Series: Kingdom of Lies

BOOK REV IEW: A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies #2) by Stacia Stark

BOOK REV IEW: A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies #2) by Stacia StarkA Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies #2)
by Stacia Stark
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Risk everything for your kingdom...Or be destroyed by it.

In a world darkened by deceit, the truth is a light that won't be dimmed. Even when it illuminates Lorian's betrayals more starkly than I could ever want to see.

They call him the Bloodthirsty Prince.

His reign of terror has left a trail of blood across this continent. A trail that intertwines with my own past-not even my parents were spared from his merciless slaughter.

To save my brother's life, I agreed to another bargain with the fae prince. Now, I'm forced to work with him. Forced to travel to the fae lands. Forced to spend my every waking moment with the man who betrayed me. All because King Sabium has woven a deadly tapestry of manipulation, using those we least suspect for his wicked schemes.

There are no lines I won't cross to protect the people I love. So I'll work with former enemies. I'll manipulate, blackmail, and deceive potential allies. I'll swallow my pride, bury my shattered heart, and cooperate with the fae to prepare for the coming war.

Because there are creatures far more monstrous than the fae.

And some of them masquerade as men.

Review:

His lies had hurt the most.

With secrets swirling, danger on the horizon, and perilous journeys, A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty was a fabulous continuation of the Kingdom of Lies Series!  There were scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat.  Steamy moments that will tug at your heart.  And an addictive storyline and world that continues to build and grow.  Fans of romantasy definitely need to have this series in their life!

“Why would you do this?” she asked.
The question burrowed deep into my chest. I clenched my teeth. “Figure it out.”

Prisca was a heroine we could easily love and respect.  She was smart, had grown so much and her strength and courage gave her a backbone of steel.  Yet Prisca was struggling.  Not only with learning that she was fated to become the queen.  Since she didn’t see herself being worthy enough to rule the hybrids.  But also with accepting what Lorian was.  She was raised to see the Fae as the nightmares and monsters of the world.  He was supposed to have been the one who killed her biological parents.  And she had been falling for him all along, none the wiser.  But as their journey progressed, she still confided in him.  Trained with him.  And she saw how much he cared and wanted her to be the best she could be.  She just needed to learn to accept what he was.

He’d asked if I remembered how he’d made me feel.
Some days, it was the only thing I could think about.
“Please,” I said quietly.

Lorian was protective, lethal, deadly and would do anything to keep Prisca safe.  He would hand her the world if he could, yet he lied to her.  And according to her, destroyed her past.  Yet as a skeptic I kept hoping there was more to the story, because I am ever so hopeful and can only be positive when it comes to Lorian haha.  He may be the villain to others, but he could never be that to Prisca.  So I loved as we watched him let her grow.  That he stood by her as she figured out how to rule and deal with powerful people.  And the words he would say to Prisca *screaming while jumping up and down*?!  Lorian’s words to Prisca were beautiful, powerful and elicited so much emotion! Lorian was the ultimate book boyfriend! 

“This is never going to work. You and I. We’re doomed. You know that.”
He sighed, and I closed my eyes, basking in the feel of his breath against my neck.
“I know.” He slowly drew back. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t wish for you with every fucking breath for the rest of my life.”

While the odds were continually stacked higher against them, they fought with everything they had. I cried tears for Lorian. I was terrified for some of the situations Prisca was put in. And through it all, Lorian and Prisca had the most fabulous banter!   It was laced with even more emotion now! They were from opposite ends, even if they were fighting a common enemy. They could never be together, so my heart cried trying to figure out how it’ll all work out in the end. So I loved their steamy moments and that they were detailed, explicit, and absolutely fabulous! And when you get to the part where Lorian lists things, try not to have your heart explode!

He smiled, as if he’d expected nothing less.
I smiled back. One day, I would make him pay for everything I suspected he had done to Lorian.

We got so many answers to questions, yet we were also left with many more questions.  And as the world expanded and we met others, I was completely enthralled. I was happily surprised to see that we got this story in a few different point of views.  Prisca was still the main one, and of course Lorian too.  But we also got some moments with the Queen.  Those moments made me contemplate everything I knew.  I did not expect to feel compassion towards her or learn all that we did.  There were quite a few times where my mouth was left hanging open.  And there was even one moment I cried tears for the Queen, I am still shocked.  So where this story ended with her left me terrified.  With political intrigue, and dangerous ploys, I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Queen!

The war had barely begun. And we were already losing.

A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty was laced with friendship, love, quests, forgiveness, battles, death and it was so easy to devour! With a star-crossed lovers romance, forced proximity and a found family, just know that this story ended with a fabulous cliffhanger. Don’t mind me over here panicking until that next book is in my hands! I absolutely love this world and these characters and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I just wanted her to be mine.

PS My favorite new character we met was Drakoryx, by far!

PPS Is anyone else keeping their fingers crossed that Asinia & Demos become a couple?

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: A Court This Cruel and Lovely (Kingdom of Lies #1) by Stacia Stark

BOOK REVIEW: A Court This Cruel and Lovely (Kingdom of Lies #1) by Stacia StarkA Court This Cruel and Lovely (Kingdom of Lies #1)
by Stacia Stark
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

For years, when I fell asleep, I dreamed of a man with blazing green eyes and a cruel smile.

The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead.

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae.

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt.

And they are burned.

When my forbidden power is discovered, I'm forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore.

To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest.

Our deal is simple: I'll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he'll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I've always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival.

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love. Secrets that could tear this kingdom-and perhaps even this world-apart.

