On Tour with Prism Book Tours
The Crownless King by Kara Linaburg(The Broken Prince #2)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
YA Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 275 Pages
September 1, 2020
Source: Received to Review
Book Description: She won't meet her worst enemy on the battlefield...
War is brewing and the kingdom of Sindaleer is torn as the Knights of Norcir draw the folk to their side. When Sabriel, a specially Gifted, pledges her blood to their cause, she is ready to give all to bring the peace her leader promises. She understands Tirich's deep hatred toward the king, and has prepared for this moment all her life.But when her identity as a knight is discovered by the childhood friend who betrayed her years ago, Sabriel's plans for justice come toppling down. Now distracted by what once was, Sabriel fights to hold onto what she's believed to be true for so long.
Nick never forgot the red-headed lass of years past, but she's not the friend he remembers. As enemies connected by their past take opposing sides on their country's freedom, Nick refuses to believe what she's become.
Voices warning Sabriel she'll never succeed, and loyalties torn, she begins to realize that all is not as it seems. Tirich's power is growing stronger, and she fears she was wrong about the good she once saw in him.
The concluding book following The Broken Prince, reminds us of the inner war we all face, and what it means to rise from the ashes when all hope feels lost.
Sabriel is a fantastically strong female protagonist. I don't think I could have liked her any more than I did. She struggles to separate fact from fiction, to discover which path is the correct one for her to follow. She has two males who play an important part in her discovery, Tirich (the man who would become King) and Nick (her childhood friend). Her journey is intense and important. Parallels can be run in real-life situations. You have two sides, both can be good or bad, or somewhere in between. It is the voices that we listen too that determine the path we will follow. Sometimes the voices will lead us and others astray. One of the men is a master manipulator and the other honest with integrity.
I think I liked this book better than the first. The emotions and the plot were a little rawer, more emotional. The journey and discovery that Sabriel endures were well worth the time reading. I would suggest that "The Broken Prince" be read before this one. It helps to have a little more perspective into the characters and how they play into the two books.
This book contains violence and mental manipulation.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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Other Books in the Series (with a bonus review)
The Broken Prince
(The Broken Prince #1)
By Kara Linaburg
YA Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 217 Pages
June 3, 2019
In all the fairy tales the maiden falls in love with the prince...but she has to remember that this isn’t a fairy tale...
Born into a kingdom where those of magical Gifts are rejected, feared, and even killed, Serena has spent her life striving to hide her ability and keep her younger brother safe.
The bastard son of the hated king and father he hardly knows, Prince Milosh is considered an outcast. He never expects to feel anything but contempt for the peasant girl who unexpectedly shows up in his life, forcing him to answer questions he never wished to ask.
When two very different worlds are thrown together under less than desirable circumstances, both hold deep judgement towards the other. But will they learn to see beyond their stations and birth so that they may defeat the coming darkness, or will labels given to them at birth continue to define them?
A heart-stopping tale about the power of human love, and how each of us are never truly alone.
My thoughts: This is the first book I have read written by Kara Lindaburg. I was impressed.
The Broken Prince is set in a fictional world. They are members of society who possess different gifts. This sets them apart and has lead to fear and persecution.
The story begins as Serena's brother, Hunter, is forced to go into the service of the King. At 15 he is considered old enough to be trained as a soldier and fight in a war. Serena is "gifted" with the ability to create fire. If discovered, she could be executed for it.
I found Serena to be a wonderful character creation. She is compassionate and has empathy. She tries to take care of those around her while hiding the markings that show that she is different. Her love for her brother is heartwarming. She is willing to stand up against Prince Milosh to protect her brother. Little did she know that protecting him would lead her right in the path of the Prince.
The story contains a little bit of romance, not much. It concentrates more on the intrigue surrounding the Prince and the journey to save her brother. I really liked how Prince Milosh is uncovered layer by layer. He is complex. There is a vulnerability that he keeps hidden.
The ending felt incomplete. I didn't get the closure that I wanted. There is another book after this one and I am hoping to find the ending to this story.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
(Affiliate link included.)
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