A goddess betrayed, a king who is cursed and a second-born daughter destined to save them all? Sign me up. Like no really, sign me up like last week. What I expected from The Half King and What I got were two very different things in all the best ways. Melissa Landers really delivered on this one, and I regret not reading anything by her sooner.

In a story with rich word-building, an original magic system, and jaw-dropping twists, The Half King was a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world. There are characters we will love to hate, in my honest opinion, an ending that I did not see coming. The slow-burn is burning, and I quickly fell in love with our FMC and MMC. I spent half the book picking my jaw up off the floor, and the cliffhanger at the end has me eagerly awaiting the second book in the duology. 10/10 a must read for 2024!

This book was so thrilling and gripping. I mean it was on the edge of my seat almost the whole time while.readimg it. Kian and Cerise were amazing. The magic and world building was phenomenal also that ending had me crying and whooping at the same time. This book deserves more than 5 stars.

5 ⭐️

The Half King was so so good!! Cerise, who was sent to the king’s palace to help break the curse that has plagued the lands for centuries, was smart, honest, pure of heart, and a little bit naive. King Kian, cursed to fade into a wisp of shadow every night, was hardened by his fate and closed off from the world. But together, along with a few friends they hope they can trust, they form a bond strong enough to shake the foundations of their beings while in search of the key to breaking the curse.

While I did hope for a little bit more of what made the romance between Cerise and Kian bloom, I was still drawn to them as a couple and the way their growing love helped them on their journey. I can’t wait to see what they can do side by side in the future.

I was holding my breath to find out who the traitor was in the end; I thought that reveal would be the twist of the book, but a completely different one was thrown out that I hadn’t seen coming at all. I was gasping! And that cliffhanger epilogue had me yelling wtf and itching for book 2 immediately!!

Also, I loved Daerick. He was so sweet and charming and smart and helpful and supportive. The ultimate BFF to both Kian and Cerise.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Red Tower Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Super exited for this one! The book itself is stunning. The story is even better than book 1 . I seriously could not put it down

INCREDIBLE. I was hooked from the first chapter, I couldn’t put it down! I work full time, go to school and am a mom. I finish this book in TWO DAYS!! that’s saying something with the little amount of time I have I will definitely be purchasing to keep this beauty on my shelf and re read when I can 🤍

This was an enjoyable read. The FMC struggles with not knowing what the future holds for her. Throughout her journey, she meets some interesting characters, and as she tries to break a curse that is affecting not only the king but others as well, she learns some truths about herself. I loved the adventures that Cerise goes on and how, even without knowing what lies ahead, she never gives up. I definitely recommend this book its such a good read and there are some unexpected reveals near the end.

Thanks, Brittany from Entangled, for the arc. This was such an amazing story!

Shadows, magic, intrigue, forbidden love, found family... What didn't this story have?
I fell in love with this book from the first chapters. All first born nobles carry a horrible curse that manifests when they come of age. Cerise, the second born of a royal family has been conscripted to the temple of Shiera where she is to hone the ability to see the future (or the many paths it can take). Unexpectedly, she is called upon to move into the royal palace, become his royal majesty Kian's emissary and help him break the curse that will doom him to the shadows forever. The palace intrigue, enemies and friends that Cerise comes to experience were so well thought out and cohesive. The twists and turns were so well thought out and I didn't catch on to many of them before revealed. I don't want to give too much away (which I fear will happen if I say too much more😅) but I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this book and urge everyone to read it! You won't regret it.

3.25

I'll read anything with a shadow daddy.

I liked it, but I struggled with the writing being more on the simplistic side and tons of dialogue throughout the arc. I'm sure there will be edits though. Definitely a slow start, but I stuck with it. The story started to warm up midway and I did not see the plot twist coming. It felt more YA than New Adult, and I was hoping for more from the magic system and histories of the main characters. Maybe in book two? Still undecided about continuing, but I just might after that epilogue.

I'm still reeling weeks later.

Set in a world where noble houses are cursed and magic runs deep, we follow Cerise, a seemingly powerless acolyte thrust into a glittering court full of secrets despite her lack of experience. At the heart of it all is King Kian, a man who literally fades away each night, doomed to disappear entirely on his “claiming day.” The chemistry between Cerise and Kian is electric, building slowly amidst court intrigue and looming magical doom.

I absolutely loved the world-building and the way the author weaves together themes of faith, self-discovery, and the power of staying true to yourself. Cerise’s unwavering faith to her goddess in the face of doubts and abuse of power in the order was commendable.

And just when I thought I had it all figured out, the plot threw me for a loop with twists I never saw coming.

Cerise's journey from an outsider to a key player in the kingdom's fate had me cheering, while her internal struggles felt incredibly relatable. If you're looking for a page-turner that'll keep you up way past your bedtime, with a dash of forbidden romance and a heap of magical mystery, this is your next must-read.

