What a great story! I loved the characters, the healing magic, the mystery of Nym's past that unrolls slowly, and all of the surprises along the way! Charlie has created a fantastic story with magic and love and family and I cannot wait to dive into the next installment!

I received an ARC via netgalley, but all enthusiastic opinions are my own!

This felt to me like a fully middle of the road book. While there were flashes of character development and intriguing dynamics, I truly felt like this book could have been cut down to half or a third. The rage I felt when I realized the plot was just taking off in the last two chapters … it made me so foolish for have waited for something to happen.

I kindly received this book pre release from the publisher for an honest review.

This was a surprising book in all the right ways. Great characters, non linear and unexpected plot. With some fantasy tropes but it's goes hard to subvert your expectations of a fantasy story and it succeeds.

Without spoilers the plot is of a reluctant healer summoned to help the queens ailing son. secrets abound on all sides and the character development was my favourite thing here.

The stand out is the healing magic system and the way it's described, just wow. It's done with such beautiful visualisation that it's complex but ont he other hand understandable and easy. I've never read a magic system like this in any book and I'm hoping to read more. 100% worth a read add this to your TBR!

“The Shattered King” is my first Charlie N. Holmberg novel, and it won’t be my last. The magic system was new, exciting, and extraordinary for the imagination.

I enjoyed reading this book. I sped through in one day because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The plot was great, the main characters were interesting and complex, and I even felt a connection to the side characters, which doesn’t always happen for me. The story was slow to unfold at some points, but I appreciated the extra context for relationship building and character development. The author paints a vivid picture for you with her descriptions, and I felt very immersed in the story. This book also dealt with hard topics and some of the sections felt like a gut punch. It was a fun read, but also a heavy read at times. I was very invested in the story from an emotional standpoint.

Overall, I will give this book 4/4.5 stars. I look forward to reading the next book in the series! Thank you to the author, 47North, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a great read! But be smarter than me and do not start this book near evening or you will very much lose sleep because you will be unable to put it down. This story is gripping and perfectly paced. Nym has such a tragic backstory that slowly unfolds and you will immediately sympathize with her and her unfair plight. I love palace intrigues but there really are not very many here. Nym does have to find her place in the castle and be wary of many people there. There is a very slow burn romance with a love interest that is very much a touch her and die hero which I love. It is a world of contradictions and a unique take on magic but overall it’s just well written and interesting. I’ve loved this author since Paper Magician and her writing has only continued to improve and spin a story you will be unable to put down. It does very much end on a cliffhanger I will be very impatiently waiting for.

I loved the worldbuilding and magic system is unique and creative. The main characters are great and people that you would want to root for. Our main female character, Nym, is a smart and strong protagonist. She is thoughtful to those around her and makes good decisions for the most part. Prince Renn displays personal growth and the relationship between he and Nym grows slowly but naturally. I highly recommend this read if you are interested in slow burns, a little political intrigue, and a character based story.

This was my first Charlie N. Holmberg book and I LOVED it! I can't wait to read more of her books (especially the sequel to this one!)

Nym is a great main character. She isn't afraid to speak her mind, and she was the perfect blend of strong but nurturing that I love to see. I also liked Prince Renn, it was nice to witness his growth throughout the book and get to know him alongside Nym. I appreciated the break from the typical "tall, dark, and handsome (but kind of toxic)" MMCs that seem to be all the rage lately. The romance was slow-burn and believable, which is a strong compliment from me as I am very picky when it comes to romance. The magic system was unique but not too complicated or difficult to understand, and I hope that the next book will delve in deeper to some of the other aspects of magic beyond healing. I am just so impatient to find out what happens next!

Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC, I will certainly be purchasing this book to add to both my personal collection and my library's collection.

The Shattered King introduced me to a unique magic system—lumis—that I hadn’t seen before. The story follows Nym, a healer from the countryside who’s forced to become the prince’s personal healer after he’s been sick his whole life.

