Great fantasy read! It did take me a minute to get into it but once I did, I did enjoy it. It’s not my favorite Leia Stone but it was still very good! Tons of action and world building, which I’m not used to so probably why I had a harder time to originally get in to it. I love how Lani becomes such a bad butt queen. I think this series is going to become really epic & I can’t wait to see more of Lani & Raife! Would recommend!

Book two in the Kings of Avalier - Having lost his entire family to a ruthless attack by the Nightfall Queen, the Elf King Raife is determined to get a wife to appease his council and gain the funds he needs to start a war in retaliation. He wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this prospective partner. Kailani is desperate to get medicine for her ailing Aunt and will do what is necessary to get it, even steal. Soon caught and placed in servitude to the King, Kailani finds herself in a position to finally get her Aunt the care she needs - she just needs to marry the King!

Soon to find that just being ‘good friends’ in their amicable, but fake, marriage is harder to do when the attraction is real and feelings get involved. How strong is the bond when they must stand against the threat of war at their doorstep?

Enjoyed the story of Raife and Kailani!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Outspoken FMC who will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves including entering an arranged fake marriage with the Elf King. This is a quick read that gives major wattpad vibes. The major problem I had with this book was the weak world building and characterization.

YA, Fantasy, Fake Marriage, Dislike to Love

I think unfortunately this series is not for me, or just this author is not for me.

Kailani was just too perfect, she was just so smart, solving all these problems, perfect looking, perfectly dressed, etc. The king is very quickly not acting like a king. Their relationship is so shallow, and their interactions don't seem real.

Leia stone is a fantastic romantasy writing I find her story’s compelling and always wanting more and more each book I get

I LOVED the Broken Elf King!!! It is (so far) my favorite book in the Kings of Avalier series. There was magic, some spice (2/5), romance, and war/politics. I loved all the characters in this book and learning more about King Raife Lightstone. Also, seeing the character development between the two main characters, Raife and Kailani was so fun to read. They both have my heart. Kailani (or Lani) was such a girl boss, that she quickly became one of my top favorite female main characters. Along with that, the plot was everything to me, as it was entertaining from the start.

Tropes:
- Fake Marriage
- Friends to Lovers
- Found Family
- Touch Her You Die

Après un premier tome en demi-teinte, j’ai voulu donner une seconde chance à cette série eeeeet je crois définitivement que cette série n’est pas faite pour moi….

Cette fois-ci, nous allons suivre le Roi Elfe Raife Lightstone qui a vu sa famille mourir sous ses yeux quand il était jeune. Depuis, il est extrêmement méfiant et recrute des goûteurs pour être sûr que sa nourriture ne soit pas empoisonnée… Kailani est une jeune sang-mêlée qui se retrouve au service du roi des elfes en tant que gouteuse mais aussi en tant qu’assistante… A force de se côtoyer, il y a forcément des sentiments qui vont naître…

L’histoire avait encore une fois un potentiel de dingue mais malheureusement, je l’ai trouvé encore une fois trop survolé et certains points mal exploités ou survolés… Les personnages… comment dire…j’ai eu vraiment du mal avec eux… j’ai eu envie de les claquer du début à la fin… Ils sont exaspérant au possible dans leurs comportements et leurs réactions …

En bref, un second tome qui ne m’a pas du tout convaincue et je ne lirais probablement jamais la suite

Après un premier tome en demi-teinte, j’ai voulu donner une seconde chance à cette série eeeeet je crois définitivement que cette série n’est pas faite pour moi….

Cette fois-ci, nous allons suivre le Roi Elfe Raife Lightstone qui a vu sa famille mourir sous ses yeux quand il était jeune. Depuis, il est extrêmement méfiant et recrute des goûteurs pour être sûr que sa nourriture ne soit pas empoisonnée… Kailani est une jeune sang-mêlée qui se retrouve au service du roi des elfes en tant que gouteuse mais aussi en tant qu’assistante… A force de se côtoyer, il y a forcément des sentiments qui vont naître…

L’histoire avait encore une fois un potentiel de dingue mais malheureusement, je l’ai trouvé encore une fois trop survolé et certains points mal exploités ou survolés… Les personnages… comment dire…j’ai eu vraiment du mal avec eux… j’ai eu envie de les claquer du début à la fin… Ils sont exaspérant au possible dans leurs comportements et leurs réactions …

En bref, un second tome qui ne m’a pas du tout convaincue et je ne lirais probablement jamais la suite

I cannot get enough of this author! This light only be the second book I’ve read by this author but I was enthralled by this story!

