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!

Fast-paced, fun, and full of heart, The Shattered King delivers a magical adventure with great characters and sharp dialogue. Holmberg blends action, romance, and intrigue in a world that feels fresh and easy to get lost in. If you’re into fantasy with a touch of sass and soul, this one’s a great pick.

Thank you NetGalley and 47 North for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good. The magic system was so unique, the main characters were interesting, and the slow burn was burninggg. The dynamic between healer/patient I thought connected the characters well despite their social status. Between finding myself wanting to know more about Nym’s life back home, wanting to know more about the mystery of what her/Ursa’s magic can do, the mystery around Prince Renn, and so much more, this really held my attention the whole way through. There was a good balance between it being sweet/endearing and then with the ending, we got more action. I feel like the side characters took a backseat a little bit and could’ve been more of a support. Excited for this series to continue!!
~ I received this eARC free from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given ~

This is one of the first books I've read of Charlie N. Holmberg, and I'm now convinced I have to go back and read all of her work. This book was so, so unique - particularly the magic system and how the healing worked!

Nym is a healer, and the concept here is unlike anything I've read. In order to heal people, she is able to enter their "mindscapes" which differ from person to person. The ailment that needs to be healed will manifest as clutter or something that has been damaged, which she then works meticulously to put back into place or repair. How cool is that?

Nym is summoned to the palace to heal the second son of the King, Prince Renn, who is chronically ill with a "shattered", broken body. He has almost no quality of life and has all but given up since no other healers have been able to help him, but after being able to fix one small thing after first seeing to him, Nym is then forced vehemently against her will to stay and demanded by the Queen to toil away for grueling hours to heal the Prince. The prince is initially cruel and distant to Nym, and Nym is equally resentful to him, hating him for being the reason she was ripped from her younger siblings and leaving them to attempt to survive without her. However, the two of them eventually begin to form an interesting and touching bond.

Nym quickly figures out that his physical ailments extend far beyond just a shattered body, and the dynamics in the palace grow increasingly sinister. The mysterious illness of Prince Renn's was so fascinating to me, and my mind was spinning trying to figure out what the root of it could be. The relationship between Nym and Renn sort of reminded me of "Me Before You", in that Renn was relegated to being a jaded, rude recluse with no hope for his life. But as Nym begins to heal him, he truly opens up and is so tender and gentle with Nym. His character development is top-notch and the romance that blossoms between them is so touching because Nym begins to fall for him even when he is weak -- he doesn't fit into the traditional romantasy male archetype of being muscular, strong, etc. We see Renn at his weakest, most vulnerable moments, which I think is so special and unusual.

The plot in this book was full of twists, though it did lag a bit at times. For me, this book is more character-driven and its strengths lie in how the characters evolve and grow. There is a sense of resolution at the end of this book, but I am so excited for the sequel to come out.

Thank you so much to 47North and NetGalley for this ARC!!

THIS is what I want from romantasy! Beautiful prose to accompany a very well-written story. This was my first Holmberg, but it will not be my last! (I have no such plans at the moment, but if I ever write a novel, I hope it can compare to this one!) I was absolutely scandalized when I got to the cliffhanger at the end and could find no indication of a sequel online, but other reviewers seem to mention a continuation, so I'm very much looking forward to it! I tried to wait until closer to the release date to post this review on TikTok, but I couldn't and just needed to get the word out on my favourite romantasy to date!

In this book, there are medical doctors as we know them as well as magical healers. The magic system allows a healer to see a visualization of another person’s constitution/health, called a lumis (plural: lumie). Prince Renn is so hopelessly ill that the visualization of his health is shattered (hence, “The Shattered King”). Nym is the first one who has any effect on him, though minute, the first time she meets him, so she is conscripted as his full-time healer.

Thank you 47North and Charlie N. Holmberg for allowing me to access an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

Themes: resilience, healing, unique problem-solving, love, family

Style (1): Beautiful prose throughout, with lines I'd like to study for their elegant imagery (e.g., "the sick man was too busy worshipping Salm's sea with his stomach acid" and "the thick curls held on to water like the rich held on to merits").

