Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lore: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
World building:⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Let's break it down!

Add this to your TBR immediately and look out for this author!

Plot: The Unbroken Queen is a dual narrative book that follows an illegitimate princesses trained ?assassin? And a prince intent on reclaiming his families thrown after centuries of his lineage being banished and in hiding. The story is brimming with angst, tension, betrayal, self discovery, love and political intrigue.There is so much that happens, especially at the beginning, that it takes a few chapters to really get into the story. However, without the context of the begining the rest would not have made sense. There were so many layers to this story and it was so well laid out. I'm honestly not sure what some of these negative reviews are about because the story was both original and familiar, entertaining and eloquently told.

Characters: our FMC is more than your typical bad ass, she is multifaceted and her personality feels realistic and relatable .she is the illegitimate princes who seemingly never measured up, creating within her a deep rooted lack of self assurance and self worth. Though she tried to talk herself out of these thoughts, the subtle way the author puts in her lack of confidence in herself is done so well! She has had to work twice as hard to fit in, but never seems to, and ultimately realizes she wasn't meant to. What the FMC has been taught are weaknesses are really strengths though she doesn't see it yet.
The MMC is 🥵. He gives not only touch her and you die, but also touch her and I'll help her kill you. We love that support. He is also multifaceted..you can tell he is honorable, but he has doubts about if he's worthy and if he can handle the crown if he gets it. These are things a real person would contemplate and I appreciate that.

Lore: the lore is 😘 🤌. Like my goodness, the amount of history and legend you get in the book is insane. It is so well thought out and complete. I had no notes. Each new thing I learned about the lore of this world had me in a complete chokehold.

World building: here is where it fell a bit short for me. While the lore was superb, the execution of bringing that lore and world to life fell a bit flat. I wanted more. This story was very character driven, which is good, but with such heavy lore there needed to be more emphasis on world building to make it feel more complete.

Spice: this is a fantasy with spice, not a spicy book. There are definitely scenes that get steamy, but it is not the driving plot. As a plot girly myself, I was not too upset about this.

All in all I highly enjoyed this book and will be impatiently waiting for the second book because ... WTF was that ending!?! The cliffhanger that left me on was just cruel. I have so many questions and no answers until the next book releases 😭😭

Thank you Net Galley and Terina Adams for allowing me to ARC read this book!

- Enemies to lovers
- Beast shifters
- Forced mates
- Hidden identity

This book started off with promise, the magic system was interesting the different clans intrigued me and the plot seemed sound but as the book went on it felt difficult to keep track of all the people, names, places and lore.
I loved the duel POV and how the stories combined
I'll be honest though, I did start skimming parts from 45% in
The potential for enemies to lovers was 100% there but the development of feelings felt like it came out of nowhere for the MMC
Although the writing mentioned a lot of lore related topics I felt like depth was missing and I was left not really understanding motives or backgrounds of characters.
If the book was condensed and there were shorter chapters with less lore scattering it really has potential

FMC: 23
MMC: 27

4.5/5

Let’s start by saying, a lot happened!
We jump straight in, getting to know our protagonist. She’s a bit on the wild side, yet isn’t a stranger to violence.

What to expect:
* feisty FMC with a tendency to get her dagger out at any given moment!!
* Slow burn, all the angst, tension and flirtatious banter
* He falls first extremely HARD
* dual PoV
* Enemies to lovers!

We follow our fiery protagonists who are bound by duty, weighing up whether to remain loyal or betray all they know for what the heart wants.

World building:
* There is a lot of moving parts at play, a lot to take on board and truly understand the depth of the world created. It was truly a delight to be so fully immersed. I think if you were a beginner to fantasy it may be a bit too heavy as a starter fantasy book however the book does give reminders throughout.
* Trying to wrap my head around all the different names and places was a mouthful but really immersed you into the world, with spirits, the power to control them, shapeshifting and more!! This book turned out to be so much more than I was expecting.
* the bone throne intrigues me a lot. It feels very game of thrones like and I’m loving it, with the different clans, houses and blood claims to the throne, all their lineage.

