At the time of reading this book, it had been three years since I read Stolen Songbird, so I was mostly going into it without much idea of the plot of that story, except for some key characters in it. This prequel, The Broken Ones, is about Marc and his wife, Penelope, and is told in their alternating narratives, as well as an epilogue from Tristan’s. It gives a glimpse into life in Trollus before Cecile’s arrival and the whole prophecy setting in motion. This is about the problems with the trolls who were afflicted, and how their lives were affected by the curse upon them, and the centuries of living underground thereafter.

In terms of court intrigue, the story serves a smorgasbord of mystery, and plots. There is the resistance growing in the sidelines, Tristan’s and Marc’s relationship with their friends being tested, Penelope and her sister thrown into it as spies, and the Duke (their father) setting trap after trap for them all. It was wildly unpredictable and wholly thrilling to read this book – I honestly couldn’t put it down because I was so busy, my eyes burning through the pages as I was afraid what might befall the characters. I mean, I remembered some characters being in SS and some not, so I could guess at some things, but Jensen still kept me on my toes. And in a week of disappointing books, this one has lifted my spirits.

As a prequel or as a story in itself, this book is outstanding. If you are planning to start with this series, however, please read Stolen Songbird first, at least, so as not to be spoiled for the latter.

About A Songbird's Overture:
A short prequel story about 13-year old Cecile, it gives a glimpse into her life before she was taken to the trolls. Her ambition and her desire to be a songstress like her mother war with her desire to stay with her father and be the dutiful daughter. And when her mother visits her on her birthday, you see how cold she is – for her, her daughter was akin to some apprentice she is taking under her wing, not her own flesh and blood. Short as a story, but still an effective insight into Cecile’s background.

Have you NOT heard me gushing about this series before today? The Stolen Songbird series is TRULY one of the best fantasy series’ out there! It’s filled with magic, curses, politics, strong female characters and the prince of your dreams if you haven’t read it yet, you NEED TO GET YOUR HANDS ON IT!

The Broken Ones is a full length prequel novel, which revolves around the Prince of Trollus, Tristan De Montingy’s (aka the Second Love of my Life after Rhysand) cousin and best friend, Marc and his love affair with Penelope, Anais’ sister!

Long Story Short: I LOVED THIS BOOK! I loved being back in Trollus, I loved learning more about Tristan, Marc, Anais, Vincent and Victoria (even though we barely saw them here) and I LOVED MEETING PENELOPE. LOVED IT. This book brought me back to all the magic under the mountain and I cannot recommend it enough.
My Thoughts:

• When the AMAZING Danielle Jensen announced that there was going to be another book, I WAS SO EXCITED! I thought my journey in this world ended in SO MANY TEARS and I was so excited to hear that we would be getting to go back!

• It was a little strange reading a book that I knew the ending off. I knew how Marc’s and Penelope’s story ended, which characters were there in the sequels (And hence obviously, weren’t killed) but I STILL LOVED IT.

• Re-entering this world was SEAMLESS. I adored being in Trollus, in the Glass Gardens, walking with Marc, Tristan and Anais and learning so much more about them. I love and miss them so much. I ALSO HAD FLAILING/ FANGIRL moments when we met secondary characters like Christophe and Elise and Tipps! I loved how this showed up how everything came together.

• Another characters I really loved meeting was the Duke d’Angouleme. In the sequels, we’re only introduced to him as a villain and we don’t really hear much of how he works, but he was such a big character in The Broken Ones. I liked his schemes and his cunning nature. I feel like I understood him better and definitely respected him better.

• I also loved Penelope. I honestly didn’t give her much thought in the sequels, and Marc seemed like such a silent, background character that he was sort of left in the shadows of Tristan and Cecile’s story. I LOVED THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, AND I SHIPPED IT SO SO HARD. They were PERFECT for the other and my heart is officially broken.

• Honestly, Danielle Jensen couldn’t have picked a more perfect back story to tell. I loved learning about these characters, but most of all, I LOVED THE FEELING LIKE I WAS BACK AT HOME IN TROLLUS. *sighs in contentment*

Thank you, Danielle Jensen, for taking me back to Trollus. I loved it – every single second of it.

There’s honestly no better time to binge this entire series – I absolutely COULD NOT RECOMMEND IT MORE! 5 STARS.

If there is one thing that I took away from this book, is that I need to jump back into the world of The Malediction trilogy. I missed these characters and this plot in a way I didn’t even realize. I now want to drop everything and go read the rest of this series. That’s how good this was.

Admittedly, I didn’t like this book as much as I did Stolen Songbird, the first book in the series, but I do love the world. I love the intrigue, and the schemes, and evil plots. I love the magic and the messed up nature of it all. And I want everyone to go check it out!


I read Stolen Songbird back in 2015 and I loved it. After finishing it went and bought the the sequel, Hidden Huntress, but never really got to it. Now that I’m back in the mood to finish the series, I, of course, went and bought the last book in the trilogy, Warrior Witch.

