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The Chronicles of Lilith #1

The Queen of Shards

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Bringing together The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Inception in an epic action-packed narrative.

Zain is last of the Vampires…
… the Death of the Undeath…
… and now, he’s finally decided to die.


After 700 years, all his efforts and sacrifices meant nothing. He’s killed his kind to save the world from their hunger, but all he’s been left with is everlasting guilt and solitude.

The only one who could save him is Lilith, the first other immortal he’s seen in centuries.

Yet a dark omen follows in her wake…

The Shard she stole hides dark secrets in its reflection that even Zain won’t dare look at. Yet she stares, ceaselessly, into the void that it harbours…

Now, Zain stands at the edge of a precipice. He desperately clings to his false reality while Lilith forces him to embrace the hard truths of the darkness inside him. As Lilith slowly loses herself to the secrets of the Shard and its power, will Zain also suffer the same fate by following her?

All he knows is that he can’t give up, not when he’s this close to finding purpose once more in this pointless existence.

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You’ll love The Queen of Shards because it’s a dark fantasy & sci-fi series played on multiple realities featuring a tragically flawed anti-hero, strong heroines and a large cast of complex and morally gray individuals. The book explores many existential and metaphysical themes whilst also carrying the lightness of fun banter between a group of unlikely friends and lovers in a world of epic proportions.

It’s the first book of a series ending on a cliffhanger.
Due to its dramatic dark themes and graphic nature it is recommended for an adult audience.

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2022

15 people are currently reading
1870 people want to read

About the author

Jens C. Büdinger

2 books16 followers

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5 stars
28 (71%)
4 stars
3 (7%)
3 stars
4 (10%)
2 stars
2 (5%)
1 star
2 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
4 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2025
Spoilers!

Let me explain the reason why I gave a 3 star review:
The world building is decent.
The character development is not bad (a bit rushed)
The characters are likable.
What I didn’t like is that half way through, the story spins in a sci fi way that doesn’t make any sense and is not really explained well. We find out that all the story was happening inside the head of Zain and that none of the events are real. What really pissed me off is that even after finding that the whole thing is fabricated, instead of moving the story into what it developed to, you just get back to the fantasy world inside Zain’s head, and the previous story keeps going, I just lost interest in that story line and stopped being attached to the characters.
The sex scene at the end just came out of nowhere.
The story was nice before all this happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Maria Camilleri.
21 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2023
I’m not usually one to start a series before it’s actually completed, but this one calls for an exception. Now I regret it coz I can’t stand waiting for the next!
There’s a lot to comment about this book. Many other reviewers have already expanded on the worldbuilding, politics, bather etc.
Personally, what I loved is multiple settings/timelines and plots. It is GOTesque in that regard so as you hop from one group to another, it keeps you interested before getting stagnant. Other than that, it is written quite well, especially for someone’s first book. I can only hope that if this is the take-off point its going to keep getting better with each book.
I’ll be shifting onto book two once that is out but can already tell that things will be getting far more interesting just from the blurb. Fingers crossed!
1 review1 follower
July 22, 2022
I initially received an ARC e-copy in exchange for an honest review and I like how the story is unfolding! The world, the lore and the characters make up for a rich and immersive reading experience. For a debut author, it is clear that Jens dedicated a lot of time to this book.

I am particularly intrigued by the characters' story lines as I believe that at the end of the day, this is what makes a good book and The Queen of Shards is accomplishing this so far. I am looking forward to see how the story unfolds with the anti-hero, Zain.
Profile Image for Jasvinder Singh.
124 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2022
When I read the blurb, I knew at once that I would have to pick this novel. So here we are reviewing it.

The cover art is really beautiful. It captures your attention. I am sure of that much.

The map provided in this book, especially colourful map on the author's official website, is amazing and intricate.

The world-building was great. All the characters were engaging. I liked Zain very much, especially his humour and light behaviour. But there is more to him. I was hooked by this book from the first chapter to the last chapter.

