A review by fantasticallyfabled
The Hunted Heir by Holly Renee

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Hunted Heir dives straight into the action, picking up where the jaw-dropping cliffhanger ending of The Veiled Kingdom left off—damn you, Dacre. The pulse-pounding adventure and sizzling romance will leave you breathless, furiously turning pages, and staying up way past your bedtime. And speaking of romance—buckle up, baby, because you are in for one hell of a ride.
 
Verena is on the run once more. Barely escaping the hidden city and Dacre's stunning betrayal—which still lingers like an open wound—she must alone navigate Marmoris' treacherous landscape. Her true identity as the princess is no longer a secret; the rebellion is closing in, and her father's soldiers scour the kingdom, intent on capturing her. With no one to trust, Verena knows only two things for certain: she's a hunted woman, and her only hope for survival lies in reaching the ocean on the southern coast. She must find a ship and escape Marmoris before the rebellion, the king, or Dacre finds her.
 
For Dacre, letting Verena escape has created a maelstrom of problems. The lost princess, the rightful heir to Marmoris, is now a traitor—and he set her free. His father is hell-bent on exploiting Verena to further his own ambitions with the king, but Dacre's allegiance to the rebellion and his father is faltering. His need to protect Verena, his little traitor, burns hotter with every passing moment. Logic dictates he should despise her, yet he'll stop at nothing to keep her safe from the forces closing in around them.
 
Holly Renee's writing is as captivating as ever, drawing you into a world of magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love. But what truly makes The Hunted Heir shine is the characters. Verena is a strong, complex heroine, desperate to find freedom and protect those she cares about. Dacre is a brooding, passionate hero, struggling to reconcile the loyalty he should have to his father's rebellion and his intense feelings for Verena. Their relationship is fraught with tension, and their chemistry is off the charts—a delicious mix of anger, passion, and hurt that adds depth to their already complicated relationship and makes every scene they share sizzle.
 
With all that said, I wish the book had been longer. I devoured it in a few hours and was left wanting more. The cliffhanger ending destroyed me. First, I was sobbing uncontrollably, then I stared blankly at a wall for a bit, and now I'm partially dead inside. But even after being emotionally scarred (again—this woman and her cliffhangers), Queen Holly has cemented my devotion to this series. I need to know what happens to Verena and Dacre. Can they overcome their pasts and forge a future together? Luckily, The Rivaled Crown, book 3 in The Veiled Kingdom series, is coming to a Kindle near you on March 18th, 2025.
 
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely! But only if you've read the first book in the series. With its captivating characters, breakneck plot, and STEAMY romance, The Hunted Heir will entertain and delight you. Be prepared for a wild ride full of twists and turns, a healthy dose of angsty groveling, and a major cliffhanger ending that will leave you desperate to know what happens next.
 
NOTE: The Hunted Heir is the sequel to The Veiled Kingdom and the second book in Holly Renee's Veiled Kingdom series. To avoid spoilers, this series must be read in order.

Thank you to Valentine PR, and of course, Holly Renee for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.