I liked the first volume of this series a lot and I didn't mind the relationship presented in this book back then at all, but while reading this book I got quite an uncomfortable feeling for some reason.

I think this books does a great job explaining the relationship between Reneah and King Cathan. I got to learn so much about them and about how the magic works in this world, especially the mating bounds. I think the relationship developed in such a way that it didn't feel forced, especially after I got to learn more about them and the world.

However, the relationship didn't set that well with me this time. I think this book highlights the differences between the characters, and while I usually don't have an issue with age gaps in books or fae/human relationships, this one felt strange, mainly because he's older and a father (and fae), while she's his daughter friend and chambermaid, and human, so her life is way shorter.

Another issue I had is the fact that there isn't much going on beside what I already knew was gonna happen from the first book, so it felt bland at times.

All in all, I think this book can be a great addition to the Heir of Atlantis series, but this romance is just not (totally) for me.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

When a king loses his beloved, and the bond he bears leads him to another, can he truly find love again or is he doomed to fulfill his obligations!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

This is a novella that runs concurrently with the timeline of the first book. Reneah is a housekeeper to the royal court and becomes involved with the newly widowed King Cathan. The whole story is about their developing friendship.
Whilst the romance was handled well and the characters were more developed than the first book, the lack of 'new' plot spoiled the overall feel of the book. It was just a romance between two characters within a plot setting that you know what was going to happen. This ultimately would be a great read for those who had not read book one and had no knowledge of the plot. Hopefully the next book will move the story forward and not feature another aspect set in the same timeframe.

The Forbidden King is the second book in the Heir of Atlantis series by ST Fernandez - I was super excited about this release because I LOVED The Veiled Heir but I also secretly had a big crush on the FMC’s dad, Cathan. And clearly I wasn’t the only one 😜

This story was sweet and spicy. Despite Cathan being recently widowed, the author found a cool loophole in order to rationalize Cathan’s new relationship with Reneah. It did feel a bit quick, but it made sense due to that loophole and it only being novella. It was nice seeing Reneah’s sweet and caring demeanor as a sign of strength instead of weekends, and her chemistry with Cathan was electric. And Daddy Cathan did not disappoint in the spice department! 🔥

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley and Azalea Press for the ARC - I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I did read this without reading book 1, which was not recommended. However, I do think this could be a stand alone book as well. The world was easy to figure out, and also left me wanting to go back and read book 1. We learn from the beginning that the King and Queen have a unique bond, but what that means is yet to be seen. Fast forward and we are seeing the story through the eyes of a chambermaid and her relationship to the royal family. After the queen passes we what as a man stricken with grief tries to move forward and prepare his daughter for queendom. As the slow burn, albeit not that slow with the length of the story, starts to pick up and tension builds we watch the spice start to spicing! This was a fun read that had me rooting for the couple and their love!

The Forbidden King is the latest book by the talented S. T. Fernandez. This book is part of The Heir of Atlantis series. It is a detailed account of the King’s relationship with Reneah. After losing his mate so tragically the King soon finds love in an unsuspecting place, in the arms of a human chambermaid.
This is the spicy romantic tale of the King and Reneah. It delves deeper into their story and in doing so it explains a lot that we didn’t know about their romance and about the King and Queen’s story as well. I just wish that there was a bit more to the story than just their romance.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series so I had very high hopes for this book. Unfortunately I feel like it left a lot to be desired. Reneah is the housemaid of Cathan, the king of Atlantis and his daughter. This story revolves around the beginning of their love story but it was so jumbled and fast paced it just didn't tell much of a story. I wanted more than just hookups I was hoping for more behind the scenes of her and Cathan like we had in book 1 of the main characters.

This was an enjoyable read. You definitely need to read the first book in this series. The writing style was very easy to get into and it was fast paced.

I enjoyed the story in and of itself, and it was interesting to see the events of The Veiled Heir from Reneah's and Cathan's perspectives. Do note that this is not a standalone and cannot be read without first reading book 1, The Veiled Heir.

I was hoping to see more interactions between Reneah and Ash, but I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship scenes between Reneah and Aurelio, and with Dax and Cathan.

I love the world the author has built. I love the secrets and revelations she has included, and I cannot wait for subsequent books and for the continuation of the story!

Just finished this book, it kept my interest, I feel there could have been more details about certain events in the story, instead of jumping to the next chapter. I bought the first book in this series.

I really tried to get into this but it just wasn't hitting the spot for me. I will try this author again in the future but it just was not my cup of tea.