What I liked:
* The descriptions never lacked once, I thought the depictions were extremely thorough and beautiful. I could really picture everything clearly in my mind. “In the flaming torchlight, flecks of white stone seemed to dance along the floor’s surface, making it appear like ripples in an oily sea. Above, the same flecks of stone gave the ceiling the appearance of the night sky.” there’s too many to go through but it had me in awe.
* The love bind; the reveal of what the mark means, I was eating that scene up!!
* I loved the dual PoV’s, it made the flow of the book much easier to follow and think it was vital to have both views of our FMC/MMC to really see their thought processes as well as their battle being bound to their duties.
* I have read a lot of YA fantasy, so this was super refreshing to read an adult fantasy book that also didn’t make me cringe too much, I really felt the tone of voice which emulated pure passion between the characters, the back and forth between Tamas and Tressya had me always wanting more with the tension and angst. A perfect slow burn!

The characters:
Tamas - what a brute of a man / beast! A naughty thing he is, isn’t he. His dialogue has me giddy from the start. Very headstrong and not afraid to stand up for what he believes in.

Tressya - our feisty princess, lethal and always underestimated however was quick to always hold her own throughout. Yet also just a woman who wishes for freedom of choice, the constant struggle between doing her duty, remaining loyal but going against everything she truly feels also on top with the burden of guilt and betrayal. “The Mother was my mother, and her word is my law”.

Andriet - what a sweetheart! I just wanted to give him a cuddle. He’s a delight, he reminds me of a jester, mischevious and cunning with his own agenda but comedic nonetheless. “Pleasantly contagious” as a description couldn’t be more accurate. Oh sweet sweet Andriet.

The spirits dialogue was hilarious! very entertaining. Felt like they were guardians at times but comedic yet also the resemblance to a sibling badgering you was captured perfectly and eerie!

Carlin - he’s too sweet for his own good. He handled it all with such grace in an impossible circumstance.

The high stakes and quick pace in the last 200 pages had me on the edge of my seat, what was going to happen?! The way it ended… I need to know what happens next. The way I cried, it was heart wrenching.

A side note: I think chapter 37 was labelled wrong for the POV however this may only be in the copy I read.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Terina Adams for this opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more from this spectacular author.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. There were many elements that I usually enjoy in a fantasy, but something was just off. The writing style was quite dense and slow, and the world building (especially in the beginning) was almost too complex to be appreciated. There were names and things mentioned once and never brought up again. The romance aspect also felt very rushed and lacking. I prefer there to be more of a slow burn with lots of chemistry and tension, but that wasn't present here. I think there's an audience for this, but it wasn't for me.

I found the book too confusing..... It was hard to follow what was going on and got a little muddled for me. I ended up not finishing the book because of this.

Fantasy Romance is my FAVOURITE genre, so I admit, I can sometimes be much harsher in my reviews.. I read A LOT of it, so I always need something special to blow me away. Sadly, this left me underwhelmed.

It read well, and there was nothing wrong with it for the most part - but that also meant, it lacked any standout elements. While the premise showed potential, the story failed to distinguish itself in a genre. Adams' writing is solid, and the world-building has promise, but the characters and their conflicts didn't resonate deeply enough to make a lasting impact.

The pacing was steady, but the plot lacked the twists and complexities. Overall, while it's a decent choice for fans seeking a straightforward fantasy read, or an entry into the genre.

I spent a rainy weekend curled up on the couch enjoying this slow burn enemies to lovers story. This book draws you in from the very first chapter. It is really well written and the perfect start to this new series. I'm ready for the next one.

I really wanted to like this story. All the elements were there but the author just couldn’t push it through. The spice level was boringly bland compared to the other books I’ve read in this genre. I will still be recommending it just to a different audience than the publisher may have intended.

The unbroken Queen sounded right up my alley so I was excited to get a chance to read this. Sadly for whatever reason I had a really hard time immersing myself into the story and i just as more than halfway through before I started to get into it. Even then I still felt confused like I’d missed an important prequel and had accidentally leaped into the middle of a series. I still felt even halfway through that I really didn’t fully understanding what was happening. I mean I knew what was happening but I had no idea what any of the characters motivations were so I was missing a good portion of the plot thread dynamics.

