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The Royal Three Trilogy #2
The Warrior
A lost queen.
A man on the run.
A woman with a deadly secret.
Who will save the Kingdom of Lavdia?
Fleeing the horrors he witnessed at the castle, Angelus, alone, injured and desperate, seeks refuge in the only place he knows to hide: Finn’s village. There he is taken in and nursed back to health by a beautiful and troubled young apprentice, who he shares a connection with that neither of them truly understand. But as word of the manhunt for Angelus spreads, and long buried ghosts threaten to destroy him, Angelus must come to terms with his past, and reclaim his reason to fight. And to live.
Veronica has only ever wanted to hide. But when a mysterious man appears at her home in need of help, and inadvertently brings the enemy to her doorstep, her delicately constructed life is shattered to pieces. Harboring a secret that could mean her death if discovered, Veronica finds herself dragged into the heart of a conflict she wants nothing to do with, but soon she will discover that the lines have already been drawn, and she will be forced to choose a side before one chooses her.
With Artemis expanding his power across the kingdom, and leaving thousands of innocents caught in the crossfire, Angelus and Veronica go in search of their country’s last hope: Queen Mayva, the Warrior Queen who has been missing for months and, for all they know, could be dead. The pair embark on a journey across their land to the Northern Mountains, the queen’s last known location, and along the way discover the Magic hidden in their country, and the secrets hidden within themselves.
Action-packed and achingly emotional, the second book in the Royal Three Trilogy continues the epic tale of Lavdia, and those fighting to protect it.
A man on the run.
A woman with a deadly secret.
Who will save the Kingdom of Lavdia?
Fleeing the horrors he witnessed at the castle, Angelus, alone, injured and desperate, seeks refuge in the only place he knows to hide: Finn’s village. There he is taken in and nursed back to health by a beautiful and troubled young apprentice, who he shares a connection with that neither of them truly understand. But as word of the manhunt for Angelus spreads, and long buried ghosts threaten to destroy him, Angelus must come to terms with his past, and reclaim his reason to fight. And to live.
Veronica has only ever wanted to hide. But when a mysterious man appears at her home in need of help, and inadvertently brings the enemy to her doorstep, her delicately constructed life is shattered to pieces. Harboring a secret that could mean her death if discovered, Veronica finds herself dragged into the heart of a conflict she wants nothing to do with, but soon she will discover that the lines have already been drawn, and she will be forced to choose a side before one chooses her.
With Artemis expanding his power across the kingdom, and leaving thousands of innocents caught in the crossfire, Angelus and Veronica go in search of their country’s last hope: Queen Mayva, the Warrior Queen who has been missing for months and, for all they know, could be dead. The pair embark on a journey across their land to the Northern Mountains, the queen’s last known location, and along the way discover the Magic hidden in their country, and the secrets hidden within themselves.
Action-packed and achingly emotional, the second book in the Royal Three Trilogy continues the epic tale of Lavdia, and those fighting to protect it.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2022
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Benét Stoen
7 books46 followersBenét Stoen is a born and bred Minnesotan, a full-time bookworm, candle enthusiast, and spinner of emotional tales. When not writing she'll be found driving, but only because she hasn't yet figured out how to do both at the same time.
Follow her on Instagram: @benetstoen
Follow her on Instagram: @benetstoen
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 16, 2022
~About
With the Mother-Queen Andromeda now dead, Artemis, the High Queen’s advisor plans to use Queen Morgeoux to do his bidding, while blaming rebels known as the lawless for the Mother-Queen’s death. Meanwhile, Artemis’ men aim to track down Angelus, the Mother-Queen’s former guard, intent to use him as another scapegoat for the Queen’s death.
In the meantime, Angelus seeks refuge with Veronica, a teacher and apprentice healer. Together, the pair flee, searching for the lost Warrior-Queen, Mayva. When the pair eventually stumble upon the lost Queen, they and Mayva’s troops fight together against the demented creatures that Artemis has created. Together, they aim to stop Artemis from taking over the lands at all costs but may lose much in their endeavours.
~Characters
For the purposes of this review, I’ve chosen to focus on four lead characters: Artemis, Angelus, Veronica, and Queen Mayva.
First, we come to Artemis, the High Queen’s advisor. At first glance, Artemis appears cruel and controlling, lacking empathy of any conceivable form. He is an underhanded and sneaky man, the kind who has contempt for most people and sees himself in a grandiose light, somehow deserving of power and glory beyond others. Artemis controls the High Queen, Morgeoux and seeks to wipe out wielders (those with magic), so he can control magic and rule the lands without fear of being overthrown. Throughout this series, I have come to increasingly hate Artemis’ character, unable to find a single redeeming quality in him. Thus, this made him easy to root against as a primary antagonist.
Secondly, we have Angelus, former guard of the Mother-Queen. From the beginning, it is clear that Angelus is a caring and dutiful man, who seeks to protect others as his main sense of purpose in life. He has a mysterious past, which was gradually revealed as the story progressed, allowing me to better know him at a deeper level. While Angelus spends a large potion of the story mourning the loss of Queen Andromeda in various ways, we also see him grow as a person, learning that not everyone he cares for will leave him in the end, a fear which had previously been stuck deep in his subconscious mind. Overall, I found myself admiring how protective he was of others, including Veronica, even if – at times – he thought to give up on life because of the sheer amount of pain he felt due to loss.