Review:

Sometimes there are stories that are so beautifully crafted that they steal pieces of your heart and soul.  They consume your every waking thought.  And saying it’s one of your favorite books ever still doesn’t feel like enough.  That was A Court This Cruel and Lovely.  This book stole my breath time and again.  If you love enemies to lovers, a slow burn romance, forced proximity, found family, a heroine that comes into her power and a morally gray grumpy male then you desperately need this book in your life!  This romantasy was everything!

I could do this.
After all, against all odds, I was still alive. I just had to keep reminding myself of that.

Prisca lived in a harsh world where when you were born, your magic was taken from you and given to the Gods.  It was so they would help protect the borders from the ruthless fae.  But Prisca had been keeping a secret.  She still had her magic.  Which made her part of the corrupt. After those were caught, they were burned to death for defying the Gods.  So when Prisca was discovered for still having her magic, she was forced to flee her home and family.  And while on the run, she met a man that she had been dreaming about.  Yet he left her for dead. 

“I don’t want anything you’re offering. Remember that time you left me to freeze to death?”
He sighed. “Are you always this dramatic?”
One of his men snorted, and I trembled with the need to punch Lorian in the mouth.

I loved Prisca!  It hurt to watch her live in a village that she could never stay at, where she would never be able to fall in love, and could never let her guard down.  But when she left her home, brother and mother, it was even more gut wrenching to watch.  Her whole life changed in the blink of an eye and she was forced to survive or else she would die. Prisca showed us time and again that she was brave, smart, tricky, kind and fearless!  Being on the run had her meeting Lorian.  Who left her for dead.  He was a man she dubbed as a ruthless mercenary.  And it was the start of a beautiful enemies to lovers romance that I’m beyond obsessed about.

Don’t do it. Don’t you dare do it.
My gaze dropped to his toned ass, and I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry.
“See something you like?” Lorian purred.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
He chuckled, turning to the bath, and I slammed my eyes shut. It wasn’t fair that he was so annoying and yet so fucking perfect.

Lorian.  Oh my heart.  He made me laugh when I shouldn’t have. He made me like him when I shouldn’t have. But I didn’t care. I loved that we got his thoughts too. They could be so coarse and ruthless, but I loved when he thought about her. Even when he didn’t want to. But make no mistake, he could be so cold at the drop of a hat. And in the next moment he would kill for you. Trick you. Be protective. And keep all of his secrets to himself. I never seemed to know which side Lorian would show us. Yet as the story unfolded, I fell for every single side of him. Something I didn’t think was possible. This morally gray male will gladly steal and capture your heart, even if you don’t want him to!

Nerves fluttered in my stomach.
We don’t have time for your insecurity and self-doubt.
How Lorian would laugh if he knew just how much I was relying on those words.
In another life.
My chest tightened, and I shoved the memory out of my mind.

Even though Prisca and Lorain hated each other, they needed one another. And while they had their moments that felt like something more, or there wasn’t animosity between them, it never lasted long. Their enemies to lovers romance was done so fabulously! Especially when they would mess with the other. I lived for those moments and couldn’t stop smiling when they could be playful and hilarious. Their banter was fabulous and there was always a tension that simmered between them. No matter how much neither one of them wanted to admit it.

Beneath the terror, my fury burned bright. So bright, I didn’t have to reach for my power. No, instead, the threads seemed to reach for me, my skin heating.

While Prisca, Lorian and his men Marth, Rythos, Cavis and Galon traveled together, there was definitely a strain. Yet as their journey continued, it almost felt as though there was a camaraderie there. One that felt like a fond family. Or maybe that’s just what happens when you face life and death moments. I was terrified for so many of those in this story. I cried, I screamed, I gasped, but I also laughed out loud and couldn’t stop smiling. And as we watched the story and the characters unfold, I loved where this story led us. It held us in the palm of its hand.

“I thought we’d moved past threats of torture,” I muttered.
He took a single step closer, and my skin tingled at the look he gave me. Dark, hopelessly amused, dripping with lust.

This twists in this story were phenomenal! Some of my guesses were close or right on. Yet other things I didn’t even some coming. This is one of those stories where I can’t wait to re-read because I can now see the clues. And while reading, I had to know what happened next. The story and characters were impossible to walk away from! I also think that fans of FBAA will fall head over heels in love with this story! Reading those ARCs consumed my whole being these last few years. And this is the first book that has given me all of the same vibes and feels.

“…Promise me you’ll free them. And one day, you’ll come back and burn this fucking place to the ground.”
There was only one thing I could say. “I promise.”

A Court This Cruel and Lovely was filled with revenge, murder, survival, jealousy, bargains, betrayal, friendship and more. I loved that these characters had one another’s back and put their faith in each other. Even if they didn’t want to. I loved that plans were made that led to more. And I especially loved how steamy kisses turned into seductively scorching hot moments. This romantasy was impossible to put down and easily became an instant favorite! I will be counting the moments until that next book is released and I’m so thankful we stopped at the perfect stopping point.  I desperately  have to know what happens next, yet I can breathe.

“How do I know you won’t just kill everyone?”
“Oh, Prisca,” he purred. “I would never kill you.”

PS Barmaid. I still laugh out loud thinking about that!

“I know what we’re about to do. It doesn’t change the fact that I want to strip that dress off you and see what I find beneath it.”
“You’ll find knives,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
His smile was dark— almost feral. “Wicked women are my weakness.”
I couldn’t help but grin up at him.

PPS I loved the letters Lorian and his brother sent back and forth. One of the last ones he sent back to him was everything for me lol!

Spoiler Quotes That I Love:

View Spoiler »

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 

 

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