Thank you to NetGalley and Terina Adams for allowing me access to this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry, I get very honest in this review 🙈

2.5 stars but rounded up to 3 ⭐️ 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 building, politics, magic system, characters and relationships. The plot and characters felt disjointed often and at times I felt like I was trying to read multiple books at once.

The romance felt forced and clumsy. There is limited tension or chemistry between the characters then they suddenly decide they’re in love at the end after some fairly bland encounters with each other through the book. Ultimately, because I felt so disconnected to the characters I wasn’t invested in what happened to any of them.

I really enjoyed this story. I appreciate how we jump into action right away instead of info dumping like a lot of fantasy books tend to do. The information was given as it needed to be and it worked well. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the plot! This was a great fantasy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Terina Adams for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

This book has a really interesting premise - Tressya, an illegitimate child of a king, has been raised in his castle by a secret society of women called the Sistern. She has been trained in combat, discipline, and loyalty to the society and its leader, the Mother. She is then sent to a foreign kingdom to marry the heir to a powerful throne, unsure why the Mother chose her for the task. There is a plot to overthrow the king and kill his family, and Tressya finds herself in the middle of this coup, trying to sustain her loyalty to the Sistern and the throne while being enthralled by the enemy. There is unique magic in the kingdom and interesting beasts/beings that Tressya learns about.

While the story itself was interesting, I will admit that I was disappointed in the writing. I often found myself confused about who was talking because of the way the dialogue was written and formatted. The dialogue often felt out of place and unrealistic. I also ran into so many spelling issues and typos, like using the incorrect you're/your, pale/pail, etc. Lastly, I found Tressya's character to be disappointing - she is supposed to be strong and tough, raised since birth to be a member of the Sistern. But time and time again, she is overpowered or saved by a man. I have no issue with a man helping or saving a woman, but it was constant and made Tressya seem weak when she isn't supposed to be.

Ultimately, the story is very interesting and the magic system is unique. If you are interested in a unique enemies to lovers story, it might still be worth a read for you

It all comes down to The Bone Throne and who is powerful enough to claim it. Forgotten bloodlines, secret orders, and royalty. Who will triumph?

This book wasn't for me but it might be for you. Here are a few reasons to pick it up.
-Enemies to Lovers (who are bound together)
-Assassins and Secret Orders
-Spirit Magic
-Shape Shifters
-Royal Intrigue
-Arranged Marriages & Forbidden Feelings

The Unbroken Queen ultimately did not work for me for a few reasons. I felt the worldbuilding was lacking and the plot never quite found its footing. It was like the main characters were almost wandering aimlessly from one event to the other, despite claiming to have a plan.

I enjoyed reading The Unbroken Queen. There were a few sentences that I felt could have mistakes that I'll include at the end. The premise of the book was new and refreshing and I will likely finish the series to see how it continues.

I loved reading about the Sistern, and the history that was created for the various kingdoms. The book had an enemy to lovers and he falls first tropes; those always get me.

I did struggle to fall into the book in the first two chapters. This was primarily due to the constant introduction of new characters. It just made it very hard to focus on the story when I was trying to remember everyone being introduced. A couple of times I felt disjointed when the POV switched from Tamas to Tressya but for the most those felt natural.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity and read and review you’re arc copy.

In Chapter 3 the sentence "What the mother had down to me" - I thought down may have meant to be done. Also in chapter 3 "The thought stalled me steps from the doors" - I thought me may have meant to be my. On the same page, there is also the sentence "Filled with a defense for Carlin, I strode forward, forcing the guards to scurry open the doors, and came to a sudden" - this sentence ends abruptly. In chapter 17 the sentence "I smirked at his sound of disgust" - This sentence sounds as though it is referring to Tressya and I thought his should be her. The last thing I found was in chapter 17 - "And I didn't mean to say that allowed" - this sentence didn't make sense but I thought allowed may supposed to be aloud?

Title: The Unbroken Queen By Terina Adams (The Bone Throne Book 1)

Release Date: April,22nd 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

The Unbroken Queen by Terina Adams is a mesmerizing tale of power, intrigue, and duty. Set in a world where loyalty is tested and secrets lurk in every corner.

As an illegitimate princess betrothed to the crown prince of the House of Tannard, Tressya navigates a world of duty and intrigue. Beneath her royal facade, she is a disciple of the formidable Sistern of Silence, skilled in the death arts inherited from her father's lineage. However, upon arriving in Tarragona to meet her betrothed, she uncovers manipulation by the Mother of the Sistern, leading her to question her role in impending conflict.
With the northern realm's thirst for power growing and a Razohan leader seeking to reclaim the southern throne, she must delve into the secrets of the Sistern to awaken her dormant powers. In a world of treachery, she must choose between loyalty to her betrothed and protecting the delicate balance of power, even if it means facing her persistent adversary.

A captivating read with excellent world-building. From start to finish, the story is easy to follow yet intriguing, kept me engaged until the last page.

Tropes:

Betrothal
Political Intrigue
Forbidden Romance
Hidden Truths
Royalty


Thank you to Netgalley and Terina Adams for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I have to admit that when I first started reading this, I groaned because it stated with the main character having sex. I thought it was just going to be filled with smut. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a lot more depth to this and not a lot of sex. Yes, it's definitely a romantasy book, but there's more to it than that.

The characters are interesting, the plot is good, and the pacing is quick, making this book intriguing and a really fast read. I really enjoyed it, and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Unbroken Queen by Terina Adams from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first novel by Terina Adams that I had an opportunity to read and I was excited to find an enjoyable new author to follow.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the book and it made for a nice mental break on a cold, rainy day. There was action, adventure, intrigue, and scheming. The characters were well-crafted, the pace of the novel was steady, and the world building was engrossing. Definitely worth reading!

I love when a story starts off with a bang....literally. This is a slow burn enemies to lovers. This book sucks you in from the very first word. It is extremely well written and a fantastic start to a new series. I cant wait for book two.