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The Broken #1
The Broken
Cursa Dram exists for one thing and one thing only: to take life. Born into the struggling remains of a decimated tribe, he was still a child when people stopped using his name, when they began to refer to him as Death itself. He was nine years old when the world presumed he had no heart, and he was fifteen on the day that presumption became true. Since then, all his dreams have been of violence. The mage who laid waste to Cursa Dram’s people has long been dead, but his legacy lives on, in his daughter. The queen of Medarrha is vile and bloodless, her cruelty unmatched. She is the only monster alive that might claim to be Cursa Dram’s equal. Indeed, she may prove to be the only creature that he cannot fight, and yet—of all creatures living, she is the one that most deserves to be destroyed.
Isobel exists for one thing and one thing only: to give life. As queen, it is her destiny to create new life, to give birth to the next king—the next war mage. And yet, for seven years, she has failed. Even the life she gives of her hands, the healing magic she was born with, does not function without a terrible price. No one in Isobel’s kingdom knows the monster she really is. In all the world, there is not a soul who understands just how richly the queen of Medarrha deserves to be destroyed.
This story is dark. Please see author website for sensitivity information.
Isobel exists for one thing and one thing only: to give life. As queen, it is her destiny to create new life, to give birth to the next king—the next war mage. And yet, for seven years, she has failed. Even the life she gives of her hands, the healing magic she was born with, does not function without a terrible price. No one in Isobel’s kingdom knows the monster she really is. In all the world, there is not a soul who understands just how richly the queen of Medarrha deserves to be destroyed.
This story is dark. Please see author website for sensitivity information.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 30, 2024
DNF @36%
A lot happened in the first quarter of this novel. The characters were introduced with action and drama and also there were assassinations and a government being overthrown and so much exposition.
Unfortunately it's a no from me, because instead of being a banger start, it was difficult to get through.
A lot happened in the first quarter of this novel. The characters were introduced with action and drama and also there were assassinations and a government being overthrown and so much exposition.
Unfortunately it's a no from me, because instead of being a banger start, it was difficult to get through.
June 23, 2022
I absolutely adore this book, and everything about it. The banter, the tension, the magic system, it all comes together beautifully and I had to force myself to stop reading awhile on vacation so I could actually spend time with my family at least some parts of the day. I can not wait for the next book (that damn last chapter and epilogue really did me in).
December 16, 2022
I think this is a debut book for the author, and if that's the case, it's really beautiful and well done. The magic system is unique, the plot is fast-paced and exciting (although relatively easy to follow), and the characters are endearing. The FMC comes into her true power over the course of the book, paired with the MMC who is one of the most deadly people alive and still completely, madly in love with her. There are some awesome side characters (Deros is delightful and I'm so glad that he's joining us in the second book after a bit of a gory scene!) and the epilogue is definitely an exciting cliff hanger that has me looking forward to the second book.
The spice in this book is good, but it's definitely a fantasy book with some spice scenes and not a spice book with some fantasy scenes, ya know? If you're not interested in sitting down and reading some actual plot and world building, this is not the book for you. It's long and in-depth, make sure to give it a fair shot by reading it when you actually have time to focus.
Okay, now for the one major issue I had with it. I am going to put it behind a spoiler, but the trigger warning it's associated with is the "other woman/cheating" trope:
The spice in this book is good, but it's definitely a fantasy book with some spice scenes and not a spice book with some fantasy scenes, ya know? If you're not interested in sitting down and reading some actual plot and world building, this is not the book for you. It's long and in-depth, make sure to give it a fair shot by reading it when you actually have time to focus.
Okay, now for the one major issue I had with it. I am going to put it behind a spoiler, but the trigger warning it's associated with is the "other woman/cheating" trope:
July 5, 2022
I wanted to like this book. I liked the premise. But there was a certain scene that, in my opinion, came out of nowhere. And it ruined the rest of the book for me. You have all these feelings for each other but you can't keep it in your pants for like five minutes?! Nope. Peace out. I'm done. I finished the book to see where it was going, but I completely stopped caring about the characters after that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2022
I stayed up all night to complete this book. I literally could not stop myself from reading it. From the synopsis I expected the story to go in a certain direction and follow the general fantasy romance formula and I love reading that. But this book defied all my expectations. It definitely DID NOT go in the direction I was expecting it to. I was hooked right from the beginning. The plot was fast paced. Things were constantly happening. I was rooting for Isobel and Cursa Dram to be together so bad. I loved their dynamic. They were literally made for each other.
