Received this for a blog tour stop and forgot about the blog tour – finally got around to reading this though and it was okay, I guess. Full review to come but initial thoughts point to an average novel that is setting up foundations for future books (hopefully)

3/5*

*tentative.

The Orchid Throne is the beginning of a new fantasy romance series from Jeffe Kennedy. I have really enjoyed the past books written by Kennedy, but I was pretty disappointed in this book. It took me quite awhile to read, because it never gave me that edge-of-my-seat, can't-put-it-down feeling.

Euthalia is the Queen of Calanthe, the last independent kingdom of the mad Imperial Majesty Anure's conquest of all the land. A betrothal between Euthalia and Anure is the fragile barrier against a violent invasion. Because of her delicate position (among other restrictions for the protection of Calanthe), she must manover politically with extreme cleverness and finess. So when an emissary from the Emperor warns of a rogue heading her direction on the way to the capital, she must devise a clever plan to stop him without spilling blood on her land.

Conri's former country of Oriel is among those conquered by Anure. He and the rest of his royal family were taken to Vurgsten mines and forced into harsh slavery. Anure had used this Vurgsten to conquer the realm and practically exterminate the magical community with it. Conri has now escaped the mines, stollen a huge amount of the Vurgsten, and is coming for Anure. They want revenge for the wrongs done to them. He came across a wizard, Ambrose, who promised him a way to achieve his vengeance. Part of that plan is acquiring the Abiding Ring. The rebels discover that Euthalia is in possession of the Abiding Ring and prophecy says that Conri must obtain it peacefully through marriage. So they make their way to Calanthe.

I found the book to be extremely boring and hugely anticlimatic. Majority of the first half is just backstory being explained. We meet Conri at the very end of a huge battle, and following it is just logistics and planning. Then when the Rebels come to Calanthe it was very blah. I found the timing of the scenes to be inadvised as well. For example, we come into Conri's battle scene at the end. I think it would have made a better story to start with Conri's escape from the mines, and to follow him into some of his battles. I don't know how Euthalia's parts could have improved however, except maybe to have explained a little more of her and Calanthe's abilities?

For those of you who enjoy the intimate scenes in romances, you will have to wait until the last 20% I think. I skimmed over it as I don't personally like those parts. From what I did get, I wasn't intrigued. I think a huge part of that is that I never felt the two characters fell in love. I never felt my heart drop, or go up in my throat, or well do anything.

I am very sad that I am as disappointed as I am with this book. I was looking so forward to it. I may try it's sequel to see if there is improvement, but with how unmotivated I was to complete this one, I kinda doubt it.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Orchid Throne was a little slow to start off with but eventually I finally got invested into it. The beginning, even though it was slow, was pretty interesting. I wanted to know more about this empire and everything that was within it.

First, the beginning was a lot of information dumping. Whether it was the land, clothes, or anything else - it was a lot to take in and process. Then we get to meet Euthalia, also known as Lia, and I felt bad for her. I totally get that historically - the lives of women were/are different than it is today. Yet, she is a strong, clever, and compassionate person. She definitely works hard for her people and land - even with all her limitedness.

Then there's Conri, who I absolutely loved. His life hasn't been great from start to finish either. He was thrown into slavery at 10 years old. Yet, that formed him into the man he is today. He's also strong, hard, and caring. With a little dash of anger because he deserves to be mad about shit.

Besides them, there's the evil emperor (of course) and his name is Anure. Boy did he make things mighty difficult in this book - especially for Lia and Conri. He's kind of like that bad ass villain with magical powers - it was highly interesting/entertaining for me.

Throughout the book, we don't get much. Just like most books that I've read this year, the action really happens at the end of the book (such a disappointment too!). The battles and everyone meeting each other happens rather quickly. I kind of wish the ending didn't have everything thrown into it because it lacked the cliffhanger I was hoping for. Doesn't mean I wont dive into the next book but I will have less expectations from it.

The Orchid Throne is the first book in the Forgotten Empires series by Jeffe Kennedy. I was interested in this book the second I read the summary and that cover is so pretty!

Euthalia is the Queen of the island kingdom, Calanthe. As a child, Euthalia’s father betrothed her to Anure, the man who has destroyed all of the kingdoms on the mainland and she knows she has very few options open to her to save her people but she is willing to do anything she has to in order to protect her people and Calanthe even if that means she has to do the unthinkable. Euthalia is keeping a pretty big secret from everyone around her so she and her ladies do everything they have to in order to keep it hidden. I liked Euthalia. She’s smart and she’s not afraid to face the dangers that come along with leading a kingdom.

