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We’ve seen this done many times before and I’m sad to say… we’ve seen it done better. So nothing new, nothing all that exciting happening here and EXTREMELY predictable. Like, didn’t even try to hide it at all. The second installment of the Broken Kingdoms series by L.J. Andrews is a solid 4.5 stars read to me, rounded up to 5. Right off the bat, obsessions with a warrior past are not exactly a great marker - especially when coupled with the clear viking inspiration for the Timoran (Elise’s) culture. There are clear and significant ties between Viking culture and organised racist movements, with Viking imagery and symbolism used widely to help push varying white supremacist narratives. As niece of the king, Elise Lysander cares about two things: sneaking into gambling dens, and avoiding an advantageous marriage at all costs. The romance is pretty set by this point so I wonder how much it might fizzle out by the next book. The alternating POVs was a nice touch and so was the un-burying of the gay. I just hope the next book doesnt rebury the gay and we get a nice happy ending for those two.
L. J. loves to write in the morning before anybody’s awake, what with running a business, and eating way too much chocolate. She lifted her chin, voice low. “I grow so weary of pretentious kings thinking they have a say in my life. Consider me no longer your burden to bear. My fate is mine.” Trapped by her sense of duty, Elise is given to the charge of Legion Grey, the handsome and mysterious dowry negotiator. But Legion holds more than her future in his hands. He incites her anger and a forbidden passion. The Enduring Legacy The Curse of Shadows and Thorns leaves behind a legacy that transcends its fictional boundaries. It serves as a reminder that darkness can be confronted and conquered through acts of love, courage, and self-discovery. This story encourages introspection, prompting readers to reflect on their own shadows and thorns while striving to nurture their inner light.The world building is still really good and the fighting scenes were epic. The excerpts of Queen Lilianna’s journal were a nice touch to help develop the history of the land. The world LJ has created for The Broken Kingdoms series is also truly taking shape in this book. The questions I had after book one were answered. We were given some delicious plot twists, and although I have to wait a few more hours to get home again, I'm already extremely excited to start the next book in this series. The Curse of Shadows and Thorns is characterized by an aura of darkness and despair, emanating from the intertwining malevolent forces of shadows and thorns that shroud the affected realm in perpetual twilight. Its corruptive influence seeps into the hearts of its inhabitants, magnifying negative emotions and fostering an atmosphere of distrust. El romance también me gustó bastante, aunque confieso que no me encantó, ya que quizás fue un pelín precipitado hacia el final de la novela. Tiene mucha tensión y a lo largo de las páginas empieza a cocerse un romance slow-burn, que estaba disfrutando, pero hacia el final quizás se ha precipitado más de lo que me hubiera gustado, pero aún así quiero ver hacia dónde irá la historia de estos personajes.
Since I read The Ever King the other day I was intrigued by the story of Livia’s parents. So I began their trilogy. This might be a fantasy novel, and alt right imagery in itself does not mean that the author must be alt right, but the themes and issues discussed all have real world connotations and impacts. Normalisation of these tropes in media leads to them being overlooked in real life, which contributes directly to the systemic oppression of people of colour and marginalised communities, regardless of the author’s intent. Cleansing Rituals: Purification and cleansing rituals are often employed to remove negativity and break the hold of a curse. This can include rituals such as smudging with herbs like sage or using consecrated water or salt to cleanse the person and their surroundings. The intent is to clear away negative energies and create a fresh, positive space.
When Elise agreed to break a vicious curse over the man she loved, she never imagined he was a lost fae prince. But Valen left her to carry out vengeance for his slaughtered family. So when she joins the outlaw fae in their uprising against her own sister, all Elise wants is to forget the prince who holds her heart. Long ago, Elise's ancestors stole the crown from the fae king. As the niece of the brutal, current king, her purpose is to do whatever is asked to ensure her family keeps the throne for centuries to come. The trouble is, Elise would rather sneak into gambling halls with the servants than be a silent princess at a ball.
Nova has to unravel her family secrets before the dark power can overtake her, or her dad is going to be lost forever and she will become exactly what she fears the most. A pirate. Emotional Distress: The curse may bring about a deep sense of sadness, despair, or hopelessness that seems to linger without apparent cause. The individual may struggle with persistent feelings of darkness, anxiety, or a sense of impending doom. The pace of the plot is strange, it goes from a really good pace that I was lapping up, to being incredibly slow and moving nowhere to again speeding through the end. Recurring Nightmares or Disturbing Dreams: A common characteristic of curses is the presence of unsettling dreams or nightmares that recur frequently. These dreams may involve shadows, thorns, or other dark and ominous symbols. Rise of a Guardian” is the first novel in the “Lost Relics” series and was released in 2016. Killian Thomas, who was abandoned by his family when he was a young child, has suddenly gotten one chance to find some answers to his past in a bizarre realm. This mysterious community, which is bound to protect the realms, promises to aid him on his quest if he helps in this desperate search for the lost relics of the realms. Each of these magical relics is bestowed with the mysteries of every realm, giving their owner unimaginable power.I love that Ari isn’t a bad guy. He’s claiming something that isn’t his but they recognize that he only means well. I’m glad he wasn’t another enemy. In its intricate tapestry of darkness and redemption, The Curse of Shadows and Thorns continues to captivate audiences, inviting them to explore the depths of human emotions, the potential for change, and the enduring triumph of light over darkness. The Curse of Shadows and Thorns
The world building I think needs the most help, this is supposed to have Vikings in it and I’m not getting that at all from this. You can make the characters use Norse terms, braid their hair and carry hatchets into battle, but it doesn’t make them Vikings. Sorry 🤷♀️. I don’t buy it. The ending was surprising! I love it when books suprise me like this and have a lot it things that you didn’t see coming. The Hero’s Journey Enter the protagonist, a young and courageous hero named Elara. Fated to confront the curse and redeem the garden, Elara embarks on a quest fraught with challenges. Her journey takes her through treacherous landscapes, where she encounters characters afflicted by the curse. Each encounter reveals a layer of the curse’s malevolence and sets the stage for redemption.
Elise is also presented as a typical white saviour, in quite a literal fashion. For example, she is supposedly the key to curing Legion/Valen of his curse, and when he manages to cure himself in spite of this she is still lorded as the saviour. The white saviour trope, for reference, is where a white character steps in to rescue non-white characters from their problems. It is a clear theme throughout the novel, and follows the idea that people of colour are not capable of doing things for themselves. In real life this translates to money being given to white organisations (such as tourism for volunteering and missionary trips) instead of directly to the marginalised communities in question, where it would arguably be more effective.
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