Next, we come to Veronica, a village teacher and apprentice healer. Immediately, we get the sense hat she is a kind, caring, and intelligent individual. She is the type of young woman who tries to keep her head down to avoid causing trouble of any kind. However, when men from the castle come looking for Angelus, she is forced to leave behind her old life and to face a secret she has kept from all those she has known, a secret which has only ever caused her pain. Over time, this at first shy and unassuming young woman grows stronger and braver, her shameful secret eventually becoming a point of great power in her life. At times, I found it quite sad that Veronica saw herself in such a negative light, that she feared core aspects of herself due to her past. It was wonderful to see how she gradually came to accept herself for who she is, even if it took some time to get there.
Finally, I’d like to discuss Queen Mayva, the second (warrior) Queen of Lavdia. At first glance, she appeared strong and imposing, a truly formidable woman. While fair, Mayva refused to put up with any kind of nonsense from others. To me, she seemed like quite the mystery, a woman few people had seen in years, living out in a remote part of the mountains with her makeshift army. On the whole, she appeared blunt and hardened to the world, never letting her emotions show. However, I soon came to understand that this was out of necessity, a means of surviving in such tough conditions. Beneath this tough façade, Queen Mayva felt a deep range of emotions like anyone-else. There were few times that her more sensitive side showed but when it did, I got a clear impression of just how vulnerable and profoundly human this strong woman was.
~Positive Aspects
There were numerous positive features to The Warrior, which I wanted to share with you here.
-Firstly, I enjoyed the author’s evocative, emotional style of writing as it allowed me to tap into the character’s emotional states with ease. For instance, I liked that we get a strong sense of the character’s emotional reactions to situations, e.g to the pain of losing people they were close to.
-Secondly, I found it interesting to learn about Angelus’ and Veronica’s pasts as such additional backstory allowed me to see how certain memorable and traumatic events came to shape them as individuals.
-I also found it fascinating to watch Angelus and Veronica’s interactions, seeing how their friendship evolved over time. It feels – at times – like Angelus sees Veronica the way he once saw Queen Andromeda, as someone in need of protection and care. In a way, it was as if he saw the same sense of vulnerability in both of these women.
-In addition, the story unfolded gradually, with the plot steadily being pushed along.
-I loved seeing how characters such as Angelus and Veronica transformed throughout the story. The author explored their inner fears remarkably well and took me on two differing journeys of deep self-realisation over time.
-Finally, the tension-building was done well, making it hard to put the book down.
~Memorable Quotes
While reading The Warrior, several insightful quotes stayed with me, which I have included below.
1) ‘Whatever was hardest to hear tended to be the truth.’
2) ‘Some people just want to help – not everyone wants something from you.’
3) ‘You find what you would die to protect, and then you die to protect it.’
4) ‘Because of her fear, she had learned to be brave.’
~Overview
Overall, The Warrior was a tense yet enchanting tale. I loved reading about how Angelus and Veronica’s bond developed over time. Furthermore, the ending was gripping and climactic, paving the way – beautifully – for the start of book three.
Themes included friendship, magic, survival, power, war, loss, love, and secrets.
My Rating: 5 stars.
Recommended to: lovers of gripping fantasy series, full of magic and mystery.
September 6, 2022
"He was struck by the way she held him- ferocious and gentle all at once, like she was protecting him. Not as though he were frail, or weak, but as though he were something precious, something worth protecting." -The Warrior
I LOVE THIS BOOK. Thank you so much to Benet for providing me with an arc to read and review. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites ever! I fell in love with Finn and Andromeda in The Heir (the first book in the series, I highly recommend you check it out!) but Veronica and Angelus have a just as compelling and beautiful journey.
note: I will do my best to hide all spoilers for this book and major ones for the first book, but the review may have mild spoilers for the first book so be careful :)
We start this book with an Artemis scene, who I absolutely despise, but I did love the look inside the castle after the events of the first book. The subtle weaving of new plot while also wrapping up Andromeda and Finn's story throughout the book was masterfully done, and it felt like a perfect balance.
Veronica's growth in this book is absolutely incredible. She turns from timid and afraid of herself to confident, growing in her power and strength. And the final pieces that we find out about how Tabitha was involved with Andromeda were so satisfying and heartbreaking at the same time.
I loved the new characters we were introduced to in this book, namely Mayva and Liam. Mayva was a fierce warrior but she also found strength in love and protecting what she cared about. Liam was so selfless in helping Veronica even at risk to his own life and even though we didn't get many scenes with them (I wanted more!), he seemed like a steadfast and compassionate partner for Mayva.
Angelus feels like the perfect, non-toxic example of strength, masculinity, and protectiveness. He will guard Veronica with everything he has, along with an amazing example of the 'touch her and I'll kill you' trope, but in doing that he doesn't invalidate her own strength and power (which is sometimes rare in similar settings). And also she is not made out to be weak or helpless because she needs his help. I despise it when female characters are thought to be, or made out to be weak because they needed protection, when in reality, we all need someone to stand up for us sometimes, and it doesn't make us any less strong or capable.