The other main character is Conri and his kingdom is one that was destroyed by Anure. Having been made a slave in the mines to mine the very item that killed his family, Conri and those around him eventually decide they’ve had enough. As they overtake the guards and eventually grow their numbers, they become a stronger group and move to take on Anure’s troops/guards to weaken his hold. As the King of Slaves, Conri has built a reputation, some of it true and some of it not. Conri was an interesting character. Having been put in the mines as a child, there are things he never had the exposure to but his background has made him tough, but he isn’t afraid to admit his feelings for those who have been by his side throughout.

The world building was done well by Kennedy. It was one of the things that kept me interested in the story. At the center of this story is something called the Abiding Ring which sits on Euthalia’s finger. It appears to be a magical orchid and it clearly has a major role to play in both Euthalia’s and Conri’s stories and I’ll be interested to learn more about it.

The secondary characters help to move the story along as well. I loved the relationship that Conri had with Sondra and the back and forth they both had with Ambrose was great. Euthalia has her ladies in waiting but is closer to Tertulyn more than the others. With that said, it is clear near the end of the book that she is up to something and I was hoping we would get a glimpse into what it is. Of course, in court, Euthalia is surrounded but many others but with her secrets, there are very few she can trust. I do wish we would have gotten some exposure to Anure in person. He is only brought into the story via his emissary or letters.

When Anure tasks Euthalia with stopping the Slave King. As the final barrier before Anure’s holding, he has directed her to do whatever is necessary to stop him. There was definitely a threat in the message and Euthalia will do what she needs to. As she eventually comes face to face with Conri, Euthalia has some doubts and when Conri and his group put her in a position where she doesn’t have much choice in how to move forward, she and Conri end up married.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The beginning was fairly slow as Kennedy set up the backstory for these characters. I understand the need for it, but I felt like there was a lot of content that bogged it down. When Con and Lia finally met, the story got much more interesting. I will be checking out the next book in the series to see how things move forward for Con, Lia, and the other characters.

Welcome to the world of Forgotten Empires from award winning author Jeffe Kennedy that begins with The Orchid Throne.

A PRISONER OF FATE
As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Euthalia will do anything to keep her people free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…

A PRINCE AMONG MEN
Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Euthalia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?

A fantasy romance? Yes, please! I couldn't believe my luck when I was asked to review this novel. The blurb sounded amazing and the reviews sounded promising.

When I started reading it, I found myself enjoying the characters and the world sounded interesting. It was a bit slow paced but I didn't mind that, I still thought it was well done.

I thought Euthalia (Lia) sounded like an intriguing woman and I wanted to hear more of her story. Conrí (Con) sounded like there was a lot of baggage to unpack and I was truly excited to read it.

My only real issue with the book is how so much changed once Con and Lia met. The story sped up, which wasn't a bad thing. It was how the characters changed that kind of irked me.
Con went from a man that could barely think about sex, much less actually have it, to a man who lost complete control with Lia. It was a complete 180 and bothered me.

Overall though, I am interested in reading the sequel and will be back for it.


Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Really interesting world building. But in the end it proved too slow a start for me. Way too much info dump. And I can't stand switching between main characters. Doesn't anybody write from a single point of view anymore? I got this free in exchange for a review. DNF at 10%

I requested this book on netgalley because I liked the cover and the description, but I liked the story even more. Some of the basics are familiar - an evil Emperor has most of the world in thrall. He is being resisted by the Slave King and by the Queen of Calenthe, which is a mysterious island that has somehow managed to remain free. I especially liked getting glimpses of Calenthe, as some of its mysteries were uncovered, and I'd expect to learn more in book 2. I'm looking forward to it!

Guys. I absolutely devoured this. Fantasy Romance? YES PLEASE. This novel absolutely lived up to the hype for me.

All the mystery and hidden plot lines in this! It had me on my toes. I loved the prophetic storyline and the twists fo the characters. This author did an amazing job of bringing you into this world and building it around you. The free two chapters were Yes. They kind of jars you but in the best way. I cannot wait for more.

This book tells the story of Queen Lia and Conri, an exiled prince. Right? I told you. Already screaming for you to read it.