And that ENDING? There is a massive cliffhanger and who knows when the second book will come out. I'm honestly really sad with how it ended and have to admit I was frustrated to have read the entire thing and not have any resolution. The epilogue confused me a lot. I just hope the sequel comes out soon because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. Hopefully this series will end with a happily ever after.
And that ENDING? There is a massive cliffhanger and who knows when the second book will come out. I'm honestly really sad with how it ended and have to admit I was frustrated to have read the entire thing and not have any resolution. The epilogue confused me a lot. I just hope the sequel comes out soon because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. Hopefully this series will end with a happily ever after.
June 15, 2022
Loved it!
Unique. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read book two. “I don’t want another bloodsucking witch, I want you.” “It is far easier than you think, to love someone who has destroyed your world. That much I can promise you.” Amazing Zelie Cole! ❤️
Unique. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read book two. “I don’t want another bloodsucking witch, I want you.” “It is far easier than you think, to love someone who has destroyed your world. That much I can promise you.” Amazing Zelie Cole! ❤️
March 4, 2023
one of the most egregious pregnancy stories I’ve ever read
This book is terrible. All of the characters are incredibly dumb. Like very easy to manipulate, even the ones who are supposedly smart are dumb. And the whole thing is just set up to tell you that women are just incubators and don’t matter? I honestly don’t understand what the point of this book was, other than just a whole bunch of trigger warnings all wrapped up in one of the worst plots I’ve ever had the misfortune to read.
I guess, none of the characters actually matter?? The politics in the world could have been interesting, but they were never used. We hear about the politics mattering, but we don’t actually see that. The main character is just a blank slate. She’s trauma and absolutely nothing else.
If she’s the one that the people love, and the people only like her husband because they think he loves her, and her bloodline is the one that leads….why does she have less than no power? And, for that matter, if this power is passed through her bloodline, why would she not have been raised to understand that it’s normal? And with information needed to raise her future son?
But the ending is just unforgivably bad. Literally turning a woman into nothing more than an incubator. None of the characters, power, politics, etc matter. We literally just tossed them all out. Anything that we thought might be important or interesting is just tossed aside, and left. Nothing gets tied up. Just a very obvious, but disgusting ending.
I strongly recommend against reading this train wreck of a book
This book is terrible. All of the characters are incredibly dumb. Like very easy to manipulate, even the ones who are supposedly smart are dumb. And the whole thing is just set up to tell you that women are just incubators and don’t matter? I honestly don’t understand what the point of this book was, other than just a whole bunch of trigger warnings all wrapped up in one of the worst plots I’ve ever had the misfortune to read.
I guess, none of the characters actually matter?? The politics in the world could have been interesting, but they were never used. We hear about the politics mattering, but we don’t actually see that. The main character is just a blank slate. She’s trauma and absolutely nothing else.
If she’s the one that the people love, and the people only like her husband because they think he loves her, and her bloodline is the one that leads….why does she have less than no power? And, for that matter, if this power is passed through her bloodline, why would she not have been raised to understand that it’s normal? And with information needed to raise her future son?
But the ending is just unforgivably bad. Literally turning a woman into nothing more than an incubator. None of the characters, power, politics, etc matter. We literally just tossed them all out. Anything that we thought might be important or interesting is just tossed aside, and left. Nothing gets tied up. Just a very obvious, but disgusting ending.
I strongly recommend against reading this train wreck of a book
November 12, 2022
You're telling me this is the authors first book??? Incredible.
This book took me through every emotion. It hooked me from the beginning. Amazing world building. The magic system is so good. The chemistry and tension between Isobel and Therin is *chefs kiss*.
The only thing I could've possibly taken away stars for is the surprise pregnancy because I'm not usually a fan of that trope, but it somehow works in this book?? I didn't hate it. It added another element that really works.
I went through every emotion. Hope, disgust, anger, sadness, SHOCK. I felt it all.
Graphic but good battle scenes. I know that a lot of people aren't a fan of those, but they were really fitting in this book. They didn't drag out forever like they do in some other books. They were detailed enough without being overly long and boring. My jaw would fully drop at some of the details but the way Isobels changing magic and the Hesati fighting strategies were described really added a lot to the plot and character development here.
Also something to be said for how great the LE stick figure cover is. But now I love it so much that I need to buy the regular cover because those are stunning.
I'm immediately jumping into book 2. I simply cannot wait.
This book took me through every emotion. It hooked me from the beginning. Amazing world building. The magic system is so good. The chemistry and tension between Isobel and Therin is *chefs kiss*.