A big shout out and thank you to the publisher for giving me this amazing opportunity to read The High King early! All opinions started in this review are my own.

Every reader’s relationship with a book is personal and special to them. It’s an emotional—sometimes even sacred—journey that is embarked upon everytime a reader flips open the first page of a book, be it on a paperback, hardback, a kindle or an audiobook.

A book can come easily to us, or with some effort; sometimes it even takes a few tries to connect to it. Each one is special in its own way, but those books that just flow from the first page straight into the doorways of our heart, will always hold a special place in our minds and lives. The Half King by Melissa Landers was one such book.

From the very first page, Landers had me enraptured by her words. With deeply emotional writing, that spears straight into the heart of the reader, The Half King starts off quietly but powerfully. Having gotten used to reading books that have loud and heart-pounding beginnings, I’d forgotten the beauty of subtlety. The whole book reads quite a bit like an orchestra. A quiet start, that immediately grabs your attention which then builds and builds to a crescendo that you never expect, that finally leads to an end that leaves your mind racing on the probabilities of what comes next.

The narration in The Half King is done primarily by the FMC and having always loved reading books in single person perspective, I sank effortlessly into Cerise’s mind. Having lived in the thoughts of our compassionate, determined and grounded lead for two days, I have two things to say: one, I have never felt more at home than when I was in Cerise’s mind and two, I have not a single complaint to share about my experience.

The fantasy genre—usually in any form it manifests in—is often known to render a great deal of pain upon the reader. Many readers nowadays begin their journey with a fantasy series with a strong fence around their hearts, bracing for pain and anticipating it at every corner. For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of safety that comes from knowing that this book will not rake its claws into me in places that I am vulnerable in. No, this book will cradle my vulnerabilities and trade blows with me where I’m strong. Does this mean that there are no plot twists, or action, or pain or fear? Not at all. The book is teeming with emotion. Absolutely brimming with it. But it is so wonderfully done that anything you feel while reading will always remind you that you’re safe. Landers has you.

Often it’s easy to separate the different elements that make up a book and observe how they influence it. But in The Half King, all the elements worked together at the same time like a well oiled machine, in such a way that you could not separate one from the other. However, I will do my best to explain the nature of them as individually as I can.

The main plot of The Half King makes itself known at the most basic level very near to the beginning. Each page turn from that moment is nothing but the many needles that are dragged across the metaphorical tapestry of this story, to slowly create a complex artistry that makes up the heart of what this book is. There are many sub-plots to this story that add such a unique depth it, that in many ways we can all relate to. There are political, emotional, social and spiritual aspects to this book that I had not expected to encounter, but I absolutely adored.

The world created by Landers was so unique that it was truly a breath of fresh air. There maybe recognisable elements—such as a Priest or a Prince—but they’re all woven into a set-up that’s singular to The High King. However any book is only as good as its world building, and even though I may not be adept at picking apart where the world building starts and the plot and character arcs end, I can say that the transition I experienced from page one of knowing nothing about the world to understanding how the world works was smooth. With shocking revelations, strategic call-backs and stakes that build with every chapter, The High King was certainly a delightfully emotional read.

The pace of this book was wonderfully even. Other than perhaps a 10% in the last 80%-100% of the book that just races, the book remains wonderfully even, ensuring all the space and time required for all the elements of the book are provided judiciously. There was never a moment that I felt disoriented when I picked up the book after a short break, nor a moment of drag or confusion while reading it.

Trope lists have become a big part of what lures a reader to a book and this is very true for me as well. They’re a great way to keep us aware of what to expect and chase that high we got from the first time we read our favourite trope (that we’ve likely been searching for since then). One of my favourite tropes is actually the found family trope. I’ll never forget the first book that introduced me to it, and my heart will likely never not soften for whenever I see it on scene. Thus, the characters of a book are often my most vulnerable spot. If the characters are well done, then usually the book has secured itself a seat in my heart… and if they have a heartfelt connection to one another that comes from camaraderie and respect, there’s nothing I want more. I cannot explain the way the characters in this book—despite being quite a few—stole their way into my heart. The author has done a great job establishing each of them, writing their stories into their dialogues and hiding their secrets in their actions. The revelation of each character, their past and their stories is my favourite part of The High King. As painful as it may be, nothing in my eyes can be better than well written characters with heartfelt character growth and mutual respect and love for one another.

This book is a five star read for me. From beginning to end, the book embraced me in a warm hug that spoke to my soul, tickled my amusement and broke my heart. I highly recommend The High King by Melissa Landers, for it is silent, poignant and deadly in ways you’ll never see coming. Please check trigger warnings as always! A very happy reading to you.

