Feminism, faith, curses, and a broody king—this romantasy hooked me fast. Cerise’s journey from sheltered devotion to questioning the church’s sexism was powerful (and that magic-as-natural allegory? chef’s kiss). Fast-paced for a “slow burn,” with action, danger, and sizzling chemistry, even if her time with Kian was too brief. A strong series opener that’s got me ready for book two.

I was SUPER excited to receive this ARC from Entangled but so utterly disappointed that I couldn’t stay immersed in the story that I ended up not finishing the book. I didn’t realize I hadn’t posted a review yet but I think part of me was hoping to maybe give it another go. Perhaps that is what I’ll do when I finish up my next few reads.

OMG I need and want the second book asap. That ending, seriously??? I truly loved this whole book. And it wasn't lost on me the undertones of today's society bleeding into this book as well. Cerise didn't know much from being only in the temple however when she is sent away to aid in the King in some way but she wasn't even sure how or why. All she knew qas when claiming day came she wanted to have the sight or something. But as Cerise learns what and how to break the curse. Secrets are only hidden for so long..

Thank you to Entangled and Red Tower Books for the eARC and physical ARC.

3.5 stars.

The Half King had an interesting plot.

Cerise is a maybe-magic less oracle who can’t see the future, but has been deposited as the newest King’s emissary. The thing is…they call him the Half King, because his curse causes him to disappear into the shadows every night. And Cerise is the one who can possibly break the curse.

I loved the magical world and the history of the curses, I got sucked into the action and suspense of them all trying to break the curse. The pacing was definitely off, and I found myself having to speed read through the middle as I felt like I was losing interest. And while I thought the romance between Cerise and Kian was sweet, it felt a bit instalovey and unrealistic.

Overall, this felt more like a YA fantasy (even with the relatively tame sex scenes) and it was enjoyable, but had some flaws.

It is packed with romance and fantasy and surprises especially towards the end. I didn't expect it to happen that way. While reading, I imagined Father Padron to be young, like in early 20's. I don't know why. lol It was fun to read. It's a series. Waiting for the next book......!!!!!

This really is a type of fantasy that I enjoy. I was guessing on the motivations of the characters throughout the book and was intrigued by the relationships. I really enjoyed the story from start to finish.

4.5 stars! So we’ve got cursed bloodlines, shadowy politics, and a king who literally disappears at night. The vibes are dark, tense, addictive. Cerise is a no bullshit FMC who’s easy to root for, and Kian is the kind of morally gray royal that makes you go, “yeah I can fix him” while knowing full well you’d also let him ruin your life. 💅🏼

The romance is a slow burn with actual payoff (bless), and the worldbuilding is layered without being a chore. It’s giving throne room tension, quiet pining, and deep lore, all without ever dragging.

If you love fantasy that doesn’t waste your time and a romance that earns its moments, then this one’s for you, babe.

This is a example of a book that had potential, but did not quite live up to the promise of the premise. But this book will find its fans, and they will be delighted by it for sure.

˗ˏˋ3.5 ★ˎˊ˗

What I most interesting about the book was its premise and the magical system and curses. It had a slow start and there were great twists towards the end. But, the characters weren't as developed as I hoped they were.

This was another stunning couldn't put it down book for me. I got an arc for this one and loved every second of it. I was so sad when it ended and I'm so ready for the next one.

Landers blew me away! What a brilliant story. Thank you Entangled and Red Tower for an early digital copy of this title.

A king who turns into a shadow at night? A girl who’s supposed to be a powerful Seer but… isn’t? Yeah, I was all in. Kian and Cerise had great banter, the world-building was top-notch, and the magic system was super cool. Plus, who doesn’t love a little political drama with their fantasy?

It slowed down a bit in the middle, and a few twists were low-key predictable, but honestly? I still had a blast. If you love a good cursed-royalty romance with plenty of intrigue, this one’s for you!

Thank you for the EArc.

I ended up buying a physical copy. It was too pretty to pass up.

I enjoyed the book overall. Read a little YA at times, maybe higher/upper YA with some mild spice.

I really wanted to like this one, but I fear it was not for me. I didn’t click with the main character at all and found her to get on my nerves at times. I also felt this was marketed as adult, but it was very YA to me.

A spellbinding mix of romance, intrigue, and curses, *The Half King* enchants from the first page. Kian’s tragic fate and Cerise’s hidden secrets create electric tension, weaving a tale of longing and destiny. Landers crafts a lush, immersive world filled with courtly scheming, divine retribution, and perilous love. The slow-burn romance crackles with forbidden attraction, while the looming curse adds high stakes and heartache. Fans of romantasy will adore the poetic prose, morally gray characters, and magical intrigue. With a gripping plot and breathtaking atmosphere, this book will leave you desperate for the next installment. An unforgettable, hauntingly beautiful read!

Adventure-check, epic quest-check, cutest ugly dog not dog ever-check, romance-check. This was a wild ride. There were twists I never saw coming. Challenges that tested the body mind and soul. And the love was perfect. The way this crazy bunch of misfits became a family was so precious. Seeing the angry general show a softer side here and there was fantastic. He and blue made me melt a couple times. But the love of the half king was the best. He looked at her like she was the sun. I loved them.

This book is a slow burn fantasy romance (heavy on the fantasy). It’s a fast read with good world building, it does have minimal character development, but it doesn’t take away from the storyline. Overall, I was still able to enjoy it and truly thought this was just going to be a standalone until the last few pages! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

This book was such a fun adventure to dive into! Cerise’s growth throughout the book was steady and exciting. Her relationship with Kian developed quickly which I feel was fun for those who enjoy a fast love. Super excited for book two!

Cerise Solon grew up in a temple to train as a seer as is the tradition for every second-born child. She is close to the day when her powers will either reveal themselves or she'll be proven useless to the order and forced to do menial labor in the temple. However, the High Priestess has a vision that sends Cerise to the castle in service of the Half King in hopes of breaking the curse that has plagued the kingdom’s noble houses ever since they betrayed their goddess. Will Cerise be able to break the curse? And can she do it while resisting the charms of the cursed Half King?

It's a solidly crafted story in which Landers does an excellent job of introducing you to the world, its magic system, and all the intricacies that make it feel real in a simple and straightforward way. There is no doubt about the power structures or how things work from the very beginning, leaving the story free to be all about the characters.

And all the characters are interesting, from Cerise and her optimistic innocence to the Half King hiding his vulnerability by brooding and even the character who ultimately turns out to be the villain. Every character that gets page time has a reason to be there and is crafted to feel as real as real as possible. There are reasons for their actions and you empathize with them.

The plot is believable and moves at a great pace to keep things interesting without feeling overly rushed. The end could have done with more breathing room, but I get that the rushed feeling of battle needs to be translated into words.

That said, this is one of those good books that suffer from so much hype that I was expecting it to be better. I can't even tell you what I would change about it; I just turned the last page and thought, "Is that all?"

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Entangled: Red Tower Books for the magical read!

Kept me interested from start to finish. Overall really well written, loved the characters and I hope there is more soon.