Plot (0.75): Overall, I loved that the plot did not fall too deeply into overwritten tropes. For example, while the castle was undoubtedly richer and more beautiful than what Nym is used to in her own poor village, she does not immediately get placed in a room fit for a noblewoman and is not lavished with excessively accommodating treatment that is seen as fair in this new society (common in the popular fae romantasies). I really appreciate the slower pace at which things develop, including Nym's treatment and the romance. At one point early on, I thought to myself, "oh no, please tell me that common decency (an apology) is not enough to make Nym fall in love with Renn." To my pleasant surprise, it was not! This romance develops as a slow burn that feels authentic in a way that is sadly uncommon in this genre.

The only thing I did not like was one of the plot twists at the end <SPOILER> (that Renn glows and is "Gods-touched") </SPOILER> because it somehow felt inauthentic to the story.

Atmosphere/Setting (1): Holmberg manages to explain an abstract, new magic system with imagery that would be difficult to replicate in a film adaptation, but works perfectly in this medium. It surprised me how well I was able to understand this complex portrayal of characters' "lumie" without getting bored. I also loved how Nym developed new theories on working with lumie based on her own past experiences, which were seamlessly woven into the narrative.

Characters (1): I loved watching the two main characters develop. Renn showed the most change as his physical condition changed, and along with it, his attitude and interaction with the world and other characters. We also enjoyed revelations about Nym's past as the story progressed, which I love to see. The only charatcer that was a bit much was the Queen. I understand her role in the narrative, but I thought her character was just a bit overdone to feel truly authentic. Other than that, even the bodyguards who rarely spoke felt "alive" in the story.

Enjoyment (1): I fully enjoyed this story! I couldn't believe I was so lucky to have picked it out, especially as my first ARC! Not only did it have an engaging story, but it was also written beautifully! I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone!

I loved the characters in the story. They seemed very realistic with all their emotions. The descriptions were amazing and it felt like I was in the story and one of the characters.

She’s a healer summoned to heal the prince. Summoned to be a prisoner, treated like a dog.
I really enjoyed the story. Nym is a clever young woman with a sharp tongue and impressive abilities. I extremely liked the way her magic was described, how the healing process itself was described. I’ve never read a book where healing was so intense and creative.
Also her backstory was heartbreaking whenever we learned more about it. So be careful to read the trigger warnings.

Renn was an ass at the beginning of the book and I wholeheartedly hated how he behaved. But to see the broken and depressed man heal not only physically but also mentally was described beautifully and touching.
The development of their relationship was amazing and neither too rapid nor too slow.

The whole story was intermingled with politics and a nice worldbuilding. I only take away one star because in the beginning it was a bit too much repetitive healing without anything happening, but after that it was such an amazing read.

The ending definitely had a quite brutal cliffhanger and I absolutely need the sequel as fast as possible.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

“I loved him. I loved him. I loved him. And I would never have him.”

Things to see/tropes:
☆ Slow burn romance
☆ Forced proximity
☆ 20+ MCs
☆ Touch her & die
☆ Forbidden romance

“I would shift the seas for you.”
“I would let the gods shatter me every noon and midnight. I would worship you until my last breath.”

Okay, I need this book and I need the next book right now! I absolutely devoured this book. The moment I started reading it, I was hooked. I could not put it down, I just loved everything about it.

It has such a unique magic system, which was a delight to learn about. Nym, the FMC, is older than Renn, the MMC, and I’m all here for that. Nym is so strong and smart and with so many layers to her, and following the journey from her point of view was heartbreaking and wondrous at the same time. Renn’s story is laced with intrigue and mystery, but he brings so much honesty and sincerity to the table that contrasts it perfectly. The reveals/plot twists of the story were so well set up, with just enough hints throughout that it still left you guessing. The emotional (and physical) growth of the MCs was absolutely wonderful to experience.

Thank you SO MUCH to 47North and Netgalley for the absolute honor to read this ARC, I absolutely cannot wait to see more.

