The Promised Queen is the final book in the Forgotten Empires series by Jeffe Kennedy and I'm happy with the way this one wrapped up. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you should consider picking it up.

This book picks up where book 2 left off and without giving any spoilers, Con and Lia have a bit to work through. As they work to figure out what they need to do to save Calanthe and stop Emperor Anure and his wizards, they have to learn to trust each other. As they figure out how to navigate their relationship alongside all of the other challenges they are facing, they start to determine what is important and that they truly can rely on each other.

If you're looking for an adult fantasy series I recommend picking this up. I look forward to the Kennedy's next book!

Was I hooked by that book? Absolutely. The final installment of the Forgotten Empires series most definitely lived up to my expectations.

Con and Lia are finally back on Calanthe's soil after saving Lia from Anare's wizards. But Calanthe is not doing so well. The land needs healing just as much as Lia does.

Lia's struggle to figure out how she is connected to Calanthe and what it means for her was very emotional. She had so many insecurities to overcome to figure it all out. She was trying to save Calanthe while also having to come to grips with the new changes in her. At times I found Lia a bit too marterish. She was way too willing to sacrifice her potential happiness. Con was a constant throughout it all. He never gave up on her or them. And the final confrontation with Anare was quite satisfying.

The writing captivated me. I wanted to read faster so I can find out what happens, but I also wanted to read slowly so I didn't miss anything. I ended up going the slow route, if you wondered.

I can definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves reading fantasy. But start at the beginning, you can't just jump into it wherever.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Promised Queen is the third and final book in the Forgotten Empires series. After devouring the first two books, I'll admit that I was really excited to see how this was all going to end. Especially with how the second book ended. Heck, I'll even admit that I honestly wasn't expecting everything that went down in this one either. I mean.. this book had some deep, dark, and horrible things throughout it. Which is probably why I devoured it to begin with.

Now the characters themselves were beautifully written. Whether they were growing or adapting from certain situations or trying to figure out their own internal battle (duty vs. heart). They were just so easy to like and eventually love. While that's happening, though, you get so much more. There's romance and potential for true happiness. There's cunning characters that will throw you endless surprises and twists.

Again, I wasn't prepared for what went down in this book and that's completely okay. In the end, I devoured this and I have no idea what to do with myself now that the series is over. I'm just super excited for the next book that Jeffe writes!

I actually bought the other books in the series (which I had not read prior to receiving this) so I can say that I'm a big fan!

The Promised Queen is the third and final installment in Jeffe Kennedy’s Forgotten Empires Trilogy. The book starts where The Fiery Crown ended which finds Lia’s fate uncertain and Con’s plans of taking down their common enemy down the drain. The storyline of Forgotten Empires has from the very start been intriguing and puts a different twists to good versus evil. The characters are never predictable and twists and turns in the plot will definitely keep you guessing how everything ends. The Promised Queen however spends more than half of the book developing the love story between Con and Lia, which the first book never explored and the second just touched on. The pace seems slower because of this but the intricate story and the way each piece is interwoven makes The Promised Queen a worthwhile finale to a fantastice fantasy romance series.

I love last books in series because they are always fast paced and finally all the loose ends are tied up with a bow…Hopefully!! This last book was not exception, it knocked the story out of the park. The end of the love story but the beginning of something bigger.

Folks, I don’t know what else to say, except you need to read this whole series. It will blow your mind. Existential, romantic, adventurous, thrilling. We finally get our Happily Ever After…

Just go buy it and read it.

The Promised Queen is the final book in the Forgotten Empires Series, and it wraps up the story very well. The last book contained some horrible things and this one starts right in the aftermath. Now, Lia and Conri need to save not only their kingdom, but all of the kingdoms.

I never like to describe the plot much, especially in the final book of a trilogy. I don't want to spoil things. Here are the things about this book (and the series) that stood out to me:

Lia - her essence is unique. And I also like how sworn to duty she is, even when her heart might say otherwise. She not only loves Conri, but she loves her country and she acts responsibly.

Conri actually can learn and change for the better. I love when characters progress in a realistic fashion.

I finally got to find out what in the world was going on with Ambrose.

The descriptions of the culture on the island were well done - I felt like I could see the places and the outfits (which are described in a lot of detail, but I enjoyed that).

I was really glad to see that the Main Page listed this as adult vs. Young Adult. I totally agree.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I recommend it - after reading the first two in the series.

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a satisfying ending to a good YA Fantasy trilogy. Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, married Queen Euthalia of Calanthe to fulfill the prophecy that would end Emperor Anure's cruel hold over the empire. But they failed. Con gave it all he had and Lia gave her life - temporarily- but nothing worked.