All the drama an all the adventure and intrigue. I fell for this book hard and cannot wait for the next one. It is one of those that leaves you ill all the possibilities in your head.

Beautiful story, beautiful cover, beautiful everything. Can't wait to see what this author has in store next.

The first in a new series (The Forgotten Empires), The Orchid Throne is the story of Queen Euthalia and Conri, as they forge an alliance to stand against the emperor. The setting surrounding Euthalia is lush, though a bit cloudy in the details. The pace is extremely slow—too slow. It makes you feel like you’re crawling through what is actually an interesting plot. You do get the sense of a much bigger story taking place, and perhaps the slow pace was only due to the author setting things up for later books. The cover is GORGEOUS.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A little slow out of the gate as is to be expected of a first book in a new series, though the story rapidly picks up speed and excitement to end right at the edge of a cliff leaving you tearing your hair out. Can't wait to read the next installment in this series.
Euthalia had done all she can to keep her island kingdom safe and the magic around her hidden in the face of a despotic ruler who forbids the presence of magic. Despite the slow unchanging rhythms and routines of her kindom the queen knows that change is coming thanks to her nightly nightmares. Even as she prepares for a status quo she is fascinated by what her dreams for tell.
Soon Conri the prince who was banished to the darkest of mines arrives at her island after various conquests. Will she be able to stand firm against her fascination and surrender him to the evil king. As the story gathers steam, with a fascinating cast of characters, it's almost painful when you're yanked to an abrupt stop. I can't wait to see where the author will take it next and how long a series It will be.

I feel like this book had so much potential. And I mostly enjoyed it, but as I sat back after finishing it, I realized all the issues with it. It follows a queen of a small island nation who has been engaged to the evil emperor since she was small. Her country is full of magic and one of the only independent nations left. We also meet the Slave King, who just wants revenge against the emperor. I liked the magic and the political maneuvering. But I wasn’t a fan of how swiftly things moved, especially at the end and how some things were so clouded in mystery and then all of a sudden, bam we know things and its like NBD. The characters were also not super well-rounded. The ending was also ridiculously rushed.

Trigger Warning: Mention of rape, torture, child abuse, & murder

Narration:
When I started to listen to this book, I was extremely unsure of the narrator, but I'm glad I decided to try the audiobook. Once I got used to Elizabeth Brook's narration, I was able to focus on the book. Though she did a decent job at narrating the book, I desperately wished for dual narrators. The narrator was not able to accurately portray which point of view she was telling, which made it difficult to follow at times. Two narrators or a narrator that could change their tone of voice would have made this book more enjoyable.

The Book:
Even though I wasn't a massive fan of the narrator, I definitely LOVED the book. The Orchid Throne was captivating. Seriously, everything about this book was phenomenal. Both Euthalia & Conri were fascinating to learn about, and I really enjoyed seeing both Euthalia and Conri's perspectives. Both characters were lovable and exciting. I couldn't help but root for them both.

The plot was fast-paced and genuinely enrapturing. I never wanted to stop reading, which made work and family events a necessary evil. The plot was complex but easy to follow. I also really loved the royal court aspect of this book. Typically I'm not a fan of the politics of the royal court, but I think it added yet another element to the book. The political intrigue truly added a complexity to this book that kept me turning the pages. I couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series! I have so many questions I need answers to, and I can't wait to see more of Conri & Euthalia!

I am so happy I took a chance on a new to me author & I honestly can't wait to see what happens next. FYI, I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Since I read this book after publication, I bought the audiobook and listened to it instead. I would recommend skipping the audiobook and reading the book instead. If you do read the audiobook, just go in knowing that every other chapter changes perspectives.

A good idea, but poorly executed. The problem with this book, as with others she has written, is pacing. The story drags for no good reason. The book goes back and forth between Euthalia and Conri’s points of view. But it didn’t need to. It would’ve been better with either Conri as the narrator or none at all. Because Euthalia didn’t have much going on. Her point of view was all impending doom. But her concerns were fears she had been dealing with for years, there wasn’t a feeling of urgency from her. She knew eventually her time would be up, but there wasn’t a countdown clock. There was a treat, but it was miles away and would take weeks before she would be in actual danger. Conri was in conflict, but the problem there was we didn’t get to see him fight. Instead of him and his confidants talking about how the escaped the mines and the clever ways they took over two former kingdoms before, we should’ve seen it. Even the brief battle that was there did have tense moments.