The Forbidden King is a novella that takes place overlapping many events of the first book, but I definitely recommend you read the first book before this one so things will make sense. I was lost until I went back. After I read the other book I concluded with this one. I really loved getting to see scenes from the first book but now from Reneah or Cathan's POV, it was so different getting to see things from their side! I loved Reneah, how strong she was and how determined she was to not let her status get her down or risk her family's history and place within the palace. I feel like this book is also an emotional look at grief, finding love no matter what, and I love that Reneah is a bit older.

🌊 S.T. Fernandez brings readers back into the Heir of Atlantis underwater fantasy world with The Forbidden King, which is set in a parallel timeline to Book 1, The Veiled Heir. Told from the perspective of King Cathan and Reneah you revisit pivotal events through their lens in addition to their budding romance. The fated mates trope is alive and well in this novella but with an interesting twist.

✨ I preferred this novella to Book 1 because these characters are more mature and relatable. All in all, it was a little predictable yet enjoyable, with enough tension to keep me turning the pages. The ending felt very unresolved, so I am hopeful more about Cathan and Reneah’s future is shared in Book 2.

👑 Thank you to NetGalley, S.T. Fernandez, and Azalea Press for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

PS - Aurelio is my favorite side character and he stole the show.

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 STARS!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
An enjoyable novella, I definitely recommend reading book 1 first or you will be a bit lost, this is a good spicy romance that gives you an insight about 2 characters on the first book. I felt it was a little slow at times but I liked it overall, now I'm waiting for book 2!
4 stars

The Forbidden King is more of an extended novella. This story follows (fae) King Cathan & (human) chambermaid Reneah and their forbidden yet sweet love that forms after the death of his mate. I appreciated the captivating take on the world of Atlantis. I’d love to know more about the Above World. The amount of spice didn’t distract from the storyline and a great pace was kept. I have not read book 1 in full yet but still don’t feel like it was necessary to follow along with this story. I will be finishing up book 1 soon though because I want more of Asherah and Drae.

An Atlantis novella crossing the timelines from "The Veiled Heir" - a story I did'nt know I needed, but really liked!

We follow King Cathan and Renaah in there relasionship comming to life. It had it all: under sea drama, greif, tension and romance.

Maybe not necessary but if you liked the world of The Atlantis Heir, you might like this quick and heartfelt story too - oh and it's very spicy!

Allready waiting for the next book!

Book 1, perfection. Book 1.5, equally as perfect in its own way. I know book 2 is going to somehow blow these out of the water to the Above World, and I can't wait!!

Book 1.5 is the POV of Cathan and Reneah happening at the same time as Book 1, which was Asherah and Draevyns perspectives. It was so nice devouring both books within a day and having all of the perspectives come together to offer more insight into The Veiled Heir and adding to the overall story and plot lines. We didn't get a whole of insight on Cathan in book 1 because he wasn't a main chatacter, but I knew his past was going to play a significant role in the upcoming books so I loved this story! A lot of things got revealed that I had my suspicions about, and we got answers as to why he chose to raise his daughter in the Above World, and more insight to his bond with the previous Queen and it was so easy to fall in love with these characters as much as Drae and Ash. The world building is incredible, and the connection between the characters is absolutely perfect. I loved the romance between Cathan and Reneah, and it was definitely something out of a fairytale that I know is somehow going to get even better with the next books in the series as all of the POVs collide.

I usually dislike novellas in a series, or the .5 books because they usually don't add to the story, in my opinion, but this one absolutely did. I was completely obsessed with both of these books and could not put them down. I will scream from the rooftops to read this series, and it instantly became my favorite mermaid/siren series... and I've read a lot of them, so that just shows how good this was!

Packed with adventure, a touch of romance, and strong friendships. I loved the world building and cant wait for book 2!

I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with a story as quickly as I did with The Forbidden King. From the moment I opened the book, I was completely swept away by the forbidden romance between Reneah Diaz, the fiercely capable chambermaid, and Cathan, the tormented Fae King of Atlantis. Their relationship is as tender as it is daring, unfolding against a backdrop of palace intrigue and deeply rooted traditions.

What truly struck me was Reneah’s strength and grace. She’s not just a servant in the palace—she’s a woman who values her family’s legacy and understands the weight of her choices. Cathan’s internal conflict broke my heart. His guilt over his late queen and his struggle to embrace feelings he knows are taboo made him such a vulnerable and relatable character. Together, their chemistry was electrifying, yet filled with bittersweet moments that made me root for them even more.

The world of Atlantis felt alive, shimmering with magic and mystery, yet grounded by the very human emotions of love, loss, and loyalty. S.T. Fernandes’ writing is beautifully immersive, and the story kept me turning pages late into the night.

If you’re a fan of stories that blend romance with rich world-building, this book is a must-read. I devoured it in just a few hours, and I’m already eager to revisit Atlantis and these unforgettable characters. The Forbidden King is a story that will stay with me for a long time.