I usually enjoy slow-paced fantasy because I love getting lost in the world-building and character development. While I appreciated the focus on the healing process, I wish there’d been a bit more variety or tension during those sessions. The first 20% felt like the same routine—Nym waking up exhausted, healing the prince, and going back to her room. It started to feel repetitive, and I found it harder to stay invested.

I also found myself frowning from start to finish. You know that face you make when something just doesn’t make sense? Yeah, I was making that face a lot. I couldn’t wrap my head around how the main character was treated. She’s the healer for the royal family—literally their only hope to save the prince—and yet she’s not even being paid. No matter how hard she works, she’s overworked, given no rest, no recognition, and sometimes even starved. It felt illogical, and that made it harder to root for the story. On top of that, even the other medical doctors treated her like dirt, calling her a “fake” healer—even though they themselves hadn’t made any progress with the prince. It was really frustrating to watch.

The ending had a twist, but it didn’t leave me dying to know what happens next. Still, I’m glad I gave this book a shot—it was a fresh and unique read in a genre I love. If you enjoy slow-burn romance and fantasy, it might be worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! This is the first of a duology and I am seated and ready for the next one. I've read Charlie N. Holmberg's Paper Magician series and really loved it, and this looks to go up a few notches for me. I'd give this 4.5/5.

This was a really fun read, with a really unique magic system. Our protagonist, Nym, is a healer and the eldest of 8 siblings, who gets enlisted to try and heal the sickly prince (which of course no one has ever succeeded in aiding him before). She makes the tiniest bit of difference and finds herself stuck in the castle, with the mandate to heal him and only then can she return to her family. Nym is then thrust into court life and must navigate it all with the little resources she has. The other characters, particularly the prince's guards, felt like more than just wall decoration.

I loved particularly the development of Nym and Prince Renn's relationship, that both were slow to trust one another but I also love that he comes to a place of utter devotion while she's still in denial of her feelings. I enjoyed Nym being a slightly unreliable narrator, and I can't wait to see what we learn in the next book, particularly given that we only got glimpses of some of the court intrigue. I also really loved that Nym is the one saving Renn all over the place, I feel like we don't get that dynamic nearly enough.

4.5/4.75 stars.

I was not remotely surprised by the fact that this book was a definite page-turner from the first few chapters. I have read a few of Holmberg's novels, notably, the Paper Magician novels, so this was not my introduction to her. However, this was perhaps my favorite book so far. The magic system and the FMC were the highlights for me. I can see how some may feel the plot drags, but I think it was the characters that really pulled it along if it did drag at all. My only "complaint" would've been for it to be longer because I felt attached to Nym and the world itself. Book two now please!

I'm shocked The Shattered King by Charlie N Holmberg isn't all over BookTok yet! Go add it to your TBR now!

Short synopsis:
In the Kingdom of Cansere, healing is the only legal craft. Nym, a healer and beekeeper, supports her family after her brother's conscription. Summoned to the palace to heal the Queen's ailing son, Prince Renn, Nym plans to deliberately fail and swiftly return home. However, after unexpectedly easing one of Prince Renn's symptoms, Nym's fate becomes entangled with his - and she's trapped in the palace, forced to untangle the secrets behind Renn's condition.

Nym, the FMC, is strong and smart, with a quick wit that shines through in her sharp retorts. As we get to know her, we uncover her pain and trauma throughout the book, and see how she finds strength to cope. She's desperate to avoid having her heart broken again. And fails miserably of course.

Prince Renn, the MMC, starts off cold and distant, but he's actually a warm and caring person beneath the surface. His illness since birth has made him a shut-in, and it takes him time to open up to Nym. When he finally does, he's willing to sacrifice everything for her.

