I am LOVING this series!
I binged the first 2 books in preparation for this ARC and it has not disappointed! I went in completely blind & love this take on the world of Avalon!

Gwen is back in action just as the battle for Avalon starts to heat up.

Mordred may banish her back to Earth for freeing Grinn but it would seem that Avalon has other plans for Gwen.  Mordred both hates himself and Gwen for putting him in that predicament in the first place.  Mordred is a true morally grey anti-hero.  He's trying to fulfil all these promises he's made to Arthur, himself, the people of Avalon and Gwen and they are pulling him in different directions.  He can't please them all, more than one party is going to lose.

There is a lot less spice in this book as Gwen and Mordred are apart for most of it but what spice there is is flaming hot and there is an epic hate$4x scene!  Eod returns as the most lovable, goofy guard dog in the world with the bonus that we now get to "hear" what he says!  Doc is as elusive, conniving and maddening as always.

There is a great deal of banter between friends, allies, potential allies and former foes.  I love the set-up that has been done for book 4, which looks like it's going to be Firefly to the rescue for a change!

Roll on book 4!

3.5 stars

I'm still liking this series, but it's also starting to feel like the same thing over and over. I tire of Gwen keeping so many secrets from Mordred because she makes assumptions about how he would react if she told him the truth. And it's always Gwen being torn between supporting Mordred and stopping him. At three books in she should be pretty decided on where she stands. By the end, it seems she has made her decision, but she doesn't really fight all that hard for it. I do so love the violent relationship still between these two though, and Gwen's ability to forgive him for pretty much everything is impressive as hell.

I was excited to see where we would go from the end of the last book when Gwen was a normal mortal again. I probably should have seen it coming a mile away, but I was annoyed when Mordred decided to almost immediately send her back to Earth. Don't get me wrong. I totally get why, it just seems like he could have tried anything before doing that. Thankfully though, a badly worded order to return Gwen home has her staying there. Doc is there waiting with all his crazy to help speed things along without changing anything and Gwen soon finds herself asking the land itself for a way to protect the innocents and Mordred. Her request is granted, but she has no idea what she has become because she can control seemingly all the elements and even gets her dragon wings back. She has no plan but is still determined to try and stop Mordred and Grinn from killing each other.

The dream sharing thing is back again too. Only this time with both Mordred and Grinn....so that was awkward. And frustrating because Mordred believes Gwen to be on Earth when she's literally right there and she won't tell him.

I don't consider it a spoiler to say that Gwen failed in her attempt to have both Mordred and Grinn survive the final confrontation. Because, really, who ever thought she could? I can't even say that she gave it a valiant effort because it was halfhearted at best. And of course that means that now Mordred has to pay for what he did to the other elementals. A punishment that I feel was ridiculously unfair and wrong. Being the martyr that he is, Mordred doesn't put up any fight against this despite finally having a non mortal Gwen by his side again. He does give Gwen the choice though, do they fight against them all and gain his freedom by bloodshed or will her kindheartedness win out and she let him go. Which leads us to the very end and Gwen finally having some sort of plan. It's anyone's guess if this will believably work out though.

I'm of course looking forward to the next book, I just REALLY hope we get more Mordred than the tiny bit I think we will considering his situation.

Dark enemies to lovers fantasy? Absolutely yes. This was such a great read. I loved Mordred and Gwen - ahh! They went awful and wonderful and all the things we look for in romantasy. 5 stars!

Kathryn Ann Kingsley never, ever misses for me, and this third installment was no exception!

The epic scale of this story, combined with the very intimate view we have of the characters growing throughout, makes this a really satisfying romantasy read. It's got a dark edge to it without being overwhelmingly gruesome, which I appreciate.

Overall, another fantastic read! I will always drop whatever I'm doing to read a new KAK book!!

I was super excited to see the 3rd book was finally coming out for this series and I wasn’t disappointed!

Gwen and Mordred’s relationship is still fiery and exciting. They love each-other yet can’t trust each-other once again and their views on solving the Grinn situation has caused them to work against each-other!

