I absolutely loved reading this book! It was so amazing to be in the world before Cecile, to see these friends together when Pénélope was still alive, when she and Marc were falling in love. That love changed the group's dynamics, and I loved reading about it!

Honestly, it was hard to read this book. If you've read the main trilogy, you know that Pénélope died before Stolen Songbird. And that these two were headed right down that path. So it was hard, but it was also fantastic!

Since we're only getting this one book with this couple, I'm really glad that we had both of their POV's. I mean, we knew what was going to happen, but not the details. And seeing it from both of their sides just made it all the more heart-touching!

The ending of this book was so heart wrenching! Of all the futures that were available to them, this was one of the worst. But not the worst, their love wasn't used against the other. Though Marc would've preferred that to losing her, well, they won't come to hate each other, which would be the absolute worst!

Yeah, this book was an amazing addition to the series, and I can't wait to see what Danielle L. Jensen writes next!

If you have not read the Malediction Trilogy, which starts with Stolen Songbird, then I'd advise you don't read this review or this book yet. Come back later. If you are not convinced: It's better to read Stolen Songbird first because Marc's story is a bit of a subplot in that book, and it's also better to get first impressions of the characters from there. SS is also where you get the introductory world building so don’t complain if you read this and it’s lacking, because you should already know.

When I found out this prequel book was coming out, I was like obviously I'm going to read it but do I truly want to put myself through that heartbreak again? The answer is yes. You know in Harry Potter where Ron reads Harry’s tea leaves and is like “you’re gonna suffer, but you’re gonna be happy about it,” That is an accurate wrap up of me for this whole book.

Man, does this woman know how to play the political intrigue or what?! They're always so well thought out plots, ploys, strategies, twists, turns. I really and truly respect Danielle L Jensen for the work she does.

Often prequels and sequels to the original works tend to stray from the facts or the mood of the story but I felt Jensen's writing, narrative, mood in this book was perfectly cohesive to the other books. The same levels of anxiety, tears, heartbreak. Another thing with prequels/sequels, other books tend pull at strings just to make another book but The Broken Ones showed us a story that was already there but we never really knew the details of. It was in no way boring either as others are for lack of plot. Marc’s story, we can now see, contributed in so many ways to the trilogy.

Of course I was very conscious the whole time of events that happened to see if they matched the original story in the first book and I feel Jensen did a wonderful job of keeping to the facts which a lot of others seem to stray on.

This story, like Stolen Songbird, kind of followed the same rhythm and also like the first book I was in the same perpetual state of heartbreak, tormentation, and anxiety. (The anxiety, here, mostly because we all know how the the story will end) These are all good things so don’t worry, ‘suffer but be happy’ remember. Jensen has this amazing way of storytelling where it seems every character is a ploy but who is pulling their strings? I don't know!!!! Because the motivations and scheme revelations leave me like AAAAHHHH WHERE DID THAT EVEN COME FROM, I COULD’VE NEVER GUESSED THAT ON MY OWN!!!!!

In SS it kind of felt like we walked into a story that was already happening. In The Broken Ones we get more of the back story and what was it was like before Cecile. While I absolutely loved this book and the story it told, I'm glad the trilogy started with SS and not this story because A. it makes this story all the more tragic and B. I usually don't like when a random character is plopped in (it would be ceclie in that case) and I'm expected to adjust to them. But that's just a personal thing. However I do feel this story was fundamental.

This was one of those books where you know more than one of the narrators does and you're yelling at them the whole time like you're. so. stupid. And therefore the heartbreaking hurts all the more. Also every time a character made an assumption about the future I was like YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

It was such a treat to see how life in Trollus was before Cecile came around. How Tristan behaved without the reader knowing he was hiding something that we knew through what Cecile sensed. We got to see him being selfish and how other people understood and interpreted his reasons for it. I never truly saw Tristan as “evil” in SS but in this book we got a better sense of how he had to act to keep up his charade.

I didn't expect Marc to be like the Marc I know because this tragic event had to have happened in order for him to be the person we see in the first book of the malediction trilogy. However, I do remember Marc being a bit smarter, and more observant. I’m sure when i re-read SS in the future I will keel over with despair and sorrow for Marc. Within The Malediction Trilogy, I suppose we do not quite see the depth of what was going on inside Marc. Why he was so torn, in the second book, after Tristan's hold over him ceased. I don’t think I truly understood his torment until now, and I am so grateful to this book for revealing that to me. My mind just kept going back to Marc in the trilogy and the things he did there and how they connected to his past/the story in The Broken Ones.