It was a sweet book.

I enjoyed Lani’s character and the relationship she had with her fake husband

This was a worthy sequel. The new cast of characters, one of which we were introduced to at the end of the previous book, makes this book. I loved every single one of them. Raife had my heart shredding to pieces. His turmoil, experienced through Kailani, was painful. Kailani is a worthy heroine, I loved her to bits. Her wit, charm, and overall personality were jumping off of the page. She also provided some comic relief. There were a few laugh out loud moments, along with the heart wrenching ones. If fierce and funny female leads are your jam, then check this one out.
From my perspective, there are two main segments to the plot. Raife needs to get married to continue to the royal line. He is the last remaining member of his family - enter fake marriage to his new assistant, Kailani. This brings us to the second part, the reason for which Raife is all alone, the need to destroy the human queen - hellbent on eradicating the world of magic and magical creatures. The story rolls out with nonstop action - I could not put the book down. So much happens.
My only complaint is that there were parts, particularly Raife’s constant rejection of Kailani, that were quite repetitive. It is understandable, however, I wish it could have resolved a little sooner. Lani is actually a saint for holding out.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the e-arc. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

The Broken Elf King is the second book in the Kings of Avalier series, which I am finding really intriguing as each book is centered around one of the four kings of the world in which the series is set. This book follows the elven king Raife and as I've always had a soft spot for elves since reading the Lord of the Rings for the first time over three decades ago (Lothlórien is my forever Roman Empire) I knew from reading the excerpt at the end of book one that this was one I was going to enjoy.
Although genre- wise, this is a definite romantasy, any suggestive scenes are very much closed door/ fade to black. Not something that impacts on my enjoyment of a book personally, but I'm very aware that not everyone shares my feelings on this. Nevertheless, the romantic elements is really enjoyable and I am absolutely weak for an emotionally unavailable elf man with all the feels.
Kailani is am empath who physically absorbs the emotions of those close to her, and although my own empathic powers aren't quite as sensitive as that, this is absolutely something I can identify with which, combined with her sharp wit, intelligence and ability to love deeply, made her a instantly likable character.
The writing is really sharp and the world building detailed enough without being too heavy, which made this a very quick read.
Two things kept this from being a five star for me. The first is the lack of any on page event causing emotional upheaval - the battle scene was a nice piece of action, but in spite of some deaths it didn't feel particularly jarring. The second point is around the ending, which I felt was a bit sudden and like the author only decided to end the book at that point that due to the romantic element of the story somehow coming full circle. I felt that this slightly diminished the part of the plot I actually enjoyed, which is centred around the war Queen Zaphira. I fully appreciate that this is the main theme of the series which will carry into the next books, but the romance was very cosy and somewhat predictable, so the ending felt somewhat anticlimactic.
Nevertheless, this was a highly enjoyable book which offered some perfectly timed cosy escapism.

This story follows Raife and Kailani, it was a bit predictable and the FMC left a lot to be desired, Again another female lead with so much potential.. my least favorite trope is miscommunication. I hate it! Just communicate. It’s not angst. It’s being dumb. The idea behind the book is good but the writing is not my favorite.

The Broken Elf King is about healing and love. At the start of the book Kailani is in a predicament. She is currently held as an indentured servant after taking out a loan she knew she could not repay to save her aunt. By a stroke of luck, Kailani catches the Elf King's attention and is now working as his personal assistant. Kailani quickly learns that the king is trying to find a wife, a task she is meant to help with. However, the king does not want to marry, he only wants money to fund his war. After rejecting every suitor that was offered by the King's counsel, Kailani finds herself in a fake marriage to the king, and in danger of falling in love with someone who has flat-out told her he could never love her.

