Honestly it seemed like nothing really happened in this book until the last quarter of it, but even so, I could not get enough of Renn and Nym. The magic system is so unique and I really enjoyed learning about the characters and seeing their progression through the book. I almost wish I didn't read it so early because now I have to wait so long for the next book to be released. I'd rate it 4.5/5 stars!

I really liked the overall story and the characters, especially as things unfolded. Nym was a strong lead, and the romance with Renn had that slow-burn tension I love but I do wish there was more of it. One of my favorite parts of the book was the magic system—especially how everyone had their own unique lumis. I thought that was such a cool concept, and I loved reading about the different versions and what she would do to them to fix ailments.

That said, the middle section felt a bit repetitive for me. There were moments where it seemed like the plot was stalling, and I would’ve loved more depth when it came to Renn’s family. They were there, but we didn’t get to know them much, and it felt like there was more to explore.

Still, I’m definitely interested in the sequel after how this one ended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Shatter King by Charlie N. Holmberg

I absolutely love Holmberg's writing. She has a way of sucking you in and stringing you along that I just really jive with.

The characters of this book left off the page and I love watching this story unfold with them. Does the title feel like a spoiler? Yeah, kind of. But I was able to enjoy the story, even knowing what was coming from the beginning.

I am really excited to continue the series and hopefully, get more from the romance. It's off to a great start.

Content: harm, death, vauge retelling of rape

True rating: 4.75
Wow, just wow, what a read. This story starts following Nym, a healer, as she's conscripted by the queen to try and heal the broken prince who has been plagued with a mysterious, incurable illness that healers have failed at helping, that is until Nym helps (just a little). This became so much more than a healer's story. So much more. I can't wait to see where this series continues. The relationships, the intrigue, further development of the magic system. Sign me up.

This was such a fantastic story! It was such a fascinating magic system. I loved the idea of the lumis, and of healers being able to enter each very different lumie to “fix” what was broken and heal the person. I enjoyed learning how different one was from the other and the descriptions of each.

More than the magic system, though, I really loved Nym and Renn. I enjoyed how they opened up to each other and became closer. I liked how Renn was quick to try to make things better for Nym when he learned the truths of her life, and that he was wasn’t at all like his mother or brother.

I absolutely hate that this book is over, because I don’t want to have to wait to read what happens after that ending! I never would have expected this, even knowing this wasn’t a standalone, and I’m dying to see how Nym gets herself out of the situation she was stuck in at the end.

Fantastic book! Can’t wait to read more!

Need book 2 after that ending!! Loved this story!

• A unique world
• Tension & danger
• Mystery & secrets
• Illegal magic
• Forbidden love

I loved this story so much, I don’t even know where to begin.

The magic system described here was one of the most unique I’ve ever read. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the craftwork healing and the lumie. I was never bored reading a single healing scene; or, for that matter, any part of this book.

Nym and Renn were such amazing characters to read. I loved meeting Nym’s siblings, seeing her journey and learning new things about her.

This book has everything: beautiful, genuine relationships, strong characters, interesting magic, an intriguing plot. I was fully invested in the story until the end and I am eager to find out what happens next!

You can't just leave me on a ending like that! Loved it. I always enjoy books by Charlie Holmberg though. I liked the characters and the pacing was good. I liked the magic systems. There were a couple of editing issues, spellings and grammar that I noticed need attention. It was very good. I will definitely read the next one.

"A captive healer and a mysterious prince are drawn to each other in the midst of war and magic in a beguiling dark fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

The kingdom of Cansere is on the brink of war. Young men are conscripted from their homes, and a royal decree from the queen has made healing the only legal form of craftlock. Nym, a healer and beekeeper, is the sole provider for her family of seven now that her younger brother has been sent to the war front. But when a letter comes from the queen, summoning Nym to the palace to heal Prince Renn, the kingdom's ailing shut-in, Nym finds herself making the tumultuous journey from her family's apiary to the capital city. Nym is determined to fail the queen's mission and return to her younger siblings as soon as she can.

But escaping the castle's hold isn't as easy as failing a simple test. Prince Renn is cold and distant, and his illness is like nothing Nym has ever seen before, nothing she could ever imagine treating. In a moment of connection with Prince Renn, Nym manages to remedy the faintest symptom of his ailment - only to discover that no healer before has made such progress. Forced to become the prince's official healer and a ward of the castle, and with her only hope of returning to her family hinging on the prince's recovery, Nym must navigate the castle's cruel and twisted court and uncover the haunting truth behind Prince Renn's illness - even as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to him."

Here for the bees, everything else is just honey.

The Book's Basics
Title: The Shattered King

Author: Charlie N. Holmberg

Series: Yes - this is the first book.

