Reviews

Once a King by Erin Summerill

whovianpnw's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

karistamc's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

this book was easily the strongest in this series! there was a good balance between plot and romance, and the pacing was also better. all the interesting stuff about the overarching world got a chance to shine! 

literary_steph's review against another edition

3.0

Why was this longer than it needed to be? LOL, I liked this series, but not as much as I was hoping to. The characters are sweet, there’s an adorable friends to lovers romance, magic and kingdoms. I liked the multiple POV’s. The first two books focus on Britta, Cohen and Aodren and the final book Once a King, focuses on Aodren & Lirra. I thought this was an interesting concept and I enjoyed it.

I think this would be great for my daughter and those who are probably getting into fantasy, as the plot and world isn’t complicated or overwhelming and easy to follow.

books4susie's review against another edition

5.0

This “third” book is a bit of a standalone yet still continues the story started in the previous two books. Although Britta is mentioned only once in passing, this is King Aodren and Lirra’s story about picking up the pieces and moving forward from their tragic pasts. I thoroughly enjoyed diving back into this world and seeing how these two would move forward. A great end to the story.

egurgens's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

lemonlaiime's review against another edition

4.0

An adventure with Aodren, and it brings us back Lirra as well. I really enjoyed this “mystery” even if it’s not fully believable that Aodren is a king. But the twist was unexpected to me! And just the right amount of romance without becoming too sappy.

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and this was an excellent book to bring me out of it!

angelreadsfantasy's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Enjoyable read, liked that it continued the story with the troubles that were still there for Aodren to solve. I liked that Lirra got back. The ending however was ''to fast' (i had the same with the other two books), it felt to rushed, to easy. I did like that the romance had an open ending. 

melissasbookshelf's review against another edition

4.0

Love this series! I was so disappointed in a way when the second book in the series ended the way it did. I really liked King Aodren and shipped him and a certain other character (if you've read the series you know who I'm talking about.). But, alas, it was not meant to be. Now enter Lirra. She is cute, feisty, resourceful, strong, and yet feminine all at the same time. She and Aodren work together to solve the mystery of a potion that is rumored to be a wonder drug, but is also deadly. As non-Channelers begin blaming Channelers for the deadly potion, the peace Aodren is trying so desperately to attain for Malam is threatened.

It took a little while for me to get into because there is a lot of tournament stuff which for me made the book drag a bit, but once the relationship between Aodren and Lirra begins to grow and the mystery picks up, the book is hard to put down. Great YA Fantasy with no sex, some violence, and very little if any mild profanity (no F-bombs and such).

wayfaringbibliomaniac's review against another edition

4.0

Was a little surprised by the twist, to be honest

valerieelseswhere's review against another edition

3.0

3.5, really. While you could read this as a stand alone it certainly makes more sense and is better read as the 3rd in the series. The plot was a little easy to guess, but I loved getting to know more about Leif, Lirra, and Aoedren and wouldn't mind another book about the future of Malam.