I thought that I would never love Veronica and Angelus's relationship as much as I adored and was obsessed with Andromeda and Finn's. But from the first few chapters, I was invested. Angelus and Veronica felt absolutely right together, and while they were not perfect, they helped push each other to grow and overcome their struggles. Angelus encouraged Veronica to not be afraid of her power and he never got impatient, gave up, or invalidated her feelings. And Veronica believed in Angelus and worked to convince him that she was there to stay and would not abandon him. They found a home in each other and created a sacred and beautiful relationship.
There is something about Benet's writing that feels magical and timeless. Her books draw you in and capture your heart (and then rip it to shreds). It is what makes reading so special to me and it makes me wish the stories would continue forever. Angelus and Veronica's story was a beautiful journey that I was completely swept up in.
Read these books if you love adventures and magic, compelling and lovable characters, heart-wrenching romance, and absolutely gorgeous writing that will be in your head for days.
I LOVE THIS BOOK. Thank you so much to Benet for providing me with an arc to read and review. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites ever! I fell in love with Finn and Andromeda in The Heir (the first book in the series, I highly recommend you check it out!) but Veronica and Angelus have a just as compelling and beautiful journey.
note: I will do my best to hide all spoilers for this book and major ones for the first book, but the review may have mild spoilers for the first book so be careful :)
We start this book with an Artemis scene, who I absolutely despise, but I did love the look inside the castle after the events of the first book. The subtle weaving of new plot while also wrapping up Andromeda and Finn's story throughout the book was masterfully done, and it felt like a perfect balance.
Veronica's growth in this book is absolutely incredible. She turns from timid and afraid of herself to confident, growing in her power and strength. And the final pieces that we find out about how Tabitha was involved with Andromeda were so satisfying and heartbreaking at the same time.
I loved the new characters we were introduced to in this book, namely Mayva and Liam. Mayva was a fierce warrior but she also found strength in love and protecting what she cared about. Liam was so selfless in helping Veronica even at risk to his own life and even though we didn't get many scenes with them (I wanted more!), he seemed like a steadfast and compassionate partner for Mayva.
Angelus feels like the perfect, non-toxic example of strength, masculinity, and protectiveness. He will guard Veronica with everything he has, along with an amazing example of the 'touch her and I'll kill you' trope, but in doing that he doesn't invalidate her own strength and power (which is sometimes rare in similar settings). And also she is not made out to be weak or helpless because she needs his help. I despise it when female characters are thought to be, or made out to be weak because they needed protection, when in reality, we all need someone to stand up for us sometimes, and it doesn't make us any less strong or capable.
I thought that I would never love Veronica and Angelus's relationship as much as I adored and was obsessed with Andromeda and Finn's. But from the first few chapters, I was invested. Angelus and Veronica felt absolutely right together, and while they were not perfect, they helped push each other to grow and overcome their struggles. Angelus encouraged Veronica to not be afraid of her power and he never got impatient, gave up, or invalidated her feelings. And Veronica believed in Angelus and worked to convince him that she was there to stay and would not abandon him. They found a home in each other and created a sacred and beautiful relationship.
There is something about Benet's writing that feels magical and timeless. Her books draw you in and capture your heart (and then rip it to shreds). It is what makes reading so special to me and it makes me wish the stories would continue forever. Angelus and Veronica's story was a beautiful journey that I was completely swept up in.
Read these books if you love adventures and magic, compelling and lovable characters, heart-wrenching romance, and absolutely gorgeous writing that will be in your head for days.
August 16, 2022
! 4,5 / 5 stars !
Favorite character: Angelus / Veronica
Three words: captivating / emotional / cute
Favorite quote: 'You don't have to be afraid.' - When he said it, it actually sounded true. She had to remind herself that it wasn't.
The Warrior is the second book in The Royal Three Trilogy and this review contains spoilers for the first book The Heir! I've linked the review of The Heir below, if you haven't read it, check that one out first!
The death of their loved ones brings Angelus and Veronica together after an injured Angelus delivers Veronica a letter from Finn, and she nurses him back to health. But his refuge doesn't remain save for long. Artemis is now in power at the castle and his guards are still hunting him and tracking him down in the little village. As the enemies attack, Veronica becomes drawn in the conflict and has to reveal her secret for Angelus and her survival. With no other choice but to flee, they try to find the only person who could stop the cruelties Artemis is unleashing on the country and save themselves and thousands of other innocent people: the long lost Queen Mayva. But the time isn't on their side. While they only have a vague idea of where the queen might be, the enemies come dangerously close and Veronica begins to suffer from something unknown.
I loved this book! The Warrior isn't as dark as The Heir and follows the journey and backstory of Angelus (as I was hoping for) and Veronica.
First, I was surprised that Finn and Andromeda didn't manage to survive through some kind of magical miracle, I kind of expected it, but no, it doesn't happen. The story starts with Artemis and I absolutely despise him and hope he dies in a cruel way sooner rather than later, but luckily he doesn't appear in the rest of the book and thankfully I wasn't reminded of him too often.
After the dark story of The Heir, The Warrior deals with the trauma of the characters who were left behind.
