The Promised Queen (Forgotten Realms #3) by Jeffe Kennedy

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

In The Promised Queen, the thrilling finale to Jeffe Kennedy's Forgotten Empires trilogy, the fate of the world hangs in the balance as Con, Lia, and their allies sacrifice everything in a final bid to destroy the corrupt empire.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, the lush romantic fantasy world of the Forgotten Empires series will sweep you away.

Claim the hand that wears the ring, and the empire falls.

Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, claimed the hand that wears the Abiding Ring, but the prophecy remains unfulfilled. Queen Euthalia of Calanthe returned to her island kingdom, but broken in mind and body. With the blood of war unleashing ancient terrors, Calanthe isn’t the haven it once was.

Lia must use her magical bond with Calanthe to save their people while Con fights to hold off the vengeful Emperor Anure and his wizards. Con and Lia will have to trust in each other—and in love—to fend off ultimate disaster.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

REVIEW

The Promised Queen is the conclusion of the Forgotten Empires series. I highly suggest that anyone interested start with book one and read them in order of publication.

Con and Lia, both used to depending only on themselves, had to learn trust, tenderness, and love. Emotions that not only helped them bond, but also helped them unite to protect their people. Con and Lia grew both as a couple and as individuals, gaining the knowledge needed to see the last battle with Emperor Anure through to the end.

Jeffe Kennedy has created a unique and fascinating fantasy world. Every book has been a phenomenal journey and I cannot express how wonderful the conclusion to this fantastical series is. All the loose ends are tied together perfectly. I can honestly say that this is one of the most satisfying endings I have ever read. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy with an embedded romance.

The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy

ABOUT THE BOOK

A desperate alliance. A struggle for survival. And a marriage of convenience with an epic twist of fate come together in Jeffe Kennedy's The Fiery Crown.

WILL THEIR LOVE STAND THE TEST OF TIME

Queen Euthalia has reigned over her island kingdom of Calanthe with determination, grace, and her magical, undying orchid ring. After she defied an empire to wed Conrí, the former Crown Prince of Oriel—a man of disgraced origins with vengeance in his heart—Lia expected the wizard’s prophecy to come true: Claim the hand that wears the ring and the empire falls. But Lia’s dangerous bid to save her realm doesn’t lead to immediate victory. Instead, destiny hurls her and Conrí towards a future neither could predict…

OR TEAR THEIR WHOLE WORLD APART?

Con has never healed after the death of his family and destruction of his kingdom—he’s been carefully plotting his revenge against his greatest enemy, Emperor Anure, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. When Lia’s spies gather intelligence suggesting that Anure is planning an attack against Calanthe, Con faces an agonizing choice: Can he sacrifice Lia and all she holds dear to destroy the empire? Or does his true loyalty exist in the arms of his beguiling, passionate wife—’til death do they part?

The Forgotten Empire series is:

“Captivating…engrossing.” —Romance Reviews Today

“Sensual fantasy romance you won’t want to miss!”—Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles

“Action-packed…sexy…highly recommend.”—Harlequin Junkie (Top Pick)

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

REVIEW

The Fiery Crown is book 2 of the Forgotten Empires series.  At this point, Conri and Euthalia are preparing for the backlash of their marriage.  Expecting Emperorer Anure to retaliate soon, and the couple must agree on a way to keep Calanthe safe from his forces while Con attempts to exact his revenge. 

There is nothing about this book/ series I do not like. The fantasy elements are unique and exciting. Euthalia's connection to her land and her magical ties to the orchid ring is clever and interesting. She is a strong leader, intelligent, and dedicated to her people. Conri begins as a reluctant partner, but slowly he and Euthalia work together to combat the impending war. During preparations, you see a strong partnership begin to grow between them, and the people around them fall in line with it. 

Prophecies are an exciting plot device. When handled properly, it can inject a good deal of suspense into the story. In The Fiery Crown, the true meaning is not obvious until it is. It does not contradict itself. I just buzzed right through this story, on the edge of my seat, trying to figure it all out. And I did not see everything coming.

Jeffe Kennedy did an excellent job keeping me engaged in the Fiery Crown. I absolutely cannot wait for more of the Forgotten Empires series.

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy

ABOUT THE BOOK

A PRISONER OF FATE

As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Euthalia will do anything to keep her people

free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…

A PRINCE AMONG MEN

Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Euthalia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?

REVIEW

What I enjoyed: The Orchid Throne has an intriguing mythos. Their world's "pleasure island" is the last free territory amidst a realm taken over by a terrible tyrant. Calanthe's Queen Euthalia is clever. I enjoyed theorizing about Lia's powers and her intent throughout the novel. Conri is what you would expect based on his place in the story, which is neither good nor bad. He will complement Lia well in future novels. They both have great cunning necessary for the approaching conflict in their land.

Urban fantasy and paranormal romance are fairly synonymous for me. I have a hard time seeing where one story type turns into the other. A romance between Lia and Conri is not what drives the plot in Orchid Throne, but it does complement it. There is an appropriate amount of chemistry between the characters. I experienced no issues accepting their attraction to one another.

What I didn't like: I had some disconnect at the beginning of the novel and couldn't completely engage with the characters. I suspect part of it was the royal court at Calanthe. I am not fond of historical romance, and this had a similar feel, but that is personal preference. I found my groove at about 30% and was able to breeze right through it. Warning though, this story ends on a cliffhanger, and it sneaks up on you. 

Overall this early copy of The Orchid Throne was an enjoyable read, recommended for lovers of urban fantasy/ paranormal romance.  I will be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.