The only thing I could've possibly taken away stars for is the surprise pregnancy because I'm not usually a fan of that trope, but it somehow works in this book?? I didn't hate it. It added another element that really works.
I went through every emotion. Hope, disgust, anger, sadness, SHOCK. I felt it all.
Graphic but good battle scenes. I know that a lot of people aren't a fan of those, but they were really fitting in this book. They didn't drag out forever like they do in some other books. They were detailed enough without being overly long and boring. My jaw would fully drop at some of the details but the way Isobels changing magic and the Hesati fighting strategies were described really added a lot to the plot and character development here.
Also something to be said for how great the LE stick figure cover is. But now I love it so much that I need to buy the regular cover because those are stunning.
I'm immediately jumping into book 2. I simply cannot wait.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
Love a powerful fmc that actually uses them.
It was a breath of fresh air to read about a fmc that has powers that she doesn't loose. That she actually gets to kick ass with.
There were a few things in the book that stabbed my heart. The cheating was one. If he was so in love with her but yet had to go with another women is just a big nope for me.
I also felt like things were rushed, and we spent time on working through smaller things when her (trigger r*pe) was just mowed on through. She gets banged by mmc and all is better? Very off putting to me. And so rushed.
I enjoyed the powers and magic dynamics of this world. After the ending I will still be reading onto book 2 to see where the story ends up.
It was a breath of fresh air to read about a fmc that has powers that she doesn't loose. That she actually gets to kick ass with.
There were a few things in the book that stabbed my heart. The cheating was one. If he was so in love with her but yet had to go with another women is just a big nope for me.
I also felt like things were rushed, and we spent time on working through smaller things when her (trigger r*pe) was just mowed on through. She gets banged by mmc and all is better? Very off putting to me. And so rushed.
I enjoyed the powers and magic dynamics of this world. After the ending I will still be reading onto book 2 to see where the story ends up.
April 22, 2025
That ending!!!! I bought this book when the author had stick figure covers because they were limited and I NEEDED them. I'm sure some of you get that. It took me 3 ish years to finally read it and I'm kinda mad at myself for not reading it sooner. I loved this. Even being in 3rd person which I tend to not enjoy at all. But this was good. And while it has a cheating trope is it really cheating if you tell your soon to be wife that you will lay with other women with the soul purpose of producing children while not giving her any children so she doesn't have to fear bringing something horrible into the world? No I think not. I didn't trust Thrache from the get go and I'm glad he's no longer a member of the land of the living. And now I definitely have to read the next book.
July 3, 2022
Fantastic, Heartbreaking Story!
This is my first time reading a dark fantasy romance novel, and I'm addicted to this story! I don't think I'm the target demographic, but this book caught my attention from the very beginning. The author wastes no time hopping into the action, and the characters feel like I've known them for years. This is NOT an erotica novel, but there's plenty of spice. I can't wait for the second book, because the story ends on a satisfying cliffhanger.
This is my first time reading a dark fantasy romance novel, and I'm addicted to this story! I don't think I'm the target demographic, but this book caught my attention from the very beginning. The author wastes no time hopping into the action, and the characters feel like I've known them for years. This is NOT an erotica novel, but there's plenty of spice. I can't wait for the second book, because the story ends on a satisfying cliffhanger.
October 27, 2024
It was okay I finished it and am going to read the second one now I enjoyed it but it wasn’t something I was fully invested in and that may be my fault as I like books with more detail. I seem to have missed the story building of the characters greatly in this book and would have loved to see how the magic system works. I’m hoping it comes in the second book but for now it was enjoyable but lacking substance.
June 19, 2022
It’s not a bad book. The storyline is a little discombobulated, the characters are well formed. It feels a bit rushed in some places and too long in others. Not sure if I’ll bother reading anymore about it though.
August 20, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing. I attached to the characters early and easy. Because they were so well written and engaging, I felt the emotional rollercoaster as I went through the book. I cried ugly tears at the end. If you can do that to me as an author, you earned that 5 ⭐
August 30, 2022
I just finished the book & I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment. I loved the relationship between the main characters. There are so many answers that I need. The author has done an excellent job.
August 18, 2022
Wow, this book is amazingly written and the ending was very unexpected! I look forward to reading the second book! It has everything I look for in a book!
-enemies to lovers
-fantasy
-morally Grey man
-spicy scenes
Great Job Zelie Cole!!!!
-enemies to lovers
-fantasy
-morally Grey man
-spicy scenes
Great Job Zelie Cole!!!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews