This got a 4.5/5 from me. I really enjoyed this book and thought the premise was great. The friendships and romance in this book were so adorable, and truly this book kept me on my toes to the end. I think the idea with the curses was so fun to read and that every first born could be saved if Cerise can solve the riddles. This did have some spicy scenes in it, but nothing too spicy and more romantic and cute because our girl Cerise is basically a baby to the world so all of her experiences are new. With that being said, I am sure to some people this could feel like a younger audience read with that in mind, but for me since I knew this was like her being a baby to the world, it did not bother me at all. My only con would be there were a few plot holes that did not get filled in through the book, but it wasn't anything that really detracted or mattered all that much in the grand scheme of the book. I cannot wait to see if this book gets a second series or not, and will definitely be pre-ordering the next one and hoping for another ARC!! Melissa Landers, you did some amazing work with the book!!

This book had a great story line but I found it really predictable! Cerise really evolved and came into her own! I loved her journey and that she always stood for what she believed in! Never faltered!

Blue was the underrated star of the book, absolutely loved that companionship! Spice level was probably a 1. I would give this book a 4 star rating!

4.5/5☆
2/5🌶

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS A DUOLOGY!!! Oh my gosh, I don't want to wait years for the next one because once this grabbed me I couldn't put it down. Also, without spoilers, the last 10% knocked me on my ass and I dont have anyone to scream about this with. I need people to read this when it comes out.

“The goddess achieved perfection when she created women. We want for nothing.”

Read this book if you love a spicy, young adult, fantasy romance that is heavy on the plot, moderate on the world-building, and light on the character development. The characters are 20-21 years old, but because they were raised in a strict, sheltered, and very religious society, their emotional maturity makes them feel like teenagers.

This is one of those stories that captures your interest from the start. Our main character, Cerise, is someone who believes the best in people, loves animals as if they were human, and generally maintains an optimistic outlook on the world (she’s so cute - I love her). Unfortunately, when she is thrust into the world for the first time, she realizes that things don’t work quite like she was taught in her conservative, isolated sanctuary (been there - it sucks).

Don’t worry, there is some fun along the way. Our supporting cast includes:
👑 A handsome young king who likes to banter
👯‍♂️ His witty best friend who is always wearing a smile
🐾 An adorably ugly puppy that might be part goblin
🧓 A grouchy, old priest who might or might not hate her (we’re really not sure)

Overall, I loved the fantasy world and magic system, the supporting characters were incredibly endearing, and the plot twists truly surprised me. The emotional maturity of the characters sometimes made them seem shallow, so I feel like this book is more targeted for adults who love young adult romance (which generally isn’t me). Because of that, I probably will not continue with the series, but don’t let that dissuade you from giving it a chance.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)

Don't start this one late at night unless you're willing to sacrifice sleep.

✨Fantasy Romance
✨Political Intrigue
✨Unique Magic System
✨Religious Undertones
✨Quest To Conquer Curses

I was pulled into this story from start to finish. The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, it kept me turning pages all night long. She crafted an intriguing world that in my opinion would stand on its own even without the Romance, that was just an added bonus.

I really enjoyed the main characters there were times they gave me a really strong "Found Family" vibe with their playful banter.

My guard was up throughout most of this book unwilling to trust anyone fully because in a story like this a twist is generally lurking where you least expect it and I wasn't wrong because there was definitely a big twist that I didn't see coming.

I'll be recommending this book while anticipating the release of book two. Can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

Thank you Melissa Landers, Net Galley , Entangled Publishing LLC - Red Tower for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

A king by day. A shadow by night. There’s only one way to save a dying king - and it lies with the one person who’s hiding the biggest secret of all.

I’m sorry to say it, but it was the magic system that stole the show in this book and not the romance. There’s a not so delicate line between religion and magic that is done really well - and the history of the curses is really unique.

I loved watching Cerise find her confidence and start to question the world around her. She handles her world being turned upside down and all her beliefs being questioned extremely well - and never loses herself in her growth. But this poor girl go though it at the end and I hope she gets a chance to at vengeance. As unladylike as it is, she deserves it.

But, the romance was very much in the background for me. I wanted tension and pining but most of the love story is simply explained and not experienced by the reader.

Those last few chapters though! 😳 The ending was full of action and twists and turns that had my jaw on the floor. I’ll absolutely be anticipating the next installment and cant wait to see where the rest of the story goes.

The plot of this was very intriguing, love is the center point but the focus is not on the typical romantic love. The magic and world building was unique. I genuinely enjoyed each of the characters and even though this was solely from Cerise's point of view even the side-characters felt as though they were main characters and I was very happy with how much they were on the page. I really want some fan art on what Blue looks like being so ugly he's cute (I pictured him as a shar pei hyena hybrid). The twist at the end (or twists) got me good. My only issue was that the romance between Cerise and Kian felt like it developed out of nowhere. Really looking forward to book two with that ending and am absolutley BEGGING for a lot more Nero!!!!

Thank you Entangled Publishing, their Facebook Insiders team, Melissa Landers, and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

“All of my sunrises belong to you.”

WOW just WOW! I’ll admit the beginning of this book was a little slow for me, but I pushed through and I’m so beyond glad that I did!! Cerise, Kian, Darerick, General Petros, and Neto are all the new standard for found family going forward because there is nothing I didn’t love about their dynamics. From love to betrayal, secrets, heartbreak, and sacrifice this book truly had my heart in pieces and swelling with love all at the same time.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️

Wow what a story! There is great world building and I knew what was happening and who everyone was. The intrigue kept me guessing who was good and who had bad intentions.

Cerise is pure of love and light and I am not surprised how naturally people like her. Kian being no exception. I loved how Kian was drawn to Cerise before she realized what was happening.

There are so many twists and turns I really thought there would be a cliffie but it does come full circle and what a ride.

One of my favorite fantasy reads this year. I really did not find any issues as I saw in other reviews I felt
It was a well written world of fantasy and I found myself getting lost in it.

#thehalfking #melissalanders
#fantasy #fantasybooks #redtowerbooks #fantasyromance #romantasy #bookworm #booklover #bookboyfriend #entangledpublishing
#NetGalley
@redtowersbooks

This book was incredible!!! I love the themes of women overcoming oppression by men, including within both society and religion. The feminine rage, tempered with religious faith, is so well done. And as someone who grew up in the church and has done a LOT of deconstruction as an adult, I loved how it showed the twisting of religion being used to “keep women in their place” because of how the words of a goddess, in this case, can be altered and how that can be turned upside down when you find the truth. It does a good job of showing how the words of a divine being can and are perverted by man (in order to give someone power) so that what we come to believe isn’t at all what was intended. But also how you can retain your faith and grow in your faith once you learn truth. This book is so well done. I’m so thankful to Entangled for this arc and I’ve already preordered the hardback to have on my shelf because it was that good!

I don’t know if Landers knew how poignant certain passages of this book would be, but wow did they resonate and hit hard. I have so many quotes highlighted from my read. I was engaged from start to finish. I enjoyed how Landers approached the disjointed nature and tension that can evolve from the relationship between religion and the monarchy. I was fascinated by the magic system and curses as well as how religion played a role in the acceptance of certain types of magic. The relationships Cerise made was my absolute favorite part of this book. The friendship that developed between Daerick and Cerise was so heartwarming. I did struggle with the romance in this book. I felt Kian and Cerise had great chemistry and loved their relationship; however, I wanted more lead up in the beginning. With Kian’s curses and limited time, I can see why it was a difficult balance resulting in more tell than show. I also really adored Blue and how protective he was of Cerise. It’s rare that a book can thoroughly surprise me; however, the revelations at the end of this book had me absolutely mind blown. I successfully predicted one reveal but I did not see the rest coming. Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I can’t wait for book 2.

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this book for so long since I first heard about it. And now it’s here…and it was SO WORTH THE WAIT!!! I absolutely loved this book! It’s the magical version of a feminist rage, taking our power back book, that you never knew could work and then you read it and realize it’s close to utter perfection. Cerise is naive and indoctrinated to believe that she is inferior to the male priests of the Order. Then she meets Kian, the “half king” who is cursed to disappear into the shadows every night. Who doesn’t love a shadow daddy, right? 😜. Anyway, I can’t say more without spoiling things, but read this book! And then join me in my misery as I realize that I’ll probably be waiting in agony for who knows how long for the sequel, as this story is definitely not done yet.

My eternal thanks to the team at Red Tower and Entangled, as well as NetGalley, for early access to this title. My print copy is set to arrive next week on release day and I can’t wait for this amazing story to grace my shelves.

The Half King is a spellbinding fantasy that weaves together magic, romance, and mystery. Set in the Allied Realm, the story introduces us to a kingdom forever altered by the Great Betrayal, when noble families defied their goddess and were cursed as punishment. This curse manifests differently in each noble house, but the royal house Mortara suffers most gravely: their king, Kian, fades into shadows each night and faces a permanent disappearance upon his twenty-first birthday.

Enter Cerise Solon, a second-born acolyte with no apparent magical abilities, whose duty is to serve the goddess. Though she lacks the powers of a Seer, Cerise quickly finds herself enmeshed in court politics and secrets, where deception lurks behind every smile. Her growing connection to Kian, the cursed king, intensifies the tension as his impending fate looms. Their chemistry is undeniable, yet Cerise’s hidden truths may hold the key to Kian’s survival—or seal his doom.

Landers crafts a richly atmospheric tale that blends court intrigue, high-stakes romance, and the bittersweet allure of forbidden love. With its vivid characters and unpredictable twists, The Half King keeps readers riveted, and its ending leaves plenty of room for future adventures in this enchanting world. This story is a must-read for fans of fantasy with layered curses, royal drama, and a hint of tragic romance.

