Absolutely amazing!

I truly loved this book. The magic is so very unique, the world-building/tension is on-point, and the character arc growth is perfect. Nym is unique, smart, fiery, passionate, and very relatable. Renn is the perfect complement to her character and I especially enjoyed his character growth. There are multiple layers to this story, keeping every facet interesting. I loved the banter, hated certain characters (until I didn't), and was thoroughly hoping for the best for Nym and Renn. This ends on a cliffhanger and I am so sad. Cannot wait for the continuation of this series!

If you like outlawed birthright magic, arrogant but multifaceted nobility, peasants with spunk despite being forced into giving free labor, and truly dangerous villains, choose this book! Perfect for readers of Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Tara Grayce, and W. G. Gingell.

Rated PG-13 for gore, sexual abuse, and physical abuse
--clean romance (no explicit sexual scenes, some kissing)
--scenes of sexual abuse/assault (mildly depicted including some unwanted sexual touch, references to previous rape that is not depicted)
--moderate violence, including death and amputation
--some mild language (not gratuitous)

I received this eARC free from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlie Holmberg, and 47North for ARC!

First of all, I didn’t expect The Shattered King to hit me as hard as it did, but wow—this book quietly pulled me in and didn’t let go. I read it in one go. Nym, a healer and beekeeper, gets swept into palace life and ends up caring for a reclusive prince with a mysterious illness. I loved how our FMC felt practical, compassionate, and a little stubborn in all the best ways. Our MMC, Prince Renn, is the kind of character who stays with you—not because he demands attention, but because he’s so achingly human underneath all that he's been dealt.

The slow-burn relationship between Nym and Prince Renn was a highlight for me. At first, their relationship is distant and uneasy. Their connection builds gradually, growing out of mutual understanding, shared vulnerability, and a kind of reluctant tenderness. It’s not rushed. There’s hesitation, miscommunication, and doubt—but that’s what makes it feel so real.

Holmberg’s take on magic as healing was also refreshing. The way she describes healing and everyones individual lumis liken to objects in the real world was very fascinating.

It’s not a loud, flashy fantasy—it’s intimate, emotional, and beautifully written. If you’re into character-driven stories with subtle magic and heartfelt relationships, this one’s absolutely worth your time.

Hi, thank you so much for allowing me to read this ARC!

This is a book with themes of love, healing and strength. The magic systems and concept of lumis were beautifully crafted (I wonder what my lumis would look like)! I love how varied and creative they were - as a doctor myself, I often find myself using anecdotes and metaphors such as these to make patient care feel more tangible and relatable for them. I may be borrowing a couple of these for my practice.

I loved how carefully the concept of chronic pain and chronic illness was presented by Holmberg, showing how these patients often struggle to differentiate between their illness and themselves. We see how consumed Renn is by his illness, but is soon treated by Nym and her holistic treatment plan where she recognises the need for psychological support (through reading and games), but also physical support (exercise) in improving overall wellbeing. This represents the cornerstone of healthcare in this day and age, recognition that as healthcare professionals we work in teams to not only treat, but prevent further illness too.

Nym Tallowax es una joven sanadora obligada a abandonar a su familia para cumplir con una orden real: intentar curar al príncipe Renn, enfermo y confinado durante años a causa de un accidente devastador. Lo que comienza como una misión forzada, con la intención de fracasar rápidamente y regresar a casa, se convierte en una experiencia transformadora para ambos protagonistas.

Nym es una mujer marcada por la pérdida y la responsabilidad. Crió a sus hermanos menores tras la muerte de sus padres, y vive con el peso constante de tener que ser fuerte por los demás. Su renuencia inicial a colaborar con la corona es comprensible: representa a los que siempre dan sin recibir nada a cambio. Sin embargo, su sentido del deber y su humanidad la empujan a involucrarse más de lo que pretendía.


--

Me costo trabajo los primero capítulos, pero conforme la historia avanza se va poniendo mejor.

Me pareció interesante como funciona la magia de Nym.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

A captive healer, forced to heal a mysterious prince that all before her have failed to heal.

A mysterious prince, captive to chronic illness and trapped within his abilities.

The first book in the new series by Charlie Holmberg, The Shattered King tells a story of growth, perseverance, and magic. This book had me captivated the whole time, the writing style is so well suited to fantasy as it is both lyrical and direct.

I was in love with Prince Renn and Nym, both who felt like distinct characters and faced their own personal growths together and separate. I loved getting to see the development of their relationship, and it felt natural and dynamic.

Most impressive, is the design and description of the “Lumis”, the mental representation of the human body where Nym heals that specific person. It was so creative how every persons is different, and the imagery was so vivid.

