Love this series! Stacia Stark creates compelling characters and worlds with unique magic systems and amazing relationships. I really enjoyed the journeys that each of the characters make in this installment. Rather than just caring about Prisca and Lorian, I now care about where almost all of them are headed, which I fear is setting me up for heartbreak.

This book has an excellent twist and ends on a cliffhanger, but that's okay because the next book is out already!

If you enjoy fantasy romance, fae, political intrigue, found family, and multiple POV, you'll enjoy this one!

Hooked from the very first page, this book beat the sequel curse with action and passion. The jam-packed plot picked up right where it left off at the end of the first novel, and it felt like it never truly slowed down. Prisca and Lorien’s relationship had all of the moments I wanted; it was rocky at times and then had me squealing like a pig heading to slaughter in others. The side characters are equally entertaining and always seem to be walking on tightropes with each other; most of their relationships are so dynamic you feel like anything could happen. I do wish there were more Lorien flashbacks to get inside his mind during certain moments from his past instead of Prisca coming to her own conclusions and Lorien being a closed book. However my biggest ‘issue’ with the first book is that it was quite predictable... this one did NOT have that problem. That ending…. I was JAW-DROPPED, GOBSMACKED, I didn’t see it coming and couldn’t quite believe it was happening. The voice acting killed it just like it did in the first book: immersive and entertaining.

ahhhhh that ending!!!!!!!!!! I liked this book but it was a little slower for me. I like where the story is going but that cliffhanger is going to drive me nuts! I love the audiobook I think the narrators are wonderful and continue to deliver!
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of the audiobook!

I am truly digging this series. The court politics continue to intrigue.
The relationship between Lorien and Priska continues to evolve in this story. If you’re looking for spice, then this book certainly delivers.
My favorite parts of the book are actually when we get more appearances from the side characters. We get to see more of the friends and family that we met in book one, as well some new characters, such as Lorien’s bother and the Grimallian king (I apologize for spelling errors, I did listen to the audiobook). There really is an incredible depth to this tale.
This books takes us through quite the journey through multiple kingdoms as Priska searches for allies. She is emerging from the shell of her timid small village girl character and becoming a true leader - the queen that her people need. Another excellent addition to the storyline are the snippets into Lorien’s past and well as those from the point of view of Sabium’s queen. There is so much more that has to come to pass in this story and I can’t wait to get my hands on book three and more.
The narrators of the audiobook also did fantastic job of getting us closer to these characters. Their delivery was well executed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audio copy of this book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

There are few 2nd books in a series that impress me more than the second, and this one was no different. Although, while I say that I also acknowledge that this was still an amazing book to add to this great series.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Dreamscape Media for the audioARC!!! I was truthfully and wonderfully entertained.

For the most part, this book picks up where the last leaves off. Pricisa is now in a precarious position where she has shoes to fill but believes her feet are many sizes too small. Her relationship with Lorain is just as precarious because despite their feelings and wishes, everyone, even their most trusted, are telling them it can never last. They must battle not only their enemies and fight opposition on every front, but must also find and save the most powerful being in their world to prevent the continued life of their greatest enemy.
This story was well told and the flow was consistent…the spice was also quite satisfying. My only meh, is the length and the yo-yo of emotions between Pricisa and Lorian. That was a bit annoying throughout. Why is it that the lady heroes in these romantasies are always complaining about the trustworthiness of their chosen love interests while also keeping secrets themselves. It’s a pet peeve of mine.
I really love this series and look forward to the next. I am waiting eagerly with bated breath!!!!
My rating is a 3.5 ⭐️ outta 5

NO REGRETS!!!!

Oh my gosh this audiobook was everything! I cannot WAIT for the next one omg!! I’m so sorry I’m late reviewing here; but I did review on my page before release day!

Stacia Stark has my hooked on this series! I love the narration and depth of the audiobook. I so excited to listen to the third book and can’t wait for it to come out in audio. Prisca and Lorian are a MOOD!

I revieced this audiobook arc via NetGalley and dreamscape media in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t care for this one. The audiobook didn’t work either. I can’t put my finger on it but something wasn’t right about the story. I couldn’t stay interested and I didn’t finish it.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

I was very confused and all over in the beginning but the ending was IDEAL. I feel like the first book left me wanting so many answers and then book two started the way it did. I was pausing and searching my brain for answers but the more we progressed the more things made sense. Super happy with how things ended with book two!

I am very grateful I was provided this by Dreamscape media via NetGalley.

"A Kingdom This Cursed & Empty," the second installment in Stacia Stark's Kingdom of Lies series, delivered a compelling audiobook experience. Prisca, our female lead, grapples with newfound leadership, adding depth to her character. Prisca is clever, independent, fierce and brave.

Lorian, the MMC, is wonderfully portrayed as protective and supportive, though the prolonged miscommunication aspect deducted half a star for me. However, I understand why it was necessary for the progression of the story.

The dual found family dynamic, encompassing Prisca's court and Lorian's friend group, stands out as a favorite. I love the lotalty displayed by the majority of these supporting characters. The pacing was solid, with the narrative gaining momentum halfway through, keeping me hooked. I would rate this 4.5 ⭐️ and can’t wait to start the next book.

