What an amazing sequel!!! Second book syndrome who?? Not here, that's for sure!!! I absolutely devoured this from start to finish and fell in love even more with Sarah Hawley's world and characters. Kenna once again went through so much and the growth was absolutely beautiful!! I adore this girl with all my heart and the romance that bloomed hello!! Kenna and Kallen are soulmates and you will not convince me otherwise. All their scenes together had me kicking my feet and giggling like a little girl, they're so HOT. The training scenes?? Oh my. Also the bond that developed between Kenna and Lara was so sweet and wholesome, I can't wait to see more of them next book! Which speaking of that, the ending?????? I gasped. I need book 3 ASAP. Please, everyone read this series, it's so underrated!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Princess of Blood was deliciously dark and gritty, expertly burnished with political and romantic tension. It picks up right where book one ends, with Kenna, once a human servant and spy for Earth House, now an immortal fae thrust into power and endowed with the magic of Blood House.

With King Osiric now dead, she is immediately ensnared in the claim for the throne, finding herself trapped in an impossible position as the deciding House vote on who should rule. To make matters more complicated, treachery and deviousness are afoot in the fae courts, and with her limited knowledge of faerie history as well as her self-inflicted responsibility to offer refuge to fae, humans, and her two powerless best friends, Kenna has her plate full. Her work cut out for her. Who, among this den of vipers, can she trust to be an effective and merciful ruler? And who are the perfidious villains hiding in plain sight?

I enjoyed this sequel from start to finish! Not only did it expand upon the themes of rebellion and survival that were touched upon in book one, but it delved deeper into worldbuilding, creating a lush and vindictive magical atmosphere for readers to root themselves in. Kenna's a strong, resilient, relatable character who yearns for justice, for compassion, and I liked seeing her begin to come into her own power. Loved her evolving dynamics with Kallen and Drustan, too. And that cliffhanger at the end, whew! Let's just say I am chomping at the bit to find out what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book WRECKED me in the best way. I got to about the 90% mark and just knew it was going to happen. I had to take a few days to mentally prepare myself because I am so in love with the world that Sarah Hawley has created here. I was Team Kallen in book one and was so happy to see more of him and hear more of his back story in this book. Don't do me dirty, Sarah!!! I've never been as emotionally invested in characters before and I desperately need to know what happens next. Anxiously awaiting the next book....

When I read the first book in this series, Servant of Earth, I was intrigued by the worldbuilding and enjoyed my overall reading experience, but I wasn’t foaming at the mouth with book lust. So, when the second book came up for review, I knew I wanted to read it and see where the author took the story arc and how Kenna Heron, the FMC and new Princess of Blood House, would adapt to her new circumstances. After going through a rough reading slump this year, I decided to jump ahead in my ARC reading (I’m writing this review in June) and pick this book up.

HOLY SHIT. I was not expecting to be completely absorbed and on the edge of my seat for the entire 500+ pages.

This is the second book in the The Shards of Magic series and continues the story of Kenna Heron, once a poor human servant and now gifted with the magic of Blood House. She has fae magic and the power to throw her house’s support behind whomever she thinks will be the best candidate to take over the reins from the now deceased King Osiric. But the fae courts are treacherous and Kenna must navigate them with limited knowledge while also offering refuge to both fae and humans within her own court and dealing with the trauma of her two best friends.

Kenna is coming into her own and dealing with some deep challenges. Her romance with one man began and ended in the first book. And a new romance has taken its place. Someone who I dare say I was rooting for in Servant of Earth. Kallen, the mysterious, secretive, dangerous Kallen, is who I was hoping would step in to help Kenna. Their relationship is passionate and full of longing, and I LOVED IT.

This is a dark, perilous world, with danger around every corner. Even though the evil king from the first book is dead, a new contender is claiming the throne, and the rebels are still making plans and trying to choose a leader. Kenna is the swing vote and has quite a bit of power. I think this book delves even deeper into the politicking of the fae courts as well as its brutal history. Readers learn more about outlawed unions between different house members and what became of their children. I was deeply surprised at some of the secondary character’s backstories and true motivations.

It’s not often that I enjoy the second book more than the first, I don’t know exactly how many books are planned in this series, but with the cliffhangers Ms. Hawley tends to leave readers with I hope not too many. I’m almost mad at myself for reading this so soon because the ending is BRUTAL, and now I have to wait a year for the next installment.

*Thank you to Ace and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

What an absolute banger. This series is my go-to romantasy recommendation and Princess of Blood only intensifies that rec.