The book reveals its secrets slowly. There is more to this book than its blurb. I really enjoyed it.

~~~Jasvinder Singh
2 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2022
I received an ARC e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Great read considering this is a debut author. The author has clearly dedicated a lot of time toward crafting the immense world behind the story which is possibly the most fascinating part – at least for me. Characters are interesting, likable and believable, albeit at times there may be too many.


I definitely would recommend, and I look forward to the next.
Profile Image for Haly .
138 reviews12 followers
December 11, 2024
Jens Budinger, author, has a talent for giving his main characters quick witted and funny dialog. It was the exchanges the protagonist, Zain, had that drew me in; however, I soon found myself asking what I was missing. As I continued reading I continually asked myself if I had been dropped into the third book of a series. I did not get the opportunity to understand the various lineages of characters, their backstories or exactly what their roles were in the overall story.
After reading a third of the book and still having the sense that something was missing I decided to end my journey with Zain, Lilith, Adam, Adara, and the rest.
I thank the author, publisher and Goodreads for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion and review.
Profile Image for Amyah .
74 reviews13 followers
July 22, 2022


“From what I see, there are no keys that can unlock your kind of shackles, Zain.”


Zain is the last of his kind, an Eldaresh, a race that had lived and thrived by drinking the blood of others. He has lived far too long, lost everyone, and has so many regrets that he is ready to die. But he meets a Drae’shi, a woman who is as long-lived as he is, though her memories are gone, and he finds himself enthralled. What will he be willing to do to save her?

“We have a problem.” “Is the ship sinking,” asked Adara. Zain paused, catching his breath. “We have two problems.”


I am absolutely crazy about Zain! His humour is excellent, though he seems to be making everything worse while trying his best. This is a great story, and it’s a story within a story (no spoilers, so that’s all I’m saying). Zain tells his story as a captive in a dungeon, his captors insisting he has the answers in his mind, though he doesn’t know which answers they are looking for. This story follows him meeting Lil’Thra, who has a mirror Shard, a magical item, with no memory of how she got it. And she is not the friendliest person ever. Her actions have them in danger consistently, and everyone will pursue them for the magic the mirror may hold. We also meet Adara, a sweet girl whose arranged marriage unwittingly leads them into a war. Adam, a warder with a mission to destroy the Drae’shi, the purpose of his order. And Pishkah, a mystic and healer not welcomed in the land.

There is a lot of good world-building in this author’s debut novel, a good story to follow, and I liked the characters (“like” Lilith, I’m pretty sure she is not supposed to be liked). Though Zain tells the story, we see it from the different character’s points of view. There are a diverse range of magical cultures, it has some darkness, war, some pirates, and really good humour. And there is a story, in a story, I can’t wait to see what happens there! When you find a good series, and it’s only at book one…
3 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2022
This book has me upside down and scatterbrained in such a fantastic way.

Zain is a vampire that has been around for over 700 years. One night he crosses paths with Lilith and his life turns almost immediately chaotic. Zain has been around long enough to have met some intriguing characters and embark on interesting journeys. However, nothing has prepared him for Lilith and her mysterious artifact, the Shard. Lilith is enthralled by the Shard and over time the darkness within it begins to influence Lilith more and more. As she ventures further down this dark path, Zain is pushed to join her.

This book relies heavily on unreliable narrators and characters that are morally grey with loyalties that are extremely self serving. Basically, it makes for great twists, interesting politics, and many precarious situations. It is absolutely wonderful! The book has a lot of world building and definitely a good amount of action and great political intrigue. The development of all of the characters leads to so many twists and different perspectives on war, enemies, and justice. It is so hard to decide who to actually root for or who is really in the right.

There was a crazy twist once the story began to pick up that introduced more futuristic/sci-fi esque elements. As more light was shed onto that, suddenly the main story began to take on a whole new meaning. I really liked how the two storylines started to weave together and overlap. I didn’t find this story to be too dark but there are definitely some darker themes and issues that are introduced. Some of the deeper themes involve existence and metaphysical philosophies, as noted by the author. These were handled in a nice way where you can enjoy the story without having to get too deep into philosophy unless you want to. There is plenty of lighthearted and funny banter that helps to cut through the tension and heavier stuff but it isn’t super disruptive to the story and it fits the characters persona from the beginning. Overall, this was a fantastically written and unique story that I can’t wait to keep reading about!!

As mentioned, there are some dark themes so check/look for trigger warnings!!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Chey.
