Member Reviews
Thank you NetGalley and Terina for allowing me to access this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found that reading the synopsis of this book had me hopeful for a thrilling and enthralling story. It sounded right up my alley with a strong female lead, romance, fated lovers, kingdoms and magic. However, I found that this book didn't quite hold my interest as much as I had hoped. I DNF'd pretty early in as I found the world building confusing and did not enjoy Tressya, I found that she lacked personality and it was hard to feel invested in what was happening for her. I found that I was hoping for more, hoping for a relatable character instead I often found myself frustrated with her inner dialogue.
Part of me is hopefully that I will give this book another go when the next book comes out however at this stage, it just was not able to capture and hold my attention the way I had hoped it would.
With a more relatable, strong and independentfemale lead, I believe this would be an extremely interesting book with the ability to capture and hold the reader.
My review has been shared with NetGalley and posted to Goodreads.
It’s a good story for readers who enjoy fantasy with a strong political subplot. Objectively it was a solidly written book however I struggled to get through a lot of plot points that’s why I can’t rate it higher than 3 stars..
At the beginning there was a lot of info dumping and I struggled to remember all the names, territories and terms. I always appreciate an effort at solid world building however I prefer when it’s done more naturally as we follow the story. I think it makes it much more interesting and accessible to the reader. I did enjoy the last part of the book when the plot picked up and all the developments started coming together.
I also like the FMC. She’s strong and capable and it was very interesting to have a main character that isn’t traditionally beautiful. I loved her inner monologue and her internal struggles very well portrayed!
Unfortunately the romance aspect was a bit of a disappointment for me. I love slow burns but in this case I felt like the tension between the MMCs was missing and I didn’t get invested in their relationship. However if romance isn’t an important aspect for you the overall storyline definitely makes up for that.
I recommend it for readers who enjoy their fantasy with a good political plotline and intrigue.
The tropes include:
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ royal politics
✨ arranged marriage
✨ secret order
✨fate and prophecies
I honestly had a really hard time getting into this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. If a book doesn’t draw me in from the beginning, it’s hard for me to continue it.
⋆⭒˚。⋆ 2.5/5 stars.
This review will be spoiler-free. No quotes because this is an arc. I half recommend this book and half don't. I think this is good for people who enjoy a medium- to fast-paced story with mega slowburn romance and politics, politics, politics.
───── ⑅ the protagonists ⑅ ─────
Tressya! Wow, what a lady she is! She is not your average fmc: plain-faced, hides daggers in her skirts, and has wits! Super wow! She spent the vast majority of this book worrying about her loyalties to the sisterhood (which we barely got any information on), and whether or not she would be able to fulfill her duty after being married off to such an asshat prince! The girl has some spunk; definitely had the most interesting pov of the two.
Tamas. Ohhh, Tamas. A supposed war commander. An ultra-skilled spy and killer who can shapeshift. He basically falls in love with Tressya at first sight. Eugh. His character to me didn't make very much sense tbh and I wish that there was more to him than just "I'm thinking about Tressya. Why am I thinking about Tressya? Oh no, I'm ruining my big master plan because I keep thinking about Tressya."
───── ⑅ what I liked ⑅ ─────
Tressya's internal struggles. I liked that they didn't just disappear because a sexy man swooped her away, and that she was actually fighting with herself. She felt genuine guilt over her actions (though this was sometimes swept under the rug whenever she got horny? lol).
The author was not afraid to kill characters. It was refreshing to see that not everything goes the way the protagonists want; it made things far more interesting. I think it would have been even better had we had the chance to learn more about them as characters.
Andriet. My sweet, sweet Andriet. Such a MAN, genuinely kindhearted and respectful, wish every male character in this book was like him (maybe a little less stupid but its okay he gets a pass for being so lovely).
───── ⑅ what I didn't like ⑅ ─────
The beginning of this story was the biggest info dump I've ever had the displeasure of reading. I think there were at least ten different names of lords that were never mentioned again, several more names of territories, and terms I didn't understand. There is no map for this world either, so every time a name was brought up, I just had absolutely no idea where the characters were. Near the beginning, during some of the info dumping, the dialogue was really strange. It sounded obnoxiously formal. This was especially confusing because there were also moments in this book where hundred year old characters would whip out modern language and I would just be like ??? huh??? oh okay!
The plot's pacing was also kinda eugh. A chapter would end, we would move on to the next, and the protagonists were usually doing something completely different from what was happening in the previous chapter.
