Half King by Melissa Landers had been one of my highly anticipated reads for well over a year but its release date kept getting pushed back. Finally upon its release and inclusion as a Fairyloot box pick, I was really excited to dive in. Landers brings up nostalgia for me. As a young teen, I devoured her Alienated series. It paved the way for my love of romance novels. Seeing her write an adult romance felt so appropriate. Here I am, an adult reading an adult novel by an author I loved as a teen. I was truly excited.
The premise of the novel is that Cerise serves the goddess and is destined to become a Seer. As her birthday approaches and no sign of her Gift, Cerise is sent to the palace to fulfil her position there.
Curses have plagued the realm and that includes the king – Kian. Cerise becomes obsessed with ending the curses. Not only for Kian, who she strikes up an instant romance with but also the others, including her sister.
This book had such potential, but it was really disappointing. It felt like a YA novel with some spicy scenes thrown in. The characters had some juvenile moments that didn’t quite match the tone of the book. The plot was interesting but ultimately I felt bored and not engaged.
I was so gutted that I didn’t love this like I imagined.
Thank you for the eARC

Melissa Landers’ The Half King is an enthralling start to a fantasy series filled with political intrigue, vibrant characters, and a richly imagined world. The protagonist, who must navigate the challenges of leadership and betrayal, shines as a relatable and dynamic figure. The reverse grumpy-sunshine dynamic adds a delightful layer to character interactions, offering moments of levity amidst the tension.

While the pacing wavered slightly in the middle, the twists and emotional depth kept me engaged throughout. A must-read for fans of character-driven fantasy with heart.

I really liked the premise of this book first borns cursed by a goddess who their ancestors tried to kill and the curses linked to their part in the act.

The story was fast paced and action packed and I really liked how Cerise grew and developed as the story went on starting to question all she had been taught.

I found it a really easy and enjoyable read however had to know stars off and have rounded up from 3.5 as I found there romance very insta love especially considering it involves going against her lifelong teachings.

The Half King is a really great romantasy, I feel like I've been in a bit of a slump with fantasy books recently but this one really hit the spot!

The story was so interesting, I loved the mix of politics and faith and how the main character's thoughts on both evolved as the story progressed. Kian and Cerise's relationship was lovely, if a little fast - I found the 'love makes magic stronger' thing a bit cringey though.

The ending felt complete but left things open for the next book, I'm definitely going to pick it up.

If you want something easy to read, with lore that is interesting but not overwhelmingly complex, characters who become easy to love (and hate) and which sits in the Romantasy genre then this is the book for you.

Personally, I found it slightly underwhelming. Everything was just a little bit too easy for the characters to solve. Secrets were discovered just a little bit too quickly and relationships were formed just a little bit too fast.

As I was reading, I had a feeling that this was a standalone with how rushed the writing was to get to the finale - and honestly I really think it would’ve done well as a standalone if the book had been edited as such.

I do, however, feel I picked up this book at the right time. I’ve recently read a lot of heavy hitting, lore filled books and this really helped as a bit of a “palate cleanser”. Because of this, I genuinely think I would look to pick up book 2 when available.

I want to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, and Melissa Landers for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The review is my own opinion and I have given this freely.

Curses, Forbidden Magic and Deep Secrets

With a unique setting and fascinating magic/curse system, some interesting characters, forbidden magic and a sinister priesthood, not to mention secrets, curses, betrayal, romance and adventure, I couldn’t put this one down and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!

This is a promising start to a new series, the story races away with a great deal covered in its 512 pages.
Cerise Solon has lived, as all second children of the key lineages do, in seclusion at a temple of Shiera to train as an oracle or Seer. As her 19th birthday approaches and her power not yet revealed she is despairing of ever receiving the gift of foresight. Also strangely her actions are not visible to seers and she can change the pattern of a vision.
The Reverened Mother whilst testing Cerise speaks prophecy and swiftly sends Cerise to the capital of the kingdom of Mortara as the previous temple emissary to the the King - Kian Mortara has just died. Days later Cerise lands at the capital and swiftly finds herself in the midst of political intrigue, power games, death all relating to the Great Betrayal. Eons ago the lords of the Allied Realms four lands plotted to kill their goddess Shiera, she of two faces, one benign and one wrathful. The plot failed and Shiera cursed the four families so that the first born suffers a fate that fits the part of the plot their ancestor took part in. For the Mortara line Kian's fate is to live normally by day but disappear at night and when he turns 21 he will disappear forever. Gaining new friends and a demon hound, Cerise is soon on the hunt for a way to end the curse, something she feels the goddess is ready to bless. Only months after her arrival she is heading off with the King, and select courtiers to search for the Petros blade which promises a solution to ending the curse.
I liked this book and found it a compulsive read, however events moved along very quickly with barely time for the characters to draw breath before leaping into relationships, quests and survival I will be interested to see how the story develops and hope for some character development for Kian and Cerise.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC. All views are my own.

