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adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
5/5 stars for this amazing series
I LOVED everything about those books. The story, the characters, the world building, the romance, the magic, the writing. I am so invested in all those characters, it is giving me very strong acotar vibes. I read all the books on my Kindle and will definitely buy the physical copy to have on my shelf.
Honestly, there were some moments when the main characters were a bit annoying, but I was willing to overlook all their flaws because I loved them so damn much.
From what I gather in the books, this is book 5 in a series of (possibly?) 12 books (4 queens, 3 books per quest?) but you get a lovely finale at the end of each individual storyline (that's 3 books per).
No need to go into detail - the Nightrender is just my type of surly MMC, Malin is quite relatable, and the support cast is fabulous.
Read it and never regret it.
I LOVED everything about those books. The story, the characters, the world building, the romance, the magic, the writing. I am so invested in all those characters, it is giving me very strong acotar vibes. I read all the books on my Kindle and will definitely buy the physical copy to have on my shelf.
Honestly, there were some moments when the main characters were a bit annoying, but I was willing to overlook all their flaws because I loved them so damn much.
From what I gather in the books, this is book 5 in a series of (possibly?) 12 books (4 queens, 3 books per quest?) but you get a lovely finale at the end of each individual storyline (that's 3 books per).
No need to go into detail - the Nightrender is just my type of surly MMC, Malin is quite relatable, and the support cast is fabulous.
Read it and never regret it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Enjoyment: 5⭐
Plot: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Plot: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This raises the stakes and the heartbreak in all the best ways.
Malin’s growth from a desperate girl to a queen willing to bring kingdoms to their knees felt so earned here. Watching her face the cost of her own scheming, while Kase, the boy-turned-Nightrender she loves, can no longer even recognize her, was brutal and beautiful. Their dynamic cuts deep in this book: love twisted into something painful and sharp, layered with loyalty, rage, and the desperate hope that all isn’t lost.
The world expands even further with brutal political plays, scheming enemies, and deadly spells, and it keeps the tension dialed all the way up. There's an undercurrent of grief and grit threading through every decision Malin makes, and it makes you ache for her and Kase all the more.
⭐ 4/5 - A gripping continuation full of loyalty tested, identities shattered, and a love that refuses to die, even when the world demands it.
Malin’s growth from a desperate girl to a queen willing to bring kingdoms to their knees felt so earned here. Watching her face the cost of her own scheming, while Kase, the boy-turned-Nightrender she loves, can no longer even recognize her, was brutal and beautiful. Their dynamic cuts deep in this book: love twisted into something painful and sharp, layered with loyalty, rage, and the desperate hope that all isn’t lost.
The world expands even further with brutal political plays, scheming enemies, and deadly spells, and it keeps the tension dialed all the way up. There's an undercurrent of grief and grit threading through every decision Malin makes, and it makes you ache for her and Kase all the more.
⭐ 4/5 - A gripping continuation full of loyalty tested, identities shattered, and a love that refuses to die, even when the world demands it.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of my favourite reads of The Broken Kingdoms series! Lots of world building and development - not just insta-solving problems, and when you think things are going the right way, there ends up being a twist in the story. I really like the way L J Andrews creates the characters and world. Only reason it is not 5* is because it is slightly predictable in where a new set of character appears, you know that this will lead up into future books (as for every 3 books it focuses on a new main coupling). Great unexpected twists for the majority of the book, I read this in a day - it really kept my interest and again loved the pacing of the book.
A lot more bloodshed in this book than I think in any of the books prior, the stakes are higher and the sacrifices harder. Malin spends a good majority of this book getting Kase back after he was captured at the end of the last book.
Similiar to book 2, this book being the second in a trilogy falls into the same trap of distancing the hero from the heroine- though I do like how Andrews did it in this book better than Valin's. No angsty 'i'm doing this to protect you' bs, instead we have essentially an amnesia trope where Kase's memories have been wiped and twisted into hate. but man oh man was it delicious seeing him still react to protect Malin even when he couldn't remember her!
and that reunion mmm this book kicks up the spice a bit.
What I liked:
-The amnesia trope. Not gonna lie, it worked. I like a good 'I'll protect you until I die but can't remember why' plot and this book delivers in spades! Kase getting torn up at the thought of Malin getting hurt even while his memories were being twisted was perfection
-Hagen and Bard. I'm loving the family devotion & dynamics these books have going on. Elise, Valen, Sol, Herja in the north connected by Gunner with Hagen, Bard, Malin, & Kase in the East.. I'm loving this family! They rule (haha)
What was meh:
-I'm not sure how I feel about Malin's claim to the throne. don't get me wrong, I love it, but unlike Elise, Malin's story is so much more focused on her and Kase rather than her claim to the throne. In 2 books she still hasn't put on the dang ring. Unlike Elise drawing power from her people, Malin doesn't have a following to back up her claim. I'd like to see the people of the East have more of a say in who they want ruling them.
-The deaths.
Similiar to book 2, this book being the second in a trilogy falls into the same trap of distancing the hero from the heroine- though I do like how Andrews did it in this book better than Valin's. No angsty 'i'm doing this to protect you' bs, instead we have essentially an amnesia trope where Kase's memories have been wiped and twisted into hate. but man oh man was it delicious seeing him still react to protect Malin even when he couldn't remember her!
and that reunion mmm this book kicks up the spice a bit.
What I liked:
-The amnesia trope. Not gonna lie, it worked. I like a good 'I'll protect you until I die but can't remember why' plot and this book delivers in spades! Kase getting torn up at the thought of Malin getting hurt even while his memories were being twisted was perfection
-Hagen and Bard. I'm loving the family devotion & dynamics these books have going on. Elise, Valen, Sol, Herja in the north connected by Gunner with Hagen, Bard, Malin, & Kase in the East.. I'm loving this family! They rule (haha)
What was meh:
-I'm not sure how I feel about Malin's claim to the throne. don't get me wrong, I love it, but unlike Elise, Malin's story is so much more focused on her and Kase rather than her claim to the throne. In 2 books she still hasn't put on the dang ring. Unlike Elise drawing power from her people, Malin doesn't have a following to back up her claim. I'd like to see the people of the East have more of a say in who they want ruling them.
-The deaths.