I loved how Angelus' and Veronica's relationship slowly grows as they help each other through their grief and how they heal together and individually. I felt it was written in a really realistic way, with setbacks and irrational behavior.
Veronica and Angelus are so cute together and they kinda make me forget about Finn and Andromeda, which makes me feel a bit guilty, but I love them so much that I wouldn't mind if the whole trilogy was just about them.
The world building was again great and it was super interesting to learn more about the magic of the Wielders and to see more of the land outside the castle.
I can't wait for the story to continue and I'm excited how the author will wrap the story up!
!Spoiler!:
I absolutely loved both Angelus and Veronica and now I feae the author will kill them like she did with the main characters of the first book! While reading it I was always afraid it was going to happen, and it gave me kind of early Game of Thrones vibes, when they were killing off the main characters. Please don't do that, I want them to have a happy ending!
This book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for a honest review.
Favorite character: Angelus / Veronica
Three words: captivating / emotional / cute
Favorite quote: 'You don't have to be afraid.' - When he said it, it actually sounded true. She had to remind herself that it wasn't.
The Warrior is the second book in The Royal Three Trilogy and this review contains spoilers for the first book The Heir! I've linked the review of The Heir below, if you haven't read it, check that one out first!
The death of their loved ones brings Angelus and Veronica together after an injured Angelus delivers Veronica a letter from Finn, and she nurses him back to health. But his refuge doesn't remain save for long. Artemis is now in power at the castle and his guards are still hunting him and tracking him down in the little village. As the enemies attack, Veronica becomes drawn in the conflict and has to reveal her secret for Angelus and her survival. With no other choice but to flee, they try to find the only person who could stop the cruelties Artemis is unleashing on the country and save themselves and thousands of other innocent people: the long lost Queen Mayva. But the time isn't on their side. While they only have a vague idea of where the queen might be, the enemies come dangerously close and Veronica begins to suffer from something unknown.
I loved this book! The Warrior isn't as dark as The Heir and follows the journey and backstory of Angelus (as I was hoping for) and Veronica.
First, I was surprised that Finn and Andromeda didn't manage to survive through some kind of magical miracle, I kind of expected it, but no, it doesn't happen. The story starts with Artemis and I absolutely despise him and hope he dies in a cruel way sooner rather than later, but luckily he doesn't appear in the rest of the book and thankfully I wasn't reminded of him too often.
After the dark story of The Heir, The Warrior deals with the trauma of the characters who were left behind.
I loved how Angelus' and Veronica's relationship slowly grows as they help each other through their grief and how they heal together and individually. I felt it was written in a really realistic way, with setbacks and irrational behavior.
Veronica and Angelus are so cute together and they kinda make me forget about Finn and Andromeda, which makes me feel a bit guilty, but I love them so much that I wouldn't mind if the whole trilogy was just about them.
The world building was again great and it was super interesting to learn more about the magic of the Wielders and to see more of the land outside the castle.
I can't wait for the story to continue and I'm excited how the author will wrap the story up!
!Spoiler!:
I absolutely loved both Angelus and Veronica and now I feae the author will kill them like she did with the main characters of the first book! While reading it I was always afraid it was going to happen, and it gave me kind of early Game of Thrones vibes, when they were killing off the main characters. Please don't do that, I want them to have a happy ending!
This book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for a honest review.
August 30, 2022
This book. THIS book. Goodness gracious, friends, this book is a LOT of brutality and beauty wrapped in one package. And I loved it so much.
By no means is the first book, The Heir, a book you need to "get through" because it was entertaining and fascinating in its own right. But this second one, The Warrior, like... dude. It's such a fantastic sequel! It carries on the story of Lavdia so well. The world gets richer and finer, the shifted focus on the characters is expertly done, and the whole brutal story is told with Benét Stoen's uniquely elegant voice.
My absolute favorite scenes were the intimate moments between Veronica and Angelus. Their respective traumas meet one another and are answered with imperfect love and loyalty and understanding. I love how human they both are, in their sweet moments as well as their fallouts. My favorite thing with romances is when the characters see each other with new eyes partway through and I was not disappointed!
I also loved the introduction of Queen Mayva! She's a badass but not in a cliché, improbable way. She's still feminine even as she's a warrior leader and hard edge personality. It's refreshing to read a character that walks both sides in a way that makes sense.
I will say, there was an awful lot of blood, gore, and loss in this one. There are dark themes and visuals in this series, but I should note: while I don't tend to like violent scenes or gore, this book was reserved enough without being shy.
I wasn't sure I'd forgive Stoen for the last book, still debating that, but I'm eager for the next one! It's set up for some epic showdowns!
I received this book as an ARC and I *will* be buying it!
By no means is the first book, The Heir, a book you need to "get through" because it was entertaining and fascinating in its own right. But this second one, The Warrior, like... dude. It's such a fantastic sequel! It carries on the story of Lavdia so well. The world gets richer and finer, the shifted focus on the characters is expertly done, and the whole brutal story is told with Benét Stoen's uniquely elegant voice.