We're quickly embroiled in the race for the crown, but also the implications of the return of Blood House. I enjoyed learning more about the heads of each house as they vie for Kenna's favor. I loved seeing more of Kallen. But truly, I loved how the tension just ramps up and up until we run off the cliff that is that ending. Sarah Hawley, my god.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be curled up in a hole until the finale comes out because OOOOOOOOMG.

A continuation of Servant of Earth, this book was such a fun read. As Kenna navigates her new role in her new world secrets are uncovered, alliances are made and broken and no one can be trusted.

Princess of Blood
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: 09/30

Thank you for the free eARC! @BerkleyPub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram

If you haven’t noticed, I have been raving about Servant of Earth (the first book in this series). I was in Berkelys inbox begging for an ARC of the second book & I got so lucky!

We jumped RIGHT back into where we left off in book one. Things are so chaotic and all the characters are left to pick up the pieces (no spoilers here). I loved that there wasn’t a bunch of time skipped between these books. There was a ton of politics in this book. It makes sense because of what happened in Servant of Earth but it did feel like the first half of the book dragged. It might have been a me problem because I have been in a slump, but it wasn’t capturing my attention.

Despite all the politics, I really enjoyed the plot! We got to see more magic & get to know each of the characters on a deeper level. I do wish there was more romance, the burn was sooooo slow😭😭 I loved every second we got. ❤️‍🔥

Even though the first half wasn’t thrilling, the second half, particularly the ending was really good! My jaw was on the floor and now I am mad I have to wait so long for the next book to come out 😂 This series is definitely worth it so make sure to go read the first book & preorder this one✨

Thank you to the publisher for the free eARC and thank you to the author for including me on her traveling ARC tour!

Rating: 5/5 stars

The continuation of Kenna’s story, which began in SERVANT OF EARTH.

The problem no one tells you about being an early ARC reader and getting to read your favorite books before they’re released? Sometimes you’re left with your heart ripped out of your chest desperate for the next book in the series and THIS ONE ISN’T EVEN OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR THREE MONTHS.

I’m absolutely feral over this book and this series and I need everyone to go read SERVANT OF EARTH so they can be ready for this one and they can be feral with me because it’s SO GOOD. There are hot faeries and shadow powers and a talking dagger that drinks blood and a love triangle and devastating pasts and surviving trauma and kickass heroines and HELP I NEED THE THIRD BOOK SARAH. I know we probably won’t even get a title or a cover for months yet but I NEED IT OKAY?!

Seriously, y’all, I’m begging you to read this series and be as obsessed as I am—if you like fantasy and haven’t started the Shards of Magic series yet you are MISSING OUT.

CW: Blood; violence/war/torture; mentions of sexual violence

This took me a while to get through, but I loved the first book so much and I was determined to finish. It suffers from "Middle Title Syndrome," which is something I just made up. When an author has a contract for three books to fulfill for their publisher, but their story only has enough material for about two books, they stretch out the second one with a bunch of filler stuff just to satisfy the contract.

TradPub gonna TradPub, I guess.

And it's ALWAYS the second book that this happens to. The first book is full of world-building and introducing the characters and a lot of new things. The third book has the lead-up to the conclusion, and a fulfilling ending. The second has neither of these things. It just has some stuff happening between the beginning and the middle that could be covered in a few chapters' worth of narrative, but we have to have this whole actionless time of faux peace, that we ALL know is going to end the minute someone looks cross-eyed at someone else.

There IS good stuff here, don't get me wrong. The romance (when it finally kicks in) is great. It was set up well in the first book and the payoff was wonderful. When characters actually start talking to each other, and not just talking in riddles and vague political double-meanings, the story actually progresses nicely and it's even more clear to the main characters what needs to happen (even though it was PATENTLY OBVIOUS to the reader before I even opened the book).

I will be reading the final book of this series when it comes out. I don't know the title of the third book - I've even looked to see if it's been announced anywhere and I haven't seen it. But if it's not called "Queen of Magic" or "Queen of the Shards," what are we even doing here?

I have enjoyed this series, even with the slow pacing of this book.

THAT CLIFFHANGER!?! Please please please tell me there is a date for book 3. I feel so obsessed with this series. I find myself bringing it up at work, on the phone with family or even when im out with friends.
The tension that has just kept building and burning between fmc and mmc is huge! I love the trainer trope and even though this is slightly different, it still hits.
Kenna has been my favorite fmc for a while and this book solidified a top 5 spot in my mind.