The stupid bite mark lmao. It gives Wattpad alpha werewolf.
tropes in this book:
➺ prophecies
➺ shapeshifter (like actually lol)
➺ dual pov
The Unbroken Queen is a dual POV fantasy, slow-burn, enemies to lovers (that are kind of still enemies?) that definitely takes you on a journey. There is magic, kingdoms, trials, conflict, and a brewing war. This book is action packed. The dual POV started off a little confusing for the first bit as the characters are not yet in each others lives so two very different things are happening at once, but it all blends together once the two main characters meet. The story is engaging and keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. There are some unexpected twists and turns that I never saw coming. The book takes place in an interesting world with a long history that I'm sure will be revealed more as the series goes on. I believe this is the first book in what will be a series and I am looking forward to reading the next book! I need to know what happens next after that ending!
If you like fantasy, magic, shifters, and your FMC a little stabby and spicy with a morally grey MMC then this book is for you!
This book was not what I expected but it was so good! I loved the writing and all of the detail that made this book what it is and I can't wait to read more!
As a romantasy aficionado, "The Unbroken Queen" had me hooked from the start! Imagine a world brimming with politics, secrecy, hidden gifts, and a war for power. The plot revolves around Tressya, a stabby FMC from the Sistern of Silence (think secret women's society with deadly powers), and Tamas, the northern realm's leader with a thirst for power and a secret shapeshifting ability.
Tressya, an illegitimate princess turned assassin, is sent on a mission that challenges her loyalties and opens her heart. Tamas, on the other hand, is driven by duty but finds his feelings for Tressya complicating his ambitions. Their journey from enemies to lovers is fraught with tension, slow-burn romance, and witty banter—everything you could wish for in this trope!
The world-building is intense initially but worth it as you get engrossed in the political intrigue and character dynamics. Tressya is a smart, cunning, and caring heroine whose interactions with Tamas are delightfully snarky and heart-melting. While Tamas' chapters can drag, they don't overshadow the compelling narrative and the steamy slow burn between the leads.
In summary, "The Unbroken Queen" delivers a captivating blend of romance and fantasy. Despite some pacing issues, especially with Tamas' POV, the book's cliffhanger ending will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment. It's a romantasy gem that keeps you invested in the fates of its complex, lovable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this for my honest review.
This book me too long to get into it, like well onto the 60% range.
I didn't hate this book but I also don't think I'd pick up the next one.
Tressya, an illegitimate princess and trained assassin for a secret order, is told she is to marry a foreign prince to seal an alliance for her father. She does not fight him. She accepts her fate and puts duty before her own desires, as a good disciple should.
When Tamas, leader of the formidable Razohans to the North, learns that the king of Terragona has arranged a bride for his eldest son, he knows he must not let this union happen. If he is to succeed in his plan to take the throne, then the Tannard line must end.
However, Tamas expected to find a beautiful, pampered princess, not a skilled, blade wielding fighter! Both have reason to want the other dead, but their growing attraction holds them back. When the time comes to choose between love and loyalty, what will each of them decide?
Such a good time!! I thoroughly enjoyed The Unbroken Queen, and I can't wait to see where the story goes in book 2! This was exactly what I was looking for: strong plot, great characters, and the perfect amount of romantic tension. With unique beings, and creative magic and monsters, this is definitely one to consider if you are a fantasy lover!
If you are looking for a fantasy book with slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, a strong FMC, and high stakes, then I definitely recommend picking up The Unbroken Queen!
A slow burn enemies to lovers is my bread and butter. I enjoyed this immensely. The characters and the development they went through was done so well. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the talented author for allowing me to read this arc.
Thoroughly enjoyed the world building and growth of characters. A story that made me ache with sympathy and laugh from banter!
A slow burn enemies to lovers, well worth the build.
I was allowed the privilege of reading this through NetGalley
I was so excited to read this book. It sounded so fun, exactly what I like to read, and thought this would be a two day read max. Unfortunately, I DNF'ed this book. Maybe I will go back to it in the future but I had an issue with the writing style. The intro scene and first chapter were very chaotic. I know this is a personal preference but it was too much in the first 20 pages. I think the Author wanted to give some action to reel a reader in, but it did the opposite for me. There were some spelling mistakes as well and formulation of sentences that made me re-read them. I know part of editing will correct those so I am not saying that was the issue. I was hoping to love this story, and perhaps I will re-engage later on, but for me this was not the best. I wish there was more world building in the first few chapters, more character background and development before diving into the full story, and the main characters name was hard to pronounce.