Penelope was perhaps the greatest mystery walking into this book. While we were well acquainted with all the other characters, we knew little about her. The bottom line was that she was Marc wife, he loved her more than anything, and he lost her to her affliction but Tristan forced him to survive the bond. We got to know her so well and by the end of the story, it made it even more heartrending than I could’ve guessed.

It was undoubtedly a tragic love story that included many great truths and revelations not only about the connection between the two but also reasoning behind Tristan. Definitely more than worth the read. Hey, and it’s even more of an opportunity to hate Duke d'Angouleme and Lessa.

Sadly this is the last story we shall see in the world of Trollus. It breaks my heart but at the same time, I don’t think my heart could take much more. I am sincerely looking forward to Jensen’s future works. The way she tells stories is one I will stick around for.

5 of 5 Star Rating

-Katherine Karas

“The Broken Ones” is a prequel to the Malediction Trilogy. I’ll admit that I have not read the trilogy, but since this was a prequel, I was hoping it wouldn’t matter. The world-building is lacking, however, in this prequel, and for that reason, I would say it is mainly intended for people who have already read the trilogy. This one seems to provide a backstory for a few key characters in the trilogy (further research led me to their roles in the trilogy as well as information about the world). Here, in Trollus, trolls are born primarily with powers in a fae-like manner and those who are not pure-blooded (e.g. half-bloods) are treated very poorly- as are the pure-bloods born without enough powers, like Penelope.

There is a revolution underfoot (seems like maybe two), each one supporting one of the sons of the King who rules with an iron fist. They are both in the closet/not clearly out, as this would be treason. Penelope’s younger sister, Anais, was betrothed to the elder son, Tristan, and it is mentioned that this was broken but not why. Anais is still in love with Tristan, but his feelings towards her are less clear. Tristan’s right-hand man, who has been helping with the revolution, Marc is disfigured but powerful. Marc and Penelope have been secretly in love with the other for years- but their friendship has led both to disguise their feelings. Penelope, without powers, is doomed to live a short life. If she were to bond with anyone (a marriage-type ceremony controlled by the King), it is likely that they would die when she died (although not everyone does, most do die when their bonded does). Penelope’s father, the Duke, is behind the other planned revolution with Roland, the King’s young and mean son, which he controls.

Just after Penelope finally admits her feelings to Marc, her father wants to use them to his twisted ends, and forces her to get closer to Marc in order to root out his secrets/what he knows about the rebellion. Penelope doesn’t want to do it, but it seems to be the only thing keeping her father from ending her life. It’s a sad tale, as she is fighting stereotypes, her father, and her own feelings. The viewpoints alternate between Penelope and Marc. Overall, I really enjoyed the love story but wish I had more background to understand this alternate world- it certainly made me want to read the trilogy!

This is a well written book with a beautiful love story that will be a must for people who love the Malediction Trilogy. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I read the Malediction trilogy and enjoyed it. The Broken Ones gave more incite as to how the rebellion came about and to Marc and Penelope's tragic love story. I truly enjoyed this prequel. This novel contains romance, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Marc and Penelope have been in love with each other but feel the other does not hold the same desire. Marc and Tristan, along with Vincent, Victoria, and Anais, are involved in a plot to bring down the king of Trollus. Marc has been the middle man between the half bloods and the true leader of the rebellion, Tristan. Marc and Tristan are cousins and Tristan needs Marc.
Penelope and Anais are sisters and daughters to the duke d'Angouleme, who wants to overthrow Tristan's father, the king, and but Tristan's brother on the throne as a puppet king. Due to Penelope's affliction, the king breaks the engagement between Tristan and Anais, which angers the duke and gets Penelope to act as a spy.
Penelope is kept in the dark about her friends true motives, but eventually figures it how. Marc tried but could not keep things from Penelope, especially when she provided information about the duke's intentions. In order to save Penelope, Marc and her do the bonding ceremony. This angers happy, but some are happy since it helps with their plans. Marc would do anything for Penelope, but it is Penelope who ends up making the greater sacrifice to save the man she loves.