Gwen ends up on her own and working with Doc to get her place back in Avalon and we find out so much more about the world they live in and how it exists and became. We find out more about Grinn as well and why he’s SO bitter with the world. That plot twist I don’t see coming.

Mordred finally learns to trust people but at a cost..and his iron shields are coming down. He’s still harsh and cruel but he is a softy in the inside and I can’t hate him for it!

The writing and pacing is great, the relationships and character development are interesting and overall, the storyline has left me wanting more. I didn’t expect the cliff hanger to end the way it did!

This is the third installment in the iron crystal series.
I found the book to be a bit slow at the start but the ending got me. I thought this would be the last in the series but it seems there is more!
Thank you netgalley for letting me read an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I will be looking forward to the fourth book!

Like some reviewers, I have not read the other books in this series. I first went into this not knowing it was the third title. That being said, I am quick to catch on to what is happening.
The plot was fast paced and everything was easy to understand. It was written in a way that the story flowed seamlessly. I love me some spice but the timing was not there. For example...right before a big battle? Not really the time for that. I also did not like how Gwen felt very whiney, complaining etc.
Overall, this was a good read but I think it would be better if you read the other two books first. This book begins where I assume the second one ends.

Three and a half
I'm always up for a new take on Arthurian legend so was eager to read this. Sadly I hadn't realised it is the third in a series so kind of went into this blind. Ok Mordred is this big possibly bad anti hero who clearly dominates all around him but his passion for Gwen knows no bounds. Sadly Gwen has in his eyes betrayed him and their relationship isn't exactly in a good place but to protect her Mordred decides to send her home. Ok sounds simple but the magic isle of Avalon has other ideas and pretty soon Gwen is sneaking about trying to understand her new role.
Clearly I've missed a lot although there are a few snippets that helped me understand a little of what has previously happened. Essentially Gwen spent several years looking after a cat who was actually a Demon and trust me he wants to destroy Mordred and all of Avalon big time ! If this series has led up to this then I have to say the big confrontation just happens pretty quickly and then bam other enemies of Mordred step up leaving the couple in even more of a pickle for them to escape from in the next book. I feel for me that the romance lacked a lot and I didn't find the intimate scenes smexy at all which was a shame. I will say though that the way it ended actually makes me want to read more so that's definitely a positive note.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy.

In this book we follow Gwen and Mordred and the impact of past decisions. It was phenomenal.

The plot was quick and very understandable. There was not a moment that was boring.

The characters were incredible and so was the storyline. I got a bit confused towards the middle and one of my personal pet peeve is the lack of discussions/miscommunication but in the context of this peticular book, it was okay and resolved fairly quick.

The writing style hooked me from page one to the very last.

There was some lines who resonated with me, and I gladly encourages you to jump into this story to discover them.

I loved reading this book! I love this series so much, and I'm pretty sure this is the penultimate book. So much happens in this book, and I'm so excited to see how things are going to resolve in book 4! Because things are wildly changed after this book!

The events of the last book really took their toll, Mordred's trust for her has been dealt another blow, she's no longer an Elemental, just a human, which means she's an easy place for his enemies to hurt him. So I understand why he did what he does, I always do, but there's just never any good choices.

I loved both of their stories, watching him deal with the coming battle, while she was trying to prevent it, and I loved the way that they both went about it. But oh, it hurt, watching it all play out, because the chances of both Mordred and Grinn getting through it alive were pretty low.

Oh, but that ending? That was a bit infuriating, because like Gwen said, they don't care about non-Elementals, and with the other Elementals they act like children. A new system, and new laws, need to be put in place, and I have a feeling Gwen is going to do so. And I need to read it!

I had such a great time reading this book, and I need the 4th book now!

To Break a Dark Cage is perfect for fans of dark romance and fantasy. The book manages to balance action-packed sequences with deep emotional resonance, creating a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking. This novel is a testament to the enduring allure of dark heroes and the strength found in love, even in the darkest of cages, a must-read for those who revel in stories set against a backdrop of magical intrigue and conflict. Kingsley has crafted a world that is as bewitching as it is dangerous, populated by characters whose destinies are intertwined with the fate of a world on the brink. It's a heart-racing journey that promises to leave readers breathless and longing for more.