Best of luck to the Author! I saw some positive reviews from the other readers so that's good! I don't entirely think it is fair for me to give it a one-star so I gave it a two. Perhaps in the future that rating will change.
First off thank you Netgalley and Terina Adams for allowing me to ARC. <3
Alright where to start, this was quite the adventure of a book! I was so very exited for this book, the cover, the description, everything about it just caught my eye and drew me in. The plot itself was amazing, and the world is pretty wonderful honestly. It flowed nicely, I never found myself lost or not understanding what just happened and don't think I questioned at any point what was going on, like I had missed a piece of the story somewhere.
I think this a lot of people are going to love this, I know I can't wait for the sequel.
While the story was great, I do personally wish it had a map, or an end of book character description like a character glossary on how to pronounce some names if that makes sense.
Seriously though, if you are a fan of slow burn, he falls first, magical worlds that pull you in...then The Unbroken Queen is 100% a book you want to read.
This was my first Terina Adam’s book - I liked the cover and was intrigued by the assassin fantasy description. Overall I thought the book was okay, the world building was very complex and there were several plots and subplots to dig through (it was a long read). I enjoyed the main character being spirited, unafraid and bold. However, the character was also confusing as an assassin since she was constantly clumsy! She fell down a lot, dropped her sword several times, reigns were torn from her hands and she couldn’t dance. In other books sword fighting is equated to dancing (she is a princess after all!) and no amount of accurate dagger throws made up for it. I enjoyed her enemy, I liked the tension between the two and his defiance of his team and goals for her, but I didn’t like how his power worked. It seemed evil to me and there should have been an alternative to innocents lives being taken. The spirit aspect was interesting, but added a bunch of characters that ended up not being important or only serving a small role. Although the book ended on a cliff hanger, I’m not sure I’m invested enough in this world to continue and feel like a year from now I will not be able to remember all the nuances of the different groups and their powers to keep up with the story.
This book mixes enemies to lovers with a strong female MC and I enjoyed every second! The best part of fantasy books is how strongly written the female MC is and this book does not disappoint. She's strong, knows what she wants and will stand for what she believes in. That courage drives this book throughout. Looking forward to the next book!
Many thanks to Terina Adams and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THERE IS NOTHiNG I LOVE MORE THAN AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS TROPE!
Ugh, this book was pure magic. It'll be my whole personality for the next month. I have already been chatting it up on my socials.
100% would recommend this to fantasy lovers that love enemies with feisty banter!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC review in exchange for an honest review
FIVE STARS!
"The Unbroken Queen" is a captivating read that combines elements of fantasy and romance to great effect.
With its intriguing premise, compelling characters, and pulse-pounding action, this book is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. So, if you're in search of a fantasy adventure brimming with political intrigue, forbidden love, and magical intrigue, look no further than "The Unbroken Queen."
The unbroken queen was a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed the characters and the romance although the plot left a little to be desired. I rated this 3 stars
I got approved for an ARC this morning and completely blew through this book today. Im obsessed. I love the plot which follows an illegitimate daughter who is a princess but is trained as an assassins (my favorite type of book). We love a FMC who can take care of herself, is stabby and loyal. I also fell inlove hard with Tamas. This man fell so hard and I had butterflies with some of the things that he would say. I do wish that we had him more in Tressya's point of view because he was so much better through her eyes than through his POV. I will say the book does end on a cliffhanger so if that isnt for you, I would wait until the next book is out! I am sitting on the edge of my seat just desperately waiting for the next one :)
*Also, this review is honest and has all of my own opinions*
"Beauty is a flaw. It disguises many truths and
makes fools out of men."
"Age is meant to humble us."
The storyline is very interesting. It kept me wanting to know what happens next. I hated Radnisa for treating Tressya so mean. I know that they are disciples and that they are devoted to the The Mother but sometimes it feels like The Mother is only using them for eyes and ears to her benefit. I would have liked to have Tressya's half sister be more present. I felt like Edilene should play a more crucial role and be more involved in the story. She was introduced in the beginning and then she went AWOL. Which maybe they'll bring her up in book two? Tamas' POV were sometimes lacking interest. Sometimes, I get confused when he took another form and is totally a different person. Especially when they are directing the person he took form of instead of him himself. Ididn'tt enjoy the whole ghost thing with Tressya. I felt like Tressya was already perfect the way she was and adding on more extra things to her life was a bit too much. I most likely will not read book two. But it doesn't say to say that you shouldn't. I just don't think I'm invested enough!