Overall, the story was interesting and I enjoyed it but I feel a stronger connection to the characters backstory might have helped me better connect with the overall plot. I feel that lack of understanding the different regions and there motivations to control the bone throne was an important part of what I needed to understand to fully immerse myself. I still liked the book and I’ll still recommend reading it.

The Unbroken Queen by Terina Adams. This book was phenomenal. I was excited when I was approved for the ARC. It has so much in it and reminded me of so many other books and movies that I have read and watched. I loved the dynamic characters. Tressya, the main female character is so realistic in her emotions and how she deals with them. She is torn between her duty and being loyal but also begins to question what she is “told she is meant to accomplish.” She can tell there is more out there and that she is meant for more. There is conflict in her soul but she is understanding of that and doesn’t waste time whining about it. Rather she starts to make choices for herself and fight for what she wants. She finds a new sense of loyalty and duty in herself. Tressya isn’t just another pretty little spoiled princess but a fear fighter. She is skilled and can hold her own in a fight. For someone who has always been told she is less than and is only good enough to bear for the king; she truly becomes a force of nature.
Tamas, the main male character is also just as torn between duty and his love that he did not expect to have. He sees the fearsome warrior before him and encourages her to continue the fight and not be afraid of the decisions that she makes. He encourages her to not allow others to shame her for what she decides to fight for because only she knows her own heart.
The side characters were phenomenal as well. Some you’ll hate, some you’ll absolutely adore, and some you just want to get to know more.

I can’t wait for book 2! 

I recently finished this thrilling summer camp vibes mystery novel and I enjoyed every page. I love a good dual timeline and actually liked the unreliable narrator. It kept me guessing at every twist and turn.
Emma is a complex character who starts as a very young very naive girl like most of us were and becomes a young woman who has gone through a trauma that she is still haunted by, a lot of it from her own inability to move on. Moving on is hard and when there are questions left unanswered it can be even more difficult. She has her coping mechanism, painting, and it has turned into something larger than she ever imagined. But she wants answers, after 15 years she is still wondering and holding on to the girls that disappeared all those years ago only a few weeks into summer camp.
She gets that chance and when I tell you the twists and turns and revelations were spectacular.

There were a couple of plot lines that in the end I wished they had been used in a bigger way but nonetheless, this was a great story and a great kick-off for summer mystery vibe reading.

The Unbroken Queen by Terina Adams is an enthralling journey into a world of intrigue, power, and forbidden romance. With its rich storytelling and complex characters, this enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance captivates readers from the very first page.

The protagonist, an illegitimate princess trained as an assassin and crowned as queen, serves as a compelling anchor for the narrative. Bound by duty and betrothed to the crown prince of the House of Tannard, she also secretly serves the formidable Sistern of Silence, masters of the death arts. This duality in her identity adds depth and tension to the story, making her a fascinating character to follow.

Adams' world-building is exceptional, vividly bringing to life the realms of Tarragona and the intricate politics that govern them. The protagonist's journey to meet her betrothed is fraught with manipulation and hidden motives, revealing the Mother of the Sistern’s true intentions and setting the stage for a gripping tale of power and deception.

The plot thickens as the northern realm's thirst for power and its enigmatic leader’s ambitions threaten to destabilize the southern throne and its prized Etherweave. The protagonist's disdain for her fiancé pales in comparison to the looming threat of war, forcing her to confront her own abilities and the dormant power within her. Her struggle to protect the House of Tannard while navigating the clandestine pillars of the Sistern adds layers of intrigue and suspense to the narrative.

One of the standout elements of the novel is the tension-filled romance between the protagonist and the Razohan leader. As an enemy and a persistent shadow, his presence adds an electrifying dynamic to the story. The interplay of love and hate, duty and desire, is masterfully woven into the plot, making the romantic arc as compelling as the political intrigue.

Adams excels in her descriptive writing, painting a vivid picture of the world she has built. The detailed descriptions of the settings, the magic system, and the complex social structures immerse readers in a richly crafted fantasy realm. The narrative is well-paced, balancing action, romance, and political maneuvering in a way that keeps readers hooked until the very end.