Conri and Euthalia’s meeting was lackluster. Once together their obstacles were easily overcome. At least we were spared instalove. But there were way too many pages dedicated to a love scene. Basically taking out all of the filler leaving 1/3 of it to make a good book. I will continue with this series because I do like the overall story. I just wish the editor felt confident enough to cut several pages. I’d rather fast-paced novella then a dragged on novel. Or one really good book instead of three ok ones.

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy is the start of an exciting fantasy romance trilogy that introduces a royal couple destined to fight for the survival of their peoples against a tyrant bent on their destruction.

The discovery of vurgstun, a rock with explosive properties mined deep in the volcanoes of Vurgmun, started the chain of events leading to the ascension of Anure Robho, a man whose greed expanded to encompass all the lands who encountered his ruthless ambitions. Naming himself Emperor, he cut a swath of destruction across many lands, except for one – Calanthe. Under the stewardship of Queen Euthelia the island has escaped so far unscathed, but only because she is betrothed to the Emperor. She’s been able to put off any actual wedding for years, but it’s only a matter of time before she will be forced into marriage.

When rumors of a rebellion and a man they call The Slave King arrive on the shores of Calanthe, Lia is prepared for his eventual arrival though not what he expects her to do for him.He’s been appearing in her dreams, an omen of things to come. Her concerns are for her people, not the rest of the empire. But Conri, heir of Oriel, captured and enslaved by the Emperor and made to work years in the vurgstun mines, hasn’t made it this far in his quest for revenge to be thwarted by a petite woman in the paradise kingdom. A prophesy passed on to him by a wizard portends that he will ‘Claim the hand that wears the Abiding Ring’ – and that ring, the orchid ring, rests on Lia’s fingers. Will the prophesy hold true, and will Lia and Conri take the first steps to thwarting the Emperor’s reign?

Fans of the author’s Twelve Kingdoms series will be delighted with this new series start! It’s not connected to the earlier series, but brand new in characters and worldbuilding including some interesting magic systems. Calanthe is full of magic and as Queen, Lia has a sense of the well being of all the living things on the island, including the health of the island itself. The Emperor has decreed that magic is not real and persecuted wizards so when Conri shows up on her island with his own personal wizard Ambrose she wants to keep Ambrose with her at any cost.

Conri isn’t particularly keen on tying himself to Lia, but so far the prophesy has been right on other counts. The Emperor has demanded that Lia come for their wedding and so she must carefully weigh her choices – certainly Conri, a man she can admit she is quite attracted to despite his sometimes thuggish manner appears to be the better choice.

There are several secondary characters who play important roles as the story progresses, and Ambrose provides some delightful comic relief. The banter between Conri and Lia is also quite engaging, and they do share some intimate scenes later in the story. As the first in a trilogy, Conri and Lia’s story is not complete but they are together at the end of this part and there is no cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait to continue the series! I highly recommend this for lovers of fantasy romance who like intricate but not overly complicated worldbuilding, strong characters, and exciting action packed scenes to go along with a sexy love story.

This review has been posted at Harlequin Junkie, goodreads and Amazon.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "The Orchid Throne" by Jeffe Kennedy. I am really torn about how to feel about this book. I enjoyed the characters a lot. I liked the comedic feel that Ambrose brought to the story. I even like the direction it was going in. I have to admit, the book was very slow moving for the first half, the second half did hold my attention more. There wasn't a cliff hanger at the end and not really anything made me want to find out what happens. I may or may not continue this series. I give this title a 3.5 star rating.

An Unforgettable Fantasy that is Fabulously Done…
Jeffe Kennedy kicks off her Forgotten Empires Series with a stunning introduction to a fantasy realm home to the decadent and beautiful tropical island kingdom of Calanthe. To outsiders and, most importantly, the vicious and deceitful emperor who has laid waste to every kingdom and eliminated every ruler but Calanthe’s, Lia, the young virgin Queen, is a beautiful bauble that is not keen or calculating enough to pose a threat to the emperor. Her finely scripted court that overseas a lush and erotic culture hides the true intelligence and intent of its shrewd leader. On the other hand, there can be no doubt as to the strength, cleverness, and revenge-driven hate in Con, lone surviving prince of the ruling family of Oriel and leader of the growing rebellion. As prophecy would have it, their destinies and goals are intertwined.