My absolute favorite scenes were the intimate moments between Veronica and Angelus. Their respective traumas meet one another and are answered with imperfect love and loyalty and understanding. I love how human they both are, in their sweet moments as well as their fallouts. My favorite thing with romances is when the characters see each other with new eyes partway through and I was not disappointed!
I also loved the introduction of Queen Mayva! She's a badass but not in a cliché, improbable way. She's still feminine even as she's a warrior leader and hard edge personality. It's refreshing to read a character that walks both sides in a way that makes sense.
I will say, there was an awful lot of blood, gore, and loss in this one. There are dark themes and visuals in this series, but I should note: while I don't tend to like violent scenes or gore, this book was reserved enough without being shy.
I wasn't sure I'd forgive Stoen for the last book, still debating that, but I'm eager for the next one! It's set up for some epic showdowns!
I received this book as an ARC and I *will* be buying it!
September 5, 2022
4.5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨️
TW: Grief, Death, Talk of Death, Memories of Death of a loved one, Memories of child abuse, Blood Magic.
Honestly after the ending of book one, The Heir, I had very little idea where this story would go and I very much wanted to know! Well, I really loved the direction the author chose to go with and how this portion of the story played out.
Stoen's already captivating writing got even better with this book!
The way the characters each delt with their grief was well done and emotionally moving.
The giant wolf men, creepy af. It was so slimy seeing how Artemis thinks in the first few chapters from his POV, it really adds to making the reader truly disgusted with him.
I LOVED Angelus and Veronica! No one had better hurt these sweet cinnamon souls!! Seriously though their relationship throughout the book was sweet and just kept stomping me in the "ohmygoshilovethem" feels🤣
I also really liked Myvah and Liam and look forward to seeing more of them.
ONCE AGAIN THAT ENDING CLIFFHANGER AGHHHH! I look forward to seeing how the story ends!
TW: Grief, Death, Talk of Death, Memories of Death of a loved one, Memories of child abuse, Blood Magic.
Honestly after the ending of book one, The Heir, I had very little idea where this story would go and I very much wanted to know! Well, I really loved the direction the author chose to go with and how this portion of the story played out.
Stoen's already captivating writing got even better with this book!
The way the characters each delt with their grief was well done and emotionally moving.
The giant wolf men, creepy af. It was so slimy seeing how Artemis thinks in the first few chapters from his POV, it really adds to making the reader truly disgusted with him.
I LOVED Angelus and Veronica! No one had better hurt these sweet cinnamon souls!! Seriously though their relationship throughout the book was sweet and just kept stomping me in the "ohmygoshilovethem" feels🤣
I also really liked Myvah and Liam and look forward to seeing more of them.
ONCE AGAIN THAT ENDING CLIFFHANGER AGHHHH! I look forward to seeing how the story ends!
September 14, 2022
4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC. The Warrior is the second book in The Royal Three Trilogy and I really thought I wouldn't love it the same way I did the first,, but I was wrong!! Angelus and Veronica omg!!! I am so cautious of this author because of her sad endings and her love to torture us, but The Warrior was an amazing story! The details, the characters!
I loved how Veronica was there for Angelus and vice versa. AH, the touch her and I'll kill you trope!! SWOON. Their entire relationship was so cute and wholesome. I really hoped the main characters from The Heir would come back by some miracle, but no. My heart broke again.
Totally recommend! This book needs more love and recognition!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC. The Warrior is the second book in The Royal Three Trilogy and I really thought I wouldn't love it the same way I did the first,, but I was wrong!! Angelus and Veronica omg!!! I am so cautious of this author because of her sad endings and her love to torture us, but The Warrior was an amazing story! The details, the characters!
I loved how Veronica was there for Angelus and vice versa. AH, the touch her and I'll kill you trope!! SWOON. Their entire relationship was so cute and wholesome. I really hoped the main characters from The Heir would come back by some miracle, but no. My heart broke again.
Totally recommend! This book needs more love and recognition!
October 3, 2022
This book was everything I wanted and more. I’ve been waiting for Veronica and Angelus’ story since I finished The Heir last year and The Warrior did not disappoint. It picks up pretty much immediately after where The Heir ended and moves quickly from there. Benét only builds on the dark and fantastical world that she built in The Heir. If you’re looking for a fast paced dark ya fantasy romance, this series is for you.
January 2, 2023
Terrifying, beautiful, and utterly breathtaking. Benét has such a gift in crafting precise prose that can both stun you with its beauty, or mark your mind with horrors.
I’m waiting for the third book in this series with bated breath, still reeling from the events of The Warrior. Will I recover? Most likely not.
I’m waiting for the third book in this series with bated breath, still reeling from the events of The Warrior. Will I recover? Most likely not.
September 20, 2022
I would first like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When I finished THE HEIR, I wasn’t sure what to expect in the next novel. The cliffhanger had me reeling and desperate for more. Stoen certainly didn’t disappoint in THE WARRIOR.
While the plot was fantastic, the characters stood out the most. The way she described their pain, both physical and mental, was phenomenal. The backstories for the character’s were weaved in nicely through dreams and memories sparked by the current events. Not once did I ever find myself wondering about a character.
Angelus was always an interesting character so to be able to see more of him and his past was great. It was slowly revealed, piece by piece and the more I grasped of his character, the more I felt for him. He starts as a shy man, protective of others but also of himself. He doesn’t share a lot about himself to Veronica at first.
