Okay… The Defiant Queen by L.R. Jackson had me hooked. Even though I didn’t read The Accidental Queen (yet!), this one still gave enough context to stand on its own—and trust, I’ll be going back to book one ASAP.

Shaya and Baas? I was rooting for them from the beginning. Their chemistry was undeniable, and Baas… listen. He is absolutely my new book bae. He was bold, intentional, and brutally honest—and something about that combination made the romance hit. Hard.

Now let’s talk drama. Baas being married to one woman while loving another? DIABOLICAL. But also? So messy, so good. I devoured every page of it like it was popcorn. The tension, the twists, the steam—it all delivered. Some twists had me gasping, while one in particular left me a little disappointed… BUT the way this book ended? That cliffhanger?! L.R. Jackson, ma’am—you better be working on Book 3 because I need closure yesterday.

If you’re into romance with heat, heart, and high-stakes emotional chaos, The Defiant Queen is calling your name. Just don’t go in expecting anything neat or quiet—this book brings the noise, and I loved every minute of it.

Overall 4/5⭐️
Spice: 3/5🌶️

Big thanks to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this ARC for my honest review.

I knew from the first encounter in book one that Baas and Shaya would have and epic story like their best friends. I just didn't know it was going to be like this.... OH MY GOD SHAYA REALLY!!!! All of this could have been avoided if she responded to Baas. I get feelings were hurt and all but geesh that was a lot. And that ex of hers... I can't even put words to explain what I want to say about him! Real quick lesson on keeping friends close and enemies closer. Greed is something else!!!!!!

I was definitely excited for this read because I love reading about black royalty. However I did miss this was a series so I didn’t read the first book by mistake but I did like that in the second book there was a small recap so I wasn’t so lost. Baas is head over hills in love with Shaya but something or better yet a secret is holding her back to fully move forward with Baas. These two definitely had chemistry and you could tell that they really loved each other. Yet I found them both to be immature & didn’t love them as much as I thought I would. For Baas to be the Kings right hand man I found him to be so impulsive & he made decisions that didn’t make much sense. I wish there was more in the book about them being in Africa but other then that I really found the story to be enjoyable. Grateful for a complimentary copy for my honest review.

This book has all the makings of a great read—the tropes are spot on, the African setting has incredible potential, and it’s a rich contemporary tale. I know many have enjoyed and positively reviewed it! I wish the author and publishers all my best.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I made it to 25% because I wanted to give it a solid shot, but that was a struggle. I needed more showing and less telling, more emotional vulnerability from both of the leads, and more robust descriptions of the setting. I didn’t believe their romance or the seriousness of each conflict as it was introduced (which didn’t seem to be too much of a problem because hurdles were overcome nearly as immediately as they survived).

In full disclosure, I didn’t read the first book. But even so, it felt like a possible standalone overall.

I loved The Accidental Queen so much and was so excited for more of Shaya and Baas. However, I did not like the direction that this story took and it felt like a lot of it was just for shock value and to drag it out. Unfortunately I also found the ending very unsatisfying. It felt like we went through all of this almost for nothing.

I think that readers will still enjoy this if they enjoyed the first book and appreciated the suspenseful nature of it. I would also recommend for lovers of second chance romances and those who enjoy political intrigue and royalty.

Content warnings for kidnapping, violence and murder

An enjoyable read, packed with plenty of drama. I do wish I had read the previous book to fully grasp some of the dynamics, but it can definitely stand on its own. Communication is key, so a few things did bother me, but I was still hooked the whole way through!

Thank you Netgalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ebook

This is book 2 of a series, the first book is the Accidental Queen, i recommend reading that before reading this one, that way you get the lay of the land. This is not the type of book that I would normally read, but the publisher reached out to me on my Booktok account and asked if I would be interested, after reading the synopsis I thought why not.

