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A review by thelitraccoon
The Half King by Melissa Landers
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
⭐⭐⭐✨3.5 Stars | 🌶️🌶️ 2.5 Spice
I feel very conflicted about this book. I received a preview on NetGalley a little while back and was immediately intrigued by the story, narration style, and premise.
Now that I’ve finished the book, I don’t quite know how to feel. The beginning was really good—enticing and intriguing, just as I’d hoped. What bothered me most was the demeanor of Cerise, her blatant naivety. However, when you consider her station and upbringing, it’s quite understandable and most likely intentional. Kian, on the other hand, gave me a constant ick. He felt flat, and I couldn’t connect with his manner of speaking or his overall behavior, which came across as patronizing at times—especially in contrast to Cerise’s almost childlike demeanor. The romance between the two felt very YA despite being spicy, and it often struck me as immature.
The ending, though, was what redeemed the book for me. I was hooked and absolutely had to finish it. The character development of Cerise, the plot twist—everything fell into place, and it just worked. I’m kind of sad that the main part of the book didn’t deliver the same magic, especially since the beginning and ending were so strong.
One element that may have influenced my positive rating was the letter at the beginning of the book addressed to the reader. (I tracked down the FairyLoot edition for this one because it’s stunning!) I really empathized with the author and her personal struggles, which she wove into Cerise’s journey. It gave the story an extra layer of meaning for me.
Will I continue the series?
Absolutely! Although the second book in this duology hasn’t even been announced yet, I’m eager to see more of Cerise’s journey toward female empowerment.
I feel very conflicted about this book. I received a preview on NetGalley a little while back and was immediately intrigued by the story, narration style, and premise.
Now that I’ve finished the book, I don’t quite know how to feel. The beginning was really good—enticing and intriguing, just as I’d hoped. What bothered me most was the demeanor of Cerise, her blatant naivety. However, when you consider her station and upbringing, it’s quite understandable and most likely intentional. Kian, on the other hand, gave me a constant ick. He felt flat, and I couldn’t connect with his manner of speaking or his overall behavior, which came across as patronizing at times—especially in contrast to Cerise’s almost childlike demeanor. The romance between the two felt very YA despite being spicy, and it often struck me as immature.
The ending, though, was what redeemed the book for me. I was hooked and absolutely had to finish it. The character development of Cerise, the plot twist—everything fell into place, and it just worked. I’m kind of sad that the main part of the book didn’t deliver the same magic, especially since the beginning and ending were so strong.
One element that may have influenced my positive rating was the letter at the beginning of the book addressed to the reader. (I tracked down the FairyLoot edition for this one because it’s stunning!) I really empathized with the author and her personal struggles, which she wove into Cerise’s journey. It gave the story an extra layer of meaning for me.
Will I continue the series?
Absolutely! Although the second book in this duology hasn’t even been announced yet, I’m eager to see more of Cerise’s journey toward female empowerment.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Self harm, Religious bigotry