I could not put this down and I fear it’s leaving me in a slump. This book had an interesting magic system, well written world building and believable characters that are easy to relate to. Our FMC grows in character a lot throughout the story, we get to see her struggles of religion when it affects her personal feeling, the struggles between what’s right and how she feels. (Getting big religion vs politics vibes throughout)

This book is a very slow burn fantasy romance with so much extra thrown in there. It does have some spice but that doesn’t take away from the story. It has adventure, action and mystery. The twists this book throws you through are wild, it really keeps you on your toes!

I cannot wait for book 2 !

"I won't let any harm come to you. Not as long as I'm alive. I swear it."

The Half King was good but it didn't feel memorable. It wasn't altogether special or unique. It was very simplistic, and there isn't much depth to the story. Which was disappointing because it's so pretty!!

Beautifully written and an amazing story. The author captivates you from the very beginning. If you love fairytale retelling then run to get this book!!!

I really wanted to love this one, but I struggled to stay fully engaged. The premise and magical system are undeniably intriguing—a cursed king slowly losing himself to the shadows, magic and curses bestowed by a goddess who’s both merciful and wrathful, and dark secrets that could upend everything. It’s exactly the kind of story I’m drawn to. However, a few too many plot holes, underdeveloped characters, and uneven pacing kept me from fully connecting with it.

The FMC was a bit hard for me to like. She’s very naive and stubbornly religious, but then suddenly abandons her convictions and believes strangers without much hesitation. This inconsistency made it difficult to get a clear sense of her character. The writing style and pacing didn’t help, as the story skips briskly from scene to scene, leaving little time for characters—or readers—to process major revelations. I would have loved to see more depth and inner conflict as the FMC grappled with her biases and came to terms with her feelings.

That said, the last third of the book really picked up. The fast-paced events in the final chapters were exciting enough to keep me hooked, and the ending left me curious about what’s next. I’m hopeful that book two will build on this momentum and further develop the storyline and characters.

Overall, a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

Thank you to @entangled_publishing and the author for the #gifted e-book.

I appreciated the premise of this book, but I found the pacing a bit slow for my taste. The quest was intriguing, and I was eager to see how Cerise would ultimately break the curse, but the story didn’t truly engage me until around the 75% mark. The Epilogue, however, was captivating and left me excited for what’s to come in book 2.

The characters had potential, though I believe they could have benefited from deeper development. The magic system was fascinating, yet its complexity was a bit overwhelming for me.

While this book didn't resonate with me personally, I believe it might appeal to others. It is set to be released on November 19.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✅ Forbidden Love
✅ Hidden Powers
✅ Adventure
✅ Found Family
✅ Family Tree Drama
✅ Political Intrigue

Holy Shmoly! 😍 this is a brand new Romantasy that is sure to have bookstagram/booktok in a tizzy!
Y’all this one is 🔥

I enjoyed every second of this book and read it in less than two days because I needed to know what happened next 💜

If you love strong MFCs, magic, curses, lovable animal sidekicks, and adventure, this one is for you!

10/10 recommend!

"An enigmatic young ruler who turns into shadow at sunset."

The way this author writes... Wow! Soft, enchanting and magnetic!

I have no words. The story sucked me in instantly. The first encounter with Cerise grabbed my attention and immediately stole my heart. I clicked with her right away. As the story progressed, I found myself falling in love with her personality!

At first I didn't really know where the story would go, especially with The Half King in the picture. But the more I read, the more I loved everything about this story. Plus, the side characters were so charming.

The storyline has some really nice twists and turns, some of them jaw-dropping.

I highly recommend this book. I, for one, can't wait for more.

The beginning of this story was a bit slow, but it definitely picked. There were twists and turns, some were expected but others not so much. I had many questions while reading and a lot of them got an answer which I love.
To be honest, I wasn't sure about the characters or the world when I first started, it all felt kind of basic. My view point on everything now has definitely changed. Everything definitely improved as the story went on, locations became more descriptive. Without spoilers, things about the characters improved.
There was also some spice, it wasn't overly done.

The gorgeous cover and description drew my attention. The characters and story held it. I do feel as though the world building could've used a bit more development. This would've aided in the story to avoid some small plot holes. The book overall was very good, and I look forward to whatever Melissa has planned next.

The Half King was unfortunately not for me. I went in hoping for a strong female lead story but mainly just felt that our protagonist was wishy washy and immature. The world building could be stronger but I liked the idea of the goddess and her two sides and the war of who to believe. Did the priests manipulate the true version of events and history of what the goddess gave her people when it came to gifts and curses? I just felt like the execution was lacking.
As for the characters - cerise was very immature and her personality kept changing. Daerick and Kian had attempts at humor but fell flat. The love story also had me questioning how we got there. I guess it was suppose to be a gradual thing but it felt instalove and lacking chemistry.