I had high hopes for The Promised Queen, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The world-building felt underdeveloped, leaving me confused about the setting and its rules. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches where nothing significant seemed to happen. The romance, which I was looking forward to, felt rushed and lacked depth, making it hard to invest emotionally. Additionally, the protagonist's modern speech patterns clashed with the fantasy setting, pulling me out of the story.

However, I did appreciate the author's writing style. Despite my issues with the plot and characters, Johnson's prose had a certain charm that kept me reading. It's clear she has talent, and I hope her future works will showcase it more effectively.

I really enjoyed The Promised Queen, I loved how the writing created a world that seemed lavish and the descriptions were so vivid that they created an image whilst I was reading.
The characters were created so well and I really liked Ember. Her stubbornness and wit really made this novel fun to read. I loved the romance and the fast pacing of the storyline, the chosen one trope played out so well. The promised queen gave us everything from adventure to romance in a great story

The Promised Queen takes the “chosen one” trope and gives it a clever, defiant twist. Ember, a sharpwitted thief from a magicless world, wakes up in a new realm with a blade in her chest and a prophecy declaring she’s the kingdom’s savior. Instead of falling in line, she pushes back, hard, while navigating palace politics, a quest to collect powerful stones, and the unwanted attention of a monstrous prince she’s “destined” to marry.

The real magic here is in the characters. Ember’s stubborn charm and razor sharp tongue make her endlessly fun to follow, and her slowburn connection with the guarded, brooding captain of the guard, Rhaell, crackles with tension. The banter is playful, the romantic payoff is satisfying, and the found alliances bring warmth to a story steeped in danger.

The worldbuilding can feel dense in places, but the blend of mystical prophecy, adventure, and romance kept me hooked. If you enjoy sassy heroines, reluctant protectors, and high-stakes quests with emotional depth, this is a journey worth taking.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded to a 4.

This was fast paced fantasy romance which was a fun and easy read (although worth noting it was not all light-hearted and there were some darker themes).

The world building was enjoyable and I liked discovering more about the world that Ember found herself in. The search for the stones was fun with banter which I always enjoy reading. Ember is not a shy quite FMC, she is brash and loud and isn't going to let fate and prophecy rule her, which is nice and it did feel a little different from other FMCs out there.

Unfortunately it just fell a bit flat for me. The romance is very insta-love, so if you're into more of a slow burn, will-they-wont-they romance then this probably isn't for you.

Also I saw comments before I read it about Ember's speech, I didn't think it was going to bother me, it is a little all over the place she goes from saying "ain't" and speaking very modern to then using very fantasy speech, it is confusing and takes me out of the fantasy world a little bit.

Includes:
Magic
Strong FMC
Insta-love
Arranged marriage

Prophecies, magical stones, and a grumpy-meets-fiery romance collide in a fast-paced, sass-heavy adventure. Not flawless, but wildly entertaining if you want action, spice, and a heroine who refuses to play by the rules.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Up until the halfway point, I wasn't sure how to feel about this book. I wasn't hooked yet. But from then on, this book had me in a chokehold. I loved it. Loved the different perspectives as they served the story.

The plot has a lot of romantic focus, but the fantasy elements are equally there. Honestly, I love the worldbuilding. The world is intriguing as is the magic, all of it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a romantic fantasy adventure.

Includes:
Magic
Arranged marriage
Hidden feelings
Secrets
Smut that serves the plot

This had all the makings of a solid romantasy adventure, and for the most part, it delivered. Ember is a down-on-her-luck heroine who suddenly finds herself not only in another world, but at the centre of a prophecy—destined to restore magic to a broken kingdom. With no choice but to become betrothed to a barbaric, monstrous prince, yet increasingly drawn to the soldier who first found her, Ember is caught between fate, desire, and survival.

The world-building was rich, and the story’s twists and turns had me hooked. I was actively rooting for Rhaell throughout, desperate for him to reveal his secrets and for the two of them to overcome the shadows of their pasts. There’s one twist in particular that I did not see coming, and it really elevated the story for me.

That said, the ending left me feeling both underwhelmed and overwhelmed—it was a bit open, a bit closed, and just a touch confusing. Still, this was a strong read with huge potential for a fantastic series. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for another book, if there is one!

This was not quite the Romantasy I expected, but nevertheless was an enjoyable read in places. I will admit some parts were definitely slower and I struggled to really feel that the romance elements were genuine and believable. I think it could be a popular book as a bit of a guilty read, but perhaps I'm not the right audience as it wasn't a favourite for me.