The couple return to Lia's island kingdom of Calanthe, which has awakened and wants blood. It is tearing the island up and Lia's subjects are in mortal danger. Slowly a plan is formed to return to Anure's fortress, rescue the other royal captives, and kill Anure. This time they must not fail.

This book picks up almost immediately after the last book ends. While I liked this book, there seemed to be something missing. Although their circumstances were dire, I didn't really feel a sense of urgency. The book focused on Con and Lia almost exclusively, with almost no minor characters making an appearance. The minor characters rounded out the stories in the first two books, and that was missing here. There was also a lot of inner dialogue which started to annoy me. For two commanding characters, there was way too much indecisiveness and angst.

Overall, however, I enjoyed the book and am pleased with the ending. If you want a fun, quick and easy YA Fantasy series to read, I recommend you read this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

Fantasy and romance!! Yes, please!

This is my first book from this author, and I throughouly enjoyed it. I don't usually read much fantasy but this was a very vivid and interesting story to dive into! I haven't read the other books in the series but it was still fun to discover the world and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the earc in return for an honest review.

The final book of Con and Lia and the battle for each other's heart plus a need to save the world from a horrible monster of a dictator that had already killed many members of royal families around the world. This story has a ton of ups and downs in the romance and the struggle to battle for freedom. The imaginative plots and battle plans were interesting but it seemed we were dragging in the middle as these books often do but the finish was glorious except for one major WTF??? I am a confirmed revenge junkie and the reader gets cheated IMHO and we don't really even get a good final answer so for that I have to give it 4 Stars and glad it was so good or I would drop it to 3. Taken as a whole the trilogy was entertaining and held my attention well so considering the whole story I would have to highly recommend this trilogy.

Wow this was just so much awesomeness, mixed with some amazing creative details. I truly enjoyed this book, it did take me a bit longer to read then I hopped. There was just so much I don’t even know how to give you a detailed review, so I’m just tell you, read this series you won’t regret it.

A Gripping Finale To This Engaging Trilogy.
Forgotten Empires has been a captivating series and I’ve loved Jeffe’s writing style. I’m impressed and enthralled with her beautiful and descriptive use of language. The prose she uses is intelligent, eloquent, and very reminiscent of a historical novel. It plunges you into the fantasy world she’s created. The words that Jeffe chooses and the way she forms each sentence sets the scene beautifully in my mind.

Gabrielle Baker is a new-to-me narrator.
I loved the pace at which Gabrielle read this story and the emotions she conveyed. She created some wonderful voices for Jeffe’s characters – and they are many in this fantasy tale. 😉 I was never confused as to whose perspective we were listening to or who was speaking during the conversations. Gabrielle brought the story to like in my ears!

Characters I can believe in – even the evil sods.
Jeffe weaved realistic human behaviours, known historic attitudes and etiquettes into her fantasy world. For me, this attention to detail made it feel more believable. Lia and Conrí lead us through the story with their own chapters and sections. Therefore, giving us a chance to know their inner dialogue. I really like this because it helped me to gain a further depth of understanding, empathy, and connection to both of them.

A female protagonist that ticked my boxes.
I crave certain personality traits; intelligence, resilience, self-reliance, and gumption. Although Lia is a queen and lived under a plethora of restrictions, she showed plenty of gumption through the many trials and tribulations thrown at her. I loved seeing her grow and blossom in this story. She has a sharp political mind, a wonderful sense of humour and immense compassion and love.

There are so many aspects of The Promised Queen that captivated me.
Jeffe created a gripping plotline, both for the trilogy as a whole and within each book, that felt inventive and well planned out. The subtleties of court life were intriguing and the differences between Queen Euthalia and that of Emperor Anure’s stronghold were insightful. The brutality, prejudice and injustice were hard to read at times, making my heart break. The fight scenes were breathtaking, keeping me on the edge of my seat and I was caught out by some surprising twists. Tears trickled down my cheeks listening to some of the more emotional scenes. However fear not, there was enough gentle humour and banter to balance the tears, the relationship between Lia and Conrí both warmed my old romantic heart and set the fires a-blazing too. *oh my*

The Promised Queen is my favourite book of the trilogy!

I love Jeffe Kennedy's world building and this, the 3rd in the Forgotten Empires series, absolutely delivers! You'll be turning pages almost faster than you can read them to see how she ends this wonderful, addictive trilogy. And, then you'll go back and read them all again.

