that took place from a toxic set of relationships, to the love and loyalty displayed in others, turned my world upside down. There was so much that was unknown about all the characters within this story, that when thet reveal their truths it makes you reevaluate your opinion on why they chose certain paths.
Damaged and confused was the pattern for Bianca and Oakley’s characters at the start, but resolute strength and passion is what we end with. The reasonings behind their actions and reactions make their situations so palpable, relatable even. I found myself in awe and envy of the tether that exists between the two, an irrevocable bond.
When you find your great love in life, you hold on and fight for it. These two had many demons to battle, which ultimately made them stronger and wiser. Strength and weakness, passion and pain are displayed heavily throughout this book. One thing is for sure, “... even the strongest girls surrender for the right boy.”
The talent Ashley has is unmatched in the way she is able to orchestrate a series of books, with characters we love and sometimes hate, but always appreciate with their flaws and all, that infiltrate your heart and mind. These two are the most complex of them all.
“There’s plenty of shit people should apologize for in this world…but feelings should never be one of them.”
And these two are unapologetic in their love. Great read and one I would highly recommend to anyone. Start to finish this series wins for the year!
By far my favorite series I’ve 🅴🆅🅴🆁 read.
Coming full circle with the crew of RHA, I feel like I’ve grown and learned along with them. This book wraps up everything so effortlessly. Ashley did not disappoint in bringing things home and connecting ALL the dots! The rawness of this storyline from start to finish will be one I’ll always revisit.
The struggles that took place from a toxic set of relationships, to the love and loyalty displayed in others, turned my world upside down. There was so much that was unknown about all the characters within this story, that when thet reveal their truths it makes you reevaluate your opinion on why they chose certain paths.
Damaged and confused was the pattern for Bianca and Oakley’s characters at the start, but resolute strength and passion is what we end with. The reasonings behind their actions and reactions make their situations so palpable, relatable even. I found myself in awe and envy of the tether that exists between the two, an irrevocable bond.
When you find your great love in life, you hold on and fight for it. These two had many demons to battle, which ultimately made them stronger and wiser. Strength and weakness, passion and pain are displayed heavily throughout this book. One thing is for sure, “... even the strongest girls surrender for the right boy.”
The talent Ashley has is unmatched in the way she is able to orchestrate a series of books, with characters we love and sometimes hate, but always appreciate with their flaws and all, that infiltrate your heart and mind. These two are the most complex of them all.
“There’s plenty of shit people should apologize for in this world…but feelings should never be one of them.”
And these two are unapologetic in their love. Great read and one I would highly recommend to anyone. Start to finish this series wins for the year!
October 10, 2020
BROKEN KINGDOM Is the final full length romance novel in Ashley Jade's 'Royal Hearts Academy' series. It picks up where the previous book left off. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.' Past & Present time incorporated.
❝ Promise me you'll never fall in love. ❞
PHENOMENAL!! I kind of tiptoed into Broken Kingdom even though it was a book I was highly anticipating, solely because Bianca in the previous book left me slightly deflated with a bitter taste in my mouth, I didn’t connect like I’d hoped, I disliked her bullying ways, but there’s times when you have to put your trust in the author to bring back the love, and Ashley Jade nailed this perfectly. I loved Bianca in this one, we still got her hard edge but we also got a more rounded likeable piece of herself. Instead of the girl who liked to manipulate we got a girl who wanted to fix her past mistakes. In my eyes she redeemed herself, she came into herself making me a huge fan of hers! God how I loved this book! This author outdid herself.
All the feels
All the angst
All the soul crushing moments had me salivating for more!
All the emotional turmoil had me coming unhinged
All the words in the world can’t divulge how much I loved this book!
Now onto Uh-Oh Oakley, this boy here owned me heart and soul, all the hardships and heartbreak made him a better version of himself. A lost soul that came full circle and fought for what he wanted.
To understand these two the author took us back to where everything fell apart, combining past and present ceaselessly, making us come full circle where everything was divulged leaving our minds blown, and our hearts combusting.
I wouldn't say these two had a toxic relationship though it was tumultuous at the best of times, they were happy, they were in love, then one night changed it all and no one was going to be the same again.
* Teaser used is off the authors facebook page *
October 6, 2020
First of I just want to be petty and say—HA!! Those of you who didn’t trust Ashley—FREAKING HA!! This book is like a slap to the face for all of you.
*clears throat* Now I would just like to say that I DEVOURED this book!! I needed a few hours to myself after it, because, and I kid you not, this book DESTROYED me!
I’m literally speechless. I sat there after I finished it, tears in my eyes, unable to say anything—and when does that ever happen??!! I ALWAYS have something to say. Like what?!!
I may or may not have had other books I needed to read and review and I may or may not have dropped them to read Broken Kingdom BUT in my defense this is ASHLEY we’re talking about. Of freaking course I was going to drop everything and read this book that I’ve been burning to read. (Side Note: I WILL get to the other books, guys. Let me have this!)
Alright, so when I first read Wicked Princess, I was like *insert whiny voice* where is my Oakley?!! And then Stone came *sigh* and I’m like “WHAT IS HAPPENING????”
I was confused (to say the least) then I was like “Ok Ashley, you playing a big game here. I’m just going to have to wait and see...” and so I waited—not patiently... at all—and waited. I’m just thanking God they changed the release date several times because I did not think I could wait anymore.
But THIS BOOK!! Gah you guys, it was exactly how it was supposed to be!! You WILL cry. You WILL want to claim Oakley (too freaking bad! He’s mine!!) YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.
Just a small warning (ha!) YOU GUYS ARE NOT READY!!!! (Bahahaha) This book was INCREDIBLE. No amount of words will justify how well this story was written.
Final Warning: Clear your schedules out people, because your in for one hell of a ride!
|ᴋɪɴᴅʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴄɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴄ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ|
*clears throat* Now I would just like to say that I DEVOURED this book!! I needed a few hours to myself after it, because, and I kid you not, this book DESTROYED me!
I’m literally speechless. I sat there after I finished it, tears in my eyes, unable to say anything—and when does that ever happen??!! I ALWAYS have something to say. Like what?!!
I may or may not have had other books I needed to read and review and I may or may not have dropped them to read Broken Kingdom BUT in my defense this is ASHLEY we’re talking about. Of freaking course I was going to drop everything and read this book that I’ve been burning to read. (Side Note: I WILL get to the other books, guys. Let me have this!)
Alright, so when I first read Wicked Princess, I was like *insert whiny voice* where is my Oakley?!! And then Stone came *sigh* and I’m like “WHAT IS HAPPENING????”
I was confused (to say the least) then I was like “Ok Ashley, you playing a big game here. I’m just going to have to wait and see...” and so I waited—not patiently... at all—and waited. I’m just thanking God they changed the release date several times because I did not think I could wait anymore.
But THIS BOOK!! Gah you guys, it was exactly how it was supposed to be!! You WILL cry. You WILL want to claim Oakley (too freaking bad! He’s mine!!) YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.
Just a small warning (ha!) YOU GUYS ARE NOT READY!!!! (Bahahaha) This book was INCREDIBLE. No amount of words will justify how well this story was written.
Final Warning: Clear your schedules out people, because your in for one hell of a ride!
|ᴋɪɴᴅʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴄɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴄ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ|
October 13, 2020
3.75 stars; ☆
~ this right here was chaotic good ~
ok so we can all agree that Wicked Princess was just a long ass prologue for this book right? RIGHT?? ok. now that that's settled, Oakley and Bianca never took a break cuz it was drama after drama, tragedy after tragedy like sheesh let them breathe a little damn.
✧ plot
so apparently everyone's theories are mostly correct. i don't think this is a spoiler but Stone is indeed trash and BiancaOakley are endgame!!! fuck YESS
💭✎. ° thoughts before reading wicked princess and broken kingdom
↳ to be honest, before Wicked Princess, i wanted Bianca and Stone together just cuz Oakley was such a ho and he was rubbing his OW shit on Bianca and ion like that one bit but AFTER reading WP? i switched sides real quick.
the whole amnesia trope is actually so interesting to me because I KNOW everything will be messy and dramatic and it definitely was messy and dramatic here. Oakley pining for Bianca while Bianca is with Stone?? ugggghhhh. yesss gimme all the drama thank you.
aaand also, BAD BITCH BIANCA is back by the way!! woooo!!
⊹₊ ⋆ SPOILERS AHEAD ꜜ
-`,✎ CHARACTERS
— Bianca Covington (h)
oh my god... i feel like such a proud mom. she lowkey reminds me of Blair Waldorf but just a little sassier and bitchier but still very vulnerable and loyal. i just- i LOVE THIS BISHHH. i hated her in Cruel Prince i saw potential in Ruthless Knight and ended up loving her here. when her bad bitch self came back and started fighting for the people she loves? ugh im so proud of my bb <3
— Oakley Zelenka (H)
OAKLEY IS A HUFFLEPUFF and i stand by this statement 100%. he did all these shitty things *cough* doing drugs, being a ho, slept with his stepmom behind his fathers back *cough* but deep down? he's definitely a Hufflepuff. okay gotta be honest i wish i saw more scenes of him fighting for her BUT there's no denying the pain and longing he feels towards Bianca and i freaking love that. i don't really know what else to say about this dude but just know Oakley >>> Stone.
— Cole & Jace
i can't believe im saying this but i fucking love these assholes. it almost makes me feel bad that i hated Jace in his own book oops. i swear, it's always the heroes that i hate (in their own book) that makes a good side character (and yes im talking about Madoc from Fall Away series and Will from Devil's Night series). i WISH there's more scenes of these two being the annoying but endearing overprotective older brothers because this content was CHEFS KISS material.
-`,✎ OW/OM DRAMA & CHEATING (spoilers)
— Stone (OM)
^ hey, i didn't say it Oakley did. seriously, this dude is THE definition of small dick energy. i can't believe i ever shipped him and Bianca because the AUDACITY in this bishh. for real, how dare he dictate how Bianca wears and acts- jeeZUS. whenever he opens his big mouth i'm like:
seriously!! and y'all wanna know the fucked up things he did? well,
as i said- Small. Dick. Energy.
and when Bianca finally did something with Oakley around 73% and ended up cheating on Stone (yes ugh i know. it took that much time for her to break up with him) well... suddenly i'm john cuz i ain't cena thing 😌✨i hate cheating but... it's really hard to sympathize with Stone cuz i simply do not care about him. sorry.
— OW drama
y'all really think Bianca would sit around and pine for Oakley and not hook up with others? nahh bish. i'm really learning a lot here:
hookup with ✍🏼 the current fbuddy ✍🏼 of the guy you like ✍🏼 and accidentally make her ✍🏼 fall in love with you✍🏼
so this is how you handle a fuckboy? okay gotchuu bishh. i gotchu. take notes future heroines!!
so, yes, there's some OW scenes here (all of them in the past btw)
⇢ with Bianca and Morgan where Morgan went down on her during her birthday party in the bathroom while Oakley was outside, had this almost threesome with Hayley and this random dude where Bianca just watched Hayley have sex with the dude. and as for Oakley, surprisingly, there's only one OW scene with him where he gets a bj for like a minute and stopped when Bianca saw him (this was annoying cuz they start their fling literally right after Oakley brought this random OW home).
oh and of course, theres some OM scenes here
⇢ where Stone has sex with Bianca while she's sleeping (this is fucked up btw cuz she didn't give her consent) and where he went down on her one time and f*ngers her another time.
-`,✎ WHY NOT A HIGHER RATING?
despite the fact that i really did feel all the intense emotions between Bianca and Oakley when it comes to their pain and longing for one another, i just wish there were more scenes of them in the present. i feel like this whole book was 75% flashback chapters and sometimes i don't mind it but other times, like when Bianca and Oakley are having a moment in present time but suddenly she has a flashback which cuts their cute moment in the present short, i kinda found it annoying just a little bit. i don't know.. i guess i just wanted to see their romantic and friendship development in the present more than the past.
i wanted to see Bianca confronting Oakley about her memories AND actually reacting and processing it cuz after a flashback, we kinda just move on to the next thing and then her feelings about said flashbacks are just mentioned or told. this mostly happened in the beginning tho.
Bianca not breakin up with Stone till 70 ish% annoyed me but i guess i understand why she didn't. still annoying tho. also, i wish there's a scene where Bianca goes full-on bitch mode at Stone's mother cuz she deserves it. to be honest, i liked how she ended things with Stone but on the other hand, im bloodthirsty af so i needed more scenes where Bianca tells Stone off for being a little bishh.
─────────── ∙ ~εïз~ ∙ ───────────
is this book a love triangle? ehh more like a semi love triangle? i don't know. does knowing the endgame couple count as love triangle? hmm.. this is more like Bianca + Oakley and a fucking nuisance.
and can we talk about that ending real quick? IT WAS PERFECT. no joke, i literally felt my heart do something cuz it was so sweet!! ... "Liam" OH MY GOD.
again, i can't believe im saying this but i need more Cole/Jace content. i really do. i hope Ms. Jade will write an extended epilogue/novella type of book cuz i wanna see more of these idiots.
aaand to end this note, does anyone know how tf Oakley's barbell on his- you know... thing look like?? like- where is it?? how-? what even?? ugh i can't for the life of me picture it and it's driving me crazy. NOT because i want to see it sheesh it's because im confused af as to how it looks like lol.