This is the third book in this fantasy romance series, where we follow Mordred and Gwen in saving Avalon.

Wanting to protect Gwen, Mordred thinks he's sending her 'home', back to Earth where she would be safe. However, Avalon has different plans - and puts her right back onto the island. Here, Gwen must discover how she can put a stop to this impending war between Mordred and the Ash King, Grinn, before it's too late.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Like the previous two in this series, I flew through this book. However, I would have liked to see more in the final battle between Mordred and Grinn - it's been building up for the last couple books and it was over quite quickly.

Mordred and Gwen definitely need to work on their communication skills! They're both trying to keep one another safe, but too scared to say how they really feel. I was glad that they had time within their dreams to say it, before it could have been too late.

I'm definitely intrigued as to how the next book will play out after the ending of this one! We need a happy ending for Mordred and Gwen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this copy. This review is voluntary.

“𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.”

To Break A Dark Cage is book 3 of the Iron Crystal Series. I know I’ve said it before, but this author’s ability to create such complex and villainous MMCs still amazes me. Mordred completely stole my heart in this book! I enjoyed the pacing of this book much more than the previous book. Gwen grew on me a bit more this book, but I’m really hoping to see some major character development for her in the next book. 4⭐️

What To Expect:
🗡️Arthurian legend
🔥Slow burn
🗡️Hidden secrets
🔥Enemies to lovers
🗡️Multi POV
🔥Romantasy

“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞.”

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝.“

Let me start by suggesting that readers read the previous books in the series before starting this one as this book picks up where the previous book ended. This wasn't my favorite book in the series, but I devoured it none the less and I'm interested in reading the next book in the series to see how things play out. One of the things that bothered me with this story was that there were parts of the story that were too repetitive, and it became aggravating at times. I also would have loved to see more growth and action from Gwen in this story and yes, there are things that her and Mordred still need to work on, and I'm still interested in them enough to have me wanting to read more of their story. There are still a lot of loose ends and I still have some unanswered questions that will hopefully be answered in the next book but overall, this was a good paranormal romance story.

I read this book without reading the first two from the series. While there were a few things which I would like to read back and find out about, it largely was not necessary to follow the story here.
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, although a couple of things were a tad annoying;
1. Gwen was a bit too whiny and sorry for herself - even after getting her powers, all she seemed to be doing was crying. Would love to see her character come into her own. Considering this is book 3, I just wonder what she was like in Book 1.
2. I love a good bad guy and I get that Mordred was feeling tired and just ready to be done - but it was repeated a bit too much. And the whole, I love her but I am a horrible guy to everyone else seemed off. Like, has he changed or not? Even if he fell into the role with noble motives.
3. There seemed to be a lot of loose ends - even considering this is a series to continue which will probably address a lot of matters in the coming books. What happened to Bert and the other friends who helped her? What other powers does Gwen have and why isn't she making the effort to find out? Who exactly are the Ancients and how does Avalon work (a lot of hints and shadowy references, but super vague)? What happens to the other Iron creatures?

The story moved at a brisk pace, but I feel the language could be more compelling and cleaner. Also, the multiple pov is a little confusing without more fleshing out how each character thinks - although this could be due to not having read the previous books.
Everything being said, I would continue reading the series for sure. :)

To Break a Dark Cage is book three in the astounding Iron Crystal series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley.

To Break a Dark Cage takes place right where book two, To Bind a Dark Heart ends. In the battle for Avalon and the battle between two evils, one being the morally gray MMC, Mordred the Prince of Iron, and the other being the Ash King and demon, Grinn, Gwen loses the abilities she had came to be with when she arrived in Avalon from Earth.

Mordred tries to send Gwen back home to Earth but Avalon has a mind of its own and decided that Avalon was her home. With not actually returning back to Earth, Gwen is determined to save Avalon and try to prevent more death from occurring, but in war that is hard to do. Gwen works to save both the man she loves and the demon before it's too late and Avalon gifts her the power in order to try to do so. However, in the battle to save Avalon there are costs to everything.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I have actually been highly anticipating this book since discovering the series and I have absolutely loved the series thus far.