What a great ending to this series! I wasn’t sure what was going to happen based on the ending of the last book. What will Lia be like now? Is Con’s sister really alive? Can they fulfill the prophecy and save their world from Anure? All these questions are answered and even a few surprises await you in the ending of the Forgotten Empires series. 5 stars!!

I cried. This ending. Just wow! Lia and Con both have grown so much. Their relationship has gone from merely being of convenience to being something that has helped them both heal wounds that they thought were beyond healing. Con is a man that likes to be in control but also likes to just barge right in and do what he wants. Lia teaches him the importance of knowing how to handle each situation with equal parts care and determination. Lia is a woman who also loves being in control but to the point of micromanaging every detail. Con taught Lia that somethings can be better solved when the leadership burdens are shared amongst many. I loved that these two opposites learned to truly love each other with their glaring flaws and see through that to find a heart that loves without restraints. They are honestly relationship goals because they are in no way a perfect couple. They have fights, they argue and sometimes throw insults that wound but they have the strength and humbleness to admit they were wrong and only resorted to that because they didn't want to lose the other one. I loved seeing Con help Lia overcome her traumatic experiences while she'd been held captive. Lia had also helped Con with his fear of being beyond help. Con learns to love and he loved again through Lia. And idk if any of that made sense but I truly loved their relationship!😭 Now then, moving on! Iboyla definitely stepped up in this book!! She takes on a more active role and I love her for that! She becomes a true friend to Lia, being there and nurturing Lia's fractured soul. Another character that I fell more in love with was Percy!🤣 He's an absolute darling and I love that he always kept a light-hearted attitude about things but was always ready for seriousness if the situation called for it. Plus....that plot twist about his family ties O.O......wow. And no review could be complete with an honorary mention of Ambrose and Merle!!!😍 They sort of stole the show, okay? They were cryptic as ever and had a few surprises up their sleeves but they came through in the end. As in they surprised everyone with some of their secrets but....in a way I understand their reasoning....I won't spoil it for you guys, though!

Epic conclusion to the Forgotten Empires trilogy. I enjoyed catching up with Con, Lia, and their allies and seeing the different paths taken to get to were they needed to be. The magic, danger, drama, love and happiness, make this book (and the whole trilogy) well-worth reading. I'm going to miss visiting this world.
For the most enjoyment, I recommend reading the books in order.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

I could not miss this one having read the others. I have to open it up to see the paths Conri and Lia take. Once in this you are swept away by the drama still raging and escalating. Trust will be a key element in this. You will be able to experience a thrill when you are taken on the path they follow. You will most certainly turn the pages on this journey.

The Promised Queen by Jeffe Kennedy
Forgotten Empires #3

All good things must come to an end…unless this author decides to carry on with the other worlds mentioned in this trilogy and perhaps builds a spinoff to a delightful fantasy romance that ended just as it should by the end of book three of this series.

What I liked:
* Lia: a species I have never seen before with all the positive attributes necessary to make this story special. She and Con were perfect for one another.
* Con: someone deprived of his birthright who managed to survive and perhaps thrive as a result of the horrific life he was forced to live. He was perfect with and for Lia.
* The love that grew between Con and Lia
* The magical elements of the story
* Calanthe: home to Lia, an island, magical, and so much more
* The mythology and prophecy of this series
* The supporting characters – many could have stories of their own
* The way that Con and Lia were there for one another
* That good overcame evil
* The way all the threads were tied up by the end of the series
* Thinking about the future and the possibilities for Con, Lia and the others

What I didn’t like:
* Anure, the evil wizards, and the suffering they meted out on so many

Could this series have been many books? Yes.
Did it tell the story and do it well in three books? Yes.
Will I miss spending more time with Con and Lia? Definitely
Would I read more by this author? I am sure I would!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This was one of my favorite romantic fantasy series, a great mix of action, romance and fantasy.
This the excellent last book in a great series.
I loved every moment of it and I think it's gripping and highly entertaining.
Lia is a great character, clever and cunning.
The world building is as good as usual, great characters, tightly knitted and fast paced plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Very entertaining! Love the unique vibe to the story! This is book 3 and a finale book, so I’d recommend reading the previous books for the best overall experience. I’ve really enjoyed this whole series! Cool magical elements! Steamy passionate connection between Con and Lia! Love their chemistry and how they support each other. Lia has been brought back from the dead after being tortured, so she’s really dealing with some issues; she’s not fully herself, there’s evil people trying to take over her kingdom, and what happens between her and Con if they do save the other royals. Danger and intrigue! The only thing I didn’t care for was the Night Court stuff; debauchery and such going on, but Con and Lia’s devotion to each other is nice. Overall, this was wonderfully intriguing, and I look forward to reading more from this author!