P.S. imo, i really do think you guys need the third book (Wicked Princess) before reading this!!
─────────── ∙ ~εïз~ ∙ ───────────
(08/24/2020)
bad bitch Bianca better make a comeback or else 😤
┊ Royal Hears Academy ┊
#1: cruel prince ↠ 2 stars
#2: ruthless knight ↠ 3.5 stars
#3: wicked princess ↠ 2.25 stars
#4: broken kingdom ↠ 3.75 stars
~ this right here was chaotic good ~
ok so we can all agree that Wicked Princess was just a long ass prologue for this book right? RIGHT?? ok. now that that's settled, Oakley and Bianca never took a break cuz it was drama after drama, tragedy after tragedy like sheesh let them breathe a little damn.
✧ plot
↳ 8 months after Stone (OM) proposed to Bianca (h), Oakley (H) finally got out of prison but because of guilt and the fact that the love of his life is engaged to another man, he decides to leave her alone until Bianca felt a sudden connection when she sees him again.
they then become friends and suddenly, all the memories of her and Oakley comes back and now she's not sure about everything.
so apparently everyone's theories are mostly correct. i don't think this is a spoiler but Stone is indeed trash and BiancaOakley are endgame!!! fuck YESS
💭✎. ° thoughts before reading wicked princess and broken kingdom
↳ to be honest, before Wicked Princess, i wanted Bianca and Stone together just cuz Oakley was such a ho and he was rubbing his OW shit on Bianca and ion like that one bit but AFTER reading WP? i switched sides real quick.
the whole amnesia trope is actually so interesting to me because I KNOW everything will be messy and dramatic and it definitely was messy and dramatic here. Oakley pining for Bianca while Bianca is with Stone?? ugggghhhh. yesss gimme all the drama thank you.
aaand also, BAD BITCH BIANCA is back by the way!! woooo!!
⊹₊ ⋆ SPOILERS AHEAD ꜜ
-`,✎ CHARACTERS
— Bianca Covington (h)
❝ Everyone else is too scared to get inside my fucked up head, so they don't bother. Everyone else is so preoccupied with their own scars... they don't give a fuck about mine. Everyone else keeps me at a distance... because they can't handle me. Fuck everyone. ❞
oh my god... i feel like such a proud mom. she lowkey reminds me of Blair Waldorf but just a little sassier and bitchier but still very vulnerable and loyal. i just- i LOVE THIS BISHHH. i hated her in Cruel Prince i saw potential in Ruthless Knight and ended up loving her here. when her bad bitch self came back and started fighting for the people she loves? ugh im so proud of my bb <3
— Oakley Zelenka (H)
❝ But you know damn well. That for you I would break myself. Just to make you whole again. And if wishes came true, it would be me and you forever. ❞
OAKLEY IS A HUFFLEPUFF and i stand by this statement 100%. he did all these shitty things *cough* doing drugs, being a ho, slept with his stepmom behind his fathers back *cough* but deep down? he's definitely a Hufflepuff. okay gotta be honest i wish i saw more scenes of him fighting for her BUT there's no denying the pain and longing he feels towards Bianca and i freaking love that. i don't really know what else to say about this dude but just know Oakley >>> Stone.
— Cole & Jace
❝ The sound of someone sniffing has us both turning to Cole.
Jace's expression twists in horror. "Motherfucker, are you crying?"
"Nah, man," Cole says, rolling his shoulders back. "They got some onions up in this bitch or something." ❞
i can't believe im saying this but i fucking love these assholes. it almost makes me feel bad that i hated Jace in his own book oops. i swear, it's always the heroes that i hate (in their own book) that makes a good side character (and yes im talking about Madoc from Fall Away series and Will from Devil's Night series). i WISH there's more scenes of these two being the annoying but endearing overprotective older brothers because this content was CHEFS KISS material.
-`,✎ OW/OM DRAMA & CHEATING (spoilers)
— Stone (OM)
❝ He's a motherfucking piece of shit pussy bitch baby. ❞
^ hey, i didn't say it Oakley did. seriously, this dude is THE definition of small dick energy. i can't believe i ever shipped him and Bianca because the AUDACITY in this bishh. for real, how dare he dictate how Bianca wears and acts- jeeZUS. whenever he opens his big mouth i'm like:
seriously!! and y'all wanna know the fucked up things he did? well,
1. he has sex with Bianca WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING. he didn't do this once, he did this twice... TWICE, PEOPLE!!
2. he always sided with his toxic mother (god, i hated her)
3. allowed his friends to talk bad about Bianca, treating her like a science experiment.
4. called her a "skank".
5. oh! and he punched her.
as i said- Small. Dick. Energy.
and when Bianca finally did something with Oakley around 73% and ended up cheating on Stone (yes ugh i know. it took that much time for her to break up with him) well... suddenly i'm john cuz i ain't cena thing 😌✨i hate cheating but... it's really hard to sympathize with Stone cuz i simply do not care about him. sorry.
— OW drama
y'all really think Bianca would sit around and pine for Oakley and not hook up with others? nahh bish. i'm really learning a lot here:
hookup with ✍🏼 the current fbuddy ✍🏼 of the guy you like ✍🏼 and accidentally make her ✍🏼 fall in love with you✍🏼
so this is how you handle a fuckboy? okay gotchuu bishh. i gotchu. take notes future heroines!!
so, yes, there's some OW scenes here (all of them in the past btw)
⇢ with Bianca and Morgan where Morgan went down on her during her birthday party in the bathroom while Oakley was outside, had this almost threesome with Hayley and this random dude where Bianca just watched Hayley have sex with the dude. and as for Oakley, surprisingly, there's only one OW scene with him where he gets a bj for like a minute and stopped when Bianca saw him (this was annoying cuz they start their fling literally right after Oakley brought this random OW home).
oh and of course, theres some OM scenes here
⇢ where Stone has sex with Bianca while she's sleeping (this is fucked up btw cuz she didn't give her consent) and where he went down on her one time and f*ngers her another time.
-`,✎ WHY NOT A HIGHER RATING?
despite the fact that i really did feel all the intense emotions between Bianca and Oakley when it comes to their pain and longing for one another, i just wish there were more scenes of them in the present. i feel like this whole book was 75% flashback chapters and sometimes i don't mind it but other times, like when Bianca and Oakley are having a moment in present time but suddenly she has a flashback which cuts their cute moment in the present short, i kinda found it annoying just a little bit. i don't know.. i guess i just wanted to see their romantic and friendship development in the present more than the past.
i wanted to see Bianca confronting Oakley about her memories AND actually reacting and processing it cuz after a flashback, we kinda just move on to the next thing and then her feelings about said flashbacks are just mentioned or told. this mostly happened in the beginning tho.
Bianca not breakin up with Stone till 70 ish% annoyed me but i guess i understand why she didn't. still annoying tho. also, i wish there's a scene where Bianca goes full-on bitch mode at Stone's mother cuz she deserves it. to be honest, i liked how she ended things with Stone but on the other hand, im bloodthirsty af so i needed more scenes where Bianca tells Stone off for being a little bishh.
─────────── ∙ ~εïз~ ∙ ───────────
is this book a love triangle? ehh more like a semi love triangle? i don't know. does knowing the endgame couple count as love triangle? hmm.. this is more like Bianca + Oakley and a fucking nuisance.
and can we talk about that ending real quick? IT WAS PERFECT. no joke, i literally felt my heart do something cuz it was so sweet!! ... "Liam" OH MY GOD.
again, i can't believe im saying this but i need more Cole/Jace content. i really do. i hope Ms. Jade will write an extended epilogue/novella type of book cuz i wanna see more of these idiots.
aaand to end this note, does anyone know how tf Oakley's barbell on his- you know... thing look like?? like- where is it?? how-? what even?? ugh i can't for the life of me picture it and it's driving me crazy. NOT because i want to see it sheesh it's because im confused af as to how it looks like lol.
P.S. imo, i really do think you guys need the third book (Wicked Princess) before reading this!!
─────────── ∙ ~εïз~ ∙ ───────────
(08/24/2020)
bad bitch Bianca better make a comeback or else 😤
┊ Royal Hears Academy ┊
#1: cruel prince ↠ 2 stars
#2: ruthless knight ↠ 3.5 stars
#3: wicked princess ↠ 2.25 stars
#4: broken kingdom ↠ 3.75 stars
March 28, 2024
HOLY FRICKIN HELL!!!!
For those that doubted Ashley Jade on Wicked Princess...get ready to grovel! This book is legit EVERYTHING!!!! This book is EXACTLY what was supposed to happen and how.
Now...where to even begin?? I don't even know really. I'm at a loss for words because this book was so incredible. There are not enough words to truly do it justice. Perfection, incredible, amazing, fantastic, beautiful, heart-wrenching...I could go on and on and still not be able to truly get it right.
I loved Cruel Prince. I FLOVED Ruthless Knight. Wicked Princess was just the start to Broken Kingdom...and you are in for one helluva ride!! Broken Kingdom is about to end this series by permanently taking a piece of your heart.
Many authors, when it comes to the last book in a series, drop the ball. They don't tie things up well. It's like they put all their effort into the first couple of books and they knew they needed to churn one out to hit all the major characters, but they just aren't in to it anymore. This is NOT that!! I feel like EVERYTHING was leading up to this. Each book got better and better!
Trust me...TRUST me when I say you're not ready and if this isn't at least in your top 5 (shoot, I really wanna say your #1) for the year, then I don't know what is wrong with you. Trust me when I say take a day off of work...make sure your schedule is cleared because you are not going to want to put this down once you start!!!
TRUST Ashley's vision...trust me on that!!!
TRUST that Ashley wrote the story that the characters told her to write in the way it was always meant to be written!!!
Bianca, Oakley, Stone...even Jace, Cole, Sawyer, and Dylan...they all were written SUPERBLY!!!
I really don't want to get into character development or how I felt about them or anything like that because you really just need to read it to experience it for yourself. Just know that it is EXACTLY what it was always supposed to be.
Broken Kingdom is the 4th book in the Royal Hearts Academy series.
Each book is technically a standalone, but truly should be read in order for the full effect.
If nothing else, definitely read Wicked Princess BEFORE Broken Kingdom, though.
I'm telling you, you really want to read them all...so just do it.
Order of books:
Cruel Prince
Ruthless Knight
Wicked Princess
Broken Kingdom
For those that doubted Ashley Jade on Wicked Princess...get ready to grovel! This book is legit EVERYTHING!!!! This book is EXACTLY what was supposed to happen and how.
Now...where to even begin?? I don't even know really. I'm at a loss for words because this book was so incredible. There are not enough words to truly do it justice. Perfection, incredible, amazing, fantastic, beautiful, heart-wrenching...I could go on and on and still not be able to truly get it right.
I loved Cruel Prince. I FLOVED Ruthless Knight. Wicked Princess was just the start to Broken Kingdom...and you are in for one helluva ride!! Broken Kingdom is about to end this series by permanently taking a piece of your heart.
Many authors, when it comes to the last book in a series, drop the ball. They don't tie things up well. It's like they put all their effort into the first couple of books and they knew they needed to churn one out to hit all the major characters, but they just aren't in to it anymore. This is NOT that!! I feel like EVERYTHING was leading up to this. Each book got better and better!
Trust me...TRUST me when I say you're not ready and if this isn't at least in your top 5 (shoot, I really wanna say your #1) for the year, then I don't know what is wrong with you. Trust me when I say take a day off of work...make sure your schedule is cleared because you are not going to want to put this down once you start!!!
TRUST Ashley's vision...trust me on that!!!
TRUST that Ashley wrote the story that the characters told her to write in the way it was always meant to be written!!!
Bianca, Oakley, Stone...even Jace, Cole, Sawyer, and Dylan...they all were written SUPERBLY!!!
I really don't want to get into character development or how I felt about them or anything like that because you really just need to read it to experience it for yourself. Just know that it is EXACTLY what it was always supposed to be.
Broken Kingdom is the 4th book in the Royal Hearts Academy series.
Each book is technically a standalone, but truly should be read in order for the full effect.
If nothing else, definitely read Wicked Princess BEFORE Broken Kingdom, though.
I'm telling you, you really want to read them all...so just do it.
Order of books:
Cruel Prince
Ruthless Knight
Wicked Princess
Broken Kingdom
October 17, 2020
Sometimes Love Hurts!
Emotional Overload!!!
Grab the tissues! Have you ever read a book that left you physically in pain? No just me???
I swear the thing I love most about Ashley Jade is her ability to evolve as a writer. I had a feeling she was up so something after book three... It's hard to put into words without spoilers... I like to go into her stories blind because you never know what your going to get and the journey is the best part.
I saw so much growth in this book not just in the characters but in the author as well. Ultimately it was a really well written dynamic story. Her characters Perfectly Imperfect. Definitely a must read.
Emotional Overload!!!
Grab the tissues! Have you ever read a book that left you physically in pain? No just me???
