I LOVED THIS BOOK!

A bit of a slow start as we build our world and magic but the Romantasy in this book scratched an itch in my brain I’ve been searching for! I think this idea is so unique, and something I haven’t read from before in Romantasy!

Tressya is my favorite type of fmc, she is strong, fierce and resilient, one of my favorite type of characters to read about! I love following the journey of a character who has grown up thinking one way and to see their progression in their mind change as they grow and adapt, I think it’s so relatable to read as a reader, and I really admired that about her. The romance, the world, the magic, everything drew me in with this book and I’ll anxiously be awaiting the next!

I am extremely grateful for the arc!!

The book sounded interesting and is pretty well written. I just had a hard time with the info dumping and couldn’t connect to the story. However, I would like to give it another try later and see if I can push past it.

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. First of all, it's starting with a spicy scene, so I was afraid it would be more smut, less plot. but oh, was I mistaken.

Starting with the characters, the FMC is described as bland, with a simple (at times considered even ugly) face and body, without elegance and anything people at court value most. However, she is an intelligent (and even cunning at times), courageous, but she's also morally grey, which is refreshing to see. The MMC is interesting, but I would have liked a bit more details about him. I liked that there are represented many types of characters, but in a natural, not forced way.

Next, the plot. It is more complex than I expected, with politics, court intrigue, secret societies, magic and more. I found it really interesting, but at times there is a bit too much going on too fast, which made me a bit confused, so I feel like some sections should have been expanded. The ending was a bit shocked and everything moved suuuuper fast and it really made me wanting more, but it also felt good as the ending of a book that's part of a series (not sure how to explain, but sometimes the fact that a book ends at some given point in time makes no sense, while here it's not the case).

In conclusion, I liked this book a lot and I think it's very good and many people would enjoy it. 4.5 / 5 stars

In this captivating fantasy romance, the author weaves a beautifully intricate world filled with magic, adventure, and an undeniable chemistry between the protagonists. From the very first page, readers are drawn into a richly imagined landscape where the stakes are high, and love transcends boundaries.

The characters are delightfully complex, each facing their own trials and transformations. Their journey is not just about romance; it’s about self-discovery and the courage to embrace one’s true self. The chemistry between them crackles with tension, making every shared moment feel electric and deeply meaningful.

The plot is expertly crafted, balancing moments of heart-pounding action with tender, intimate scenes that linger long after the book is closed. The author’s lyrical prose brings the settings to life, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and danger of this enchanting world.

Overall, this book is a delightful escape that deftly combines elements of fantasy and romance. It’s a testament to the power of love and the strength found in vulnerability. Perfect for fans of the genre, it’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a magical journey of the heart!

This book had some really interesting magic and political concepts that showed initial promise- think female assassins, kingdoms, mythical creatures and paranormal entities. There was a sprinkle of spice at the beginning and end (though with a series titled ‘the bone throne’ you might expect more lol), and an attempt at an enemies to lovers romance. I enjoyed the dual POV but felt we still missed the opportunity to get to know either of the characters very well.

The plot was very ambitious and I got a bit lost and found it hard to keep track of what was happening and why. I would have preferred if the book attempted to cover less and instead focused more on really fleshing out the world, politics, magic system, characters and relationships. The plot and characters felt disjointed often, and an event would happen with seemingly no build up and then limited connection to the next plot point. At times I felt like I was trying to read multiple books at once.

Political intrigue, world building, and a morally gray FMC? Things what I signed up for! Although I feel that this work could have benefitted from a little more fleshing out of relationships and a little less self self loathing from our FMC. it was a little hard to truck through the first 2/3 of the novel but it started to get SO good at the end.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The world building was very good, I definitely like when I'm given details that help me picture it better in my head. The characters had interesting names that I've never or rarely have heard which was refreshing. I really liked that Tressya was not some immense beauty but did find the amount of times it was very redundant. Everyone calling her ugly and plain, Radnisa purposely dressing her in basic gowns that were out of fashion. It was brought up that she was to have dresses made to be fit for a queen but then never done. Radnisa doing her hair in an ugly bun was odd as well, what did they have to gain for the sistern by having Tressya made to look more unattractive? Radnisa felt overly mean, I felt so bad for Tressya growing up with no one to support and love her. I did really love that Tamas saw her for the beautiful strong woman she is, I found their banter and flirting fun throughout the book but their chemistry felt forced. They barely skimmed the surface of getting to know one another but are in love? It felt unrealistic.
I really felt like there was almost to many things going on and about got left behind such as when Tressya went to the queen and insisted she stop eating and drinking things brought to her by her servants because of poisenband then we never read more about that? The Ashenlands and the magic system was intriguing as well I wish there had been page time on those. At the end when the Salmun take their hoods off and all look alike except for their tattoos on their faces confused me, where was explanation of that? Im hoping in the next book some of these loose ends will be tied up.

