Kennedy does an excellent, slow-paced-action book. The book dragged for most of the book, so it took me so long to finish it. I genuinely like the characters though Con could be a little more open. I felt some growth in the character but not enough. Lia on the other hand had a lot of character growth. I felt most characters changed from when we first met them in The Orchid Throne in a good way.
I feel the action was good but it was very much dragging and could've been sped up a bit as the whole of the resolution really happens in the last 60-45 minutes of the book. like the last 10%.

The Promised Queen is a captivating fantasy novel by Jeffe Kennedy that tells the story of a young queen, Dafne, who must navigate a complex web of politics and power struggles to save her kingdom.

The author does an excellent job of creating a rich and detailed world that is both immersive and believable. The characters are also well-developed, with complex motivations and relationships that add depth to the story.

The plot is well-structured, with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers guessing. The pacing is also perfect, with just the right amount of action and intrigue to keep readers engaged.

Overall, The Promised Queen is an excellent read that is sure to appeal to fans of fantasy and political intrigue. The book is well-written, with a richly imagined world and well-developed characters. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping and immersive fantasy novel.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this final installment in the Forgotten Empires series.

I really enjoyed the first two books and this one did not disappoint, I am finding I enjoy Romantasy more than romance novels. The world building was magical and character development flowed so well. I am very much looking forward to reading more of this authors work.

Action packed, emotionally thrilling and action-packed adventure filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists, memorable moments and exciting turns. Highly entertaining and engaging adventure from beginning to end..

I cannot believe its taken me so long to read the culmination of Lia and Conri's story. Life has gotten in the way of reading lately, and what better way to dive back in than spending time with favorite characters.

After the heartbreak and tragedy in the last installment, I absolutely loved all the empowerment and growth in this one. Lia and Conri have certainly had their ups and downs, and they still aren't perfect, but they are well on their way to a beautifully delicate balance.

Action lovers need not fear, you will get a dose of that here as well. Anure and his wizards must be faced... but the ending and secrets revealed just might surprise you. I do hope we see some spinoff of this series!

Epic conclusion to a fun series. SO much happens in this book and I loved how it wrapped up everything the author introduced in the previous books. Their were great plot twists and beautiful romance. If you are a fantasy romance fan I highly recommend this. I am excited to see what the author writes next.

A big thank you to the author Jeffe Kennedy, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

I LOVE, LOVE this series of books. It is a well-conceived series set in an interesting new universe where the royals actually connect with the land in their countries. It is a story about an evil overlord that has overrun most countries with the exception of one. A former royal prince, turned slave, begins to fight and is known as "the slave King". He meets the last remaining royal, a Queen of an Island that has just stayed independent based only on her promise to marry the evil overlord. Eventually the Slave King and the Queen meet and marry in a reluctant ceremony and the two unite to fight the evil.

The story includes sentient plants and land, a magician, a crow, and a band of scrappy cohorts. It is a great read along with the first two books. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Excellent finale to this exciting fantasy romance trilogy! I hope it's not going to be the end of this world though, I'd love to see more of the secondary characters. I recommend reading the previous books in the series as it's not meant as a standalone.

Coming on the heels of the terror and tragedy of book 2, book 3 dives right in to the story with Lia and Conri returning to a storm filled and vengeful island. Lia is trying to heal but it's slow going, filled with nightmares, and Conri wants nothing more than to protect her. But the Emperor Anure isn't going to give up his quest to have the abiding ring so they are not done with their fight. And their fight isn't just for Calanthe - it's for all the kingdoms who have come under Anure's rule. As a result, the action never really lets up and there are surprising revelations one after another which makes for another page-turning read. Lia and Conri's relationship has to survive all of these things and comes out stronger for it. The worldbuilding is epic and unforgettable. I am very satisfied with how things ended, and the whole series will go on my keeper shelf!

another great read from Mr. Kennedy, it had what I enjoyed from the previous works of his and he never disappoints. Really enjoyed reading this.

The Promised Queen is the conclusion of the Forgotten Empires series. I highly suggest that anyone interested start with book one and read them in order of publication.

The Promised Queen is the conclusion of the Forgotten Empires series. I highly suggest that anyone interested start with book one and read them in order of publication.

Con and Lia, both used to depending only on themselves, had to learn trust, tenderness, and love. Emotions that not only helped them bond, but also helped them unite to protect their people. Con and Lia grew both as a couple and as individuals, gaining the knowledge needed to see the last battle with Emperor Anure through to the end.

A good book in the series was not as good as the first series of this world but a good continuation of it.

I loved the first two books in this series. However, I found my mind wandering as I struggled to finish the latest installment. The writing is lush and beautiful, and I still adored the hero, Conri.