I really enjoyed this one - 4.5 stars rounded up! Nym is a great character - she has such a strong love for her family, and overcame some pretty tragic circumstances. I found the magic system/lumi very interesting! I appreciate the unique scene the author set for each person’s lumi - it was easy to imagine what Nym what seeing/dealing with. The beginning was a little repetitive, but I honestly thought that was needed to make changes in Nym and Renn’s relationship to make sense. The romance was a slow burn and very sweet.

My one regret is that I didn’t realize this wasn’t a stand alone, and now I have to wait so long to see what happens to Nym and Renn!

I received an advance reader copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Did I just read the best book of the year? Certainly, it's in the top 5 of 2025, and I'm completely blown away.

Charlie N. Holmberg is an author I've read very little from. She's prolific and an established name, but I'd only ever read "The Hanging City," discounting the rest of her catalog as works I was unlikely to enjoy. I may have to revisit that assumption because the writing in this was beyond spectacular. It's clear this was written by a master of her craft.

Where this novel shone was the emotional depth of the characters, the nuances written into each scene, and the ability of the author to *show* and reveal through hints and body language, through subtleties, what the characters were feeling. So very many authors struggle to show vs. tell, but not so here. The relationship between the two leads develops so organically and measuredly, it feels real (for the most part - there was a bit of an abrupt shift from complete coldness by the MMC at the start to a greater degree of warmth that felt less organic than the rest).

I didn't know going in that this would be the first part of a planned duology, and the cliffhanger ending has me in a bit of a chokehold, so I am absolutely chuffed to see where this story goes next! This is a 10/10 recommendation from me. Read this! You will be so very glad you did.

If you're in the mood for slow-burn romance, high stakes palace intrigue, and a broody but lovable cursed king, this book delivers on all fronts.

Overall Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Tropes
✅️Enemies to allies (and maybe more)
✅️Bodyguard/protector romance (!!!)
✅️Grumpy x sunshine
✅️Cursed hero
✅️Political marriage
✅️Forced proximity
✅️Quiet pining
✅️Court intrigue + secrets everywhere
🔥 Slow

📖 Storyline
The story follows Nym, a commoner turned personal healer, assigned to heal and protect Prince Renn—a ruler literally shattered by a curse, haunted by betrayal, and trying to keep his crumbling kingdom from falling apart. Nym doesn’t trust him (and frankly, neither did I at first), but there’s more to Renn than meets the eye. As they’re forced to work together, secrets come to light, emotions get messy, and things really heat up emotionally and politically.

What I appreciated most is how the romance and the plot are tied together. The stakes feel real, and I was constantly torn between wanting more sweet moments and racing to see how the political mess would unfold.

🎭 Characters
Nym is everything I love in a fantasy heroine sharp, capable, and emotionally grounded. She has real agency in this story, and her sense of duty never feels forced or naive.

And then there’s Prince Renn. Cursed, emotionally scarred, and somehow still managing to help save his kingdom? I loved his slow development and the way Holmberg peeled back his layers over time. He’s gruff and guarded, but there’s a quiet vulnerability there that completely won me over.

Even the side characters felt memorable especially the council and palace staff. Some of them I wanted to punch, others I wanted spin-off stories for.

✒️ Writing & Pacing
Holmberg’s writing is smooth and easy to sink into. Her prose is emotional without being overly flowery, and the dialogue feels natural. That said, the first half of the book was a bit too slow for me. It takes a while for the story to fully find its rhythm—there's a lot of setup, political maneuvering, and guarded interactions between the main characters. While I appreciated the foundation it laid for the second half, I did catch myself wishing things would move a little faster early on. Once it does pick up, though, the emotional tension and stakes really kick in, and I flew through the last third.

🌎 Worldbuilding
The world of The Shattered King feels richly imagined but not overwhelming. I also loved how the history and politics of the kingdom were revealed through character interactions instead of long info dumps.

Who I’d Recommend This To:
🖤Romance readers looking for something with more depth and danger
🖤Fantasy fans who enjoy political intrigue with a strong emotional core
🖤Readers who love complex characters and emotional slow burns

Final Thoughts
The Shattered King was everything I wanted: emotional tension and layered characters. It’s a slower build, but if you stick with it, the ending is so worth it. I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters and that, to me, is the best kind of fantasy romance.