The Orchid Thone is everything you can ask for in a New Adult fantasy romance. Jeffe does a wonderful job of visually painting this foreign world and the unfolding plot. She also expertly reveals the depth of her characters in perfectly timed shedding of their various layers. Both Lia and Con are intriguing and stunning and surprising with each new revelation. The story progresses quickly because it becomes one of those books that you hate to put down. The Orchid Throne is more appropriate for an older audience because of the violent and erotic scenes, that absolutely fit with the story-line. If you are like me you would rather not read a series until it is complete, but Jeffe provides enough resolution to temporarily satisfy her readers till her next release.

As you can guess, I immensely enjoyed The Orchid Throne and found it easy to give it

Elizabethan era meets Merlin’s Camelot, The Orchid Throne is a science fiction fantasy story about Conri and his destined mate, Euthalia.
I was not initially drawn into the story. Hard to pronounce names and a lot of explanation to be drawn into this world, kept me from just mindlessly enjoying it. However, I stuck to and was glad I did. Overall, it was an enjoyable story. Both Conri and Her Highness were likeable characters. I’m interested to see if there will be more, this ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. I gave it 4 stars because I felt there could be less inner monologue. A lot of it didn’t really add anything to the story.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A glimpse into a world filled with battles, bewitchment, and love.

THE ORCHID THRONE is a tale filled with magic, love, loss, and revenge. Kennedy brings to life her fantastical characters and the intricate world they live in by grounding her story in authentic emotion and passion for a cause.

What I enjoyed so much about this book was being brought immediately into a place and time, which was equal parts fantasy and reality. There is always something so wonderful about reading of some far off land where a Queen will sacrifice anything to protect her land, a man stop at nothing to punish the emperor who wronged him, and a battle is being waged to get back what once was. This story is the start of something that could be epic.

I will say this. I didn’t love where the book ended. For me, it left me saying, “is that it?” I thought there would be more of a cliff hanger. I am not going to give anything away, but I thought this beginning to an epic romance deserved to leave us wanting more.

However, with all this said, I did like the story. I loved the back and forth between Conri and Lia as well as the interactions with all the characters we met. I can see that it has the potential to be the beginning of something great. I hope the next book will open us up further to this world we go to know.

If you’ve been missing Rhysand and Feyre, the Night Court, and the realm of Fae, The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy is for you! To say I loved this book is an understatement. I devoured it! This book has something for everyone and is a must-read for fantasy fans. Following the story of two very different people, The Orchid Throne sets up the world of the Forgotten Empires, hooking the readers with its lush fantasy, political intrigue, and steamy romance.

Euthalia is the Virgin Queen of the island kingdom Calanthe. She will do anything to keep her people safe from the mad emperor, including sacrificing herself in marriage to him. She has a plan, not a good plan, but a plan to bring an end to his tyranny. Guided by the magical orchid ring her father left in her care, Euthalia walks a fine line of keeping the emperor and his emissaries happy while planning treason in her mind. That is her waking world. Her dreams are plagued with a wolf, tearing down everything she’s ever loved, leaving her beloved island blood soaked.

Conrí is the wolf of Euthalia’s dreams. The former Crown Prince of Oriel, Conrí is now a slave in the vurgsten mines. Building an army of slaves, he escapes. Now known as the Slave King, Con wants only one thing: revenge. Revenge for his family, his people, and his home, and he will have it or die trying. A prophecy about the abiding ring leads him to Euthalia’s palace. But will the Virgin Queen help the Slave King defeat the emperor once and for all?

I loved the writing style of this one. Beautiful, vivid descriptions paints the landscape of Calanthe in the reader’s mind that isn’t easily forgotten. I felt as if I could smell the flowers and feel the warmth of Calanthe’s sun as I read. The chapters alternated between Euthalia’s and Conrí’s POV. I enjoyed this aspect more than I thought I would. They are very different, and it allows the reader to get to know the character’s separately before they are together. It also had me shipping them before they’d even met.

Overall I loved The Orchid Throne. Lia and Con are fascinating characters, thrown together by fate, and bond by their hatred of the emperor. I cannot wait to read more about their adventures and scheming. If you are a fan of fantasy and don’t mind a little romance, I highly recommend this as your next read!