My favorite thing about this novel is not the romance (which is amazing) but the underlying themes of self-love, knowing your worth, and healing from the past. While there is an underlying tone of instant love, Kailani knows her worth and is not willing to settle for less than she deserves. Not only that, she understands what the king has gone through and is willing to give him the space that he needs. While that sense of overprotectiveness is often present in fantasy-romance male characters, in this book it only plays a small part as Kailani has none of it. She is strong-willed and will not compromise her morals. It is hard not to love a character who does not change who they are because they love someone, and whose decisions feel reasonable given the situation. I loved the romance she had with the king, and watching the two slowly come together was amazing to watch. The final commitment did feel a bit sudden to me, however having both perspectives at that moment helped take away the shock factor. Overall, I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and highly recommend this book to all fantasy romance lovers.


Thank you to Bloom, Leia Stone, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Broken Elf King in exchange for my honest review.

Leia Stone's "The Broken Elf King" was an absolute page-turner for me, blending a rich tapestry of action, emotion, and mesmerizing world-building that captured my heart from the outset. Stone’s fluid writing and the depth of her characters, particularly the tormented King Raife Lightstone and the resilient Kailani Dulane, made the narrative deeply engaging. Their progression from allies to lovers within a backdrop of revenge and political intrigue was both compelling and touching.

Yet, amidst the romance and the captivating storyline, I craved a deeper exploration of Kailani’s magical abilities. The focus on their relationship, while poignant, seemed to eclipse the potential richness of the elfin world and its magical essence. This minor longing aside, the narrative was a testament to Stone’s skill in crafting a universe that was both vast and intimately relatable.

"The Broken Elf King" stands out as a story of resilience, love, and the power of hope against the darkest of times. It’s a reminder of the strength that lies in unity and the unpredictable paths of the heart. Eager for the next chapter in this saga, I am reminded why Leia Stone remains a cherished author in my collection, capable of weaving tales that resonate deeply with the warrior and dreamer within us all.

The Broken Elf King in the Kings of Avaliers series is a great addition to anyone who enjoys the genres such as Fantasy Romance, Fae, Paranormal, and YA.

First off, this is a teen & YA read so the spice level is non-existent, in case this is a deal breaker.
I enjoyed the storyline; it is easy to get into and simple to follow which is just what I needed after reading a SJM book. The MFC Lani is a strong character, born to be the Queen. I enjoyed reading about her and her growth as the story went on, finding her footing and learning to trust her gut.

Kailani was a fun heroine, and I loved her relationship with The Elf King. While this book also had some slow character development, I greatly enjoyed it more than book one. The world is growing on me, and I can officially say I am hooked and want to see all four countries come together to defeat the evil queen. I will be continuing the series in the future. I give this book 3.5/5 stars.


Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the opportunity to review The Broken Elf King. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

★ ★ ★.5 | 🌶 (fade to black)

check TWs

Note: I try my hardest to not include spoilers in my reviews. However, spoilers and how you define a spoiler is subjective. Proceed with caution.

*A special thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

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Y’all know how I felt about the first book in this series, but I thought I’d give this one a try anyway. And I’m glad I did.

I definitely liked this one more than the first one. The main thing that ruined the first one for me was the end, so I went into this one a little worried about the ending.

And that didn’t end up being completely unwarranted. The ending for this book just felt… abrupt. Like it just ended after the main conflict. But, there was enough to prepare for the next book.

As far as the characters, I lowkey loved them way more than the ones in the first book. I mean Raife? SWOON. I also liked how independent Kalani was, though that wavered at times.

My biggest gripe with this book is the lack of development in both the plot and the characters. Most of the time, I can handle a book that is more plot driven versus character driven and vice versa. But, this one had too little of both.

The book could’ve been longer to incorporate more world building and character development. I wanted to know more about the world and about Raife and Kalani. Their traumas and how it shaped them as characters. A lot of it just felt surface level.

I would still like to read the next book to see if the series gets better, and I gotta be honest, I’m definitely intrigued by the Fae King.

The Broken Elf King knocked me off my feet. I haven’t devoured a book this fast in quite awhile. It was fast paced and fun. The world Leia Stone built was so easy to get lost in. The MMC was swoon worthy and so angsty. I am so excited to pick up the second book.