Genre: YA Fantasy

Length: 333 pages

Initial Reaction: Started off well, but by the end I just wanted it to be over.

Star rating: 3

Publication Date: 2nd September, 2025

Summary
Nym is a crafthealer from a Medievalesque rural town. She has many siblings who she cares for and they are just about surviving. Nym gets conscripted as a healer to travel to the capitol to heal the prince and is the first one to ever have any hint of success.

Living and working in the castle is not easy. Nym isn’t treated well and the prince’s illness is more complex than she has encountered before. She’s trying to find the best way to heal him so that she can go back to her family, but with war lurking and a growing connection with the prince, things get a bit complicated.

Who would I recommend this book to?
While the main characters are in their early twenties, they often feel like they should be younger. This could be because this is a YA book, but I felt like it was a bit awkward at times. 

The magic system is unique although I’m still not quite sure about it. If you like a lot of visual descriptions that don’t slow the story down, then this might be an interesting read.

I enjoyed most of the book, but it slowed down for me around the 75% mark. I’m going to go into more detail below, but there were inconsistencies in the story that began arising around then. 

If you enjoy a quick YA fantasy read, I’d recommend this book. I’m hoping that they can do some more editing before the book is published in September, because it was really only the last quarter of the book that let it down for me.

The Shattered King
By Charlie N. Holmberg
Arc was given to me by natgalley and the author in exchange for an honest review

I loved it! Which was to be expected since I enjoy pretty much every Holmberg I read. Our characters are all complex. There’s background machinations happening that start becoming closer and closer to the foreground until… well, you’ll have to read it to find out.

There’s a very sweet budding romance involved. And a very intriguing magic system, which is one of the reasons I love these books so much.

However, I have to wait for book two and that is clearly unacceptable 😂

So much to love with this one! In all honesty, the beginning didn’t hook me at all, but I’m so glad I pushed through because I would’ve missed out on an incredibly well executed romance arc where the ship was given time to breathe and develop. The magic system as regards the healing aspect is also very unique.

Adding this to my list of series to follow.

I'm not sure I would call this a "dark fantasy" as synopsis touts it, but okay, I guess. Anyway, I would 100% call this a sibling book to Erin A. Craig's The Thirteenth Child; if you liked that, you will DEFINITELY like this. I actually liked this one more than that, as Holmberg's book doesn't suffer the uneven pacing issues of Craig's work. (I like Craig; I'm reading another of her books right now, so this is not at all to bash her!) The magic system here is a unique take on healing; I liked the idea of the lumis and how everyone's individual lumi are described. The build of attraction between the two main characters is believable, because it's not based on a few interactions but over a long period of intense time in each other's company. Many of the side characters play fairly minor roles but are still well enough fleshed-out that I was sad to see the loss of some of them in the later pages of the book. Holmberg's books can be fairly hit or miss for me, but this one was a solid hit, and I'm glad to know she churns out books at a fast clip because it means we shouldn't have to wait an eternity for the sequel!

This book has romance and magic. Nym is taken from her family to heal a Prince. She finds herself doing what no other healer can do, however she finds herself developing feelings for the Prince.

One of the top books I’ve read in 2025, hands down! From the very first page, I was hooked. By the time I reached the end, I was tempted to flip right back to the beginning and relive the entire story. Charlie N. Holmberg has crafted a mesmerizing romantasy that balances characters, plot and atmosphere to perfection. I’m already counting down the days until the sequel.

*Thank you NetGalley and 47North for sharing the advanced digital edition of this book. This is my honest review.

This sits at a 3.5 star book for me. It is a solid start to a series, I love the magic system - very clever & unique. My biggest issue was with the romance, I just wasn’t fully convinced by it but I will say I appreciated that they didn’t fall in love immediately and it wasn’t until 90% in where they had their first kiss - yay for slow burn & yearning.

I really enjoyed reading The Shattered King. It’s a character led fantasy that has a unique magic system. I love the idea of how the healing craft works and I’m really hoping we get to see some of the other magic types in the next book and finding out how they work.

I loved loved loved this story. I didn't realize it was a series and absolutely NEED the next book. Great character development, great unpredictable plot. I will definitely recommend it to people.

Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the e-arc!

I loved this book! The world building was well done and Nym was such an interesting and well developed fmc. She’s my favourite type of fmc, a little mean, a little sassy and her backstory was tragic. But she’s able to stand on her own and not let anything or anyone drag her down.

Prince Renn was such a breath of fresh air! I loved how sensitive and caring he was.

Can’t wait for the next instalment!

This book had some odd pacing in terms of events. I loved the parts where Nym and Renn are forming a friendship and she is healing him, but I felt that the beginning and the end seemed incredibly rushed. I wasn't able to really understand what was happening. It was a very unique concept though.