1,490 reviews50 followers
July 28, 2022
Zain is the last of his kind. Being the last Eldaresh takes a toll, and he has finally decided to die after centuries of being riddles with guilt. The only tie he has to this world is Lilith, one of the only other immortals he's seen in a very long time. But she stole The Shard, and while he fears looking into it, she does so constantly. Will he slowly fall into madness created by it like Lilith has, or will she convince him to embrace who he really is, darkness and all?

For a debut novel, this author has written a book I would expect from a seasoned author. The world building was phenomenal and the attention to detail was second to none. There was a lot of effort put in to giving the book a unique setting and it paid off.

Zain was a bit of an odd character for me. It was different coming to a story where the main character has already lived for so long, killed his kind to protect the world, and hasn't really lost his humanity yet. That was a unique twist that I greatly enjoyed. He has a quirky sense of humor that gives the heavier side of the story some comedic relief.
I liked Lilith's character and her outlook on the world and creatures that live in it. She's also fairly wise and gives Zain pretty sound advice

Since this is from Zain's perspective, I believe that some parts of the story may turn out a little different if given another perspective. I would love to see Lilith's and how her story is from her own eyes.

Overall rating:
5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
1 review
August 8, 2022
An original and intriguing read!

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Dark fantasy is certainly something I'm not used to reading but boy am I glad I gave this book a shot.

There's far more than meets the eye in this read. The world building is nothing short of mind bending and so is its plot. There's so much going on, but yet its weaved together in a way that is neither confusing or cumbersome on the reader. There are certainly dark parts but the humor is a great counterbalance to it in a non-invasive or jarring way.

Beyond that the characterisation is on point. The protagonist (Zain) is nothing short of lovable, despite his antics and many many flaw. Lilith on the other hand mysterious and intriguing in her own dark ways. The rest of the vast cast is not neglected either - each having a very clear set of motivations, views and behaviors which make you wonder what's going to happen next at each turn of the page. Not to mention the many twists that follow!

I'm definitely curious as to what's going to happen next and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
1 review3 followers
May 18, 2023
Oh Adara, my sweet girl. People are raving about Zain but Adara has my heart. I love what the author did with this character especially. For a change, I get to see a strong female role that doesn’t have to involve killing or maiming people. What a breath of fresh air.

Lilith is the classic, badass, femme fatale- rather dry and cold but it is inkeeping with her character – my guess is that we’re still scratching the surface that since the series is literally entitled “the chronicles OF Lilith”. Pishkah is another sweet and intriguing character which I’d like to see more of and from the looks of it, she’s on the main cover of book 2 so I’m excited to see that!

Last but not least, Zain. Reluctant hero tropes with buckets of PTSD (and rightly so). I do get the dark fantasy elements here, though the book wasn’t toooo dark. Zain is a very interesting character to observe, and although he has his cartoonish moments, you realize that there is a lot of depth and pain behind him which makes him more human than a vampire.

I’m looking forward to the next.
1 review
May 10, 2023
Well written, well executed. I’m happy that the author managed to pull off such a vast and complex narrative without having to force readers through tonnes of exposition and “telling” scenes which many books in these genres often run afoul of.

All pertinent information and world building aspects are weaved into dialogue and scenes pretty well which doesn’t feel forced and always arrives at the right time.

I can say I did struggle in the beginning with the amounts of names and places mentioned, but eventually got used to it. May be me, but it’s a common issue when one is new to a series and is introduced to so many things in the initial chapters. Nevertheless, everything comes together nicely by the end.

Nice work.
1 review1 follower
May 19, 2023
Exciting, intriguing, profound.
Zain is a fun loving, musing, witty vampire with a reluctance to consume blood, an unusual combination that makes for a good premise and character.
Lilith, is more obscure and difficult to place, but I do sense villain vibes emanating from her... I feel there is more to this character, so I’m hoping to see more in the next installment.
The rest of the cast is varied and believable as “people” which is refreshing. No-one is acting beyond what would reasonably be expected by persons acting in such roles and those circumstances, so the story has good flow.
The author does a good job at world building and mixing genres. The book is written well and whilst the author is not a seasoned writer this is a solid piece of work. Well done!
Profile Image for Katie Mowery.
9 reviews
July 13, 2025