This book is absolutely amazing, I have loved the banter between characters and the character development of Mordred and Gwen. Gwen is becoming more confident in what she can do on Avalon and Mordred is understanding that the treacherous things that he has done have not been good but still struggles with his anger and aggression in certain aspects of the book.

I love Kingsley's writing and I think it was beautifully done. However, compared to her first two books in this series, this one was not my favorite but I still absolutely adored it and devoured it in one day. I do wish we got to see more of Gwen and Mordred working together rather than being separated for a good portion of the book and then back together like in the other books and (SPOILER) it seems that book four is going to be set up in a similar way, which is just a little too repetitive but that is my only complaint about this book! I am extremely excited for book four nonetheless.

Also a little side note I know this is kind of a dark fantasy book, however, for me it is kind of a comfort read! The character banter really makes it that way for me and the dark themes aren't too overbearing.

Content:
🖤enemies to lovers
🗡️multiple POVs
🖤funny banter
🗡️spice
🖤Arthurian Legend retelling
🗡️morally gray MMC
🖤dark fantasy
🗡️slow burn
🖤third book

<i>ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.</i>

I want to preface this by saying that I was not aware this was a series when I requested this ARC but in order to be as impartial as possible, I read book 1 and 2 so I had context for the ARC read.

Both the first and second book were okay and it seemed like there was going to be a great redemption and character development opportunity for Gwen but what we got was… subpar. In order for my reasoning to make sense I first need to discuss the magic system.

I understand that books written within the realm of King Arthur are common and offer a variety of different retellings. While I can appreciate this, it should not be used as a way to avoid world building or explanations of the magic system. There is absolutely no world building, everything is just… is. This goes in coordination with the magic system. With all these powers being shown and existing in the book, you would think there would be some explanation for them but there isn’t. It also makes no sense to me how Gwen, who has pretty much all the elemental powers, has no vote in a trial, but elementals, who only possess one power, have a vote. In any normal fantasy story, Gwen would be more powerful and valued as such. There should have been some kind of explanation for all of this other than that it is just the way it is.

All of that being said, given the way the plot was being driven by Gwen becoming something more and wanting to save everyone, you would’ve expected her to actually do something or help right? Yeah, no. That never happens and nothing goes her way. Which is fine if the next book will dive into her new opportunities, which I don’t see happening.

Also, I’m all for spice but why are characters doing it right before a big battle or using it as a form of communication after a disagreement? Not ONCE did it feel like the characters actually communicated and talked about their issues or ever opened up to each other and that’s probably why Gwen feels like she can’t tell Mordred anything.

All in all, if you are looking for a silly little story with no world building, no established magic system, and some spice… this series is for you. It may have just not been my taste but I want a little more substance to books.

After reading the first two books of this series, I can confidently say this is the best book by far. Although the FMC is still a bit childish and submissive, I don’t hate her as much lol. This book has great plot development from the beginning and it flowed very naturally, which I feel like some of the earlier books lacked. My main complaint is that I feel like the MMC is just the w same in every book, he gets pissed and can’t expires his feelings and then he does something he regrets and then has to work to redeem himself yatta yatta. HOWEVER, I think that this ending as crazy as it was sets the MMC for major changes and I’m here for it. I went for being pretty annoyed with all the characters to now having some affection for the villain, appreciation for the whiny FMC, and gratitude for the MMC…..so I guess the author has done a pretty good job haha. I am excited for the next book! Thank you netgalley and the author for the ARC

This is a fantasy slow burn with great banter between the main characters. Enemies to lovers with a morally grey MMC is one of my favorite things to read if done right, this one was. I was unaware of the fact that this book was book 3 when I was picking this book, however I was still able to grasp what was going on and understood the plot. The action and interactions were very captivating, but I do recommend reading book one and two to get a better sense of character growth. This author did an excellent job with keeping the reader wanting more, cant wait to read what happens in book 4.