Sometimes books live upto the blurb and something they don't. Sadly this book was the latter.

I felt it needed more. More world building, more lore, more story.
Though it did have more than enough telling the story rather than experiencing the story with the characters. Time jumps of the travel was explained away, the falling in love was told to us not witnessed; all tell without the show.

And the romance was insta love. Broody, grumpy king has one chat with the new girl and it's all heart eyes and obeying.

I almost DNFed so many times, but stuck with it. I'm glad, sort of, the ending had a good twist and wrap up. And the epilogue offers a lead into the next book, though not enough for me.

I wouldn't grab this book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and how much I enjoyed it, of course I expected to like it based on the synopsis but it exceeded my expectations. Aside from the story itself this book was such an easy read and I didn’t want to put it down, I really liked the writing and chapter length.

I loved the banter in this book between Cerise, Kian and Daerick, their characters were true to their age and they gave me a lot of smile moments. I loved the innocence but also the fierceness of Cerise, and I loved her growth throughout the book. I found the curses and magic really interesting, and I actually really enjoyed how faith was treated in this book but also the underlying feminism - especially from Daerick.

Overall I gave this book 4⭐️. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters, the pacing was excellent and it is its own complete story but leaves it open for the next book which I believe follows other characters. I’ve been left wanting to pick up the next book as soon as it releases.

3.5
I did enjoy this book for the most part, the romance was cute and kept me going for the first 69% of the book then I just got bored and was underwhelmed with the plot and the ending despite enjoying the goddess worldbuilding. The politics and scenes at the Palace before the adventure are what I liked the most and I was sad when we went away from that setting. It's a shame this was an anticipated read for me, but ended up being quite generic for me. The Fairyloot editon is lovely though, if I can bring myself to keep it for the fantastic art, I probably will.

An intriguing story of curses, magic, secrets, lies and power struggles. This book will take you on a wild ride, with twists and turns along the way to keep you reading on. I found myself absorbed into the world and Cerise's story, with everything she thought she knew turned on its head again and again at different stages throughout her journey. The idea of these curses are interesting, and none more so than that of the Half King who fades away at sun down, only to reappear again the next morning. With the curses tied into the betrayal of the Goddess, Cerise and her allies have their work cut out for them trying to establish the different families' involvement in the treachery but also how the curse can be broken - if it even can! With Cerise's trusty hound, Blue, along for the ride, who is my favourite character of them all, there's a difficult path to follow and enemies to watch closely. Though I did enjoy this story, I didn't feel the romance side of it. I would have liked to see it written with more feeling as though there is the beginning of chemistry between these two characters, it lacked a little something for me. That being said, there were elements that I loved about the ups and downs of blossoming feelings and the tension between the two. All in all this was a curious story, though a little slower in places, and not ending in a way that necessarily made me desperate to pick up the next book. I think it would have worked well as a standalone and could quite easily have been tied up by the end.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this read, it just didn't grip me - which is annoying because it's exactly the type of story I enjoy. I will try it again another time and see if I do better, and I read enough to be able to recommend it to other readers.

There were so many things that frustrated me about this book because the idea was actually so good and it had the potential to be amazing.

First of all, the FMC is a DEEPLY religious woman whose entire life is devoted to the goddess and the belief that she must remain pure. Insert first meeting with the king and that’s immediately thrown out the window. It’s like there was absolutely no conflict going on in her brain about this relationship even though the start of the book she’s fully set on the religion…

Secondly, there’s barely any relationship building between any of the characters. It’s like they all just met for the first time and decided they had been friends/lovers for years? One of my favourite examples of this is the FMC saying “You know what he’s like” THE DAY AFTER SHE MET HIM??? Like be so for real you don’t even know what he’s like 😭

I will say I really liked the whole curse plot and the use of magic. As well as that, the writing style was very easy to read and at parts I enjoyed I did actually find myself not being able to put it down (until I got to another relationship plot).

Thank you to NetGalley for the proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this eCopy to review

When I first picked up The Half King, I was immediately drawn into the world Melissa Landers created. The story revolves around Kian Mortara, a king cursed to fade into nothingness each night until his 21st birthday, when he will disappear forever. This curse, a result of the Great Betrayal, looms over the kingdom of Mortara, adding a sense of urgency and tension to the narrative.

Cerise Solon, the protagonist, is a second-born child destined to serve the goddess Shiera as a Seer. However, she lacks the gift of foresight, making her journey even more challenging. When she arrives at the court, she finds herself surrounded by intrigue and deception, with Kian at the centre of it all. His haunting eyes and sharp tongue make him a compelling character, and their interactions are charged with tension and unspoken emotions.