I will say I struggled to get into the book at first, I didn't feel sucked in until 1/2 way through but ended up really enjoying the book. I also wish there had been a pronunciation guide in the front. I found myself skimming over a few different words. I really wish Tressya had gone to the library and done some research on the war 1000 years ago and on the people of the north. I longed for more information about those things. Also wouldn't have minded more about the sistern.

Overall I give this 3 stars I think this book was wonderful but fell short in alot of places. I do feel like we could have cut down on the self loathing, and the build up to the trials. I really enjoyed reading about those and the fight. The book was just getting really good when it ended.

Heavy this one was extremely heavy, wold building, story, plot, intrigue.. It has it all.. Definitely for a high fantasy lover.. I think personally the political part was very well explored and it did make sense.. And the FMC is morally grey ahaha which I did like I do love a character who's feisty

I thoroughly enjoy reading fantasy with political intrigue and history. Whilst I enjoyed this book it was hard to get through. It is very world building heavy for the majority of the book which leaves the last part full of action. It is hard to get through the first 3/4 of the book with such an information dump, for which some is irrelevant and unnecessary plot filler. I think this would have worked better plotted and split into 2-3 books

"The Unbroken Queen" offers a promising mix of intrigue and politics, but it ultimately fell short of my expectations. While the story is rich with political maneuvering, the pacing is uneven, especially in the beginning, where excessive info-dumping and awkward dialogue made it a slog to get through.

The last 40% of the book does pick up, leading to more engaging moments, but the earlier sections felt bogged down by exposition. The antagonist, the Mother, lacked the menacing presence I hoped for, and the threat level from her and the Sistern was underwhelming. Tressya is a likable protagonist with her share of clever moments, though Tamas often comes off as impulsive and less intelligent than portrayed, which detracted from his character.

While I predicted many of the deaths, which dulled their impact, I’m still intrigued enough to pick up the next book to see where the story leads. If you enjoy a slower build-up with political intrigue, you might find value in this read.

I hate having to DNF a story, but the world building and complete info dump in the beginning was over the top. I was bored. I think if overly descriptive enemies to lovers fantasy is your thing, this book is totally for you. Totally just my preference though.

So I have to be honest I really tried to keep up with this book but a lot of what happened really got lost on me.

From the start there was a lot of world building which I know it’s necessary a lot of the times but It was just a lot right from the start.

There was a lot of action and I did like the characters I always appreciate interesting and complex people to read about.

Overall it was a bit more complex than I was expecting but after riding it out I did enjoy it and was genuinely rooting for the MC’s. A 3.5 star rating from me x

Some readers may find it challenging to keep up with the extensive world building that occurs in the first few chapters. Overall, I thought this book's pacing was a little awkward, but the plot was engaging enough for me to keep reading. Some of the pace problems are offset by the comparatively simple world construction and magic system. This novel is for you if you want shifters, fantasy, magic, and your FMC a touch stabby and fiery with a morally questionable MMC!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Beware of possible spoilers.

Okay, so...Not going to lie, I didn't LOVE this book. I was really hoping I would, especially because I love intrigue and politics and all that fun stuff.

It did, of course, have all the politics and intrigue I wanted. Was it a little stilted at time? Yes, but it's also the first book in a series and it has to set up things somehow. I also didn't mind the characters, though I'll talk more about them later, and I think I'll definitely read the second book just to see where things go because, by the last 40%-ish it started to pick up the pace.

I think the thing that really threw me off the most was that it has a lot of info dumping, especially in the beginning. And then it moves from info dumping to awkward context conversations. The dialogue itself was rather awkward a lot of the time, but add in them trying to explain things and it got very muddled very quickly. Remembers how I said the last 40%-ish is where it picks up? Well, the rest of the book is info-dumping build-up. This isn't necessarily an issue for some people, but it really was a sludge to get through sometimes.

There was also the fact that the Mother never felt threatening. I'm not sure if she was meant to or not, but we just didn't get enough about the Mother or the Sistern to really feel like they were a threat. I would have loved if there were more spies Tressya ran into instead of just her lady's maid, who is more annoying than threatening.

Like I said before, I didn't mind the characters. Tressya isn't overbearing in her strength and she has some very solid intelligent moments. Tamas was....He had times where he was fine, but so many people called him an idiot and he kept doing impulsive things, so it never felt like he was this intelligent heir they were claiming him to be. Even before he meets Tressya he's not the smartest, and then he meets her and it's suddenly insta-attachment and he keeps messing up the plan. It was a little annoying...

A lot of the deaths I expected. One of them I thought would happen in another book, but it happens in this one. None of them really caught me off guard, which I was really hoping for. And I wonder if anyone else felt the same way?