This book is told in Dual POV's, through the MMC and the FMC, Baas is the king of an African country, he is devastated after losing his love Shayla, he decides to stay in his home country with the hopes of preventing a war. Shayla however, decided to go a different path and ends up in New York City and becomes a veterinarian. Shyla is not without her own struggles and works to get through them. What ends will Baas go to winning Shayla back and regaining his love. Well youre going to have to read to find out.

I enjoyed this book, and it is a quick and fast read, can easily be finished in one setting. The characters bring the reader through a vast variety of emotions such as annoyance, anger, irritation due to their actions and or lack of communication at times. This was a great book and a wonderful example of a man that will protect his woman at all cost.

I enjoyed this story for shaya and baas. It was beautifully written and had a lot of powerful elements in it. I was so mad at shaya at one point (you'll see) but in a small way I understood her view. Baas is so loving and committed to her, it's unreal. A great story for the "friends of" from book 1, which i highly recommend reading first before this one.

I like the author's way of writing, which made both book 1 and 2 easy to read quickly. There is plenty of action, love and friendship which will leave you with many smiles and various times of tears.

Thank you net galley, l.r. jackson and black odyssey for this ARC in exchange of an honest review!

3⭐️. The Defiant Queen is a sequel to The Accidental Queen. This story follows Baas and Shaya, who were separated because of responsibilities and reunited. This book has secrets and drama. However, it starts slowly. It took me a couple of tries to sit down and dig into the story. While this book is a sequel, and reading the first book gives some context, it could be read as a standalone and follow the story. I had the same issues with this book as the first. Even though it was a quick read, it didn't seem like an easy read. There were some pacing issues. The timeline in this book seemed as off as in the first, and the world wasn’t fleshed out any more than in the last book. While not the best romance I’ve read, I am still interested in follow-up books based on the ending. I am intrigued enough to want to know what happens next. I would recommend this book. It is a good series that I can read between other books. Thanks to Netgalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Netgellay, and Black Odyssey Media for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I’m familiar with author how L.R. Jackson mentioned in her introduction that we should have read the previous book, “The Accidental Queen,” but I haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet. I understood the storyline, which is narrated from the perspectives of the main male and female characters. Baas is the king/queen of an African country. He remains heartbroken since losing Shayla, the woman he loved most. Baas decided to stay in their home country to prevent a war. His decision caused Shayla to leave. In New York lived Shayla, a veterinary doctor. She’s struggling to move on because of someone or something.


At times, both characters frustrated me with their poor communication of true emotions. Baas only seemed to show anger more than any other emotion, instead of allowing him to be vulnerable to Shayla. He avoids her or rejects her advances. She fails to tell him the truth.

Both characters are hiding their feelings. Because they are not honest, dangerous things happen. These events make the book exciting because I want to see them get out of the mess they created.

It was ok. The concept was there and the execution was mostly on point. I don’t know, something about the characters and the start started to feel flat for me at some points. Definitely love the love these two share and what they do to hold on to this second chance.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me interested. I was pretty invested in Baas & Shayla’s story. They made such a great couple. The chemistry was great and the depth of their love for each other was definitely showcased. It had some plot twists and questions of morality to ponder, which only helped to make the story even more intriguing. I hope there’s a follow up to this one because I’d love to read it.
10/10 highly recommend.

For readers who love romances with high emotional stakes, deep loyalty, and a touch of royal drama, this story is a satisfying and hopeful journey. You’ll feel the pain of the past, the weight of secrets, and the triumph of a love that refuses to die. I enjoyed every bit of this story.

L.R. Jackson delivers a story packed with love, betrayal, and plenty of twists I didn’t see coming. While *The Accidental Queen* gives extra context, this book stands perfectly on its own. Shaya tested my patience—so many of her problems could’ve been avoided with an honest conversation—but Baas’s loyalty and love for her never wavered. Their chemistry was undeniable, but life, past commitments, and secrets kept getting in the way.

Jackson’s writing is so vivid that I felt completely pulled into the story. The mix of romance, drama, and surprises made it impossible to put down. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ARC!

Once again LR Jackson has done it! The male main character did NOT play bout his lady regardless of what they went through. This book was everything I thought it would be and more and I can’t wait to read what she does next!