While this is the prequel, I do not recommend reading it before reading at least the first book in the series, or preferably, the series as a whole.

This book deals with Marc’s story and who he was before Cecile came to Trollus and their entire world was changed. It is a story of doomed love, and the court intrigue I enjoyed so much in Stolen Songbird. It is a story of the birth of a revolution and the sacrifices that went into making it happen.

Having only read book one, there is much that I do not know about the world and the characters. But, from I what I got from book one, I know that the mind of a Danielle L. Jensen is a cunning and dangerous place. This woman writes intrigue like no one else. She schemes and plots and weaves for us a tale of twists and turns. She did this in the first book, and she outdid herself on this one.

The world of Trollus is very complex and very dark, literally. If you have not read at least book one, much of the world building will be lost. The nature of the trolls and their situation is not explained here in detail, but that’s alright, it doesn’t need to be. The world has already been set up at this point and we can focus on the characters.

The charters themselves are very different from what I remember in Stolen Songbird, showing the amount of character development they must have gone through. Surely the events of this book marked all of their lives, but when I return to the series I will not ever be able to see Marc the same way again. Even Tristan, who was spoiled and good willed and manipulative, will never be the same in my eyes. This is yet another reason why I recommend reading the trilogy before this.

This is a book that I definitely recommend, after reading the other books in the trilogy, of course.

**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

I absolutely loved reading this book! It was so amazing to be in the world before Cecile, to see these friends together when Pénélope was still alive, when she and Marc were falling in love. That love changed the group's dynamics, and I loved reading about it!

Honestly, it was hard to read this book. If you've read the main trilogy, you know that Pénélope died before Stolen Songbird. And that these two were headed right down that path. So it was hard, but it was also fantastic!

Since we're only getting this one book with this couple, I'm really glad that we had both of their POV's. I mean, we knew what was going to happen, but not the details. And seeing it from both of their sides just made it all the more heart-touching!

The ending of this book was so heart wrenching! Of all the futures that were available to them, this was one of the worst. But not the worst, their love wasn't used against the other. Though Marc would've preferred that to losing her, well, they won't come to hate each other, which would be the absolute worst!

Yeah, this book was an amazing addition to the series, and I can't wait to see what Danielle L. Jensen writes next!

If you have not read the Malediction Trilogy, which starts with Stolen Songbird, then I'd advise you don't read this review or this book yet. Come back later. If you are not convinced: It's better to read Stolen Songbird first because Marc's story is a bit of a subplot in that book, and it's also better to get first impressions of the characters from there. SS is also where you get the introductory world building so don’t complain if you read this and it’s lacking, because you should already know.

When I found out this prequel book was coming out, I was like obviously I'm going to read it but do I truly want to put myself through that heartbreak again? The answer is yes. You know in Harry Potter where Ron reads Harry’s tea leaves and is like “you’re gonna suffer, but you’re gonna be happy about it,” That is an accurate wrap up of me for this whole book.

Man, does this woman know how to play the political intrigue or what?! They're always so well thought out plots, ploys, strategies, twists, turns. I really and truly respect Danielle L Jensen for the work she does.

Often prequels and sequels to the original works tend to stray from the facts or the mood of the story but I felt Jensen's writing, narrative, mood in this book was perfectly cohesive to the other books. The same levels of anxiety, tears, heartbreak. Another thing with prequels/sequels, other books tend pull at strings just to make another book but The Broken Ones showed us a story that was already there but we never really knew the details of. It was in no way boring either as others are for lack of plot. Marc’s story, we can now see, contributed in so many ways to the trilogy.

Of course I was very conscious the whole time of events that happened to see if they matched the original story in the first book and I feel Jensen did a wonderful job of keeping to the facts which a lot of others seem to stray on.

This story, like Stolen Songbird, kind of followed the same rhythm and also like the first book I was in the same perpetual state of heartbreak, tormentation, and anxiety. (The anxiety, here, mostly because we all know how the the story will end) These are all good things so don’t worry, ‘suffer but be happy’ remember. Jensen has this amazing way of storytelling where it seems every character is a ploy but who is pulling their strings? I don't know!!!! Because the motivations and scheme revelations leave me like AAAAHHHH WHERE DID THAT EVEN COME FROM, I COULD’VE NEVER GUESSED THAT ON MY OWN!!!!!

In SS it kind of felt like we walked into a story that was already happening. In The Broken Ones we get more of the back story and what was it was like before Cecile. While I absolutely loved this book and the story it told, I'm glad the trilogy started with SS and not this story because A. it makes this story all the more tragic and B. I usually don't like when a random character is plopped in (it would be ceclie in that case) and I'm expected to adjust to them. But that's just a personal thing. However I do feel this story was fundamental.