Either way, I want to read the second book. I'm curious to see where this one goes. And if you enjoy slower build-ups, intrigue, and politics I really suggest you give this one a try.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled with figuring out how to rate this. On one hand the premise is delightful and I was really excited to read it, but on the other hand I didn't find myself able to finish the book in its entirety. It felt like the idea was there, the storytelling good but the pacing and writing style was slow and confused. From a huge chunk of world-building to a suddenly fast paced chunk of world-building, this book just confused me. I really really wanted to love it and fantasy romance is one of my favourite genres but I just couldn't find myself connecting with the story or the characters in anyway.

3 stars.

what a read! if you like, throne of glass, powerless or serpent and the wings of night, you will love this book!
a super strong assassin but also has a soft side to her! amazing to see FMC taken into appreciation!

world building wasnt really for me however the enamies to lovers made up for it! 🤍

4.25/5

This book gets you right into the story, immediately (but not in a confusing way, it flows and makes sense).

I really liked that our FMC has both a strong and independent side (she is not afraid to sass anyone when they deserve it), but also a soft side. I feel like in most fantasy novels, you find FMC that are either one or the other, having someone with both is rare. I really appreciated that about her. She is also a dagger fan, so I think that's amazing. I support the pulling out of daggers at any moment. Big fan of that. And I really enjoyed the internal (and external) journey she went through with what duty and loyalty and fate means. That was really well handled and intertwined with the politics and court shenanigans.

And the love interest is instantly smitten. And that's always fun (especially because we get both POVs).

I found this to have the right amount of world-building, I knew everything I needed to know an never felt like I was being bombarded with information, but never felt confused or clueless. And I especially enjoyed the fantastical parts of this book, how they worked and just seeing that in action.

So many great character! If you are a character-driven reader and love to love side characters, I think you'll have a great time with this.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention: enemies to lovers! Need I say more?

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My review is up on Goodreads and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

So this one is one of those take it or leave it. The start of this story was so bogged down with info dumping that I just couldn't. If you can get through it you might be able to enjoy this one. However I just don't think it was worth it.

*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own*

TL;DR:The Unbroken Queen has all the right elements for an amazing 5-star read, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite come together for me. While not my top choice, I believe this would suit anyone interested in a slower-paced fantasy filled with political intrigue.

Review:
The Unbroken Queen sounded like a perfect read - an instant 5-star book. The story features an illegitimate princess (Tressya) who has been moulded into a ruthless assassin within a secretive all-female order that manipulates kingdoms from the shadows. There’s also our shapeshifting male love interest (Tamas) who is destined to lead his clan and the Northern realm. Add in arranged marriages, heaps of political intrigue, wizards, warring orders, prophecies, and more.

To start on a positive note, the world-building is intriguing and rich with loads of interesting history and lore that I wish we got to delve a little deeper into in this book. It was great to watch Tressya grow in confidence and start to think for herself more and fight to make her own choices and she was a great female lead for the most part. It was nice to see a female lead (mostly) stand her ground and stick to her convictions against the male love interest.

Sadly, despite all the good parts, the execution didn’t quite do the book justice. From the start, the book is weighed down by excessive info-dumping, which continues throughout, with what we learn often not being relevant later on and easily forgotten. This slows down an already stilted pace and makes it easy to lose interest. By the time the action finally kicks in, I was tempted to skip to the end, which turned out to be a bit anticlimactic and underwhelming.

For the amount of content and the way the story unfolds, 548 pages feels excessive. We build up to a major event the entire book, which doesn’t happen until 90% of the way in, and the “real” action starts at 94%, meaning there’s over 450 pages of buildup that doesn’t deliver.

The supporting characters would also benefit from more development. We see very little of Tamas’ friends, so we never really get to know or care about them as we do Andreit. Andreit is given a strangely large amount of focus, and it would have been nice to get to know some of Tamas’ inner circle beyond them telling Tamas he’s an idiot and has made a mistake, which I feel downplays the importance of his role as Razohan leader and his prophesied ruling.

A few other things to point out: the Sistern remains a vague yet menacing presence; we learn nothing further about them or the Mother for the entirety of the book. There’s also the matter of the bite, which is often downplayed as a silly mistake, even though its significance is made clear several times given Tamas’ status as Razohan leader and future king of the realms. Several other elements are introduced and then shelved leaving this book feeling like a setup for the next instalment rather than a solid story on its own.

Overall, while the ideas were there, the execution didn’t fully work out for me. However, readers who enjoy slow-paced, politically-focused books might appreciate The Unbroken Queen better, as there is certainly a lot to love. It has the potential to become an excellent series with a bit more focus. I just wish it had delivered a bit more, especially given the book’s length

This book had a strong plot and was very compelling at the start, I did lose interest about 30% in and I really struggled to get the interest back.