The book focuses on the characters and their healing, both mentally and physically. The court intrigue is masterfully woven throughout the story, and the main action builds up in the background almost until the very end. What's refreshing is the age dynamic between Nym (24) and Prince Renn (20), which flips the typical trope of a younger, inexperienced heroine and an older, wiser hero. The book ends on a cliffhanger, with Nym finally uncovering a crucial secret about Renn's mysterious illness just as everything is left hanging. I'm anxiously waiting for the next book, but unfortunately, there's no release date yet 😭

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its release date (09/02/2025). I'm excited for readers to dive in and experience the story for themselves!

The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg started off as a super slow burn, and honestly, I really thought I was going to DNF it. But wow—I’m so glad I stuck with it because I ended up falling in love with the story. The pacing is slower, but it’s done in a way that pulls you in bit by bit, revealing just enough to keep those pages turning.

There’s a twist at the end that completely caught me off guard, and now I’m dying to know what happens next—especially with this new power coming into play. It gave me slight From Blood and Ash vibes, almost like a light gender-swapped version, which was really fun to see.

If you're into fantasy romance with a slow build and a satisfying payoff, this one's worth the read.

Well done central characters and sensitive emotional connections were ultimately bogged down for me by a plot that seemed to veer sideways rather than to a point, including what felt like a dramatic shift in tone toward the end. I also found the extent of the prince's recover to be frustrating at times because it felt like he was turning into a platonic ideal of a person rather than retaining all the contradictions that originally made him compelling. There was also something about the way the brother was written that I didn't love. There just wasn't enough nuance there for the empathy he was granted. A fast read that crumbles under close inspection, though I enjoyed the initial dynamic between the protagonists.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up | A captivating tale that begs the question: who’s really healing whom?

Ugh, I devoured this book in a day - and now I have to wait who knows how long for book two?! WHY do I do this to myself?! 😩

In all seriousness, I instantly fell in love with this slow-burn, forced-proximity romantasy. The Shattered King follows Nym, a peasant healer conscripted by the crown to use her rare gift to help the reclusive, ailing Prince Renn. The eldest of eight siblings, Nym plans to fail fast so she can return home and care for her family. But when a single gesture sparks the first glimmer of hope in the royal family in decades, she finds herself bound to the crown - and the castle - for the foreseeable future.

I was enchanted by Nym’s sharp wit and her pride in the face of cruel subjugation. And Renn? I fell for him as he slowly came to life - in more ways than one. Their relationship is built on raw honesty and guarded vulnerability, and watching their friendship blossom was genuinely heartwarming.

The magic system is vivid and intriguing, and while there are plenty of breadcrumbs hinting at deeper mysteries, the plot never felt predictable. The pacing ramps up significantly in the final quarter, leading to a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that will haunt me until book two.

In short: if you enjoy sassy reluctant heroines, an underestimated MMC, and mutual healing, The Shattered King is well worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. I’m voluntarily sharing my honest review.

This was my first Charlie N. Holmberg book.
I really enjoyed it, it felt new, different, lots of different layers.
It kept a a really good pace, right away... usually it takes me a while to get into a book, but I feel like this one really went straight there...
Then I got to the last 95% of the book.
What... just happened? It was like a whole different book. Boom, something new, boom, something new... boom... boom....
The end.

... wait is this a series? I don't see It listed as a series anywhere. So did this book just end abruptly... while I was still dealing with the chaos of the whole book shift? Yes.

I don't know how to feel right now, A book I really enjoyed, exploded in my hands. And I am dealing with that trauma.

This is the Charlie Holmberg I know and love! I wasn’t a huge fan of ‘Wizard of Most Wicked Ways’ or ‘Still the Sun,’ so I almost didn’t read this one. I think it’s the best one she’s written and I couldn’t put it down! I practically read the whole thing in one sitting. I hate that this is an ARC because I need the next one asap! The magic system was intriguing, the premise was fun, the romance was sweet, and the world was well built.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this arc.