Ember is a cunning thief thrust into a strange new realm after a botched heist, only to be hailed as the prophesied chosen one. But all she really wants is to get back home—not be forced into a political marriage with a dreadful prince.

Teaming up with Rhaell, the fierce and loyal Captain of the Guard, Ember sets out on a daring quest to restore magic to a sacred tree—a feat that could be her only way back to her own world.

Packed with fast-paced action and a sharp-witted, fearless heroine, this story kept me hooked from start to finish. Rhaell proves to be the perfect match for Ember, but there’s a surprising twist that adds even more depth to their journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed this magical adventure—full of sparks, secrets, and unexpected turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me.

The premise was perfectly fine, and I was interested at first. Our main character, Ember, is a thief who breaks into a mansion to find things to steal in order to feed her family. She has a disabled father and two younger brothers, so money's tight. She comes across a strange ceremony, and ends up being the sacrifice in the ritual instead. Only, she doesn't die, but instead falls from the sky and lands in the arms of Ryder, in front of hundreds of people. These people have been expecting her as The Promised One, who will heal the Sacred Tree and return magic to the land. These people have fewer children each year, and their magic is dying out.

The prophecy means she's been expected (they know when she'll arrive), and the King informs her that she'll marry his grandson. What she overhears is that the King expects his grandson to basically breed her until the magic is back. This sounds awful, but she's even more concerned by the horrific descriptions of his grandson and is terrified to marry him. He's feared by all in the court, and every glimpse she sees of him has him in hulking armour that shows off how grotesquely huge he is. Instead, she plots her escape with the help of Ryder, the Captain of the Guard who caught her.

I did end up DNF'ing around 40% of the way in, and I speed read the ending to see if my suspicions were confirmed. I say this because I figured out the main twist within like...10%. It was signposted very obviously, in my opinion, and the longer it went on, the more I found myself annoyed by it. That's on me, and I'm sure others will enjoy this more than I did. It did remind me a lot of Quicksilver, and other than the plot twist I figured out, I just found myself a bit bored by it. It felt very generic, like every other romantasy book I've read recently.

Here is a more formal and polished version of your review, maintaining your key observations while refining clarity and tone:

⸻

An imaginative premise with uneven execution and tonal inconsistencies.
The central concept—a foretold savior destined to restore magic—was intriguing, and the magic system held promise. While the worldbuilding was creative, it occasionally felt convoluted, making it difficult at times to fully grasp the setting or its rules. That said, I still enjoyed immersing myself in the broader magical landscape.

One significant surprise was the monster romance element, which was not clearly indicated by the cover, title, or blurb. I understand the intent may have been to preserve the shock factor, but I believe a content warning or author’s note would have been appropriate. The book includes several dark and potentially triggering scenes that readers should be informed of in advance.

The pacing fluctuated throughout. While the shifts in tempo didn’t detract too much from the experience overall, the progression of the romance between Ember and the male lead felt disjointed. It was difficult to gauge how much time had passed or how their connection was evolving, which made their relationship less compelling.

In terms of structure, the majority of the narrative is told from Ember’s and the male lead’s perspectives, but a sudden shift to the king’s point of view—and a late introduction of other minor characters’ perspectives—felt underdeveloped and somewhat unnecessary. These chapters read more like filler than essential story components.

A notable stylistic concern was the frequent use of crude language, particularly the repeated use of a specific term that appeared almost every chapter. Combined with some awkward dialogue in the spicier scenes, the tone often felt jarring rather than seductive.

Ember’s voice also presented inconsistencies. Though she originates from a more modern world, her dialogue swung abruptly between casual speech and slang that felt anachronistic or out of place in the story’s context. This made her character difficult to connect with, and unfortunately, she showed little growth or development throughout the narrative.

Additionally, Ember’s relationships with side characters—such as Phoebe and Caelia—were underexplored, despite those characters playing meaningful roles in the plot. More time spent on these dynamics could have added emotional depth.

The ending itself was strong, leaving the door open for further developments that may appeal to other readers. However, despite the intriguing premise, I do not plan to continue with the series. This may be a better fit for those seeking a blend of fantasy and high-heat romantasy, with a tolerance for darker themes and tonal extremes.

I enjoyed it overall. The characters and world was nice but I found the book overall to be a bit boring and just unmemorable.

Tropes:
🔪Thief FMC
🛡️Captain MMC
Hidden identity
Plot twists
Forbidden romance
Magical competition

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. The book didn’t appeal to me unfortunately so I had to DNF.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

I landed on 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4—because while the summary promised romantasy, the book delivered something closer to fairy tale fantasy with romantic threads. That mismatch shaped my reading experience.