Veronica herself creates a wonderful character. She’s extremely kind and caring, but haunted by her own trauma that she must battle her way through. She sees herself in a negative light, but slowly comes out of her shell and learns to like parts of herself.
Both character arcs in The Warrior were written extremely well and I can’t wait to read more. Veronica and Angelus balance one another out, forcing the other to learn how to change themselves for the better — which is why I like the romance subplot so much.
My only complaint would be how little we see of the villain. In the beginning of the novel, we have a chapter from Artemis’s POV. I would’ve liked to have seen more of that scattered throughout the novel, just to keep us more in the loop of what was happening at the castle. Instead, the novel had one scene and then took place outside of the castle for the rest of the novel. However, this was a very minor thing as the monsters Artemis created did follow Angelus and Veronica throughout the novel so he wasn’t completely without mention.
Overall, I loved the novel and, once again, I can’t wait for the next installment!
When I finished THE HEIR, I wasn’t sure what to expect in the next novel. The cliffhanger had me reeling and desperate for more. Stoen certainly didn’t disappoint in THE WARRIOR.
While the plot was fantastic, the characters stood out the most. The way she described their pain, both physical and mental, was phenomenal. The backstories for the character’s were weaved in nicely through dreams and memories sparked by the current events. Not once did I ever find myself wondering about a character.
Angelus was always an interesting character so to be able to see more of him and his past was great. It was slowly revealed, piece by piece and the more I grasped of his character, the more I felt for him. He starts as a shy man, protective of others but also of himself. He doesn’t share a lot about himself to Veronica at first.
Veronica herself creates a wonderful character. She’s extremely kind and caring, but haunted by her own trauma that she must battle her way through. She sees herself in a negative light, but slowly comes out of her shell and learns to like parts of herself.
Both character arcs in The Warrior were written extremely well and I can’t wait to read more. Veronica and Angelus balance one another out, forcing the other to learn how to change themselves for the better — which is why I like the romance subplot so much.
My only complaint would be how little we see of the villain. In the beginning of the novel, we have a chapter from Artemis’s POV. I would’ve liked to have seen more of that scattered throughout the novel, just to keep us more in the loop of what was happening at the castle. Instead, the novel had one scene and then took place outside of the castle for the rest of the novel. However, this was a very minor thing as the monsters Artemis created did follow Angelus and Veronica throughout the novel so he wasn’t completely without mention.
Overall, I loved the novel and, once again, I can’t wait for the next installment!
August 30, 2022
Ummm no, I’m not okay with waiting forever for the next book! 😭😭😭 Wow was this book so so good!
I always say love when a sequel is better than the first book and this book was no exception! This one follows Angelus who is running from Artemis and finds Veronica. They both decide to go together to try to find Queen Mayva to stop Artemis.
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil it since it is a sequel and continues from the first book. I will say though the romance in this book almost destroyed me. It was such a slow burn that I just wanted to slap both of them and just say kiss already! But I also love how slow their relationship developed because they both were dealing with grief, and their own personal nightmares and demons in their mind. They both had to learn how to control not only their fears but their insecurities before they could focus on each other in full.
Gosh this book was so so good. Easily my favorite read of this year so far! I am a sucker for a good slow burn romance, and then mix it with dark fantasy, with Magic and monsters, even better! And then that horrible and wonderful cliffhanger ending! I yelled at my kindle because the book was done suddenly and I didn’t want it to be 😭 I am all for cliffhangers, but now I don’t know how long I have to wait for the next book and it has upset me so much 😂
I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. Thank you Benet for the early copy 🥰
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I always say love when a sequel is better than the first book and this book was no exception! This one follows Angelus who is running from Artemis and finds Veronica. They both decide to go together to try to find Queen Mayva to stop Artemis.
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil it since it is a sequel and continues from the first book. I will say though the romance in this book almost destroyed me. It was such a slow burn that I just wanted to slap both of them and just say kiss already! But I also love how slow their relationship developed because they both were dealing with grief, and their own personal nightmares and demons in their mind. They both had to learn how to control not only their fears but their insecurities before they could focus on each other in full.
Gosh this book was so so good. Easily my favorite read of this year so far! I am a sucker for a good slow burn romance, and then mix it with dark fantasy, with Magic and monsters, even better! And then that horrible and wonderful cliffhanger ending! I yelled at my kindle because the book was done suddenly and I didn’t want it to be 😭 I am all for cliffhangers, but now I don’t know how long I have to wait for the next book and it has upset me so much 😂
I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. Thank you Benet for the early copy 🥰
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 14, 2022
The Warrior, the sequel to The Heir and the second book in the saga, was a happy rediscovery.
The themes are different from those of the first book - but not completely detached -, we discover and rediscover numerous characters left behind in the previous chapter as well as new amazing settings.
After The Heir shocking finale, Angelus and Veronica find themselves forced to set off on a journey through Lavdia in search of Queen Mayva, whose tracks had long since been lost,
but that seems to be the only one able to help them in the fight against evil.
I really appreciated the refinement in the descriptions of the characters, the depth with which the author tells us about the loss, the pain and the traumas of the past that often are difficult to overcome.