Highly recommend this one if you’re in the mood for something that hits the heart and the gut. 💔👑

This fantasy takes place in a kingdom on the edge of war. Magic is outlawed, but when the third child of the King is in desperate need of a magical healer our FMC Nym is among those known to have healing abilities to be drafted to the capital to try to repair Prince Renn. Forced into service against her will, unpaid and abused by the Queen, Nym slowly repairs Prince Renn and begins to gain his friendship, but with war drawing close and suspicions against her rising Nym will discover that not even a prince can protect those closest to him.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 4⭐️. I really enjoy this authors writing and thought this was a fast paced and well done start to a new series. I really enjoyed both of our MC’s in this book and the slow building of their friendship and affections. That being said I do think more time could have been taken to build up some of the secondary characters. Prince Renn has two siblings and while his brother is featured several times, his sister gets almost no page time at all. Considering the circumstances of Nym’s family and their importance in her life exploring a new sister bond could have been an interesting subplot.
I really enjoyed the magic system we see for Nyms healing process and look forward to the expanded magic systems that will hopefully be shown in the next book which I will absolutely be reading.
I look forward to posting about this book on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) closer to its release date.

This started out so strong, I was impressed how quickly and easily the author was able to draw out emotion and bring Nym to life. Holmberg was able to craft a truly evil queen and make me fully sympathetic toward Nym. Also, Renn has a great redemption arc, I disliked him in the beginning and the author was able to seamlessly transition him into a really loveable character.

Nym's healing magic is so unique and explained so intricately and unlike anything I've read. And though this is slow paced, it held my interest, even though the plot kind of gets lost and stalls out at 30-50%. The second half is where it really starts to get more interesting and I didn't want to put it down once I got to the last 20% of the book.

Ursa's presence wasn't explained for a very long time, I began to think it was mentioned in the beginning and I somehow missed it. So much so that I went back and searched her name in the beginning. And I wouldn't have minded waiting to fully find out until half way through if there was at least some type of acknowledgement instead of just having her casually there without any explanation.

There is a really high number of times the em dash is used. Had it been only a handful of times I probably wouldn't have noticed, but at one point it was appearing almost every page, sometimes 2-3 times in one page. And I found that distracting.

Charlie Holmberg does it again. I was wholly riveted as I raced my way through reading THE SHATTERED KING. It’s an unusual story, with plenty of grief and dark moments, but one that is balanced out with romance and optimism, so it altogether really works. I’m not usually a fan of clean romance, nor do I tend to like books where themes of religious faith are key to the central plot, but Holmberg consistently manages to remain the exception. If you love reading any type of fantasy, you’ll love reading this.

Also, that cliffhanger?!? Get me book two, please!

♾️/5 ⭐️

⠀⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:
⠀⠀ `· . 𐙚“𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.”
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬.”
“𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐡,𝐍𝐲𝐦.”

「 ✦ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ✦ 」 In the war-torn kingdom of Cansere, healing is the only legal craft, and Nym—a young healer and beekeeper—is thrust into royal intrigue when she’s summoned to treat the mysterious illness of the reclusive Prince Renn. Hoping to fail and return to her struggling family, Nym instead becomes entangled in palace secrets when she unexpectedly succeeds where others have not. Trapped within the castle walls, she must unravel the dark mystery behind the prince’s condition and navigate a dangerous court—where every cure comes at a cost, and her heart may be the most vulnerable of all.

𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆 : 2nd September, 2025

⋆.˚✮ 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ✮˚.⋆ Wow this is such an amazing book! I LOVE the concept of this book like the healer enters the lumi of another person and also that the FMC is older than the MMC which is VERY rare.This book reminds me of “Bewitched” By Laufey and omggg it’s my fav song!! I enjoyed and loved the first half but the second half ? I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED IT!!!! I CANNOT wait for the next book to drop !! I wish I had someone to discuss the book’s ending 😫

————————-🌷𝐂ɦα𝗋α𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌🌷—————————————-

⋮ ⋆˚࿔ 𝓝𝔂𝓶 ⋆𝜗𝜚˚⋆

“𝑰 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏. 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 . 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘.”

