Jeffe Kennedy has done it again with The Fiery Crown, the second in her series which started with The Orchid Throne. Con and Lia are now married, yet still at odds and are preparing to battle Anure for the kingdom and their lives. Much of this novel is a buildup to what Con believes will be the final battle and his one goal is to keep Lia safe...but can he? Will Lia allow herself to be hidden away while her people suffer or will she let herself be used as the bait to draw Anure out so he can be killed?

What can I say? The beauty of Calanthe as the backdrop of of a fiery battle is heart stopping, the intervention of wizards lends a whole new aspect to battle and our star-crossed lovers come to realize what is important...and what's not. But is it too late for them? The second in the series...you will be waiting anxiously for the third!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC for my honest review. Can't wait for the next book!

Jeffe Kennedy’s ‘The Fiery Crown’ is the sequel to ‘The Orchid Throne,’ and revolves around the alliance of Queen Euthalia of Calanthe and Conri, the former Crown Prince of Oriel. As they unite in pursuit of a common enemy, they will find themselves growing closer and questioning whether or not their priorities are in the right place. They’ll have to discover whether or not their love for each other can overcome all else.

As a new reader to this series, I did not initially realize this was a sequel, and therefore had a more difficult time feeling connected to the characters and to their backstories. Lia and Con do have compelling chemistry, and there are some interesting supporting characters, but I just didn’t feel drawn to this book. However, for those who love fantasies with complex worlds and characters, this just might be for you.

This novel also ends of kind of a cliffhanger, though there is enough of a resolution for it not to feel manipulative or too over-the-top. So I’d say it’s a “happy for now” ending, with the most action yet to come. And I am thoroughly intrigued to see how Kennedy will wrap up this series.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Review to be posted on my blog on 5/1/20**
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to The Orchid Throne much better than it’s predecessor.

Lia and Conri are in a marriage of convenience. She needs Conri’s ruthlessness to help keep King Anure off her back but it seems inevitable – the King wants Lia and her orchid ring. As for the newlyweds everything is going well for them…in bed, but out of it, it’s always a fight between them. They are fighting their growing feelings for each other, thinking of the main plan to take down King Anure and exact the revenge Conri has been dreaming of but there is so much at stake. More than they care to admit.

What I Liked:

*The Fiery Crown starts off right after the events of book one. Lia and Conri are married and we learn that they are very compatible in bed but out of it they don’t know how to handle one another. They are constantly arguing and the sparks fly between them which is fun and frustrating at the same time.

*King Anure is the common enemy they share and Conri and Lia are trying to come up with a good plan, with a low body count, to take the king out. We have a chance to see Conri and Lia question their main goals – Conri’s is vengeance and Lia lives her life for her island home, Callanthe. But this is the first time the both have started to question if there was something else they could value more…each other.

*This book is much more fast pace than book one, thank goodness! There is plotting, arguing, action, a battle and then then ending when Lia goes through some very challenging moments. The story kept me on my toes and I like the twist in the second half of the book.

*I loved learning more about Lia and her power as an elemental and her connection to the land. Also, I like seeing her come unravel because of Conri. She has been in a position of power and always putting on a mask that it’s refreshing when Conri strips her of control little by little.

Things That Make Me Go Hmm:

*Triggers: torture

*Conri was a little infuriating at times but I understood his frustrations with Lia and his position in her court. I mean, how do you a tame a wolf? He is trying to do his job but Lia does a lot of things different. I’m glad his eyes are opened in the end and things are pretty much resolved between him and Lia but at times I was like…Conri…smh…🙄😝.

Final Thoughts:
Lia and Conri are opposites in the way they rule, they buttheads a lot, but the spark and heat between them is undeniable. I love watching them go one step forward and two steps back in their relationship until finally – finally, they give in! 🥰 They are both leaders in their own right and Conri was infuriating trying not to love Lia yet still doing what he can to protect her. In this sequel Lia goes through some very painful moments but they both learn at the end of the book that there is hope and most importantly…love. And with that I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series!

The first book in the series was definitely more of a set up book and this series as a whole is more romantic fantasy than fantasy romance but I enjoyed this books better than the first.

Lia and Conri are married with a great sex life but in their professional lives the butt heads. It’s almost like a contemporary workplace romance only it’s actually a royal fantastic workplace.

A worthy sequel to an underwhelming first book. Kennedy is still an iffy author for me but I’ll still read her romances.

Book 1 is must read before book 2. The story picks up after the events in book 1 and races through the plot. The marriage of convenience isn't convenient out of bed. The characters slowly open up and start to trust another. The evil villain isn't alone though...

While this part ties up some story arcs, it isn't over and there is more at stake.
I want book 3!

I reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

Didn’t really hold my attention as well as I thought it would have. The writing was not bad at all, just think the storyline was not my cup of tea.

I really love this second book of Forgotten Empires series because more are revealed and in such an entertaining and enjoyable way. So entertaining to see more of the dynamics between the main characters. It seems that their priorities are different, so it kept me intrigued and engrossed up to the end on how they’re going to reconcile everything. They fight a lot, but you can also see they care a lot. The ending made me so happy and I’m so excited for the next book. Thank you for the chance to read this advance copy.

A very good sequel to The Orchid Throne, where there is much more interaction between Conri and Lia, who have married but butt heads constantly. They have no problems in the bedroom, but there is still a target on their backs. Lia wants to keep Calanthe safe and as her Queen, she has special gifts. Conri wants to lay a trap for Emperor Anure, and his goal is revenge, even if he has to use Lia as bait. Neither expected feelings to develop in this marriage of convenience, nor for either to open up to each other. Lia will do anything to keep her people safe, even if it means sacrificing herself and taking to the grave the secrets of the Abiding Ring. Conri believes he can cause the empire to fall, as it states in the prophecy, but his arrogance can be his undoing. Lia and Conri need to compromise if they want to kill the emperor. Still, several secrets are revealed , which creates for more plot twists and intrigue. Looking forward to the next novel!