From the very first pages we can see the alchemy between the protagonists, ready to risk their lives to save each other, aware that they are left alone against the whole world - a world that considers them criminals, murderers, monsters.
Although we move away from the court intrigues of the first book, there is no lack of action, nor of repercussions of previous events, with another great ending.
All this surely gives hope for an intriguing new chapter, new twists, new adventures and new battles in the name of equality and freedom.
Personally I really liked Veronica and the Angelus: I was pleased to find out more about their past, to know what made them who they are, to see them get out of their comfort zone and fight against what kept them imprisoned.
The themes are different from those of the first book - but not completely detached -, we discover and rediscover numerous characters left behind in the previous chapter as well as new amazing settings.
After The Heir shocking finale, Angelus and Veronica find themselves forced to set off on a journey through Lavdia in search of Queen Mayva, whose tracks had long since been lost,
but that seems to be the only one able to help them in the fight against evil.
I really appreciated the refinement in the descriptions of the characters, the depth with which the author tells us about the loss, the pain and the traumas of the past that often are difficult to overcome.
From the very first pages we can see the alchemy between the protagonists, ready to risk their lives to save each other, aware that they are left alone against the whole world - a world that considers them criminals, murderers, monsters.
Although we move away from the court intrigues of the first book, there is no lack of action, nor of repercussions of previous events, with another great ending.
All this surely gives hope for an intriguing new chapter, new twists, new adventures and new battles in the name of equality and freedom.
Personally I really liked Veronica and the Angelus: I was pleased to find out more about their past, to know what made them who they are, to see them get out of their comfort zone and fight against what kept them imprisoned.
September 8, 2022
Thank you Benet Stoen for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in this series and I loved it even more than I loved the first one! I quickly fell in love with Angelus and Veronica as individuals and was rooting hard for them from the get go.
The slow burn was real, and it was beautifully written. The plot kept me fully engaged with the story as well and I just kept having to tell myself ‘one more chapter’ because I couldn’t put the book down until I knew what happened next.
The only thing I found difficult in the beginning was that this book picks up directly after the ending of the previous book which I read quite a while ago. While I could remember the major details of the ending of the previous book (which I am still not over), I struggled remembering some of those smaller but still important details so I did spend part of the first section of the book trying to piece together what had happened in the previous book to lead us to where we were.
I am looking forward to the next book (especially after that ending!) and I cannot wait to reread this entire series again once it’s all been released.
If you enjoy fantasy, slow-burn, magic and more, you should definitely check this series out!
This is the second book in this series and I loved it even more than I loved the first one! I quickly fell in love with Angelus and Veronica as individuals and was rooting hard for them from the get go.
The slow burn was real, and it was beautifully written. The plot kept me fully engaged with the story as well and I just kept having to tell myself ‘one more chapter’ because I couldn’t put the book down until I knew what happened next.
The only thing I found difficult in the beginning was that this book picks up directly after the ending of the previous book which I read quite a while ago. While I could remember the major details of the ending of the previous book (which I am still not over), I struggled remembering some of those smaller but still important details so I did spend part of the first section of the book trying to piece together what had happened in the previous book to lead us to where we were.
I am looking forward to the next book (especially after that ending!) and I cannot wait to reread this entire series again once it’s all been released.
If you enjoy fantasy, slow-burn, magic and more, you should definitely check this series out!
October 15, 2022
Benet Stoen is a MASTER storyteller. This 👏🏻 is👏🏻what👏🏻a👏🏻fantasy👏🏻series👏🏻should👏🏻be👏🏻- richly alluring and dark in all the best ways. I read The Heir last year and the Kingdom of Lavdia absolutely shook me to my core. Lush and entrancing- with characters that were wonderfully complex, twists that had me reeling, and a fantastical political plot I was beyond addicted to. But the ending- THE ENDING HAD ME SOBBING and frantically awaiting the sequel.
After a year of waiting in agony, The Warrior is finally upon us AND LET ME JUST SAY NOW IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. I wasn’t sure how it’d play out after ‘The Heir’ ending but like I said at the beginning- Benet is a masterful storyteller. She took this series in a direction that strategically built on the seeds of what the first book planted, adding so much more depth while also flawlessly expanding into so much more. Just an all around flawless sequel with flawless storytelling, flawless character growth, wonderfully executed conflict scenes and overall a plot that had me at the edge of my seat at all times.
If you’re like me and love a gripping dark fantasy that will captivate you from beginning to end- then look no further than this series!
After a year of waiting in agony, The Warrior is finally upon us AND LET ME JUST SAY NOW IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. I wasn’t sure how it’d play out after ‘The Heir’ ending but like I said at the beginning- Benet is a masterful storyteller. She took this series in a direction that strategically built on the seeds of what the first book planted, adding so much more depth while also flawlessly expanding into so much more. Just an all around flawless sequel with flawless storytelling, flawless character growth, wonderfully executed conflict scenes and overall a plot that had me at the edge of my seat at all times.
If you’re like me and love a gripping dark fantasy that will captivate you from beginning to end- then look no further than this series!