She is such a strong FMC and I really like her boldness and thoughtfulness . She’s quiet but focused and quite likeable . I cackled every time she lost her temper at the nobles, firing back with pure logic against their absurd demands. (Yes, she got thrown in the dungeon. Yes, they absolutely deserved it.) She’s such a Diva 💅 Would I die for Nym? Duhhh Absolutely Without hesitation 🙄

⋮ ⋆˚࿔ 𝓡𝓮𝓷𝓷 ⋆ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

“ 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅.”

He had my heart from the start! You could see him express his feelings towards Nym through actions and most of all , I melted when he confessed. The best thing ? Instead of being a mama’s boy , he took Nym’s side in front of his mother !! Like I just know he’s gonna be the best book bf( Marry me already 🛐) I can’t wait for this book to be famous and see Renn’s Fanart!!

┈┈┈┈ ⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆ ┈┈┈┈

˚⋆𐙚｡𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 / 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𖦹.ᡣ𐭩˚: Slow burn romance , No spice ( YA), Healer x Patient , Forbidden romance , Forced proximity !!

┈┈┈┈ ♡˚ 🦢・✧ ┈┈┈┈

「°•`୨𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍!•°ৎ 」 This is THE BOOK OF THE YEAR for me!! I’d recommend it to anyone who likes to read fantasy or who liked the stolen heir duology ! Alsoooo HATS OFF TO THE AUTHOR for writing such an amazing and creative book! I can’t wait for it to be published and see its fanarts because I know it’s gonna be amazing!

╰┈➤ Thanks a lot to 47North and Net gallery to provide me an e-arc in exchange for a honest review !

This is truly one of the most original romantasy’s I have ever read. I found it to be unique in its magic system, world building, and romance. It was refreshing to have a male character who was different from the traditional warrior one typically finds in books like this. It felt like we got the chance to know Renn’s heart before any kind of romance began, and I truly appreciated that. Nym was a relatable character with a steel backbone wand a sharp tongue, yet still a gentle heart. I enjoyed their coming together through the healing and the art of the “lumis” itself. I can’t wait for the second book because that cliffhanger was a tough one to swallow. I look forward to reuniting with Renn and Nym in what I can already tell will be a satisfying series! Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this amazing opportunity in exchange for my honest review!

I’m so thankful to have been able to read an ARC of The Shattered King before its release on September 2nd.

I tore through The Shattered King and now I’m just sitting here already counting down the days until the next book. Charlie Holmberg has such a gift for creating immersive, magical worlds. The healing magic in particular felt so unique and powerful, described in such vivid detail. I really loved this unique take on healing abilities—I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before in a book. 🙌🏻

But what completely stole my heart was the slow-burn romance between Nym and Renn. They did start as enemies due to the circumstances of how both of them met and because of their own trauma and difficulties that they had to face individually. But the longer they spent time with each other, the more they learned about each other, and the walls started to crumble—revealing a deeper connection forming regardless of the situation. It’s subtle at first, but full of longing and tension that builds beautifully. If you’re someone who lives for yearning, this is your book.

The world was built beautifully, and the family connections and relationships were rich and felt so real. Please keep in mind that this book does discuss trauma and difficult topics, but this also helps you as a reader better understand the main characters, why they are the way they are, why they make the decisions they make. It also shows how you can heal and get through it with others, and that you don’t have to feel alone.

This was a fast-paced read that kept me completely hooked. The last few chapters were so emotional, and I never saw the twists coming — they just kept hitting one after another .I still can’t get over it. I can’t wait for the next book to see how the story continues. Renn and Nym left me with a heartwarming feeling. They both showed such strength and character growth throughout the book. They both went through so much and deserve the best of life.