I swear the thing I love most about Ashley Jade is her ability to evolve as a writer. I had a feeling she was up so something after book three... It's hard to put into words without spoilers... I like to go into her stories blind because you never know what your going to get and the journey is the best part.
I saw so much growth in this book not just in the characters but in the author as well. Ultimately it was a really well written dynamic story. Her characters Perfectly Imperfect. Definitely a must read.
October 7, 2020
Bianca Covington still hasn't gotten all her memories back since the accident - she has flashbacks, like puzzle pieces that need to be put together. She's supposed to be happy, but feels suffocated - and it's all because of the mysterious man with dirty blond hair who started working at Duke’s Heart. She feels a strange connection to him, but she has no idea who he is... 💥💥💥
📚 "𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐰… 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫." 📚
Oakley Zelenka (my new book boyfriend 💍) has always been the funny guy who used to joke, smoke, drink and fuck his problems away, but he is no longer that person, he's drowning in remorse and guilt. And even though his life has always been pretty complicated, he had his best friends, Jace and Cole Covington by his side - until he did something unforgivable and ruined everything. 💔
Will Oakley continue to blame himself? Or will he fight for what he wants? And what really happened that night when Bianca lost her memory?? 😱
📚 "𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫…
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭." 📚
AAAAAAAH!!!! Holy ANGSTY FEELS!! 🔥🔥🔥
This book ruined me, in the best way possible! To say I loved it would be an understatement... The characters felt so real in my head - it was like they were right in front of me and all their struggles and insecurities became mine... 😭
And the steam levels? So hot, it might actually give you blisters on your fingertips! 🔥
Yet, there is much more to it than that... this book touched so many important issues - and Ashley handled all of them in a sensitive and amazing way. 👑
📚 “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭.”
𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰. “𝐖𝐡𝐲?”
𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐈 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡. “𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐨.” 📚
This book checked all of my boxes - a romance with all the feels and heart stopping moments.
So if you want to swoon, laugh and SWOON SOME MORE then this book has to be your next read!!! 💥💥💥
And hey, if you read Complicated Hearts Duet, you're in for a surprise! 😜
The only things I didn't like were the variety of names given for "pussy", like: hoo-ha, coochie, munching carpets... YIKES, I hate that! 😂
And Stone... damn, I loved him in the previous book, but he is a freaking CREEP! If my husband would dare to wake me up like that, he would still be collecting his body parts from the floor!!!!! 😂😂😂
This is the fourth and last (😭) book in the 'Royal Hearts Academy' series - and should be read in order. 💕
▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️
📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...
📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/
📖 GOOᗪᖇEᗩᗪᔕ: https://bit.ly/3acMRMP
💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕
October 6, 2020
– 3.75 stars
As messy as this book was with all it's issues and drama, I still think Broken Kingdom was a great way to end the RHA series.
✨ rtc ✨
*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ
My prayers have been heard 🙏
BLURB:
Welcome to their broken kingdom.
They say you're happy now.
That you can't remember anything from your past and it's for the best.
They told me if I cared about you I'd stay far away and leave you alone for good.
Because you're getting married to a man you love.
Only problem is...
you loved me first.
you
loved
me
first
👀
Alexa play illicit affairs by taylor swift
Just throwing out theories, but it seems like BK going to have cheating in it. Biancaoakley cheating trope let's do this! Did I ever said that cheating is bad and one of the worse tropes ever? naaaahh, cheating is the best, I fully support cheating 😌✊
We were in love. We were happy. Until one night destroyed it all.
As messy as this book was with all it's issues and drama, I still think Broken Kingdom was a great way to end the RHA series.
✨ rtc ✨
*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ
My prayers have been heard 🙏
BLURB:
Welcome to their broken kingdom.
They say you're happy now.
That you can't remember anything from your past and it's for the best.
They told me if I cared about you I'd stay far away and leave you alone for good.
Because you're getting married to a man you love.
Only problem is...
you loved me first.
you
loved
me
first
👀
Alexa play illicit affairs by taylor swift
Just throwing out theories, but it seems like BK going to have cheating in it. Biancaoakley cheating trope let's do this! Did I ever said that cheating is bad and one of the worse tropes ever? naaaahh, cheating is the best, I fully support cheating 😌✊
September 14, 2020
The conclusion of Wicked Princess! OMG it was everything and then some.
"Loving gives someone the power to break you...and if you give the wrong man that power...he'll shatter your heart and ruin you."
Ashley really out did herself here. She said to trust the journey, trust the story, and believe in her. It was worth honoring all of that. Worth. It.
She might love him now...But she loved me first.
Even when I hated her.
This series is really a must read for anyone. It's flawless, unique, and absolutely electric. Ashley Jade had us eating from the palm of her hand from book one till the conclusion here in Broken Kingdom. This is a top ten of the year book for sure. It's just flat-out amazing.
His name is both a warning and a plea.
A fight between heaven and hell.
Right and wrong.
ARC provided to me
"Loving gives someone the power to break you...and if you give the wrong man that power...he'll shatter your heart and ruin you."
Ashley really out did herself here. She said to trust the journey, trust the story, and believe in her. It was worth honoring all of that. Worth. It.
She might love him now...But she loved me first.
Even when I hated her.
This series is really a must read for anyone. It's flawless, unique, and absolutely electric. Ashley Jade had us eating from the palm of her hand from book one till the conclusion here in Broken Kingdom. This is a top ten of the year book for sure. It's just flat-out amazing.
His name is both a warning and a plea.
A fight between heaven and hell.
Right and wrong.
ARC provided to me
October 6, 2020
***5 BROKEN I-WANT-YOU-BACK CROWNS***
Weeks after reading Broken Kingdom, I still can't stop thinking about Bianca and Oakley.
I knew – I just knew – that Wicked Princess was not the end of Bianca’s journey. Sure, B and Stone made a cute couple; there was definitely some chemistry between them. But let’s admit, it wasn’t the can’t-live-without-you and you’re-my-soulmate kind of chemistry I’ve grown to expect from an A. Jade book. Having said that, I’m so glad Ashley explored this relationship before Bianca officially ended up with her endgame, Oakley, because it makes her story that much more authentic while eliminating the possibilities of what-ifs, you know?
Oakley, Oakley, Oakley… Where do I even start with this boy?
I was drawn to him from the very first book, but wasn’t expecting just how much depth his character had. The stoner bad boy with the pretty boy looks. The broken man beneath the jester exterior. Destined to fail in life regardless of his privileged upbringing. I was not ready for Oakley Zelenka to own me this much – heart, body and soul.
B’s feisty and take-no-prisoners personality complements Oak’s so well. As Bianca slowly gets parts of her memory back, filling in all the blanks and questions we had during Wicked Princess, and Oakley’s involvement becomes more known and clear, I was left reeling – in the best way. Their moments of vulnerability and sexy times had me swooning and melting in the same breath. It’s bittersweet that this is the final instalment of the Royal Hearts Academy series, I’m going to miss these characters so damn much!
**Note: Broken Kingdom is the fourth and final book in the Royal Hearts Academy series. To fully enjoy the series, it is best to read in order.
Weeks after reading Broken Kingdom, I still can't stop thinking about Bianca and Oakley.
I knew – I just knew – that Wicked Princess was not the end of Bianca’s journey. Sure, B and Stone made a cute couple; there was definitely some chemistry between them. But let’s admit, it wasn’t the can’t-live-without-you and you’re-my-soulmate kind of chemistry I’ve grown to expect from an A. Jade book. Having said that, I’m so glad Ashley explored this relationship before Bianca officially ended up with her endgame, Oakley, because it makes her story that much more authentic while eliminating the possibilities of what-ifs, you know?
Oakley, Oakley, Oakley… Where do I even start with this boy?
I was drawn to him from the very first book, but wasn’t expecting just how much depth his character had. The stoner bad boy with the pretty boy looks. The broken man beneath the jester exterior. Destined to fail in life regardless of his privileged upbringing. I was not ready for Oakley Zelenka to own me this much – heart, body and soul.
B’s feisty and take-no-prisoners personality complements Oak’s so well. As Bianca slowly gets parts of her memory back, filling in all the blanks and questions we had during Wicked Princess, and Oakley’s involvement becomes more known and clear, I was left reeling – in the best way. Their moments of vulnerability and sexy times had me swooning and melting in the same breath. It’s bittersweet that this is the final instalment of the Royal Hearts Academy series, I’m going to miss these characters so damn much!
**Note: Broken Kingdom is the fourth and final book in the Royal Hearts Academy series. To fully enjoy the series, it is best to read in order.
October 5, 2020
This is an early review from ARC
5 DELICIOUS AND MESSY STARS
You can say for sure that Ashley put her soul in this one and what a beautiful soul she has.
This book was everything I expected and more. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to throw my kindle on the wall —and then get back because I really needed more Oakley and Bianca words—
I was lived, I was angry, cursing sometimes and making “oun” noise like a crazy person talking to herself in the middle of the night.
The ending WAS EVERYTHING.
My only regret from this book it was reading to fast because I have a huge hangover now.
IN SHORT, THIS BOOK RUINED ME FOR OTHER BOOKS I’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IT WAS UTTER PERFECTION — just like Oakley—
From reading this one you can clearly see a that this author has a gift, AND THANK GOD FOR THAT.
SO ASHLEY,
After this book I’ll literally read everything you write because yours words are water and I’m thirsty.
Thank you for being you.
5 DELICIOUS AND MESSY STARS
You can say for sure that Ashley put her soul in this one and what a beautiful soul she has.
This book was everything I expected and more. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to throw my kindle on the wall —and then get back because I really needed more Oakley and Bianca words—
I was lived, I was angry, cursing sometimes and making “oun” noise like a crazy person talking to herself in the middle of the night.
The ending WAS EVERYTHING.
My only regret from this book it was reading to fast because I have a huge hangover now.
IN SHORT, THIS BOOK RUINED ME FOR OTHER BOOKS I’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IT WAS UTTER PERFECTION — just like Oakley—
From reading this one you can clearly see a that this author has a gift, AND THANK GOD FOR THAT.
SO ASHLEY,
After this book I’ll literally read everything you write because yours words are water and I’m thirsty.
Thank you for being you.
October 9, 2020
YESSSSSSSSSS! THIS WAS THE ENDING I NEEDED!
I was aboard the Wicked Princess was eh train, but this. THIS. SAVED. ME. The redemption I craved. The whole truth came out for EVERYTHING and I was not ready. But I LOVED every minute of it.
I was aboard the Wicked Princess was eh train, but this. THIS. SAVED. ME. The redemption I craved. The whole truth came out for EVERYTHING and I was not ready. But I LOVED every minute of it.
October 7, 2020
4 Stars
Before I read Broken Kingdom
I was that person who didn't like Wicked Princess at all.
I was that person who didn't like Bianca at all.
I was that person who hoped for Oakley to have another love interest, anyone besides Bianca.
After reading Broken Kingdom
Ashley was right, we just had to trust her.
Now I completely understand why Wicked Princess had to happen, even though I still don't like the Bianca I read over there, that incident had to happen because I feel like that was the only way for Oakley to get his shit together.
The only feelings that have stayed strong with me even after reading this book is my dislike towards Stone. That good for nothing mother lover.
Plot
There is really not much of what I can say, it's pretty obvious what the books about.
Simple.
Bianca realizing what a dickhead Stone is and going after the man she is actually in love with.
Characters
Bianca
The old Bianca is FINALLLLLLLLLY back, just a little less bitchier........ But still persistent as ever...... and evil, just ask Stone
It's like Ashley answered my prayers and delivered a better version of Bianca at my doorstep. I actually liked the past Bianca at the same time the present Bianca in this book.
In the past, her relationship with Oakley was messed up at first, how she kept throwing herself at him and being rejected but the good thing was every time Oakley rejected her she went and got herself eaten by his ex girlfriend or fuck buddy so I was fine with it. At least she was getting it from someone else.
But I actually felt really bad for her and was low key glad she lost her memories and ended up with Stone for a short period of time because if the accident didn't happen, Bianca wouldn't have let Oakley go and he would have just dragged her down with him.
But that doesn't mean I like Stone. Not even one bit. When Bianca finally told him off for the first time I was soooooooo happy! Like FINALLY I was waiting for her to snap at him.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening with Mr. Kelp and your—” I make air quotes. “’Terrific study buddy.’” Waving both my middle fingers in the air, I saunter toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
Stone
Let's get him out of the way first before I can talk about my sweet and amazing Oakley.
My dislike for this man reached to a new level. There was this one scene where I almost felt bad for him, being in a situation where you get to know the woman you love doesn't want you anymore. Like I felt bad but for only 0.122 seconds because he fucked it up. And I was here like Mickey! Seriously? You fell for that!
I don't feel bad for him at all. I was HOPING that Oakley and Bianca would fuck and I WANTED Stone to walk in on them. More specifically I wanted him to walk in while Oakley was going down on Bianca and for her to be like
Hey! dumbass this is how you go down on someone, please take notes
Also Lmao when he was trying to convince Bianca to let him "fix things"
“I love you, Bianca. And I hate how things have been between us lately.” He gets down on one knee. “But I’ll do anything, and I mean anything to fix this…fix us
I was like
Like son, you have no chance. Now shoo. Go to mama dearest and ask her if you can go take a dump since you like pleasing her so much.