I loved the all of the tension between Kallen and Kenna. I’m officially obsessed with Kallen and need the third book asap!

Princess of Blood by Sarah Hawley is a fierce, emotionally charged sequel that raises the stakes with lush worldbuilding, tangled politics, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. Kenna’s journey from reluctant royal to potential kingmaker is filled with danger, intrigue, and a slow-burning forbidden romance that smolders on every page. Hawley deftly explores power, identity, and trust as Kenna navigates rival heirs, rebel factions, and her own haunted past—with only her wits, her loyalty, and a snarky sentient dagger to guide her. A thrilling continuation of Servant of Earth, this installment is gripping, romantic, and impossible to put down.

Sarah Hawley has me in a chokehold. Shaking crying throwing up when I got that email notification for the arc omggg. I have been anxiously awaiting the follow up to book 1 and I was not disappointed.

This ramped up everything from book 1 in the best way. I feel like we got a lot more worldbuilding which helps the stakes feel high for the series. I felt like I understood Kenna better, and I came to enjoy side character that I didn't really have feelings for in book 1. This series is interesting for me because I feel like almost every character has trauma and no matter how much you love or hate them, almost all of the decisions they make felt sensible to me even when I didn't agree. The trauma just added to the world building and didn't drag the story down or feel too ridiculous as it can tend to happen in this genre.

KALLEN KALLEN KALLEN THE MAN THAT YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a new shadow daddy in town I fear!! The way he's obsessed with Kenna is chef's kiss!! I think Sarah is holding the crown for slow burn right now because the way she had me begging for them to get together was diabolical. They definitely had tension in the best way and it was believable for the burn.

The ending???? I knew something would pop off but I didn't know exactly what. Another ending that to me, didn't feel baity and I just makes me want book 3 more 😭. I'm sick I have to wait a year?

4⭐ only because I felt that some parts of the scheming were dragged out within the short timeline of the plot. I think the plot happens in like 10 days? 14 days? Something super fast and I think Kenna could've made some of her choices sooner but it's such a nitpicky comment because the book was still a banger.

Anyway, if you loved book 1 I think it's safe to say you'll love this one too. I pray this series continues on an upward trend because right now it's looking good.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Berkley Publishing, Ace, and NetGalley!

I was so absorbed in this story, then...cliffhanger. *Scream!!!*

SPOILERS FROM BOOK 1!!! LOOK AWAY!!!!

When we left Servant of Earth, Kenna had killed the king and she rescued her friend Anya Hayes, who survived the original trek to the fae lands through the bog but she had been kept in the brothel and tortured by the king and his illusions. And most importantly, Kenna is now Princess Kenna, leader of Blood House, and she has taken Lady Lara (her former boss) to Blood House since Lara's mother, Princess Oriana of Earth House has disowned her for failing the trials. Ready?

Now an alliance between Blood, Void, Fire stands against the houses of Light and Illusion with Earth House still pretending they are Switzerland. Both Prince Drustan (Fire House) and Prince Hector (Void House) want Kenna to back them as the next king. Kenna isn't a big fan of Kings to begin with. Setting aside her prior relationship with Drustan, as he his leadership and loyalty have fallen short, nor does she know anything about Prince Hector, so Kenna tells them to put it in writing. She wants to know each of their plans for Mistei, for the humans being held captive, for the mixed-blood children of the fae, and for everything else these new Kings intend to do before she decides who she will give her allegiance to.  Go Kenna!

Kenna also is quite aware that she has no idea how to be a fae princess or how to lead the Blood House. Unsurprising to me, she has a friend in dark, sexy Void House Lord Kallen. First order of business in order to lead the House, Kenna has to not die since everyone will be out to get her while she is only a House of five.  Kallen agrees to train Kenna in combat. While, of course, he wants her to choose Hector as the new King, he wants to help Kenna as we can clearly see he has a personal interest in her safety. Yay!

Unfortunately, while Kenna is waffling on her choice of King, the new leader of Illusion House, Imogen, has named herself Queen and she is backed by Torin and his crazy girlfriend Rowena. The are currently naming themselves leader of Light House, but Gweneira is also fighting to lead and she is a supporter of-- let's all it the dark alliance.