There’s this one moment I can’t stop thinking about 🥹:

"I would shift the seas for you," he whispered, tracing the shell of my ear. "I would let the gods shatter me every noon and midnight. I would worship you until my last breath."
And when she says, "You owe me no promises," and he answers, "I would give you every oath, Nym." — that just wrecked me. 😮‍💨❤️

Some tropes you’ll find in The Shattered King:
✨ Forced proximity
🔥 Slow burn
💔 Enemies to lovers
⚔️ Brink of war
🩺 Mysterious illness
🚫 Forbidden romance
🌿 Unique healing abilities
⚖️ Illegal magic

3.5 stars
The first 20 percent of the book made me think I wouldn’t give the book less than 4 stars
I mean i like the magic system a lot the idea of lumis it shapes and the healing aspect is interesting! But i felt after a while it became a bit repetitive we witnessed the same routine of healing for big part of the book until the end.
The queen made mad so much I couldn’t understand how she could treat the only person that helped her son this bad!
I liked how the healer and the prince’s relationship evolved it wasn’t rational for sure.
Overall i like the book and would recommend for someone that like slow paced books with new magic system.

This first installment in a new fantasy series introduces us to an entirely overwhelmed healer, stolen from her family by a despotic queen to save her horrifically broken son. Nym is angry and panicking. They just took her brother for the war camps! Who will keep her siblings afloat when they’re already balanced on the knife edge of starvation? It’s moody and angry, and oddly feminist, which is not something I expected from this author, though it’s still a very traditional variation on that theme. This is high fantasy that I think will really speak to women who are happy enough with the idea of a traditional marriage, but are really really tired of all their work being discounted. And while that sounds a bit simplistic, like the women navigating that dynamic.. it isn’t. Holmes delivers a nuanced take that I deeply enjoyed, even or maybe especially when I also wanted to put some people in timeout. Plus a really unique magic system and plenty of action!

The plot is lively, the writing almost cozy in the way it unfolds, weaving in world building with Nym’s backstory. The romance is zero peppers. But the world around them is HBO level gritty. I’m not especially sensitive, but the beekeeper bit in the synopsis had me expecting a bit more space between us and the horrors. Nope! It’s all right there in brutal detail.

Nym is very much the helpmeet. Even though she’s the one with all the power, she’s trapped, treated constantly like she’s a machine to be abused and how dare she speak up! Honestly, the entitlement of these people! And stupidity. How is she supposed to fix anything if you break her?? And yet, despite these trials, we don’t really see Nym change so much as the pieces of her are revealed - strong, clever, and a teeny bit impulsive in her anger. Her children might be her siblings rather than of her body, but Nym is the picture of suffering motherhood.

Renn now, Renn is growing! He’s more a prop than a person at first, but as his pain eases, we see him grow quickly beyond the cerebral intelligence into a proper adult. He might not approve, but he’s too overwhelmed by his own suffering to do anything except take and take from Nym, with no bandwidth to think of the consequences. And while Nym is enraged, she’s also accepting of her relationship with Renn from the get go. There’s some lovely ego there - she’s the only one to ever succeed! But, it’s also ingrained in her to give this care work generously, even if she’d ALSO still like to be paid at least subsistence wages. More committed feminists will be annoyed that Renn’s recovery, love, and new moral backbone are so intertwined. But there’s something deeply enticing in the fantasy that the ways we bleed ourselves dry will eventually open the eyes of our unloving loved ones. At least, when there’s magic and mayhem in the mix.

Renn isn’t going to be my new favorite book boyfriend anytime soon (I’m not into parenting my partner, nor is he nuanced enough to deserve it.. yet!), but Nym is a powerhouse I can’t wait to follow into the next stage of this adventure while pretending my husband is going to finally see the light if I also cure him of his ills (pretty much just lactose intolerance, which I feel isn’t going to have the same heft… but then his sins are also much smaller).

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Shattered King is a beautifully written fantasy full of emotion, magic, and healing!
The story follows Nym, a smart and strong heroine with a unique kind of magic that focuses on healing!
Renn, a noble with a painful past and illness, is a perfect match for her. Their journey together is full of tension, growth, and slow burn.

The world building great with a magical system that feels very creative.
The idea of lumis, a magical energy that reflects a person’s inner self, is one of the most interesting parts of the story!!
It’s not just about fantasy; it’s about learning to see yourself differently and finding strength even when life has been cruel..

Great for readers who enjoy:
🌿 Unique healing magic
🏰 Royals and rebels
💔 Characters overcoming trauma
🗡️ Slow-burn romance without the spice