Oakley
I mean I had no doubt in my mind that he would be amazing. I had an instant love connection with Oakley.
My heart broke for him, the struggles he has been through all his life. We get to read about it with front row seats. And then after the accident, the guilt he had, it was so deep that he didn't want to be let off the hook easily. He wanted to be punished. And I just wanted Bianca to remember him ASAP and heal his wounds. Be there for my baby. Because if anyone deserved a happy ending it was that man. It didn't take long for Bianca to feel her connection with Oakley but it did take them very long to do something about it.
I don't condone cheating but here I was like "Please please please fuck and let Stone catch you". I needed it. So bad. Plus you can't tease me with past scenes and not expect me to want more sins to be committed in the present.
Besides Bianca and Oakley, I just want to point out my favorite bromance scene ever.
The sound of someone sniffing has us both turning to Cole. Jace’s expression twists in horror. “Motherfucker, are you crying?” “Nah, man,” Cole says, rolling his shoulders back. “They got some onions up in this bitch or something.”
Yup I love Cole.
Also OMG since Book 1, the scene I was waiting for finally happened. For Crystal to be put in her place. First by Daddy Wayne who is officially a legend in my books
”And once I tell the judge you started an affair with my son when he was only sixteen, he’s going to realize that you have no goddamn business being around children.”
Mic-fucking-drop.
and then by Bianca.
“Pedophile,” I yell and point as she walks away. “That woman is a pedophile.”
Let’s all now pray for Crystal
To conclude, I was wrong Bianca and Oakley are perfect for each other.
“In fact, you should start apologizing and kissing my ass now.” My thumb hits my chest. “Because I’m gonna be your daughter-in-law one day and I’ve been known to hold one hell of a grudge. Just ask Dylan.”
“What are you doing?” I type Wayne’s name into the keyboard. “Texting your dad.” I warned the man that I was going to be his daughter-in-law one day.
Before I read Broken Kingdom
I was that person who didn't like Wicked Princess at all.
I was that person who didn't like Bianca at all.
I was that person who hoped for Oakley to have another love interest, anyone besides Bianca.
After reading Broken Kingdom
Ashley was right, we just had to trust her.
Now I completely understand why Wicked Princess had to happen, even though I still don't like the Bianca I read over there, that incident had to happen because I feel like that was the only way for Oakley to get his shit together.
The only feelings that have stayed strong with me even after reading this book is my dislike towards Stone. That good for nothing mother lover.
Plot
There is really not much of what I can say, it's pretty obvious what the books about.
Simple.
Bianca realizing what a dickhead Stone is and going after the man she is actually in love with.
Characters
Bianca
The old Bianca is FINALLLLLLLLLY back, just a little less bitchier........ But still persistent as ever...... and evil, just ask Stone
It's like Ashley answered my prayers and delivered a better version of Bianca at my doorstep. I actually liked the past Bianca at the same time the present Bianca in this book.
In the past, her relationship with Oakley was messed up at first, how she kept throwing herself at him and being rejected but the good thing was every time Oakley rejected her she went and got herself eaten by his ex girlfriend or fuck buddy so I was fine with it. At least she was getting it from someone else.
But I actually felt really bad for her and was low key glad she lost her memories and ended up with Stone for a short period of time because if the accident didn't happen, Bianca wouldn't have let Oakley go and he would have just dragged her down with him.
But that doesn't mean I like Stone. Not even one bit. When Bianca finally told him off for the first time I was soooooooo happy! Like FINALLY I was waiting for her to snap at him.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening with Mr. Kelp and your—” I make air quotes. “’Terrific study buddy.’” Waving both my middle fingers in the air, I saunter toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
Stone
Let's get him out of the way first before I can talk about my sweet and amazing Oakley.
My dislike for this man reached to a new level. There was this one scene where I almost felt bad for him, being in a situation where you get to know the woman you love doesn't want you anymore. Like I felt bad but for only 0.122 seconds because he fucked it up. And I was here like Mickey! Seriously? You fell for that!
I don't feel bad for him at all. I was HOPING that Oakley and Bianca would fuck and I WANTED Stone to walk in on them. More specifically I wanted him to walk in while Oakley was going down on Bianca and for her to be like
Hey! dumbass this is how you go down on someone, please take notes
Also Lmao when he was trying to convince Bianca to let him "fix things"
“I love you, Bianca. And I hate how things have been between us lately.” He gets down on one knee. “But I’ll do anything, and I mean anything to fix this…fix us
I was like
Like son, you have no chance. Now shoo. Go to mama dearest and ask her if you can go take a dump since you like pleasing her so much.
Oakley
I mean I had no doubt in my mind that he would be amazing. I had an instant love connection with Oakley.
My heart broke for him, the struggles he has been through all his life. We get to read about it with front row seats. And then after the accident, the guilt he had, it was so deep that he didn't want to be let off the hook easily. He wanted to be punished. And I just wanted Bianca to remember him ASAP and heal his wounds. Be there for my baby. Because if anyone deserved a happy ending it was that man. It didn't take long for Bianca to feel her connection with Oakley but it did take them very long to do something about it.
I don't condone cheating but here I was like "Please please please fuck and let Stone catch you". I needed it. So bad. Plus you can't tease me with past scenes and not expect me to want more sins to be committed in the present.
Besides Bianca and Oakley, I just want to point out my favorite bromance scene ever.
The sound of someone sniffing has us both turning to Cole. Jace’s expression twists in horror. “Motherfucker, are you crying?” “Nah, man,” Cole says, rolling his shoulders back. “They got some onions up in this bitch or something.”
Yup I love Cole.
Also OMG since Book 1, the scene I was waiting for finally happened. For Crystal to be put in her place. First by Daddy Wayne who is officially a legend in my books
”And once I tell the judge you started an affair with my son when he was only sixteen, he’s going to realize that you have no goddamn business being around children.”
Mic-fucking-drop.
and then by Bianca.
“Pedophile,” I yell and point as she walks away. “That woman is a pedophile.”
Let’s all now pray for Crystal
To conclude, I was wrong Bianca and Oakley are perfect for each other.
“In fact, you should start apologizing and kissing my ass now.” My thumb hits my chest. “Because I’m gonna be your daughter-in-law one day and I’ve been known to hold one hell of a grudge. Just ask Dylan.”
“What are you doing?” I type Wayne’s name into the keyboard. “Texting your dad.” I warned the man that I was going to be his daughter-in-law one day.
October 7, 2020
I AM A MESS. Because this book, oh man, this book shredded my heart and then lovingly squeezed it over and over again. This series has been EVERYTHING. I loved it all- he angst, the secrets, the pain, the insane chemistry- but most importantly, these complex, flawed, radically imperfect humans. Broken Kingdom is epic romance at its finest- heartache, unbeatable odds, feuds, secrets, and an unbreakable soul mate bond that nothing- not time, memory, family, anger or hate- can fully sever.
I had NO idea what to expect with this book- and you shouldn’t either. Read the whole series, read Wicked Princess, avoid anything else, and come to this with fresh eyes. Like Bianca, you want to be in the dark. This is our final journey in this Royal Heart Kingdom- and there are no unsullied princes and princesses here. This is just broken people trying their best to find themselves, to find their path, to unravel the hurt and pain they’ve caused others, each other, and themselves. Two people trying to see through the smog of all that has been toxic, destructive, and broken- to be brave enough to see and LIVE the truth. To learn from their mistakes. Their story is authentic, raw, arduous, and emotionally arresting- but beautiful.
I say this with love, but I hope all haters GET it now. Wicked Princess served a very important role for Bianca - we’re so used to assuming that it is HEA and that the purpose of a story is romance. But, Bianca needed more than that. This girl could not be healed by finding love- she had to learn to love and forgive herself first. And the only way that happened was if she truly confronted everything. She needed to heal- what this woman was carrying under the surface, the ways in which she was hurting, the pain and guilt and fragility- it was just festering to the surface, bubbling out in her cruelty, vindictiveness, apparently selfishness. It wasn’t that- it was a cry for help that no one saw or understood. Save for one man. Looking back now, I admire and love Wicked Princess even more. Bianca wasn’t ready for love, for light, for happiness- because she was too broken, too lost. Nothing excuses her actions, in fact, Ashley doesn’t let her off the hook at all- she makes her suffer as she confronts who and what she was- for two whole books. But that is why Bianca’s redemptive arc is so powerful- she had the furthest to go, the most to expose, and we didn’t even know the half of it. I did not know who Bianca was...or IS...until Broken Kingdom. And I could not have done that without Wicked Princess.
But here is one of the many pieces of magic of Broken Kingdom- because we realize that Oakley needed Wicked Princess, too. We didn’t know why, we didn’t know how, but Broken Kingdom tells and reveals all. But both of these characters have to reconcile who they were with who they are...so that they can become who they want to be. Both of these characters have been drowning in pain and secrets and self-hate for so long it is a miracle they even had any heart left. But they do- they have so much, it was just calcified under their festering wounds- under Oakley’s party-guy, drugged out shield, under Bianca’s weaponized venom. And when you have that kind of pain, that kind of hurt- only those who share it sometimes can see it. They see each other- so freaking beautifully. But their path is not easy. They both have to find a way to love themselves, to make amends, to fight away their own darkness in pain before they can truly find a way to each other. ALL while they are retracing the trip that led them to this turning point. And that, that is SO incredibly painful. Because they have said and done HORRIBLE HORRIBLE things. Things we knew- and things we did not. These two had to be completely broken, destroyed, erased even in order to find their way.
This series is master class on character development- on redemption. The way Ashley has built and evolved these characters- they are SO real, so complex and nuanced, truly mesmerizing. I never thought I would say this, but I love Bianca. Her heart, her soul, once unleashed, are so beautiful. I tear up just thinking about the powerful journey Ashley has given this woman. And I loved seeing her discover her past- starting to see pieces of former self merge with her newer self. This isn’t the Bianca we knew before, or in Wicked Princess, this is the fully transparent Bianca- the free one. And OAKLEY? I thought no one would ever do it for me like Cole, but Oakley steals this whole series. He was always captivating and alluring, but I had no idea what was bubbling under the surface. This man’s heart, his soul? Well, it takes my breath away just how beautiful he is- despite all his fault, all his wrongs. These two are the furthest from perfect- in fact, they are villains in their own stories, but their story? Well, it is perfect. It is beautiful and liberating and powerful- the best kind of pain and redemption.
This is one of my favorite series of all time- and this book? This book is a crowning achievement. Ashley has so thoughtfully woven all the threads, built the story from book 1, so that everything can lead to this magical moment- when ALL of these characters we love- these flawed, broken, vulnerable and emotional characters we love- can finally come full circle and emerge as the beautiful butterflies they got for Liam. We realize that their books are not the sum. Cole, Oakley, Bianca, and Jace confront it all here- take the final step forward. Their Kingdom is, in fact, broken- but they can still be whole.
The Royal Hearts have shown us just how hard love can be- of any kind. And sometimes the best love, the most deep love, is painful. You can love so much you hurt- not just yourself but others. These characters have hurt for love, because of it, but also been healed and redeemed for it, because of it. I cried so much while reading this- experiences a veritable cornucopia of emotions that are so tangled up inside my heart that I’ll never unravel them. And I don’t want to- I want them to stay in a big emotional knot right in the center of my heart, because I am not ready to let this series go. I’ve loved everything about it- but what I’ve loved the most is Ashley’s brave story telling. She’s given us characters who are not always good, characters who are messed up. She’s been true to them, to their story- exposing some of the hard truths we as humans face everyday. She’s confronted humanity- with love, with honesty, with hope. This journey was messy, painful, hard, bittersweet, beautiful- and captivating. But now, now the universe is right, even if I’m not ready to say goodbye.
Thank you, Ashley, for staying true to you. True to this story. True to these characters. They mean more to me than you could ever know.
I had NO idea what to expect with this book- and you shouldn’t either. Read the whole series, read Wicked Princess, avoid anything else, and come to this with fresh eyes. Like Bianca, you want to be in the dark. This is our final journey in this Royal Heart Kingdom- and there are no unsullied princes and princesses here. This is just broken people trying their best to find themselves, to find their path, to unravel the hurt and pain they’ve caused others, each other, and themselves. Two people trying to see through the smog of all that has been toxic, destructive, and broken- to be brave enough to see and LIVE the truth. To learn from their mistakes. Their story is authentic, raw, arduous, and emotionally arresting- but beautiful.
I say this with love, but I hope all haters GET it now. Wicked Princess served a very important role for Bianca - we’re so used to assuming that it is HEA and that the purpose of a story is romance. But, Bianca needed more than that. This girl could not be healed by finding love- she had to learn to love and forgive herself first. And the only way that happened was if she truly confronted everything. She needed to heal- what this woman was carrying under the surface, the ways in which she was hurting, the pain and guilt and fragility- it was just festering to the surface, bubbling out in her cruelty, vindictiveness, apparently selfishness. It wasn’t that- it was a cry for help that no one saw or understood. Save for one man. Looking back now, I admire and love Wicked Princess even more. Bianca wasn’t ready for love, for light, for happiness- because she was too broken, too lost. Nothing excuses her actions, in fact, Ashley doesn’t let her off the hook at all- she makes her suffer as she confronts who and what she was- for two whole books. But that is why Bianca’s redemptive arc is so powerful- she had the furthest to go, the most to expose, and we didn’t even know the half of it. I did not know who Bianca was...or IS...until Broken Kingdom. And I could not have done that without Wicked Princess.