I thought I would enjoy this book, as I started reading fantasy last year and loved reading about a world that is full of imagination. This book lacked the fulfillment I was looking for. There were parts in the book that had potential for a great storyline, though overall I kept hoping for more interactions between Zain and Lilith, as I think that would have helped create a better climax at the end. I didn’t finish the book with the intent to read any more of the Chronicles of Lilith. With all this being said, I will give credit to the author for writing a book with a fantasy background, as it takes a lot of imagination I’m certain to create a multitude of characters such as those presented in this book.
2 reviews
April 12, 2023
Absolutely Captivating!!
I could not put this book down. I was completely enthralled barely midway through the first chapter.
The fantasy world is epic, the characters are enchanting and the storyline is gripping. These aspects combined, and sprinkled with witty humour, offer an immersive tale: one which is sure to keep you flipping through the pages, laughing out loud at times, and always keen to find out what happens next.
Be warned - time will fly by as you find yourself lost in this magical tale.
An impressive debut novel by the author: I cannot wait to see what he's got in store for us in the next book!
Profile Image for Justine Helena.
1 review
May 7, 2023
Great book, unique ideas and interpretation of the fantasy/sci-fi genre. Definitely, been waiting to find something new and unusual as opposed to the usual run of the mill stories. The blurb and description certainly don't do it justice, but at the same time it is very difficult to do so without revealing the many twists and turns of this story.

I love the fact that it is so layered in terms of world building, politics, morality, philosophy and themes without you actually struggling to understand. It's definitely one of those books that you derive more enjoyment the more you re-read it. fantastic debut, looking forward to the next.
2 reviews
May 10, 2023
So after a long time of putting this off I finally got down to reading it and I must say it was well worth putting my current reading list aside. And I’m glad that the author is soon going to publish book two coz I can’t imagine waiting a whole year to get onto the next one.

The book definitely offers something new in terms of plot and narrative. The mix of genres is done well. It is not your traditional mashup which incorporates fantasy & sci-fi in one big mess (which I hate) but rather a transition or alternate, layered plot line. It makes for a good story and definitely changes the significance and dimension of the various narratives.

Definitely looking forward to the next!
1 review
July 24, 2022
Queen of shards is a fantastic journey from start to finish. Kept me wanting to know more, to turn one more page, as the world built here in engaging, immersive, and wonderful.

Zain, Lilith, Adam, and all the other characters one meets along the way are brilliantly unique, and what's more you quickly feel invested in their journey. The events they all face have urgency and a build up which grips you through out.

A very worth debut novel from Jens B.
272 reviews5 followers
June 27, 2023
Arc
A book that grabbed me from the start and didn't let go. At no time did I feel its paced slowed, and me want to skip parts. Some very strong writing, James has a way with words that is easy to imagine each and every scene. His characters came to life in my imagination, some I loved and some not so much. Zain being my favourite character, with wit and sarcasm, but also some vulnerability mixed in. A book full of intrigue. When I finished this book, I was thinking about if for days.
2 reviews
July 23, 2024
I'm not usually into this kind of book or story, but I have to tell you that the book is an amazing piece of art full of stories combined with fantasy. I just want to say Jens as an author was amazing in the way he developed the environment, scenarios, and characters even with their personalities. I recommended reading this masterpiece.
Profile Image for Sarah Ehinger.
809 reviews10 followers
October 21, 2024
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. The primary storyline and characters were solid. For me, the secondary storyline didn't hit as well and didn't add to my overall enjoyment of the book. I think it was a really interesting concept, but I think too much was maybe left in reserve for a follow up book.
112 reviews
November 13, 2024
I received this book as part of a Good Reads giveaway. This book had a different take on vampires for me. I did really enjoy reading this book. I will be buying the second book because I need to know how the cliffhanger resolves and need more knowledge about the side story. Characters are well developed. I couldn’t decide who I liked and trusted throughout the story.
1 review
July 22, 2022
A different take on fantasy writing, dark yet also witty and keeping you guessing throughout. Queen of Shards kept me engrossed from beginning to end.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Stacey Woods.
1,094 reviews30 followers
July 22, 2022
A very vivid and detailed journey that makes you feel immersed in it. The cover sucked me in and I'm glad it did. Zain is a really likeable and admirable character. It is mildly dark and contains some twists.
Profile Image for Kennedy Hopkins.
119 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2023
I love the book love the storyline and characters can't wait for the next one thanks for writing it
Profile Image for John Christmas.
Author 2 books3 followers
October 21, 2024
I greatly enjoyed reading this vampire fantasy tale. The world building and gripping characters fascinated me throughout. Also woven into the story are concepts about morality and life which I found interesting. Highly recommended!
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