I loved The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg. I’m so excited that there’s a new fantasy series to look forward to! At least, I assume this novel will be a series since it ended with a cliffhanger. Charlie, if you’re reading this, please, please, please create a series from The Shattered King. I’m not ready to say goodbye to Nym and Renn…I feel like I just got to know them!

I’m not usually a fan of first-person perspective because it can feel choppy and unnatural, but this novel used first-person effectively. I loved the world-building and magic system in this book, too. The characters were fleshed out and relatable - I found myself forgetting that they were fictional. All in all, I was completely engrossed in this story and kept my eyelids pried open so I could keep reading well into the night. That’s okay; a couple of sleepless nights in exchange for the enjoyment I got out of the novel was well worth it!

Thank you 47North for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this story

I recently got into reading manga this year and it has really put me in a slump with reading actual novels. I have been DNFing alot of highly anticipated reads because i just cant get invested in the stories but this had me invested from the beginning. This is hands down the best thing I have read all year. I loved this and will be reading the sequel or anything else the author publishes. While it does have some common tropes I feel like the story and the magic in it was so unique. The author does such an amazing job building the characters that you really get emotionally connected. I cried for Nym multiple times and i dont usually get emotional with side characters but Ard and Sen made me tear up too. I dont really know what else to say about it. This is fantastic and ive already recommended it to multiple people. I cant wait for this to be published because I will be purchasing a copy for my collection. I followed the author on goodreads after reading this and I cant believe she has so many other books but i havent read anything by her before. I will be reading more from this author and hope this blows up so she can reach a bigger audience because she deserves it

First, let me just say I love when authors don’t leave us on a massive cliffhanger that’s life or death, so thank you for that 🥹

This is really fun, though, with a unique magic system, something Holmberg is known for. Every series I’ve read of hers is slightly different in vibes and magic, and I’m so here for it. This begins in Cansere, a kingdom where magic is basically outlawed, except healing magic (because, of course, the royals have needs for healers). Nym is the oldest of 8 surviving children in the home and takes care of her siblings the best she can. Their simple life is derailed when a conscription comes for Brien, the oldest boy, things quickly fall apart, made worse when the royals summon Nym for her healing craft. Prince Renn, who is known for being very sickly and ill, has never had healer before have success in healing him. Nym dowses his lumis (basically enters a place representing his health and body) and realizes he is absolutely beyond repair, even if his lumis is beautiful. She repairs one thing that she sees that can be repaired, and has already done more for him than any other healer. Instead of being sent home, like she hoped, she is forced to stay in the castle and work on him dawn to dusk. Things happen, lots of secrets are spilled, and things go south with the neighboring kingdom. Suffice to say, there are plenty of surprises awaiting.

The characters are fun and interesting, and the author does a great job at slowly introducing different bits of their personalities. The character development is really great, and by the end of the book, you grieve even minor characters.

The writing is easy to read and descriptive without being overly flowery. You definitely get a feel for what’s going on and what everything looks like, from the country and forests all the way to the castle rooms.

The ending does have a slight cliffhanger, but nothing life or death and that might be my favorite part since we have a bit of a wait until the next one. 4.5⭐️ overall!

Short Disclaimer: I received this book as an arc from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Oh. My. God. This book was so cool.

It follows Nymx— a healer, and Renn— a prince of the royal family.

The magic system in this book was so unique and interesting! Essentially, each person has a lumis—metaphorically, a wall-less space that represents the person it inhibits. To heal through magic, you basically have to solve a puzzle of some sort, all different and based on each person.

The plot had me hoooked. The end! I could have never predicted. The longing and connection between the two—I’m in love! Yet another book with the forbidden love trope, yet I never got bored!

(There is one scene however I physically recoiled from reading, I’ll just give a quote from it—“they bathed me like a common animal” — I was shook when I read this. I chose to pretend it never happened bc wtf!! If you can look past it, this is truly a great book!)

Truly very excited for the sequel!