Thank you to entangled publishing for this ARC!

The Half King follows a young seer in training as she gets assigned to be the cursed king’s emissary. Cerise has to rely on her instincts and faith to guide her in her new role while trying to stay away from things forbidden to her. This book is action packed and full of twists and turns that leave you wanting more. Will Cerise get to break away from generational curses and half save the man she loves before it’s too late?

This book was a fast paced! I mean I finished it in two days! This definitely was more on the fantasy side for me but it still had some decent spicy scenes in it! I definitely did not see the end coming and it left me guessing what was going to happen next. I loved the feminine rage breaking the social hierarchy for sure!

If you love forbidden romance, priests/priestesses, magic, prophecy, and many more, this is for you!

Thank you Entangled and Red Tower for the eARC.
I want to preface this by saying this book had potential. I was intrigued by the curses and the consequences/influences they had. The FMC Cerise is of course powerless and raised in a household of seers. I found myself annoyed by her character and as for the twists I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough. The romance as very bland? The book could be labeled YA were it not for the spice scenes. All in all not a strong romantasy pick in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had high expectations for this book as everyone was raving about it but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The only reason I continued reading this book was because I was interested in the world building. This has the potential to be a really good book but it lacks the execution. I was bored pretty much the entire book until maybe the last 85%. If I hadn't had wanted the answer to one question then I would not have finished this book. The love interest was pretty bland and I thought the main characters lacked chemistry. She had more chemistry with the side characters than she did the main MMC, not to mention their relationship went from 0-100 real quick. The female main character is probably one of the most annoying FMC's I have ever read about. She was annoyingly naive and made every possible bad decision she could. Every time someone told her not to do something or to keep a secret she would immediately do the opposite and it got annoying fast. I would say this is an okay book if you are new to reading and to this genre but for someone that has been reading this style for a while, it just is not executed well. I do intend to finish the series to answer some unanswered questions.

The Half King didn’t take long to pull me in. Often times I feel like authors rush to introduce everyone and every fact in the first few chapters. Introducing the curse and magic system didn’t feel rushed. The world building didn’t feel overwhelming and forced. I am keeping this spoiler free, so I will just say I spent a large portion of the book waiting for someone to betray Cerise, as I just had “that feeling.” Kian and Cerise had a sloooooow burn, but it was understandable and not just to torture the readers. While there have been a lot of Beauty and the Beast-inspired books, I really thought this was well done and stands out. The curse was really unique and the despair of the cursed was well thought out and made me want a happily ever after for them all. I knew this was Book 1, so it shouldn’t surprise you to know the Epilogue is meant to torture... Now I need Book 2!

This book was just...meh. The characters felt flat. Dialogue was blah. The plot drug on FOREVER! I was dragging myself through this book because the story has so many weird plot holes that were never addressed. The MC is an adult but acts like a teen. Just...not a vibe for me overall.

Thanks to Red Tower Books for the gifted copy of this book!

About the book: Long ago, The Great Betrayal changed everything for the Allied Realm, as the goddess Shiera placed a curse on the firstborns of each noble family. Because of this, the last king of the house of Mortara may be lost to the shadows forever, and the order over the priests will be gone. Cerise Solon is a second-born, and as she returns to court, she may be the only hope for destroying the curse and saving the Realm.

My review: This is exactly the type of romantasy that I love -- escapist, slowburn, religious themes, cute animal side character, and an epic journey. I really loved the entire magic system with firstborn curses, and how magic inside and outside of the temple was viewed differently. The court intrigue was great, I am here for all the F the patriarchy / priestiarchy vibes, and I thought having a King who literally disappears into shadows every night was such a great element for this book. There was such a good message about compassion and love, about how terrorizing people into submission and using fear and pride are marks of a poor and unimaginative leader... TIMELY, EH?! I feel like this is written by someone with a religious background because I totally felt the vibes of someone who had also grew up in church and felt the performative pressure.

My one drawback is that there was a decent amount of “telling not showing” and it was a little jarring sometimes at the start of the book, but I am absolutely going to be reading book two.

Packed with unexpected twists and memorable characters, this one’s a must-read for fantasy fans!

Generations ago, the noble families of the realm turned on the goddess, and they’ve been cursed ever since. Each firstborn got a different punishment, but the Mortara family got the worst: every night, their young king fades into shadows, and he’s doomed to disappear entirely on his twenty-first birthday.

Then there’s Cerise Solon, a second-born who’s supposed to be a Seer for the goddess, except she doesn’t have any magical powers—no visions, no gifts, nothing!

The story moves quickly, but it still gives the characters space to grow.

The author does an amazing job building this world and keeping you hooked with twists, especially toward the end.

Cerise’s faith in the goddess, even when things get complicated, makes her a really memorable character.

This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and strong world-building with plenty of twists!

Thank you Entangled Publishing for this ARC!