But here is one of the many pieces of magic of Broken Kingdom- because we realize that Oakley needed Wicked Princess, too. We didn’t know why, we didn’t know how, but Broken Kingdom tells and reveals all. But both of these characters have to reconcile who they were with who they are...so that they can become who they want to be. Both of these characters have been drowning in pain and secrets and self-hate for so long it is a miracle they even had any heart left. But they do- they have so much, it was just calcified under their festering wounds- under Oakley’s party-guy, drugged out shield, under Bianca’s weaponized venom. And when you have that kind of pain, that kind of hurt- only those who share it sometimes can see it. They see each other- so freaking beautifully. But their path is not easy. They both have to find a way to love themselves, to make amends, to fight away their own darkness in pain before they can truly find a way to each other. ALL while they are retracing the trip that led them to this turning point. And that, that is SO incredibly painful. Because they have said and done HORRIBLE HORRIBLE things. Things we knew- and things we did not. These two had to be completely broken, destroyed, erased even in order to find their way.
This series is master class on character development- on redemption. The way Ashley has built and evolved these characters- they are SO real, so complex and nuanced, truly mesmerizing. I never thought I would say this, but I love Bianca. Her heart, her soul, once unleashed, are so beautiful. I tear up just thinking about the powerful journey Ashley has given this woman. And I loved seeing her discover her past- starting to see pieces of former self merge with her newer self. This isn’t the Bianca we knew before, or in Wicked Princess, this is the fully transparent Bianca- the free one. And OAKLEY? I thought no one would ever do it for me like Cole, but Oakley steals this whole series. He was always captivating and alluring, but I had no idea what was bubbling under the surface. This man’s heart, his soul? Well, it takes my breath away just how beautiful he is- despite all his fault, all his wrongs. These two are the furthest from perfect- in fact, they are villains in their own stories, but their story? Well, it is perfect. It is beautiful and liberating and powerful- the best kind of pain and redemption.
This is one of my favorite series of all time- and this book? This book is a crowning achievement. Ashley has so thoughtfully woven all the threads, built the story from book 1, so that everything can lead to this magical moment- when ALL of these characters we love- these flawed, broken, vulnerable and emotional characters we love- can finally come full circle and emerge as the beautiful butterflies they got for Liam. We realize that their books are not the sum. Cole, Oakley, Bianca, and Jace confront it all here- take the final step forward. Their Kingdom is, in fact, broken- but they can still be whole.
The Royal Hearts have shown us just how hard love can be- of any kind. And sometimes the best love, the most deep love, is painful. You can love so much you hurt- not just yourself but others. These characters have hurt for love, because of it, but also been healed and redeemed for it, because of it. I cried so much while reading this- experiences a veritable cornucopia of emotions that are so tangled up inside my heart that I’ll never unravel them. And I don’t want to- I want them to stay in a big emotional knot right in the center of my heart, because I am not ready to let this series go. I’ve loved everything about it- but what I’ve loved the most is Ashley’s brave story telling. She’s given us characters who are not always good, characters who are messed up. She’s been true to them, to their story- exposing some of the hard truths we as humans face everyday. She’s confronted humanity- with love, with honesty, with hope. This journey was messy, painful, hard, bittersweet, beautiful- and captivating. But now, now the universe is right, even if I’m not ready to say goodbye.
Thank you, Ashley, for staying true to you. True to this story. True to these characters. They mean more to me than you could ever know.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 21, 2021
Right, time to finally review this!
I waffled for ages between 4 stars and 5, but eventually I had to give it 4.5. I've rounded up, pretty much on the strength of the last 1/3 (and especially the epilogue) alone.
Have I been on the generous side? Sure. But there are things that made me inclined to be generous.
Let's actually get into it...
So, at the start of this book, Bianca is engaged to Stone and at uni with him. She ends up running across Oakley without recognising him. He obviously recognises her and tries half-heartedly to stay away from her because those are her brothers' wishes, before eventually folding and starting a 'friendship.' She slowly gets her memories back the whole time.
The main selling point for most of the book is that we get a lot of flashbacks where Bianca is her glorious old self. I am, to be brutally honest, never going to NOT feel like her character has had something fundamental eviscerated from it. She was obviously not a good person. But she deserved, I think, to be who she was, and not have that snatched away from her via the artificial means of a car wreck. I struggled with the first half of the book, because it was so painful to contrast her new self with the old one we get in the flashbacks. There's just no competition. Old Bianca might have been a bad person, but she was confident and unapologetic and all of the things we love male characters to be.
I did however enjoy the second half of the book a lot more. Bianca recovers some of her old self and it makes the story a lot more enjoyable.
I also really like Oak... he's pretty laid-back compared to the other heroes. He's kind of beta but I truly don't mean that as an insult - it's a relaxed personality trait and I think Ashley Jade stayed true to his character in the POV chapters, in a way that felt very authentic. I also love his relationship with Bianca and I'm impressed at how convinced I am that he loves her ANY way, old personality or new.
Stone... well. I did guess the way he was going to end. It's a little demoralising, in the sense that it seems to suggest one can't rise above one's background, and it did provide Bianca with another 'easy way out' (like the crash was an easy way to change her personality). But I certainly don't think it's a racist portrayal, which I believe has been claimed.
This review is a little rushed since I'm back at uni now and one of my best friends is waiting for me, but I hope I've communicated how I feel! On the whole I thought it was infinitely better than the last book, though Sawyer and Cole are probably still my favourites.
My pre-review is in the spoiler tag.
_____
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
I waffled for ages between 4 stars and 5, but eventually I had to give it 4.5. I've rounded up, pretty much on the strength of the last 1/3 (and especially the epilogue) alone.
Have I been on the generous side? Sure. But there are things that made me inclined to be generous.
Let's actually get into it...
So, at the start of this book, Bianca is engaged to Stone and at uni with him. She ends up running across Oakley without recognising him. He obviously recognises her and tries half-heartedly to stay away from her because those are her brothers' wishes, before eventually folding and starting a 'friendship.' She slowly gets her memories back the whole time.
The main selling point for most of the book is that we get a lot of flashbacks where Bianca is her glorious old self. I am, to be brutally honest, never going to NOT feel like her character has had something fundamental eviscerated from it. She was obviously not a good person. But she deserved, I think, to be who she was, and not have that snatched away from her via the artificial means of a car wreck. I struggled with the first half of the book, because it was so painful to contrast her new self with the old one we get in the flashbacks. There's just no competition. Old Bianca might have been a bad person, but she was confident and unapologetic and all of the things we love male characters to be.
I did however enjoy the second half of the book a lot more. Bianca recovers some of her old self and it makes the story a lot more enjoyable.
I also really like Oak... he's pretty laid-back compared to the other heroes. He's kind of beta but I truly don't mean that as an insult - it's a relaxed personality trait and I think Ashley Jade stayed true to his character in the POV chapters, in a way that felt very authentic. I also love his relationship with Bianca and I'm impressed at how convinced I am that he loves her ANY way, old personality or new.
Stone... well. I did guess the way he was going to end. It's a little demoralising, in the sense that it seems to suggest one can't rise above one's background, and it did provide Bianca with another 'easy way out' (like the crash was an easy way to change her personality). But I certainly don't think it's a racist portrayal, which I believe has been claimed.
This review is a little rushed since I'm back at uni now and one of my best friends is waiting for me, but I hope I've communicated how I feel! On the whole I thought it was infinitely better than the last book, though Sawyer and Cole are probably still my favourites.
My pre-review is in the spoiler tag.
_____
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
October 7, 2020
Rise and shine Oakbianca nation, we are finally getting the treats we deserve after so much suffering in wicked princess. I will start by saying that broken kingdom has completely reached my expectations and that it was very worth waiting so long to read about this incredible couple.
Well, it may seem extremely cliché but to me Oakley Zelenka and Bianca Covington came to prove that when two souls are destined to be together, they will be able to find their way back to each other, no matter what happens. The beginning of the book shows a scenario of a lot of guilt and regret that surrounds the main character and throughout history we follow the way he will deal with these feelings. Bianca, on the other hand, is still extremely lost, because even though some time has passed since her accident, much of her past has not been told to her by her family and that is why she feels that something very important for her is still missing.
At the end of wicked princess, Bianca was in a relationship that was clearly not healthy, which is even more evident in BK, Oakley was not mentioned in any scene and that moment at the end of the book in which suggest that he was in jail left me extremely confused and anxious for the next book to arrive soon, and really broken kingdom came to clarify all those loose ends that had been left in wp and to make us understand everything that was really happening.
“Two broken pieces of the same soul” this phrase of the book represents the couple very much, both went through tragic moments in their lives, suffered in many ways and were completely broken, but together they worked, helped each other to heal all scars from the traumas experienced, they NEEDDED each other. The emotional connection they have is beautiful and reading we realize that even when bianca herself had not yet discovered herself ,oak continued to know her
better than anyone.
One thing that interested me since the first books was how their relationship was going to start and look, when BK shows their scenes from the past WOW, these two had LOTS of chemistry since always and all the provocations at the beginning of the book, that was such a preliminary, I just loved it. One of my favorite things about the book was that at the same time that these two exuded a sexual tension that was about to explode (and I swear the hots in that book were my favorites in the series), there were VERY CUTE scenes too that made me fall in love even more with the couple.
When I take cruel prince Oakley and Bianca and compare it with broken kingdom Oakley and Bianca, I realize how much the two characters have matured and developed perfectly throughout the books, and in broken kingdom even more, both are complex and strong characters for being able to overcome their traumas and find happiness and even better, find happiness in each other. About their development as a couple, in my opinion, it was impeccable, it is really difficult to put into words how incredible this couple really is, the trust they had in each other and how they came together to fight each of their demons is very cool and look, if there is something that is not missing for this couple is suffering, their relationship path had many happy moments but also sad and difficult moments (which I cried in each one of them), so knowing that they made this relationship making it work and forming a perfect family makes me very, very happy, if you have two characters who deserve peace and a bright future, that’s oak and Bianca.
The story of the book is very good and it get me from beginning to end, I really devoured that book and only managed to stop when I finished. I loved every moment, including the sad ones because these really made the characters grow and become even stronger and united with those they love. Now speaking of the secondary characters, I love the Covington family very much and let's say that a family member surprised me a lot in reading (sorry I cursed you in the other books!), There were scenes in which I was very stressed with jace and Cole but I understand that they were doing what they thought was the best, in the end even after turbulent moments and fights we see how much they really love and care for each other. The Zelenka family (oak his father and his sister) also provided us lots of cute scenes, oak's dad also stressed me out at times but I understand that like the covingtons, he was just trying to do what he thought was best.
As I already said, I loved the whole book, but I will make an honorable mention for the last chapters and epilogues, look I’ve reread them 3 times in the last hours, it’s PERFECT. Ashley managed to close the series impeccably in the epilogues, showing a little of the future of the other characters as well, how they are united and finally having the happiness they deserve. I laughed, cried, wanted to get into the book to strangle some characters (Crystal and Stone got into the chat!), And I fell in love even more with the main ones, oakbianca took the position of my favorite royal hearts couple and it was completely deserved, these two have my heart and Ashley did an excellent job writing this book, I am sad that it is the last book in the series but it was an incredible closure, which has already left a feeling of love for all couples, without a doubt, broken kingdom was for me, a 5 star book.
Thanks for coming to my ted talk lol , but now gotta go reread bk because I am already missing my babies !
Well, it may seem extremely cliché but to me Oakley Zelenka and Bianca Covington came to prove that when two souls are destined to be together, they will be able to find their way back to each other, no matter what happens. The beginning of the book shows a scenario of a lot of guilt and regret that surrounds the main character and throughout history we follow the way he will deal with these feelings. Bianca, on the other hand, is still extremely lost, because even though some time has passed since her accident, much of her past has not been told to her by her family and that is why she feels that something very important for her is still missing.
At the end of wicked princess, Bianca was in a relationship that was clearly not healthy, which is even more evident in BK, Oakley was not mentioned in any scene and that moment at the end of the book in which suggest that he was in jail left me extremely confused and anxious for the next book to arrive soon, and really broken kingdom came to clarify all those loose ends that had been left in wp and to make us understand everything that was really happening.
“Two broken pieces of the same soul” this phrase of the book represents the couple very much, both went through tragic moments in their lives, suffered in many ways and were completely broken, but together they worked, helped each other to heal all scars from the traumas experienced, they NEEDDED each other. The emotional connection they have is beautiful and reading we realize that even when bianca herself had not yet discovered herself ,oak continued to know her
better than anyone.