Queen Imogen has declared that the next month there will be a detente for the next month while everyone settles into this new leadership, which means no House can attack another House--or as everyone knows, this gives Imogen time to strengthen her forces before anyone can attack her. Everyone has to go along with it or else look like the bad guy, although I like that Kenna keeps reminding Imogen that no one agreed to her as Queen and refuses to call her Queen to her face. Love it!

In typical fae fashion, there is a lot of backstabbing anyway and everyone tries to skirt the "no killing" rule by sending someone else to kill you while hiding who is actually behind it. So sorry you're dead but wasn't me. Can't prove it.

And while everyone is trying to get Kenna's vote, Kenna is throwing all the fae kingdoms into a tizzy by inviting not just humans to come to the safety of her House, she is opening her doors to all the fae and lower fae who have been disowned by their Houses or simply want to get away from their own In-House battles. Most, especially the lower fae and humans, who come are trying to get away from abuse at the hands of the upper fae and Kenna declares that everyone is equal and there's the door if you don't like it.  More yay! 

But while Blood House is just beginning to grow and flourish, what concerns Kenna most is that Anya's behavior is devolving since she was rescued from the brothel. Anya does nothing but drink herself into a stupor and refuses to even talk to Kenna. Kenna is winning her House and losing her best friend.

Things are starting to heat up between Kenna and Kallen when everything goes sideways and...the author LEAVES US HANGING AND I START SCREAMING!!!!! The story was building and building and suddenly there were no more pages.   This was not how I was expecting the story to go.

This book does not even come out until September so I don't anticipate the conclusion until at least Spring of 2026. I hate cliffhangers. This sucks!

I loved the first book Servant of Earth. This was not my favorite sequel. It feels like we get halfway through the book before we get a real action scene. There's a lot of talking and repetitive planning. I also got very frustrated by the ending of this one.

Princess of Blood picked up right where Servant of Earth left off. I really enjoyed the political nature of this book, I am one to enjoy a lot of politics in my fantasy books. I thought this installment was less predictable than the first installment. However, after finishing the book I can look back and pick up on clues. This was a great second book in the series and I'm absolutely impatient to have the third one in my hand. I will definitely be recommending this book to the patrons at our library and encourage our collection development staff to purchase this book for several of our branch libraries.

I overall enjoyed this book. I read it quickly and liked the plot. Sometimes the romance felt too "magnetic" or too important to the character and not very relevant to the plot. Otherwise I I enjoyed the book a lot.

Such a great follow up to the first book! The world is so rich and the characters are complicated and interesting. Each of them piques your interest. I love that we’re seeing how Blood House grows and shapes under Kenna’s rule, and I hope we get to see more of that despite the last 30 pages of the book!!

Sarah Hawley’s Princess of Blood delivers a sharp, high-stakes follow-up to Servant of Earth, solidifying The Shards of Magic series as a standout in dark fantasy. Where the first book focused on survival, this sequel pivots to rebellion, leadership, and the weight of transformation.

Kenna Heron, once a human servant in the corrupt Earth House, is now reborn as the fae princess of a long-extinct lineage. Thrust into power after assassinating a tyrant king, she finds herself at the center of a political storm. With six fractured fae houses on the brink of civil war, Kenna must navigate deadly allegiances and decide who, if anyone, deserves to rule. Her only allies are Lara, her exiled former lover, and Kallen, a haunted assassin with a shadowy past.

Hawley masterfully blends political intrigue with personal stakes. Kenna’s arc, from reluctant survivor to potential queen, is nuanced and emotionally charged. The novel digs into trauma, power, and identity while weaving in a slow-burn romance that adds real depth. Kallen, in particular, stands out as a refreshingly layered love interest, whose quiet loyalty and buried grief make him far more than the typical brooding fae.

While Princess of Blood doesn’t shy away from brutality, it’s not without hope. Hawley examines what it means to rebuild in the aftermath of tyranny, and what must be sacrificed to do so. The tension simmers to a brutal finale that is as devastating as it is inevitable, leaving readers breathless and desperate for more.

Compact, character-driven, and unflinchingly sharp, Princess of Blood is a bold second act that elevates this series from promising to essential.

"Princess of Blood" ultimately reveals itself as a complex meditation on the nature of transformation - political, magical, and personal. Kenna's journey from powerlessness to power, from ignorance to knowledge, becomes a lens through which Hawley examines larger questions about legitimacy, governance, and the ethical use of influence. By positioning her protagonist at the nexus of competing political interests, magical bloodlines, and emotional entanglements, Hawley creates a narrative crucible in which identity itself becomes fluid, dangerous, and potentially revolutionary.