September 4, 2022
“You find what you would die to protect, and then you die to protect it.”
the warrior is the second book in the royal three trilogy by benét stoen. this book is full of monsters and magic with dark stakes. i love how there are a few chapters that jump back to the past so we get to see these little glimpses into past events, and even revisiting old characters.
other than that, i'm so happy this book focuses more on my favourite character, veronica. she definitely has great character growth. i also love the growing relationships between the characters. veronica and angelus are both cinnamon rolls, but veronica has more layers of softness to her. their individual grief and struggles made my heart ache.
there are quite a lot of slower moments but the last few chapters are really intense and lead to a dramatic and shocking cliffhanger.
many thanks to benét stoen for sending me an arc in exchange for a review ⚔
the warrior is the second book in the royal three trilogy by benét stoen. this book is full of monsters and magic with dark stakes. i love how there are a few chapters that jump back to the past so we get to see these little glimpses into past events, and even revisiting old characters.
other than that, i'm so happy this book focuses more on my favourite character, veronica. she definitely has great character growth. i also love the growing relationships between the characters. veronica and angelus are both cinnamon rolls, but veronica has more layers of softness to her. their individual grief and struggles made my heart ache.
there are quite a lot of slower moments but the last few chapters are really intense and lead to a dramatic and shocking cliffhanger.
many thanks to benét stoen for sending me an arc in exchange for a review ⚔
September 8, 2022
It’s been so long since I read book one “The Heir” in this trilogy and it took me like one or two chapters to get the hang of it but once I remembered it, it came as a blast of memory. That book focused on the third Queen and this book focuses on the journey of Angelus who was the personal guard of the third queen and the apprentice of Finn, Veronica. I’m amazed by the direction the story took and the journey is full of adventure, and self-realization.
Angelus and Veronica both are so different in personalities and they are coming together to embark on an unknown path is fabulous. The thrill of the unknown and the determination to protect what they find important are commendable. They both deal with their inner demons while finding out secrets buried in Lavdia and how to set the next course of action. The plot twists will keep you hooked and the character development will keep your spirits high. The cliffhanger is devastating to me and makes me want to read book three soon.
Angelus and Veronica both are so different in personalities and they are coming together to embark on an unknown path is fabulous. The thrill of the unknown and the determination to protect what they find important are commendable. They both deal with their inner demons while finding out secrets buried in Lavdia and how to set the next course of action. The plot twists will keep you hooked and the character development will keep your spirits high. The cliffhanger is devastating to me and makes me want to read book three soon.
November 2, 2022
To say I was nervous reading this book is an understatement. After the first book and being invested in those characters I couldn’t help but feel a little cautious when reading the second. (Have I mentioned I have trust issues??)
The Warrior picks up where the previous leaves off.. which is in pieces. Both for the reader and characters. As much as the ending to the first absolutely gutted me, the transition of story and characters in this next book was written in a matter to be forgiving even considering what had occurred. Benet writes in a such a way where tragic is beautiful and in a matter of understanding.
Just like the previous, I enjoyed the plot and the character development as well as interaction between the two main characters that definitely had its ‘awe’ moments. I can’t help but think the series keeps getting better as it certainly got darker and I welcome it. ;)
Star rating.. tossing between four and five stars.
The Warrior picks up where the previous leaves off.. which is in pieces. Both for the reader and characters. As much as the ending to the first absolutely gutted me, the transition of story and characters in this next book was written in a matter to be forgiving even considering what had occurred. Benet writes in a such a way where tragic is beautiful and in a matter of understanding.
Just like the previous, I enjoyed the plot and the character development as well as interaction between the two main characters that definitely had its ‘awe’ moments. I can’t help but think the series keeps getting better as it certainly got darker and I welcome it. ;)
Star rating.. tossing between four and five stars.
September 21, 2022
4.5
This series keeps getting better 👏
I loved every bit of the slow burner romance between Veronica and Anglues. Everything they said and did for each other was so cute and had me in awe. The “I hate everyone but you” and “touch her and you die” tropes are some of my favourite tropes and Benét delivered. The characterisation, plot, magical system and character development are some of my favourite bits about this book.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a fantasy read and this was the perfect book to kick start my fantasy reading for the year. Also, the aesthetic of this book makes it the perfect autumnal read. So if you are looking for a character driven, high fantasy romance then this is it!
This series keeps getting better 👏
I loved every bit of the slow burner romance between Veronica and Anglues. Everything they said and did for each other was so cute and had me in awe. The “I hate everyone but you” and “touch her and you die” tropes are some of my favourite tropes and Benét delivered. The characterisation, plot, magical system and character development are some of my favourite bits about this book.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a fantasy read and this was the perfect book to kick start my fantasy reading for the year. Also, the aesthetic of this book makes it the perfect autumnal read. So if you are looking for a character driven, high fantasy romance then this is it!
September 9, 2022
OMGoodness did I love this book! One of the things I was definitely impressed with is how the author writes about the aftermath of losing a loved one and the rocky road of working through grief. As someone who is currently on that path and has been before, I appreciate the realism of how she laid it bare. I also love love love the slow burn this book holds, like ahh swooning over here! As this being the second book in the trilogy I will say that I am absolutely looking forward to reading the final installment of the series.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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