One thing that interested me since the first books was how their relationship was going to start and look, when BK shows their scenes from the past WOW, these two had LOTS of chemistry since always and all the provocations at the beginning of the book, that was such a preliminary, I just loved it. One of my favorite things about the book was that at the same time that these two exuded a sexual tension that was about to explode (and I swear the hots in that book were my favorites in the series), there were VERY CUTE scenes too that made me fall in love even more with the couple.
When I take cruel prince Oakley and Bianca and compare it with broken kingdom Oakley and Bianca, I realize how much the two characters have matured and developed perfectly throughout the books, and in broken kingdom even more, both are complex and strong characters for being able to overcome their traumas and find happiness and even better, find happiness in each other. About their development as a couple, in my opinion, it was impeccable, it is really difficult to put into words how incredible this couple really is, the trust they had in each other and how they came together to fight each of their demons is very cool and look, if there is something that is not missing for this couple is suffering, their relationship path had many happy moments but also sad and difficult moments (which I cried in each one of them), so knowing that they made this relationship making it work and forming a perfect family makes me very, very happy, if you have two characters who deserve peace and a bright future, that’s oak and Bianca.
The story of the book is very good and it get me from beginning to end, I really devoured that book and only managed to stop when I finished. I loved every moment, including the sad ones because these really made the characters grow and become even stronger and united with those they love. Now speaking of the secondary characters, I love the Covington family very much and let's say that a family member surprised me a lot in reading (sorry I cursed you in the other books!), There were scenes in which I was very stressed with jace and Cole but I understand that they were doing what they thought was the best, in the end even after turbulent moments and fights we see how much they really love and care for each other. The Zelenka family (oak his father and his sister) also provided us lots of cute scenes, oak's dad also stressed me out at times but I understand that like the covingtons, he was just trying to do what he thought was best.
As I already said, I loved the whole book, but I will make an honorable mention for the last chapters and epilogues, look I’ve reread them 3 times in the last hours, it’s PERFECT. Ashley managed to close the series impeccably in the epilogues, showing a little of the future of the other characters as well, how they are united and finally having the happiness they deserve. I laughed, cried, wanted to get into the book to strangle some characters (Crystal and Stone got into the chat!), And I fell in love even more with the main ones, oakbianca took the position of my favorite royal hearts couple and it was completely deserved, these two have my heart and Ashley did an excellent job writing this book, I am sad that it is the last book in the series but it was an incredible closure, which has already left a feeling of love for all couples, without a doubt, broken kingdom was for me, a 5 star book.
Thanks for coming to my ted talk lol , but now gotta go reread bk because I am already missing my babies !
October 9, 2020
5 Oakley’s Baby girl Crowns
I have died. I am dead. I am a mess of quivering emotions. This book was so much more than I could EVER have hoped for. Ashley has taken us to a whole new level with Oakley and Bianca’s story and the gut wrenching, heart shredding journey they are on. This is a book that you cannot prepare yourself for, the emotions that Ashley extracts from you will leave you beyond drained but also completely sated. This is the type of story that you wish you could read for the first time all over, just so you could feel these emotions for the first time again.
So, I thought Jace was my favorite and then Ruthless Knight came out and Cole took his place, but then this book happened and Oakley has blown them both out of the water. This man isn’t perfect by any means, he’s made many mistakes in his life. But, his unwavering loyalty and the love that he carries for the people around him will make your heart melt like butter on a hot day. He’s raw and real and he doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what he is. You can feel his emotions pouring from the pages quite literally, they flow over you like waves in the ocean completely submerging you in the intensity of them.
The boy that he was and the man that he becomes are so much the same but different at the same time. Watching as he grows and learns maturing into this person will cause a visceral reaction making your heart physically ache with his journey. Ashley had me feeling so many things for him and everything that he’s gone through. So much so, that I just wanted to reach into this book and hold him, telling him that he deserves so much more then he’s settled for.
Real talk I never thought I’d like Bianca, but I should have known that if anyone can make me like a character that I previously hated it would be Ashley. She brings this authenticity to her in this book and it has you looking at her in a whole new light. Seeing as the Bianca of the present tries to come to terms with who she was and who she is now was also exceptionally heartbreaking. Each new revelation and memory sends her back to the person she never wants to be again. The dichotomy between who she was and who she’s now become was amazing to watch. As the story progresses you can see the change in her as she melds the two pieces of herself together to make a new version of her, one that’s stronger than her past and her accident. She’s the strongest heroine I think I’ve read in a long time. Her strength comes from accepting the wrongs that she’s done and trying to learn and be better. She also made many mistakes in her life, she doesn’t deny them she owns them and that in itself makes her stronger than so many others.
This story broke me, the characters and the journey was so real and intense that you could feel every, single, emotion, burning from the pages. The very honest and deep connection between her and Oakley is one that I craved. The moments of them in the past and the ones of them in the present will have you eating up the pages in the book. I flew through page after page just completely and utterly lost to their story and what was to come. I fell deep into this world that Ashley has created and I didn’t want to come back out. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would because it deserves all the stars and more. This is without a doubt a TOP read for me and I can’t wait to dive back in and reread it over and over again.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
I have died. I am dead. I am a mess of quivering emotions. This book was so much more than I could EVER have hoped for. Ashley has taken us to a whole new level with Oakley and Bianca’s story and the gut wrenching, heart shredding journey they are on. This is a book that you cannot prepare yourself for, the emotions that Ashley extracts from you will leave you beyond drained but also completely sated. This is the type of story that you wish you could read for the first time all over, just so you could feel these emotions for the first time again.
So, I thought Jace was my favorite and then Ruthless Knight came out and Cole took his place, but then this book happened and Oakley has blown them both out of the water. This man isn’t perfect by any means, he’s made many mistakes in his life. But, his unwavering loyalty and the love that he carries for the people around him will make your heart melt like butter on a hot day. He’s raw and real and he doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what he is. You can feel his emotions pouring from the pages quite literally, they flow over you like waves in the ocean completely submerging you in the intensity of them.
The boy that he was and the man that he becomes are so much the same but different at the same time. Watching as he grows and learns maturing into this person will cause a visceral reaction making your heart physically ache with his journey. Ashley had me feeling so many things for him and everything that he’s gone through. So much so, that I just wanted to reach into this book and hold him, telling him that he deserves so much more then he’s settled for.
Real talk I never thought I’d like Bianca, but I should have known that if anyone can make me like a character that I previously hated it would be Ashley. She brings this authenticity to her in this book and it has you looking at her in a whole new light. Seeing as the Bianca of the present tries to come to terms with who she was and who she is now was also exceptionally heartbreaking. Each new revelation and memory sends her back to the person she never wants to be again. The dichotomy between who she was and who she’s now become was amazing to watch. As the story progresses you can see the change in her as she melds the two pieces of herself together to make a new version of her, one that’s stronger than her past and her accident. She’s the strongest heroine I think I’ve read in a long time. Her strength comes from accepting the wrongs that she’s done and trying to learn and be better. She also made many mistakes in her life, she doesn’t deny them she owns them and that in itself makes her stronger than so many others.
This story broke me, the characters and the journey was so real and intense that you could feel every, single, emotion, burning from the pages. The very honest and deep connection between her and Oakley is one that I craved. The moments of them in the past and the ones of them in the present will have you eating up the pages in the book. I flew through page after page just completely and utterly lost to their story and what was to come. I fell deep into this world that Ashley has created and I didn’t want to come back out. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would because it deserves all the stars and more. This is without a doubt a TOP read for me and I can’t wait to dive back in and reread it over and over again.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
October 7, 2020
It has taken me all freakin day to write these words. I stayed up until 230am reading this book and had an array of emotions while reading and after it was over. Oakley’s story really hit home to me which made it a little harder for me to read without crying (that’s a story for another day) however I was laughing in the next breath. After the cliffy of Wicked Princess (which you must read prior to this book, it’s also imperative to read Cruel Prince and Ruthless Knight before and they need to be read in order)I was so nervous about getting this book. Now that it’s over I’m devastated because I want to go back and experience them for the first time all over again.
5 THIS is how you wrap up a series stars!!!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
AJ shattered every expectation I had for this book! She SHOOK me to my core with the secrets,made me laugh with the humor and inner dialogue, and she made me cry with the emotions both Bianca and Oakley had and shared.
As I said in my WP review I wasn’t crazy about losing that snarky sassy B...at 80% of this book I was singing Elton Johns “The Bitch is Back” because although she was different she found that inner B and gave as good as she got! Bianca had to find a balance between her old self and the new and the way Ashley wrote it was BRILLIANT!
We get to see what made her who she was and the remorse she felt for being that way which made her a little more human to me. She was refreshing in this book. I found myself smiling so much at the banter between her and the gang. You could tell that she was fighting hard to find out who she was and what she had had and what she wanted. She harbored so much guilt and carried so many secrets and when she gave way to revealing these I believe that’s when she finally made peace with herself and started to heal. Her relationship with Oakley was tumultuous to say the least but it was real.
Oakley, HAVE MERCY🔥🔥🔥his filthy mouth,wicked tongue, hilarious antics and loyal beautiful heart made him my favorite bbf of the series. The deck was stacked against him and he took that sh*t like a man! His character arc was such a vital part of the story. To see him transform, take responsibility (FINALLY), take a chance on something and become BETTER made me swoon and bawl my eyes out! What a life he had led. His heart was a shattered organ in his chest and he used every negative thing he could find to cope until he didn’t, until he found the one thing that righted him.
My favorite passage in probably the whole book was this...
“We will never becomes butterflies”
“Caterpillars are cool too. You get to hang upside down and you have over a thousand muscles but no bones. That’s some bada** sh*t”😭🤣
I was sobbing then i was laughing. Just real talk and funny as hell!
He was like that throughout and that’s what made him unique and so very special!
Aaaaaaand The EPILOGUE!!!!!!! Oh M GEEEE!!! Perfect ending to a phenomenal series! I was squalling and laughing at...again!
Ashely took this to a new level! She wrote this in dual POV alternating between past and present. It was done so spectacularly that I couldn’t put it down from the first word of the prologue (although I had to because..you know...parenting🤬).
She wrote a YA/NA series that was so much more! The heat factor in all 4 books was great but this book was SCORCHING HOT🔥🔥🔥🔥
This was about secrets, making mistakes, loss, love, betrayal, heartbreak, transforming to become better, righting wrongs, realizing that you can be tough without being horrible and most of all family. The Covington’s are dysfunctional as all get out but they knew what being loyal and being siblings was all about!
There are so many things I could say but I don’t want to spoil anything, suffice it to say this is on my Top Reads of 2020 for a reason! It was an epic read for me and I strongly suggest picking up the first book Cruel Intentions and carry on!!! Brilliant series that you can’t put down!
Angst🌟🌟🌟
Cheating None
Sexy Time🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🔥🔥🔥
Epilogue 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Plot🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
*I was given the opportunity to read an early copy by the author*
5 THIS is how you wrap up a series stars!!!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
AJ shattered every expectation I had for this book! She SHOOK me to my core with the secrets,made me laugh with the humor and inner dialogue, and she made me cry with the emotions both Bianca and Oakley had and shared.
As I said in my WP review I wasn’t crazy about losing that snarky sassy B...at 80% of this book I was singing Elton Johns “The Bitch is Back” because although she was different she found that inner B and gave as good as she got! Bianca had to find a balance between her old self and the new and the way Ashley wrote it was BRILLIANT!
We get to see what made her who she was and the remorse she felt for being that way which made her a little more human to me. She was refreshing in this book. I found myself smiling so much at the banter between her and the gang. You could tell that she was fighting hard to find out who she was and what she had had and what she wanted. She harbored so much guilt and carried so many secrets and when she gave way to revealing these I believe that’s when she finally made peace with herself and started to heal. Her relationship with Oakley was tumultuous to say the least but it was real.
Oakley, HAVE MERCY🔥🔥🔥his filthy mouth,wicked tongue, hilarious antics and loyal beautiful heart made him my favorite bbf of the series. The deck was stacked against him and he took that sh*t like a man! His character arc was such a vital part of the story. To see him transform, take responsibility (FINALLY), take a chance on something and become BETTER made me swoon and bawl my eyes out! What a life he had led. His heart was a shattered organ in his chest and he used every negative thing he could find to cope until he didn’t, until he found the one thing that righted him.
My favorite passage in probably the whole book was this...
“We will never becomes butterflies”
“Caterpillars are cool too. You get to hang upside down and you have over a thousand muscles but no bones. That’s some bada** sh*t”😭🤣
I was sobbing then i was laughing. Just real talk and funny as hell!
He was like that throughout and that’s what made him unique and so very special!
Aaaaaaand The EPILOGUE!!!!!!! Oh M GEEEE!!! Perfect ending to a phenomenal series! I was squalling and laughing at...again!
Ashely took this to a new level! She wrote this in dual POV alternating between past and present. It was done so spectacularly that I couldn’t put it down from the first word of the prologue (although I had to because..you know...parenting🤬).
She wrote a YA/NA series that was so much more! The heat factor in all 4 books was great but this book was SCORCHING HOT🔥🔥🔥🔥
This was about secrets, making mistakes, loss, love, betrayal, heartbreak, transforming to become better, righting wrongs, realizing that you can be tough without being horrible and most of all family. The Covington’s are dysfunctional as all get out but they knew what being loyal and being siblings was all about!