Overall, The Shattered King is captivating, magical, and romantic. I can’t wait to read the second book.

4.5 stars

There's so much I loved about this book, starting with the unique magic system. The story is woven around a healing magic whose practitioners can enter people's lumie (somewhat like their souls) to set things right. Each person's lumis looks different, and Holmberg did an amazing job describing them.

One thing that always makes me nervous when a fantasy world has healing magic is that it'll be used to just magically heal everyone, overcoming all obstacles and nullifying disability and the impact of injury. I was pleased to find that Holmberg didn't fall into this trap. Even as Nym spends the book trying to heal Prince Renn, his experience with disability is portrayed with nuance and understanding, and I found myself relating to him very deeply.

Other highlights of the book included a beautiful slow-burn romance, a main character who would do anything for her family, and a cliffhanger that's sure to taunt me until the second book comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for the ARC!

The prince of Cansere has been ill his entire life, and his mother has spent decades drafting physicians and healers to attempt to cure him. Just days after her brother Brien is drafted into Cansere's army, Nym is drafted the castle to attempt to heal the prince and when her talents have an effect, she is forced to stay at the castle in hopes of healing him completely.

I wasn't sure how I felt about this at first because the descriptions of Nym's healing felt very reminiscent to Still the Sun. As the story went on, it clearly differentiated into its own story but some of the prose is so lovely, I might not have minded if it didn't - "And while our breaks were short, I found our walks the most devastating to my resolve against him, because they showed me the breadth of his soul, a wide net tethered by our similarities, strong enough to catch all our differences." Just lovely.

One major warning - this is clearly the start of a duology or series of some kind! I will be anxiously awaiting the next one!
4.5/5 stars!

5 stars — I’m still thinking about this book hours after finishing it.

The Shattered King completely swept me away. From the first chapter, I was hooked—but it was the final third that broke me open. The tension, the reveals, the emotional stakes—I devoured those last chapters with my heart in my throat and haven’t stopped thinking about them since.

Nym is one of the most grounded and quietly strong heroines I’ve read in a long time. A healer and beekeeper trying to keep her family afloat When her brother is conscripted into war, she’s pulled into the capital to treat the mysteriously ill Prince Renn. Her plan? Fail quickly and return home. But nothing goes as planned.

Prince Renn is distant, enigmatic, and clearly suffering from something no one else has been able to treat. The dynamic between Nym and Renn is a slow-burn that simmers with tension and aching vulnerability. Watching their bond shift from wary obligation to fragile connection was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

But this is more than a romance—it’s a story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the deep cost of power. The magic system is compelling, the court politics are twisted and layered, and Holmberg’s writing is sharp, immersive, and surprisingly emotional. I felt everything.

I truly don't know how Charlie N. Holmberg managed to craft something this thoughtful and richly woven in such a short amount of time—but I’m in awe. And after that ending? I’m desperate for the next installment.

Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for the gifted ARC. This book has easily earned its place on my list of top 2025 reads. Releases September 2, and you won’t want to miss it.

I was lucky enough to receive this book as a digital arc, the true rating for this book is 4.25 stars.

This book and the characters are so good, I truly wasn’t expecting to love The Shattered King as much as I did, but prince, or rather king Renn with his character development and how so obviously Inlove and polite and so young love is excellent.

Nym’s mother instincts and all her billion siblings genuinely made me feel like I was part of the family. The reveal of Ursa and how she lost her life to save nym and yet a part of her lives on still.

This book is so so so good and I cannot wait for book 2 to come out, though I know I’m gonna be waiting a while since this book isn’t even out yet!

I really enjoyed this book! The characters are wonderfully developed, making it easy to root for their triumphs and feel their struggles. I loved the slow burn romance between Nym and Renn, it was full of tension, tenderness, and those quiet moments that say everything. The forced proximity made every interaction feel charged and meaningful, and the magical healing added this beautiful emotional layer to it all. I was especially drawn to the magic system; it’s unique, clever, and seamlessly woven into the plot. If you're looking for a captivating and truly imaginative fantasy read, this one is an absolute must!

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

This book follows Nym (FMC) and Prince Renn (MMC), two deeply broken souls, one struggling mentally, the other physically, as they embark on a journey of healing. It’s a slow-paced story, weaving together several tropes:

✳️healer/patient
✳️MMC younger than FMC
✳️forbidden love
✳️forced proximity

The magic system in this book, Craflock, is absolutely stunning. It introduces healers, soulbinders, and mindreaders in a way I haven’t seen in any other story.