In conclusion, The Unbroken Queen is a captivating tale that blends fantasy, romance, and political intrigue seamlessly. Terina Adams has created a world that is as dangerous as it is alluring, with characters that are both relatable and complex. For fans of enemies-to-lovers romance and intricate fantasy worlds, this book is a must-read. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engrossing and well-crafted story!

Tressya knows being an illegitimate princess that she has no royal obligations in her future, so she has turned to the Mother and her six pillars to solidify her existence. That is until the Mother deems that she takes another path in life. She shall now forge an alliance with the prestigious House of Tannard by becoming the next queen.
Tamas is a shape-shifting man who’s fate has already been dictated to him by an ancient prophecy. He is to overtake the House of Tannard and become the rightful heir to the Bone Throne. In order to start the prophecy he must murder the newly betrothed princess and the whole lineage of Tannard.
When these enemies meet in a duel of wit and brawn, they soon realize that they have more in common which intertwines their fates. It is the Mother’s will that Tressya bear the next Tannard heir and to protect her husband at all costs. Can she stop the one man who makes her blood boil and sets her heart aflutter by killing Tamas? Or will she defy the Mother and all that she knows to be with the one she truly loves?
Overall rating 5/5
For fans of Fourth Wing, and ACOTOR this is a must read! I wish I could go back and read this book over again and will never stop recommending this book. I loved this story from beginning to end. A true enemy to lovers, morally gray MMC and a heroin MFC who are set in an unforgettable book that will stay with me until the next one is available. Adams has undoubtedly become my new favorite author! The world building and character development was magical and so well done that I felt entranced to continue reading. And the ending….. how can I go on not knowing? I will be counting down the days until I can find out the fates of Tressya and Tamas.

*Thank you to Terina Adams, Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

2024 has been my year for Fantasy and Romantasy, so I was excited to get a chance to read this. It sounded intriguing, and the synopsis sounded similar to Danielle L. Jensen's Bridge Kingdom series, which I absolutely loved.

For whatever reason, this was really hard to get into. It felt like being throne into the middle of a series, but with a lot of world introduction, not really understanding what was happening but feeling like I should. There were so many names thrown around, and decisions that the world depended on in the early chapters that it was disorienting. Unfortunately, imafter that, it seemed to slow down to a crawl, pacing-wise.

To make matters a bit worse, there were multiple character names that kept changing throughout, which you don't want when you are already throwing a lot of information at someone. I did get an ARC, so perhaps that will be fixed.

Overall, the story was interesting enough once I was able to wade through. I skimmed quite a bit in various parts though, curious to see how things would end.

"𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨."

The Unbroken Queen is the beginning of The Bone Throne series tells about Tressya—the illegitimate princess, disciple of The Sistern—whose life never truly hers and given this one important task: married to the crown prince of The House of Tannard and produce an heir. On the other side there's Tamas whose fate was bound to claim The Bone Throne for the sake of The Northens, his loyal people. And the only way to accomplish that is to destroy and sabotage the political marriage. Their stories collide in a slow dynamic full of unwanted desire.

The way that this book has every elements that i love in a romantasy: enemies to lovers, slow burn (in a best possible way), solid plot, and interesting political intrigue. I considered this as a high fantasy since the world building and the issues within are much more complicated compared to any romantasy i've ever read. The story felt authentic to me shown by the terms they used in the book such as the Salmun and Nazeen. Also the dynamic between Tressya and Tamas???? I could say no more but I ADORE THEM. It was almost grumpy x sunshine since their encounter mostly Tamas and his witty ment and Tressya being sulky about it. Not to mention that their sense of humor is right up to my alley. The only thing that's lacking in this book for me is a map, it is sure essential considering there are so many places and kingdom mentioned in the story.

Overall, Terina Adams did a good job on branching the story and building the tension between our main characters. I'm excited for the sequel and see how Tressya and Tamas's story would end!

Thank you to Terina Adams and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This books surprised me in the best way possible. I wasn't expecting much, but I completely fell in love with the story.
I enjoyed seeing the dual POV, the intricate magic system and the development of the characters and the relationships. It is true that sometimes I felt everything could be better developed, overall I think is satisfactory.