There are so many things I could say but I don’t want to spoil anything, suffice it to say this is on my Top Reads of 2020 for a reason! It was an epic read for me and I strongly suggest picking up the first book Cruel Intentions and carry on!!! Brilliant series that you can’t put down!
Angst🌟🌟🌟
Cheating None
Sexy Time🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🔥🔥🔥
Epilogue 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Plot🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
*I was given the opportunity to read an early copy by the author*
October 6, 2020
Broken Kingdom is Book Four in the Royal Hearts Academy Series. This Book is a continuation from Wicked Princess and Wicked Princess must be read before diving into this book.
After reading Wicked Princess, I knew from the moment I started this book that this wasn’t the end for Biancas Story. That it was only just the beginning.
There just had to be more, and I hate to say it. But I told you so. Stone and Bianca were a couple I liked, but they weren’t one I loved. They didn’t give me the soul mates, two souls connected vibes. There was just something missing, like a big something missing and we all knew what that something was, a certain guy person. A guy who’s name is Oakley and gives the best O’s.
You’ve been warned people, have your tissues and you’re alcohol beverages ready because this book is a doozy.
It’s been mere minutes and seconds since I finished this book, how does one write a book that completely flipped their world by doing a 180.
Well let me tell you, you just dive in head first and see where it takes you from there.
Without a doubt this book is easy a top read of 2020 for me, from the moment that I met Oakley I knew that his book was going to be life changing and life changing it was. This book had such an emotional impact on me, that just from the prologue. You are hit with a mother fucking truck load of emotions being piled at you. In the prologue itself I was tearing up and I knew it was just the beginning.
Nothing, and I mean nothing could have prepared me for what I just read. My mind, my emotions and my heart are running wild. I am still in a high and I can feel it slowly coming down. As I was reading this book I felt like a junkie coming back for her fix, I needed it like my life depended on it. There is so much to be said about this book and to be honest, I don’t even think my review could do this book justice.
Broken Kingdom, Oakley and Biancas story was my favourite. It was so painful, heartbreaking, raw, honest and more importantly real. We get to see so much inside these characters heads that you feel like you are them, that you are walking alongside them feeling everything that they are feeling. The flashbacks and the dual POVS were my most favourite part as I felt closer to them and everything was so much clearer and you got to see things from each side and perspective.
I love all the layers to Bianca. Underneath her hard exterior she has such a genuine heart. I just love her so much. A girl who has been through so much and has the ability to continue fighting, she is a complete champion and queen in my eyes.
Oakley, where do I even start with this guy? Like come on. I was drawn to him like no other, I wanted to peel back every layer of him and find out what each of those layers represent. This guy has been through so much and my heart physically hurts for him. Underneath his good looks, is a man who is broken, so broken that you wonder if he will ever be the same again.
Together, these two have been through the unthinkable. It is their time to tell us their story of what happened before, after and the now. It’s time for us to really find out everything. The question is will they survive and be able to rekindle what they had or will the many challenges, and twist turns hold them back and push them further apart.
Well that’s only for you to find out, prepare your heart to be split in two and watch a perfectly imperfect love story play like a movie inside your head.
This author deserves a round of applause for this book, she completely flawed me. As much as a complex story this book is and these characters are, you blended w so perfectly! Everything about this book was E.P.I.C.
If this isn’t a series you’ve read yet, then I don’t know what you’re waiting for as you will want to meet these characters and love their stories. Bianca and Oakley will forever hold a piece of my heart, they have inked their souls onto mine.
After reading Wicked Princess, I knew from the moment I started this book that this wasn’t the end for Biancas Story. That it was only just the beginning.
There just had to be more, and I hate to say it. But I told you so. Stone and Bianca were a couple I liked, but they weren’t one I loved. They didn’t give me the soul mates, two souls connected vibes. There was just something missing, like a big something missing and we all knew what that something was, a certain guy person. A guy who’s name is Oakley and gives the best O’s.
You’ve been warned people, have your tissues and you’re alcohol beverages ready because this book is a doozy.
It’s been mere minutes and seconds since I finished this book, how does one write a book that completely flipped their world by doing a 180.
Well let me tell you, you just dive in head first and see where it takes you from there.
Without a doubt this book is easy a top read of 2020 for me, from the moment that I met Oakley I knew that his book was going to be life changing and life changing it was. This book had such an emotional impact on me, that just from the prologue. You are hit with a mother fucking truck load of emotions being piled at you. In the prologue itself I was tearing up and I knew it was just the beginning.
Nothing, and I mean nothing could have prepared me for what I just read. My mind, my emotions and my heart are running wild. I am still in a high and I can feel it slowly coming down. As I was reading this book I felt like a junkie coming back for her fix, I needed it like my life depended on it. There is so much to be said about this book and to be honest, I don’t even think my review could do this book justice.
Broken Kingdom, Oakley and Biancas story was my favourite. It was so painful, heartbreaking, raw, honest and more importantly real. We get to see so much inside these characters heads that you feel like you are them, that you are walking alongside them feeling everything that they are feeling. The flashbacks and the dual POVS were my most favourite part as I felt closer to them and everything was so much clearer and you got to see things from each side and perspective.
I love all the layers to Bianca. Underneath her hard exterior she has such a genuine heart. I just love her so much. A girl who has been through so much and has the ability to continue fighting, she is a complete champion and queen in my eyes.
Oakley, where do I even start with this guy? Like come on. I was drawn to him like no other, I wanted to peel back every layer of him and find out what each of those layers represent. This guy has been through so much and my heart physically hurts for him. Underneath his good looks, is a man who is broken, so broken that you wonder if he will ever be the same again.
Together, these two have been through the unthinkable. It is their time to tell us their story of what happened before, after and the now. It’s time for us to really find out everything. The question is will they survive and be able to rekindle what they had or will the many challenges, and twist turns hold them back and push them further apart.
Well that’s only for you to find out, prepare your heart to be split in two and watch a perfectly imperfect love story play like a movie inside your head.
This author deserves a round of applause for this book, she completely flawed me. As much as a complex story this book is and these characters are, you blended w so perfectly! Everything about this book was E.P.I.C.
If this isn’t a series you’ve read yet, then I don’t know what you’re waiting for as you will want to meet these characters and love their stories. Bianca and Oakley will forever hold a piece of my heart, they have inked their souls onto mine.
February 8, 2021
4 stars
Broken Kingdom is the fourth and I believe final book in Ashley Jade’s ‘Royal Hearts Academy’ book, and I have been so excited to get to it. I couldn’t wait to get to Oakley’s story. As much as I didn’t love book 3 in this series, I toughed it out to get to this one and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint!
This story was told in the present time and with flashbacks. I loved seeing Bianca and Oakley’s past relationship unfold and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I was shocked with some of the twists and this one hooked me from the start.
Bianca became more of her old self as the book went on, and I loved that. I also loved Oak. Definitely one of the best heroes in the series. This one had so much angst, so many feels, and I enjoyed it so much! Jade ended this series on a high note and I couldn’t have been happier.
She hurt me in ways she doesn’t remember. And I hurt her in ways I can’t forget
Broken Kingdom is the fourth and I believe final book in Ashley Jade’s ‘Royal Hearts Academy’ book, and I have been so excited to get to it. I couldn’t wait to get to Oakley’s story. As much as I didn’t love book 3 in this series, I toughed it out to get to this one and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint!
This story was told in the present time and with flashbacks. I loved seeing Bianca and Oakley’s past relationship unfold and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I was shocked with some of the twists and this one hooked me from the start.
Bianca became more of her old self as the book went on, and I loved that. I also loved Oak. Definitely one of the best heroes in the series. This one had so much angst, so many feels, and I enjoyed it so much! Jade ended this series on a high note and I couldn’t have been happier.
Audio book source: Audible (purchased)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Lila Winters and Teddy Hamilton
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (New Adult)
Length: 14 hours and 15 minutes
October 3, 2020
What a freaking ride. If you haven't read at least Wicked Princess do so before reading Broken Kingdom.
Broken Kingdom is the final book in the Royal Hearts Academy Series and what an ending it was. It always amazes me that every time I read a new Ashely Jade book I say oh shit I found my favorite. I thought Ruthless Knight the second book in this series was my top one in this series and then Ashley goes and does this shit to me.
I don’t like giving spoilers or just repeating what the hell happened in the book you’ll have to read it yourself, but I will say Broken Kingdom starts pretty much where Wicked Princess leaves off. So make sure you read that before heading into BK because then you’ll be lost as fuck plus why the hell wouldn’t you read all the books in this fantastic series. Ashely Jade once again brings all the angst and the feels to BK, I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh one minute because the banter between these characters was amazing or cry for all the shit that’s been dropped on their laps.
These two characters were the definition of broken and flawed both trying to regain their lives back in the best ways possible while fighting to either get back what they lost or leave it forever. I was always a cheerleader for Oakley from the beginning when his stoner ass came on the scene and then finding out all the shit he was going through tore me because it’s always those that laugh and smile the hardest that also feel the deepest. And Bianca damn that girl had me always picturing a cat when I thought of her in the first books. You just want to love her and hug her while she's scratching your face off, but you know deep down that little fucker loves the attention you’re giving her. I was like give this damn girl a fucking hug.
Well, I’ve gone off and got deep here, just read this series trust me you won’t regret it. Broken Kingdom was as satisfying as putting in that final puzzle piece and seeing the picture complete. It was everything I needed and more. And the surprise cameos in this oh my god just made it go that extra mile. Ashley Jade, you broke me and put me back together so many times through this whole series both fuck you for breaking me in the first place but thank you for putting me back together.
Broken Kingdom is the final book in the Royal Hearts Academy Series and what an ending it was. It always amazes me that every time I read a new Ashely Jade book I say oh shit I found my favorite. I thought Ruthless Knight the second book in this series was my top one in this series and then Ashley goes and does this shit to me.
I don’t like giving spoilers or just repeating what the hell happened in the book you’ll have to read it yourself, but I will say Broken Kingdom starts pretty much where Wicked Princess leaves off. So make sure you read that before heading into BK because then you’ll be lost as fuck plus why the hell wouldn’t you read all the books in this fantastic series. Ashely Jade once again brings all the angst and the feels to BK, I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh one minute because the banter between these characters was amazing or cry for all the shit that’s been dropped on their laps.
These two characters were the definition of broken and flawed both trying to regain their lives back in the best ways possible while fighting to either get back what they lost or leave it forever. I was always a cheerleader for Oakley from the beginning when his stoner ass came on the scene and then finding out all the shit he was going through tore me because it’s always those that laugh and smile the hardest that also feel the deepest. And Bianca damn that girl had me always picturing a cat when I thought of her in the first books. You just want to love her and hug her while she's scratching your face off, but you know deep down that little fucker loves the attention you’re giving her. I was like give this damn girl a fucking hug.
Well, I’ve gone off and got deep here, just read this series trust me you won’t regret it. Broken Kingdom was as satisfying as putting in that final puzzle piece and seeing the picture complete. It was everything I needed and more. And the surprise cameos in this oh my god just made it go that extra mile. Ashley Jade, you broke me and put me back together so many times through this whole series both fuck you for breaking me in the first place but thank you for putting me back together.
October 13, 2020
I would say I'm sorry for this rambling review, but since this is a space for a personal opinion... there goes mine, and I'm not sorry at all!
Raw
Emotional
Messed up
Heartbroken
Passionate
Addictive
Intense
That's a few words a can use to describe this book. I've just finished and I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed...
I have cried in the prologue, for God sake!
P.R.O.L.O.G.U.E.
I have to bend and say that Ashley was really bold to do things the way she did with this story. She's a wicked little genius, actually.
Let me tell this in the right way...
I mean... I was one of the few fans that after reading Cruel Prince and Ruthless Knight, doesn't want Oakley to be with such a heartless bitch as Bianca was.
Since book one, Oakley was my favorite character and that never changed, so what I wanted most for him, was a good and fierce girl who could help him to mend his tortured soul and broken heart.
In my mind, that girl wasn't Bianca.
Never.
I was over the moon when Oakley's book was announced, because "yessss, he'll get his own girl".
Silly girl. Me.
Bianca and Oakley were always two peas in a pod. So opposite in the way that they choose to deal with their demons, that I could not see a connection.
Until now.
Until I could hear Oakley's voice.
Until Broken Kingdom.
And holy shit... How broken this kingdom is!
I loved this book!
I was stunned as how the author was able to change my mind in every single opinion that I held against Bianca and Oakley as a couple.
You have to read Wicked Princess and Broken Kingdom as a single book, because that's what they are.
I no longer hate Bianca (obviously).
Oakley is in a downfall suffer since he was a little boy, abandoned by his junkie mother, and his mommy issues were engraved deep in his soul. He was always the heart of the party, the drugged, the dumb friend, the drunk easy lay, the carefree...
But deep down he just wanted to stop feeling. To numb the pain.
Bianca had her own issues and demons, the only difference is that she choose to become a royal bitch to hide her scars.
There's so much going on in this book, that I couldn't stop reading even for a second, afraid of miss something important.