Fans of Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing, and From Blood and Ash would enjoy this series.

Tropes:
-badass FMC
-morally grey MMC
-found family
-fey warriors & magic wielders
-multiple POV

Review also posted on amazon. Will update with link when it becomes available for me to view.

I am hooked on these characters. The world building was great in this one, nice amount of spice and the plot thickens. What a cliff hanger! Im going to have a hard time waiting for the audio release of the next one.

Audio: 3.5/5
I love the female’s performance, but I find the male was still a bit off for me. There were inconsistencies in how the FMC vs MMC pronounced words of people and places that really bothered me.

Thank you so much for letting me listen to A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty! I was a huge fan of the first book in the series, but this one was really hard to trudge through. I fully believe that this feeling was all due to the narrator. I couldn’t feel for the characters, and anytime the narrator spoke as a man, it felt either arrogant or for lack of a better word, weak. I do love this narrator, but I just don’t think she worked with the direction that the story took. It needs a strong voice to play this strong character, and the softness of the narrator made Prisca feel more like a damsel than a queen. I think the story itself is interesting enough (even though Lorian’s internalized confession was not a shock at all), but the audiobook was not enough for me to continue the series.

I really enjoyed the second installment of this series. I felt like it was so much better than the first. And Lorian... I definitely enjoy him.

However... the CLIFFHANGER at the end... Stacia Stark... WHY? Luckily, book 3 just came out!

I highly recommend these audiobooks. They are very well done!

The second installment in this thrilling series was captivating! Prisca and Lorian's journey had me on the edge of my seat—it was a true nail-biter. The intricate web of events behind the scenes, coupled with other characters quietly making their moves, added an extra layer of suspense. I really loved learning more about the Bloodthirsty Prince, and oh my heart. That ending!! The narrators Tim Paige, and Meg Sylvan did a fantastic job portraying the characters breathing life into the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this thrilling audiobook.

I don´t know how to express how much I loved this second book!

The plot was well paced and it kept me engaged from the very beginning.
I´m always scared to go into a second book if I really enjoyed the first one, but this one it´s maybe even better.
The magic elements are better explained and the character arcs are full of adventure, bumps, and action.

Lorien is even better than in book one. His love for Priska makes him a fierce protector and amazing lover.
I LOVED all the glimpses we had of his past and how we understand how he came to be.

Priska is also an amazing character. She is maybe the one character that annoyed me more, mainly because of her constant questioning of herself and her inability to be Queen. Girl come on, believe in yourself!!!

All the secondary characters are well-written and, like for the first book, their friendship makes this story so much better. I fell a little in love with all the Fae and their loyalty to each other.

Lastly, I totally wasn´t expecting the Queen PoV and it was such a nice addition.

I am addicted to this story! I can't say enough good things about Stacia Stark's writing! This book has been so much fun to read and I am so excited I have the ebook of book 3 because those endings make me want to keep going.
The Narrators are also fantastic and I love a duo narration.

I was fully hooked on this story. The narrators did a great job on the audiobook as well. I enjoyed this book and will definitely continue this series. I can't wait to see what happens next.

This is a good follow up to the first in the series. The story is good, but I didn't like it as much as the first installment because there was less of the mystery/suspense of figuring out identities, which is a personal favorite section of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Rebuilding after "betrayal" is less interesting, so, while this book would be perfect for others, it will probably never be my favorite installment. Tim Paige's voice lends itself perfectly to the overbearing Fae and I feel like he embodied the character the way the author intended him to be brought to life. I didn't like Meg Sylvan's portrayal as much. I like her as a narrator, but not necessarily for this character. There were times when her vocalizations made the character feel very young, which was off-putting for a spicy book. It also make it harder to take her seriously as a budding leader for her people since she felt a bit on the whiny side. Overall, the issues I had felt more like personal preference than issues with the author/narrators. I will definitely be putting the next installment on my TBR list.

A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty by Stacia Stark was a good read. The narrators do a good job with drawing you in. It is the second book in the series and helps you dive more into to the world. After they get to the end of the city in the first book, Prisca is forced to make a bargain with Lorian to help save her brother. From there she must travel with Lorian again while plotting on how to save people and get back at her enemies. She still does not trust Lorian, but that relationship continues to grow. She learns more about her heritage and slowly prepares to lead her people. A great mix of adventure and romance.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own. #StaciaStark #AKingdomThisCursedandEmpty #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

“A crown wasn’t just a title or a symbol. It was a promise. A promise that I would do whatever was necessary to protect my people.”

I was truely Enchanted by the first novel of the Kingdom of Lies Series “A Court this Cruel and Lovely” and couldn’t wait to get into the second novel!
I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Prisca and Lorican. We also got to see Prisca becoming the true Queen that she is by doing everything in her power to save and protect her people.


“Nothing hardened a woman like betrayal from a man she’d trusted. And then men had the audacity to call us cold.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Stacia Stark, and Dreamscape Media for an arc of “A Kingdom this Cursed and Empty” in exchange for an honest review!