However, as much as I liked the story, I took me quite a while to get hooked in it. I think it has to do with the writing, don't get me wrong, in the end I got used to it and kind of liked it, but at the begging I got the sensation that the dialogues sounded a bit unnatural and the pacing was way too slow.

It's been a long time since a book has made me feel transported to a new realm. The Unbroken Queen gave me the tingles that reading a book like Priory of the Orange tree did, with the added bonus of a slow burn, enemies to lovers feel. It has a unique magic system and the world building is beautiful. I was truly heartbroken when I devoured this book in one sitting and will be avidly awaiting book two. I highly recommend it to any romantasy reader.

"The Unbroken Queen" presents a captivating blend of romance and fantasy, centered around an arranged marriage between two intriguing protagonists. Tressya, an illegitimate princess bursting with colorful characteristics, and Tamas, a tribal leader thrust into a battle to reclaim his homeland, offer contrasting perspectives that enrich the narrative.

While the backdrop of the story is infused with rich background stories and mythology, it can sometimes feel overwhelming yet compelling. Despite the complexity, the plot weaves an engaging tapestry of political intrigue and a unique magic system.

However, the enjoyment of the story is hindered by the writing style, particularly in the stilted dialogue and slow pacing of the early chapters. While the characters grapple with personal struggles and engage in action, the narrative feels weighed down by excessive exposition.

Moreover, the romance between the protagonists lacks the depth and chemistry needed to fully captivate the reader. Despite glimpses of potential, the premature development of their relationship leaves much to be desired, lacking the tension necessary to evoke a sense of romantic engagement.

Overall, "The Unbroken Queen" may appeal to readers seeking a blend of arranged marriage dynamics, political intrigue, and enemy courtship. While the story holds promise, particularly in its intricate plot and world-building, it falls short in execution, ultimately failing to fully immerse the reader in its romantic fantasy realm.

4/5

The Unbroken Queen is a sweeping fantasy filled with intricate world-building, dynamic characters and surprising twist and turns. Tressya has been loyal to the Mother and her Sistern since birth. She owes them everything, including her life. So when she’s sent on a mission far away, she’ll do anything it takes to succeed. Unfortunately there are many forces at play trying to prevent her success, the biggest one being Tamas, a northern man set on a fated path directly opposing Tressya’s that they can’t help but be enemies. Even more unfortunate for them both is their irrepressible desire for each other. They must choose to either fight each other, or to fight their destinies together.

The plot was really interesting to me. And the world building and secrets that everyone was holding were also intriguing. I liked the fact that I still don’t know fully what’s going on, kind of like the FMC. The scope of the works was impressive to me. A bit confusing at first, but after awhile I came to understand the politics.

This is book is loooong. And not gonna lie, the last 20% of the book was a bit confusing in the writing department. There were some jumps in plot that made me have to fill in gaps by myself.

That being said, I do want to find out what is going to happen, because I truly have no clue.

This was a really good start to a fantasy series however in true fantasy form the start was rough to get through, not because the writing was bad but because it was a constant fight to try and figure out what was happening in this new fantasy world. But once it clicked it was a fun read.
This book includes:
- slow burn
- enemies to lovers
- world building
- found family
- Touch her and D*e
- chemistry and tension

The world building in this book was fabulous and the range of characters I felt invested in were well rounded. For people that like a lot of political intrigue this book is definitely one for you. Bok one in the series is definitely appropriate for Y/A and a younger audience so far.
The book ended in a really well rounded way with enough intrigue and a slight cliff hanger to keep you invested and interested in what is going to happen in book 2

I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series has to offer

This book started off with me think it definitely has potential with the description and then the plot in the beginning. I was super curious how it would play out with the FMC and her purpose. As the story goes on you realize how much some of the characters have grown on you and how invested you are in their happy ending. The book flows well and has you not sure what secrets will be revealed or where the plot is headed. This book will have you wondering this all the way until the last page, it ends off with a type of ending that isn’t a huge cliffhanger but good enough you want book two asap. Overall great plot, loved the characters and loved the tension, banter and passion that happen with the characters.