And everything was important!
I looooved how Dylan and Sawyer were always by Oakley's side, even when he was at his lowest.
Oakley and Bianca endgame were meant to be, but not in a forced way... From the moment they exchanged their first kiss, that was it... Oakley had no eyes for anyone else! Bianca was the only one for him!
Their relationship is so well constructed and full of ups and downs just like in real life.
I've cried, laugh and struggled in this book but I'm also extremely happy at how it ended.
I'll miss them. 🧡😭
ARC Reviewer
🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 Review em Português 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Cru
Emocional
Bagunçado
De coração partido
Apaixonado
Viciante
Intenso
Essas são algumas palavras que podemos usar para descrever este livro. Acabei de terminar e ainda me sinto um pouco sobrecarregada...
Eu chorei no prólogo, pelo amor de Deus!
P.R.Ó.L.O.G.O.
Tenho que me curvar e dizer que Ashley foi realmente ousada em fazer as coisas do jeito que fez com essa história. Ela é um pequeno gênio perverso, na verdade.
Deixe-me dizer isso da maneira certa ...
Quer dizer... eu era uma das poucas fãs que depois de ler Cruel Prince e Ruthless Knight, não queria que Oakley ficasse com uma vadia sem coração, como a Bianca era.
Desde o primeiro livro, Oakley era meu personagem favorito e isso nunca mudou, então o que eu mais queria para ele, era uma garota boa e feroz, que pudesse ajudá-lo a consertar sua alma torturada e coração partido.
Na minha cabeça, aquela garota não era a Bianca.
Nunca.
Fiquei maravilhada quando o livro do Oakley foi anunciado, porque "sim, ele vai ficar com sua própria garota".
Garota tola. Eu.
Bianca e Oakley sempre foram duas ervilhas em uma vagem. Mas tão opostos na maneira que eles escolheram para lidar com seus demônios, que eu não pude ver uma conexão entre eles.
Até agora.
Até que eu pudesse ouvir a voz de Oakley.
Até Broken Kingdom.
E puta merda... Como esse reino está quebrado!
Adorei esse livro!
Fiquei surpresa ao ver como a autora foi capaz de mudar minha mente em cada opinião que tive contra Bianca e Oakley como um casal.
Você tem que ler Wicked Princess e Broken Kingdom como um único livro, porque é o que eles são.
Eu não odeio mais a Bianca (obviamente).
Oakley está sofrendo ladeira abaixo desde que era um garotinho, abandonado por sua mãe drogada, e assim as suas inseguranças estavam gravadas no fundo de sua alma.
Ele sempre foi o coração da festa, o drogado, o amigo estúpido, o bêbado pra uns transa fácil, o despreocupado...
Mas no fundo, ele só queria parar de sentir. Para anestesiar a dor.
Bianca tinha seus próprios problemas e demônios, a única diferença é que ela escolheu se tornar uma cadela real para esconder suas cicatrizes.
Há tanta coisa acontecendo neste livro, que eu não conseguia parar de ler nem por um segundo, com medo de perder algo importante.
E tudo era importante!
Eu amei como a Dylan e a Sawyer estavam sempre ao lado de Oakley, mesmo quando ele estava no seu pior.
O endgame de Oakley e Bianca era destinado a acontecer, mas não de uma forma forçada... Desde o momento que eles trocaram o primeiro beijo, era isso... Oakley não tinha mais olhos pra ninguém! Bianca era a única pra ele!
O relacionamento deles é tão bem construído e cheio de altos e baixos como na vida real.
Eu chorei, ri e lutei nesse livro, mas também estou extremamente feliz com a forma como ele terminou.
Vou sentir falta deles. 😭🧡
ARC Reviewer
October 5, 2020
I honestly don't know where to start?? Broken Kingdom is the conclusion of the Royal Hearts Academy and the conclusion of Bianca's story. But besides conclusions, it was the beginning of Oakley's story, his side and his thoughts as well. I fell so deeply with Bianca and Oakley's story that was full of hurt, loss, but above all, love and loyalty.
I learned so much from both characters. From their flaws to their upbringings and redemption to what occurred in the past. Character development is such an important aspect in books and it really shows in the book. It's not only from the main characters, but even the side characters. With Bianca and Oakley, Ashley Jade wrote their story so well. From every single chapter I was so intrigued with these characters and their capabilities throughout the things they experienced but only together, but as a individuals.
Bianca Covington will always be considered a strong character for me. As she ended up becoming someone who she wasn't before, it still didn't feel right to her being who she became after an accident that she experienced. To actually have the strength to confront the wrong-doings of your past self and to own up to them is something that really interested me. To see the person that she has become at the end of the story was amazing. It was the version of herself that she felt comfortable with and made her feel so alive. The person that didn't have so much weight on her shoulders and was able to feel whole.
Oakley Zelenka really surprised me. From the previous books I was so intrigued by him as a side character that now having is POV was amazing. I got to know more about who he is and his thoughts. His character is so different in a way that words won't ever feel right but reading his POV of everything that happened explains the way I see him, and as I'm sure that so many other readers do as well. Ashley Jade really did a great job writing his characteristics and his way of thinking.
I just want to appreciate Ashley Jade for writing this book. For writing about characters who even in the weakest of times, their strength held them up alongside their love. Bianca and Oakley were two broken souls mended together to be stronger than anything. Characters with flaws that made their story feel so raw and simply out there. A story where you can take so much from and learn to see things in so many ways. I totally recommend people to give these characters a chance. Especially this series. I'm sad to see this series end but it couldn't have ended in any better way. With this book full of truths and surprises, ends a book series full of flawless characters who ended up having the ending that simply felt true to them..
I learned so much from both characters. From their flaws to their upbringings and redemption to what occurred in the past. Character development is such an important aspect in books and it really shows in the book. It's not only from the main characters, but even the side characters. With Bianca and Oakley, Ashley Jade wrote their story so well. From every single chapter I was so intrigued with these characters and their capabilities throughout the things they experienced but only together, but as a individuals.
Bianca Covington will always be considered a strong character for me. As she ended up becoming someone who she wasn't before, it still didn't feel right to her being who she became after an accident that she experienced. To actually have the strength to confront the wrong-doings of your past self and to own up to them is something that really interested me. To see the person that she has become at the end of the story was amazing. It was the version of herself that she felt comfortable with and made her feel so alive. The person that didn't have so much weight on her shoulders and was able to feel whole.
Oakley Zelenka really surprised me. From the previous books I was so intrigued by him as a side character that now having is POV was amazing. I got to know more about who he is and his thoughts. His character is so different in a way that words won't ever feel right but reading his POV of everything that happened explains the way I see him, and as I'm sure that so many other readers do as well. Ashley Jade really did a great job writing his characteristics and his way of thinking.
I just want to appreciate Ashley Jade for writing this book. For writing about characters who even in the weakest of times, their strength held them up alongside their love. Bianca and Oakley were two broken souls mended together to be stronger than anything. Characters with flaws that made their story feel so raw and simply out there. A story where you can take so much from and learn to see things in so many ways. I totally recommend people to give these characters a chance. Especially this series. I'm sad to see this series end but it couldn't have ended in any better way. With this book full of truths and surprises, ends a book series full of flawless characters who ended up having the ending that simply felt true to them..
October 7, 2020
{I received this as an ARC in exchange for an Honest review}
“We were in love. We were happy. Until one night destroyed it all.”
Oh my God “Broken Kingdom” was so freaking Epic!!! I loved it. It had one twist and surprise after another and I could not get enough. I never wanted to put it down. I do have to say that when I read “Wicked Princess” I did not know that “Broken Kingdom” would be coming next. I did really enjoy Bianca and Stone but I could feel something missing just like Bianca. Thankfully Oakley came in to fill in the gap in Bianca’s heart and mind. These two have the best chemistry. Man seeing them being friends and falling back in love and falling in love for the first time was the best. The back and forth between present and past was so good. It did switch a lot but it made the book so interesting. I seriously LOVE Bianca and Oakley. It was the perfect blend of angst and suspense and pure love. It is sexy and so incredible. This is the PERFECT end to the “Royal Hearts” series. It is so freaking special and so much more amazing than I can describe!! I LOVE this book so much!! It is EVERYTHING!
“We were in love. We were happy. Until one night destroyed it all.”
Oh my God “Broken Kingdom” was so freaking Epic!!! I loved it. It had one twist and surprise after another and I could not get enough. I never wanted to put it down. I do have to say that when I read “Wicked Princess” I did not know that “Broken Kingdom” would be coming next. I did really enjoy Bianca and Stone but I could feel something missing just like Bianca. Thankfully Oakley came in to fill in the gap in Bianca’s heart and mind. These two have the best chemistry. Man seeing them being friends and falling back in love and falling in love for the first time was the best. The back and forth between present and past was so good. It did switch a lot but it made the book so interesting. I seriously LOVE Bianca and Oakley. It was the perfect blend of angst and suspense and pure love. It is sexy and so incredible. This is the PERFECT end to the “Royal Hearts” series. It is so freaking special and so much more amazing than I can describe!! I LOVE this book so much!! It is EVERYTHING!
October 11, 2020
This one was definitely way better than the previous book, which left me pretty disappointed... No use in lying about it.
Bianca was a completely different person in Wicked Princess and even though I am not always a fan of her bitchiness... I am glad she slowly changed back to her former self.
As far as Stone is concerned, I really disliked the dude, in this book as well as the previous book. I just wish Biance would have kicked is ass way back... but hey, at least she came to her senses... We will just blame her grave misjudgment of character on her amnesia... (even though she knew shit was NOT right)
Anyhow... nothing but praise for Oakley... Now he really stole this book for me. I have loved him since book one and I will never ever stop. He was the bomb!!
So I am very happy to say that this was another awesome emotional rollercoaster I got to ride and I am glad to distance myself from the disappointment I felt after finishing the previous book.
Sidenote: I really want to kick Crystal's ass... so badly. She is definitely one of the volest characters I have had to mispleasure of reading about...
Bianca was a completely different person in Wicked Princess and even though I am not always a fan of her bitchiness... I am glad she slowly changed back to her former self.
As far as Stone is concerned, I really disliked the dude, in this book as well as the previous book. I just wish Biance would have kicked is ass way back... but hey, at least she came to her senses... We will just blame her grave misjudgment of character on her amnesia... (even though she knew shit was NOT right)
Anyhow... nothing but praise for Oakley... Now he really stole this book for me. I have loved him since book one and I will never ever stop. He was the bomb!!
So I am very happy to say that this was another awesome emotional rollercoaster I got to ride and I am glad to distance myself from the disappointment I felt after finishing the previous book.
Sidenote: I really want to kick Crystal's ass... so badly. She is definitely one of the volest characters I have had to mispleasure of reading about...
April 19, 2021
biancaoakley <33
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March 16, 2021
Reread: 03/15/21
OakleyBianca hurting my heart, but healing it in the best way possible and i love them for making me feel things. 🥺 lowkey wanna reread ColeSawyer as well cause i miss them. 😭
p.s. damn, i hate it here. i used to have this long ass review for BK where the review was simply filled with my favorite quotes/scenes from the book and it disappeared. my hand was hurting from all the typing and now it's a waste, rip- 🥴
OakleyBianca hurting my heart, but healing it in the best way possible and i love them for making me feel things. 🥺 lowkey wanna reread ColeSawyer as well cause i miss them. 😭
p.s. damn, i hate it here. i used to have this long ass review for BK where the review was simply filled with my favorite quotes/scenes from the book and it disappeared. my hand was hurting from all the typing and now it's a waste, rip- 🥴
August 3, 2021
I am absolutely heartbroken that this series is finished. I loved every minute of reading about this family and it was a privilege to read each of their stories.
Ugh Bianca and Oakley literally own every single piece of my entire heart after reading this. I didn’t think I’d like Bianca because of how she was in the first two books but after watching her go through the worst times of her life, I love her so much, she and Oakley had the best character development. Her and Oakley were honestly meant to be.
The ending killed me, it was so perfect and so beautiful. I’m so close to rereading the four books that's how much I love them. If you need a good romance series to read, this is it!! ♾/5⭐️ for these books and the Covington siblings.
“Traces of you
Traces of me
What a beautiful tragedy we could be.”
Ugh Bianca and Oakley literally own every single piece of my entire heart after reading this. I didn’t think I’d like Bianca because of how she was in the first two books but after watching her go through the worst times of her life, I love her so much, she and Oakley had the best character development. Her and Oakley were honestly meant to be.
The ending killed me, it was so perfect and so beautiful. I’m so close to rereading the four books that's how much I love them. If you need a good romance series to read, this is it!! ♾/5⭐️ for these books and the Covington siblings.
“Traces of you
Traces of me
What a beautiful tragedy we could be.”
October 5, 2020
4.25 stars
i have so many thoughts, rtc.
08.25.20
so the blurb had been posted!
𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬 ...
𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.
biancaoakley endgame secured.
08.20.20
im ready for biancaoakley endgame
i have so many thoughts, rtc.
08.25.20
so the blurb had been posted!
𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬 ...
𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.
biancaoakley endgame secured.
08.20.20
im ready for biancaoakley endgame
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