However, I found it difficult to follow the evolution of the magical system. Because it was confusing to grasp the intricacies of the world-building, I think the depiction of the relationship between the hero and the heroine suffered. This is the dynamic that enthralled me in the first two books, and I found it lacking here. The heroine annoyed me in this wrap-up to the trilogy, and it felt like unnecessary obstacles were thrown in the path of the couple to prolong the plot. I think the trilogy should have been a duology.

What a great ending to a exciting series. Lia & Con have come so far from the very beginning of the series. At times it seemed like the end of them but they battled through. But can Lia regain her strength to fight one final battle to save her people? Con knows that she has been through more than most and all Con wants to do is keep her safe. But they have no choice but to stand together to battle Anure & his wizards. Will they be able to win this war for all of their people?
A good solid exciting read. Enjoyed reading their love story even when they seemed doomed to be apart they always found their way back to each other and their strength together got them through it all.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netygalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

This is a satisfying ending to a fantasy trilogy. Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, married Queen Euthalia of Calanthe to fulfill the prophecy that would end Emperor Anure's cruel hold over the empire, but they failed. Con gave it all he had and Lia temporarily gave her life, but nothing worked.

This book picks up almost immediately after the last book ends. The book focused on Con and Lia almost exclusively. Upon return to Calanthe, a plan is slowly formed to return to Anure's fortress in order to rescue the other royal captives and kill Anure. Failure is not an option this time.

This is the third book in the series and conclusion. It definitely wrapped up the story in a way I enjoyed. After all of the turmoil and sacrifices of the characters, they deserve to have it all work out.
The book begins right after the second book ended so you may want to refresh that ending a bit. Everything has gone to crap and they return to the island. The book tends to focus mostly on the main characters and the side characters don't really make an appearance.

The Promised Queen
Jeffe Kennedy
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Mass Market
ISBN: 978-1250194350
Rating: 5 stars

The Promised Queen is the final book in “The Forgotten Empires” fantasy romance series. Queen Euthalia of Calanthe was nearly killed by evil wizards working for her enemy as they attempted to steal away the source of her magical powers, the Abiding Ring. Her husband Conri, the rightful Crown Prince of Oriel saved her, but she is physically and emotionally broken. Lia has an incredible legacy to fulfill and must find the strength to claim her legacy. And is there a possibility to make their marriage for dynastic purposes authentic if they can survive their mutual determination to end the reign of the evil Emperor Anure?

The Promised Queen delivers an engaging read. Integral to this novel is strong world-building and engaging fantasy elements paired with a believable and sigh-worthy romance. Lia’s coming into herself and realizing her potential leads to fantastic moments of empowerment and exciting action and magical moments. Conri and Lia are perfectly paired, their strengths and weaknesses complementing each other and their love and attraction for each other sizzle off the page. With memorable and impactful secondary characters who serve meaningful roles in the story, and the fascinating connection between Lia and the living land that she rules and serves such a prominent part of the narrative, there is so much to love about this book.

A satisfying conclusion to this fantasy romance trilogy.

One of the things I enjoyed most about these books is how unusual the heroine is. Lia is part woman, part goddess, and part of the land she rules. And all those facets of her being make her a queen utterly devoted to her island and her people. She is prickly for sure, but there is so much vulnerability beneath her hardness. She's made so many personal sacrifices in her life. And as we reach the climax of the series, it's hard to see how she won't have to sacrifice her hard-fought love for Con in order to do her duty.

But then there's Con. He started this series as such a blunt instrument. Now, though, through his love for Lia and his willingness to learn, he has developed so many nuances. He has every reason to make vengeance his priority, but watching that change as he starts to put Lia first is so satisfying.

There are some good twists here, particularly when we learn the truth behind Ambrose and Merle. I didn't see that coming. And I liked the big surprise Lia had in her pocket when we made it to the final battle with the big bad.

I was a little disappointed --or at least unfulfilled-- by the ultimate fate of Anure. But I was invested in the romance and never bored by the plot.

I think fans of this author would enjoy the trilogy. Just be prepared for a slow burn in the first installment.

A fantastic finale to the Forgotten Empires trilogy. It was well written and true to the characters we have become attached to through the first 2 books. While there were dark turns, it gave a satisfying ending that I am happy with. If anyone is searching for a new adult fantasy series where all the books are available, I would highly recommend this one.

I really enjoyed this trilogy, it was very unique and the love story was awesome. This was a great ending for this series.

The Promised Queen is the final book in the Forgotten Empires series by Jeffe Kennedy and I'm happy with the way this one wrapped up. If you haven't checked this series out yet, you should consider picking it up.

This book picks up where book 2 left off and without giving any spoilers, Con and Lia have a bit to work through. As they work to figure out what they need to do to save Calanthe and stop Emperor Anure and his wizards, they have to learn to trust each other. As they figure out how to navigate their relationship alongside all of the other challenges they are facing, they start to determine what is important and that they truly can rely on each other.

If you're looking for an adult fantasy series I recommend picking this up. I look forward to the Kennedy's next book!