This was one of those books where you know more than one of the narrators does and you're yelling at them the whole time like you're. so. stupid. And therefore the heartbreaking hurts all the more. Also every time a character made an assumption about the future I was like YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

It was such a treat to see how life in Trollus was before Cecile came around. How Tristan behaved without the reader knowing he was hiding something that we knew through what Cecile sensed. We got to see him being selfish and how other people understood and interpreted his reasons for it. I never truly saw Tristan as “evil” in SS but in this book we got a better sense of how he had to act to keep up his charade.

I didn't expect Marc to be like the Marc I know because this tragic event had to have happened in order for him to be the person we see in the first book of the malediction trilogy. However, I do remember Marc being a bit smarter, and more observant. I’m sure when i re-read SS in the future I will keel over with despair and sorrow for Marc. Within The Malediction Trilogy, I suppose we do not quite see the depth of what was going on inside Marc. Why he was so torn, in the second book, after Tristan's hold over him ceased. I don’t think I truly understood his torment until now, and I am so grateful to this book for revealing that to me. My mind just kept going back to Marc in the trilogy and the things he did there and how they connected to his past/the story in The Broken Ones.


Penelope was perhaps the greatest mystery walking into this book. While we were well acquainted with all the other characters, we knew little about her. The bottom line was that she was Marc wife, he loved her more than anything, and he lost her to her affliction but Tristan forced him to survive the bond. We got to know her so well and by the end of the story, it made it even more heartrending than I could’ve guessed.

It was undoubtedly a tragic love story that included many great truths and revelations not only about the connection between the two but also reasoning behind Tristan. Definitely more than worth the read. Hey, and it’s even more of an opportunity to hate Duke d'Angouleme and Lessa.

Sadly this is the last story we shall see in the world of Trollus. It breaks my heart but at the same time, I don’t think my heart could take much more. I am sincerely looking forward to Jensen’s future works. The way she tells stories is one I will stick around for.

5 of 5 Star Rating

-Katherine Karas

“The Broken Ones” is a prequel to the Malediction Trilogy. I’ll admit that I have not read the trilogy, but since this was a prequel, I was hoping it wouldn’t matter. The world-building is lacking, however, in this prequel, and for that reason, I would say it is mainly intended for people who have already read the trilogy. This one seems to provide a backstory for a few key characters in the trilogy (further research led me to their roles in the trilogy as well as information about the world). Here, in Trollus, trolls are born primarily with powers in a fae-like manner and those who are not pure-blooded (e.g. half-bloods) are treated very poorly- as are the pure-bloods born without enough powers, like Penelope.

There is a revolution underfoot (seems like maybe two), each one supporting one of the sons of the King who rules with an iron fist. They are both in the closet/not clearly out, as this would be treason. Penelope’s younger sister, Anais, was betrothed to the elder son, Tristan, and it is mentioned that this was broken but not why. Anais is still in love with Tristan, but his feelings towards her are less clear. Tristan’s right-hand man, who has been helping with the revolution, Marc is disfigured but powerful. Marc and Penelope have been secretly in love with the other for years- but their friendship has led both to disguise their feelings. Penelope, without powers, is doomed to live a short life. If she were to bond with anyone (a marriage-type ceremony controlled by the King), it is likely that they would die when she died (although not everyone does, most do die when their bonded does). Penelope’s father, the Duke, is behind the other planned revolution with Roland, the King’s young and mean son, which he controls.

Just after Penelope finally admits her feelings to Marc, her father wants to use them to his twisted ends, and forces her to get closer to Marc in order to root out his secrets/what he knows about the rebellion. Penelope doesn’t want to do it, but it seems to be the only thing keeping her father from ending her life. It’s a sad tale, as she is fighting stereotypes, her father, and her own feelings. The viewpoints alternate between Penelope and Marc. Overall, I really enjoyed the love story but wish I had more background to understand this alternate world- it certainly made me want to read the trilogy!

This is a well written book with a beautiful love story that will be a must for people who love the Malediction Trilogy. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I read the Malediction trilogy and enjoyed it. The Broken Ones gave more incite as to how the rebellion came about and to Marc and Penelope's tragic love story. I truly enjoyed this prequel. This novel contains romance, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Marc and Penelope have been in love with each other but feel the other does not hold the same desire. Marc and Tristan, along with Vincent, Victoria, and Anais, are involved in a plot to bring down the king of Trollus. Marc has been the middle man between the half bloods and the true leader of the rebellion, Tristan. Marc and Tristan are cousins and Tristan needs Marc.
Penelope and Anais are sisters and daughters to the duke d'Angouleme, who wants to overthrow Tristan's father, the king, and but Tristan's brother on the throne as a puppet king. Due to Penelope's affliction, the king breaks the engagement between Tristan and Anais, which angers the duke and gets Penelope to act as a spy.
Penelope is kept in the dark about her friends true motives, but eventually figures it how. Marc tried but could not keep things from Penelope, especially when she provided information about the duke's intentions. In order to save Penelope, Marc and her do the bonding ceremony. This angers happy, but some are happy since it helps with their plans. Marc would do anything for Penelope, but it is Penelope who ends up making the greater sacrifice to save the man she loves.