As Cerise navigates the treacherous court, she uncovers secrets that could change the fate of the kingdom. Her determination to save Kian and break the curse drives the plot forward, leading to a series of thrilling and heart-wrenching events. The world-building is rich and immersive, with Landers crafting a complex realm filled with magic, curses, and political intrigue.

The relationship between Cerise and Kian is beautifully developed, with their growing bond adding depth to the story. The stakes are high, and the emotional intensity keeps you hooked until the very end. Landers’ writing is vivid and evocative, making it easy to visualize the world and feel the characters’ struggles.

Overall, The Half King is a captivating start to a new fantasy series. The blend of romance, adventure, and fantasy elements makes it a must-read for fans of the genre.

A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy and it also had an unforgettable ending.

This enchanting book is perfect for romantasy readers who desire an strong fantasy plot with a curse than spans back generations. Where four noble houses are cursed, one with perilous beauty, one with destructive knowledge, one with insatiable bloodlust and one who is claimed by the shadows every night- all because their ancestors betrayed the goddess. But after a Cerise, young hopeful seer from the temple is assigned to their court, she can’t help but desire to help the half king, Kian, who disappears into the shadows each sunset.

This book had me hooked after the first couple of chapters and it did not disappoint. It had incredible world building which wasn’t too overpowering and came out gradually, mixed in with great character dynamics. Cerise was a devoted and loving FMC, which is always a nice change to see a gentle character that still had determination and fight. Her and Kian had great chemistry from the start, which was a delight to watch blossom, though the bromance and banter between Daerick and Kian was truly my favourite.

Main Tropes:
- Forced Proximity
- Royalty/Court
- Generational Curses
- Chosen One
- Romantic Spice

This beautiful story follows Cerise, a devoted worshiper of the temple who spent all her life shielded from the outside world. But when an opportunity arises for a acolyte in court, she finds herself thrown into a new world where she must share her faith as a lady of the temple all whilst serving the half king, Kian. There’s only one problem, she’s only a few moons away from her “claiming day” and she’s yet to showcase her powers as a seer.

With no magic, a king that disappears every night and a generational curse looming over them all - will she be able to help them, or will the goddess punish them all?

This book was filled with faith, curses and intimate moments- the perfect combination for a romantic fantasy tale.

In this first book of a planned duology, we follow Cerise, a young woman given to the temple, as she is sent to court and finds herself drawn to the king.

In this universe, the firstborn of every noble family bears a curse specific to their family (unbearable beauty, intelligence mixed with madness, vanishing into smoke for half the day, etc.) and second-born children are given to the temple. I really enjoyed the originality of the concept, although I hope to see more world-building in the next book.

This was a quick NA read (the character development felt YA but there was some spice).

A recommended read for fans of The Gilded Wolves series, Holly Black, and romantasy with spiritual themes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
NA
3rd Person 1 POV

Enjoyed the world building, magic system and the characters. Cerise is a likeable FMC and Half- King, Kian, is a solid MMC. It reads as Upper YA but with a couple of mild spicy scenes.

I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story, which kept me wanting to keep reading to figure it out. The last part of the book was incredible, the pace the action really couldn’t but it down.

I'm looking forward to the next book.

Thank you for the ARC Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley

Hands down one of the best fantasy books I’ve read this year. The plot was very original and the story was so well written. I loved that it made me think about history and make connections with the story. When it comes to the plot twists, there were some that I saw coming, and other times I was totally flabbergasted. The relationships felt very dynamic and real, and the characters had dimension - like seeing Kian’s soft and protective side with Cerise, and fun and bantery side with Daerick. I also really liked the message that just because something is common knowledge doesn’t always mean that it’s true. The quote “There is no shame in not knowing something, the shame is not being willing to learn” fits so well with this book.

If you like fantasy, you should definitely give this one a go.

This has become one of my favourite romantasy’s. It’s been ages since a romantasy has really captured my attention and been so wonderfully unique.

This story has romance, depth, secrets, betrayal, darkness and some amazing side characters.

Cerise is a fantastic FMC, she is initially ignorant due to her upbringing. She doesn’t have the sight as expected, but she is sent to the Half King Kian’s kingdom to act as an emissary. There she discovers quite a lot of the kingdom think her capable of ending the curses that divide, and hurt the nobles and their kingdoms.

She meets many new people in Kian’s kingdom, some wish to hurt her or divert her plans to help lift the curses. Some new people become her friends and help her in unexpected ways.

This story gripped me, there’s twists and betrayals that you may see coming or may figure out at the very last minute. Either way I encourage anyone who enjoys fantasy and likes a touch of romance in the story to pick this up.