Thank you NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Let me preface my review by saying that I did not know this was the second book in the series until I started this ARC. After checking some other reviews, many people said they hadn't read the first book and felt like this worked as a standalone. As I didn't have access to the first book, I carried on without reading The Accidental Queen first.

Now to my review... I will say, I just don't think this book was for me. Others have loved it, which is amazing, but I just didn't feel it. The story felt like it had too much packed in, you begin with a major source of tension and conflict, but it's resolved within a couple of chapters and never mentioned again. Then a new conflict arises, and is again resolved not long after. There are 5 or 6 major story lines in this book, each feels rushed through. I didn't feel like any of the story lines, or the characters for that matter, were developed the way they deserved. I would have loved for it to just have 1 or 2 major conflicts and develop them more, and maybe even save other plot points for future books.

When it comes to the characters, I can't say I cared much for either the FMC or MMC. They seemed quite immature and I had no idea of their age, so it made it hard to judge if their actions aligned with that. Again, this could solely be because I have not read book 1, so this is probably my own fault!

I was looking forward to the Africa setting, but didn't get the feeling of being immersed in the culture or location. The story is heavily dialogue based, where I would have preferred more descriptive narration.

I did like the supporting characters, who I believe are the main characters of the first book, so perhaps I would have enjoyed this much more of I'd read book one. I'd recommend reading The Accidental Queen first, and if you enjoyed it then give this one a go second 😊

The Defiant Queen by L.R. Jackson - ⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ARC🫶🏾

I was immediately drawn to this book, it looked very appealing. I usually love reading romance with royal elements, so I was excited to dive in.

I’ll be completely honest: the story is enjoyable and packed with drama. There were moments that had me on the edge of my seat, almost screaming, and others that made me giggle, especially because of Baas and Shaya. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining read, this might be the one for you.

However, I struggled to connect with the characters. They were charming in their own ways, but I didn’t feel a strong attachment to them. The story moved at a fast pace, and some parts felt rushed. While Shaya wasn’t portrayed as perfect, I found her a bit immature, she makes impulsive decisions without thinking twice, which was frustrating at times.

As for Baas, I appreciated how devoted he was to Shaya, willing to risk everything just to be by her side. But despite that, I didn’t fully connect with him either.

Overall, while this book had its enjoyable moments, I wish I had felt more invested in the characters.

The story unfolds with a whirlwind of emotions and unexpected twists, though it’s clear that reading the first book, *The Accidental Queen*, is essential for a complete understanding of the characters and their relationships. As a newcomer to the series, I found myself craving more character development and backstory to fully appreciate the narrative. However, the story itself is engaging and filled with drama and action that kept me hooked.

While the book is under 300 pages, it delivers a rich tapestry of drama that keeps the reader engaged. The romantic tension is palpable, and the spice was so good. Overall, this book promises a thrilling read for those who are already invested in the series, while also encouraging new readers to start from the beginning to fully grasp the nuances of the story.

Thank you for Black Odyssey Media for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. So I like how the book started with the note to read the first book “The Accidental Queen”, while I’m sure this can be read as a stand-alone. Reading the first book helps to set the background. Now on to The Defiant Queen. I just could not make myself root for Shaya. I felt she was emotionally immature and childish throughout most of the book. Her partner Baas honestly deserved better in my opinion. But he was not without his issues as well. Parts of the book felt stilted and incomplete, while other parts were drawn out and didn’t seem to be going anywhere. In addition, I don’t know if the second book will lead to a third, but the book ends on a cliffhanger that just seems thrown in. In comparison to “The Accidental Queen”, I feel like this book missed the mark.

This book took me on so many twist and turns. I would say to have better context read book one The Accidental Queen. Shaya really worked my nerves and I screamed at her several times. Most of Shaya’s problems could have been solved with a simple conversation.
Baas is a stand up guy and he made the choice to love Shaya through everything. Even through heartache he loved her. This was a really good read that kept me intrigued the entire story.


Thank you NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this ARC