Ahhhh I loved this book even more than the first! I KNEW this series was just going to get better and better. I’m sad I have to wait for the next one. Zoe has become one of my absolute favorite authors.
Millie was one of my favorite FMCs from Zoë. She was kind and soft. I loved the way she was so charming ans good with people. Gently coaxing them in the right direction and making them feel seen and special. Being a people person is definitely a gift and one that is underestimated.
I liked Kythel too, but honestly I just liked the way this couple developed over the Azur and Gemma. I didn’t like Azur in the beginning, whereas here I liked Kythel from the start. He was obsessed from first glance!
I also really liked the politics and turn events in this book. I don’t want to say too much but I’m a sucker for a damsel in destress moment LOL
Overall, I can’t wait for book 3!
Please check trigger warnings for this book though.
After finishing Zoe’s Horde King series I was immediately looking at he either work. While I still this the Horde Kings are supreme, this book was fun too!
I’m excited for this new world we’re building here! And I’m excited to see how this overarching plot developed too.
I loved the character development in this book. The themes were really heavy though. TW: suicide, torture, murder, gambling addition, alcoholism, war crimes. I personally found these to deepen my connection to the characters, but I was not expecting it. Still, it created a complex relationship between the main couple and they had a lot to overcome together.
I also didn’t love Azur at first. While, I definitely understand where he was coming from in his grief and search for vengeance I just don’t usually love the trope where that anger is taken out on the fmc who is totally innocent. Although, Azur definitely grew as a character for me and I loved him by the end.
I’m the Horde King series, the books just got better from the first couple so I can’t wait for the other books in series!
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was a great conclusion to this addictive series.
I binged this whole series in about a week. Finally both my eyes and kindle can rest. It was sooooo good. I loved this world and these characters. While the books fluctuated a little be for me, I found this series consistently good. It had a great overarching plot.
This book definitely stands out from the others. It was a shame we didn’t get any real horde life. But at the same time, meeting the Priestess, spending time in Dothink, seeing a saruk, and with the tiny moment of horde, we got a little of everything from this book.
I really loved Kara’s character. She was a breath of fresh air in this series. Most of the women in these books have suffered greatly before the story began a. While Kara has suffered, her character is still bright and excited and outgoing. I loved her straightforwardness and honestly.
I also think Arik stood out from the other horde kings. He was playful and teasing right back with Kara. He was’s as broody and serious. Of course he certainly has a mask on, but Kara can see right through it!
And we finally have a benevolent and wonderful king and queen of Dothikar. This book did bring me to tears a little at the end.
I’m so sad to leave this series, but I’m looking into getting some beautiful physical copies and rereading them! I definitely recommend if you enjoy the sci-fi romances, these are the best I’ve read. But even if you like romantasy, I think you would love this series!
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I never would have thought I would give any Alien romance 5 stars. But this book truly gave me no choice.
I’ve been blowing through this series this week and I’ve enjoyed all of them. The fourth book was the weakest for me, but this book was SO GOOD!
I think this couples relationship and journey was the most complex and well developed. I feel like the way they met, the back stories and motivations really make them stand out in this series.
I also think these characters lucked out with the plot. The overarching plot of this series is really entertaining, but I LOVE how intense and important that plot was in the romance for Mina and Wrune. Between his capture, the fog, the back forth or trust, the magic system growing… ugh it was just amazing!
NOT TO MENTION we got to say hi to my other faveoite couple, Davik and Vienne!
Overall, I thought Mina was my favorite fmc. And Wrune was sexy but also he knew when to grovel. Someone *cough Kivan cought* could learn something from him.
This may have been my least favorite of this series so far, but I still enjoyed it.
The thing I did really like about this book is that the set up was a little different. Our main characters have known each other since they were children and have been best friends since they were kids. This is the first book where the fmc was raised outside of a human settlement so she was less of an outsider. I liked that dynamic a lot.
I also really liked that we got some more world building. In the last book we were in Dothik and under the mountain. In this book we get to see what life in one of the settled hordes, saruks, is like.
I also liked that Maeva, the fmc, was a healer. I liked that she had a real job and passion in the horde outside of being the “queen” to the King who rules.
The romance itself is where this book fell a bit flat for me. Our fmc has been in love with the mmc since they were kids, but he broke her heart and left. So it’s a second chance romance, which is not my favorite, but not bad on its own. The fact is:
He could have begged more.
No seriously, not only was Kieran’s excuse for breaking Maeva’s heart not good enough for me (he was young and dumb?) but he also did not make up for it. Where was the groveling?! He just bursts back into her like let’s get married! Um no boy, no.
Finally, I think this book had the least participation in the over arching plot. This couple didnt really face much action outside of themselves. That was fine for me, but it did set up the fog which I think is pivotal to our next couple.
I saw this book had the worst reviews so far on goodreads. But I think that might be because reading them all back to back it’s similar to the other two.
However, I liked the background and depth of Horde King this book. I thought it was the deepest and most emotional. This one was definitely heavier than the others so far.
Still I LOVED the magical aspect to this story line. I loved the plot and the ending for Davik and Vienne.
I never rate books like this over 3 stars, but this series is SO GOOD!
This couple was so different from our first two. I loved Nelle’s character. She was so soft and honest and refreshing!
I also really liked the way Seeran’s character developed. His confidence grew as a leader and I was proud of him for kicking that ass counsel to the ground.