I spent a lot of time trying to pin down what felt off, and it came down to genre expectations. This didn’t quite deliver the romance-forward tone I associate with romantasy, nor did it lean fully into the rich, layered world-building I expect from traditional fantasy. Instead, it lived somewhere in between—held together by sharp dialogue and compelling character dynamics. You can see my dilemma.

That said, I enjoyed this story. Ember’s voice is fresh, grounded, and refreshingly modern. She’s no shrinking violet, nor a passive pawn of fate or prophecy. She’s a heroine for a contemporary era—resilient, self-aware, and emotionally intelligent. Her refusal to be defined by destiny or romantic expectation made her a standout character.

Johnson’s dialogue sparkles with wit, and her pacing keeps the emotional stakes taut even when the plot leans into fairy tale logic. Despite my genre expectations, I found myself drawn in by Ember’s resilience and the emotional clarity of her journey.

I’ll be watching for what Kate Johnson writes next—especially if she leans fully into the romantasy space. The Promised Queen may not have been what I expected, but it left me curious, charmed, and ready for more.

I’ve read Kate Johnson’s previous novels and found them thoroughly enjoyable. Perhaps not groundbreaking, but certainly entertaining and engaging—at least up until the last instalment, where my enthusiasm began to waver.

Unfortunately, The Promised Queen completely missed the mark for me. The story felt overwhelmingly chaotic—too much of everything: magic, romance, political intrigue, and then some. It was difficult to keep track of what the book wanted to be.

It felt more like a patchwork of elements borrowed from various popular books, films, and shows, but without the coherence or originality to hold it all together. A disappointing read from an author I know can do much better.

`✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ 3 stars 🌟 3 spice 🌶

arc review 📖

જ⁀➴ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬

⚜️ thief fmc to fated queen
🖤 brooding mmc with a massive 🍆
⚜️ fated prophecy
🖤 spice
⚜️ slow burn
🖤 banter

I was expecting a typical "fated mates" romantasy with some prophecy but I got a trope-loaded type-set in a magical realm that was empty at times, and a romance that felt sexually forced/focused.

I honestly didn't mind it that much. It felt like a similar start up to Quicksilver where the fmc gets suddenly pulled into another realm, but turns out she is meant to be there and finds her mate etc.

Wasn't overly exciting but wasn't the worst.

⚘ Anyone who likes a staple romantasy with spice will enjoy this.

────୨ৎ────

⋆˙⟡ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑈𝐾 & 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑐

Pretty good. I really liked the beginning and end, but I was a little bored in the middle. I didn't see the twist coming, I also thought that was pretty cool. the pov changes threw me off a bit at the start, though. Even though I liked the ending, it felt a little rushed, flipping between them hating each other and caring for each other. I was also pretty confused at parts.

The Promised Queen
by Kate Johnson

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Themes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Two Chapters)
Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Promised Queen starts in a magic kingdom whose magic is dwindling. The story kicks off fast when Ember, a thief doing what she must to care for her dad and brothers, accidentally ends up in a world she doesn’t belong to. After saving a woman’s life she ends up stabbed, stolen from her life, and told she’s a prophesied queen to be. No pressure!

I absolutely loved both main characters. Ember is tough, clever, and carrying the weight of her family’s survival. The male lead, Rhaell, is the guarded, loyal, quietly brooding type, and their dynamic is fantastic. He’s a man scarred by isolation and duty, while she’s someone who has only ever known how to protect others. The slow-burn connection between them simmers as they face deadly trials together, risking everything to gather magical gems and heal a tree that might just get her home.

The setting is immersive and vivid with enchanted places. The stakes were clear, and while the plot had familiar tropes (forced marriage, portal quest, enemies-to-lovers vibes), it still kept me turning pages.

There are two very spicy scenes late in the book (one is literally a whole chapter), but they can easily be skipped if that’s not your thing, they don’t impact the plot much.

Overall: If you’re into reluctant heroines, slow-burn tension, enemies-turned-allies, and a touch of magic, this is one worth reading. I enjoyed the adventure the most, it kept me hooked!

A scrappy girl accidentally gets sent to another world where she is made to be the wife of the "monstrous" prince to save the realm. Along the way she meets a guard and together they try a different way to save the realm. I honestly really enjoyed this book, even after realizing it had way more spice than I am used to. But the plot is not overtaken by the spice and it moves along at a great pace and it kept me intrigued the whole way through. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants spice, but doesn't want it to overtake the plot and wants a great story.

Did not finish. The book was oversaturated with tropes and spent no time developing the plot or the characters. Maybe a guilty pleasure read but not for me.