I’m not usually a fan of slow-paced books, but this one was so beautifully written and had such a unique magic system that I didn’t even notice the lack of action for most of the story. I was completely captivated by the world-building, and honestly, I didn’t even care that “nothing” was happening in terms of plot, action movement. Then, around the last 20%, the pace picked up, launching into a whirlwind of emotions, non-stop action, and a breathtakingly conclusion.
However, that cliffhanger? Crazy and now, I have no idea how long I’ll have to wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley, North47 and author for this book for review. All opinions are my own.

The story fell a little flat to me. DNF at around 20 percent, maybe the plot should have been developed to be more thrilling. 2 stars.

WOW. It actually physically pains me that I love this book so much and its not even out yet and i have to wait even longer for the second book?

This was phenomenal. I read it in one sitting. i havent read any other fantasy book with this same type of plot/world building. if you wanted to get extremely vague you might find something similar. I read 150-200 books a year and i usually can guess the twists and its really hard when you read that much to love a book and for it to not feel like every other book but THIS was so different and i cannot wait to read more!

well deserved 5 ⭐️ and will be waiting on actual pins&needles for the next one!

Rating: 3.5⭐

Spoiler-Free Review:
As my first ARC, The Shattered King was an experience full of layered emotions—equal parts intrigue, frustration, and curiosity. Charlie N. Holmberg introduces a fresh magic system, craftlock through the lumis, a unique form of healing that feels grounded and textured, rather than just a magical fix-all. I appreciated the depth given to the craft and how the story explored healing beyond the physical.

Set in a rigid society where magic is tightly restricted, the book paints a world on the brink of unraveling, and in that space, we meet Nym—a healer whose dedication and resilience are immediately put to the test. The dynamic between Nym and Prince Renn forms the core of the story, though I struggled to fully connect with their early interactions. The romance didn’t quite land for me until later in the book, but it found its footing more convincingly as the story progressed.

While the second half offered stronger character development and a twist that did pique my interest, I found myself frequently frustrated by the treatment of the protagonist and some of the societal logic within the world. That said, the prose is readable and smooth, and there are compelling elements here for readers who enjoy magic systems rooted in care, survival, and quiet strength.

Will I continue with the series? I’m not sure. I didn’t walk away needing to know what comes next—but I did close the book with a sense of admiration for how it tried to do something different.

Spoiler Discussion (read on if you’ve finished the book):
A large part of my frustration came from how Nym was treated after accomplishing what no healer had managed to do. The palace’s treatment of her—meager food, no rest, no pay and no recognition—was dehumanizing, and while it may have been used to contrast Prince Renn’s eventual kindness, it felt like too much. Renn's excuse for not knowing about her mistreatment and then immediately fixing it fell flat—it was the bare minimum, not something that earned my sympathy.

Later, when he asked Nym what she wanted as a reward and she asked for a walk around town, I was baffled. She hadn’t been paid, her family was in a desperate state, and she still didn’t ask for food or money. It didn’t feel like a believable reaction for someone in her situation.

The romance, too, was hard to believe at first. Their dynamic started more clinical than intimate, and it wasn’t until the latter part of the book that their bond felt more natural. That said, the reveal at the end was an interesting development, and I can see why readers might be curious to continue. I just didn’t feel compelled enough myself.

Lastly, I couldn’t understand the kingdom’s decision to outlaw all magic except healing. That short-sightedness led them to lose in battle to a nation that did nurture magic. It seemed like a strange strategic choice, and it was hard to buy into that aspect of the world-building without more explanation.

Wow. Just… wow. I’m not even sure where to begin. First, a heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this absolute gem. The Shattered King is the first book I’ve read by Charlie Holmberg, and it definitely won’t be the last.

From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing strikes a beautiful balance, being poetic yet grounded, so you’re never lost in the lyricism but fully present with the story as it unfolds. And what a story it is. Nym, a healer, is summoned to tend to the prince, Renn, whose body is shattered. That’s all I’ll reveal, because this is a tale best experienced without spoilers. Let it unfold at its own pace; you won’t regret it.

The magic system is refreshingly unique yet intuitive, requiring little exposition or heavy-handed worldbuilding. And the characters? Every single one, no matter how brief their appearance, feels vivid and fully realized. The world Holmberg has crafted is immersive, enchanting, and an absolute pleasure to spend time in.

This is easily a 5-star read for me.

Oh. My. Gosh. This book was absolutely incredible. Reading it as an ARC (thank you, NetGalley!) made the experience even more special. Honestly, I didn’t even need to read the synopsis. Just seeing Charlie N. Holmberg’s name was enough for me. But this story blew my Crocs off. The world, the magic, the characters—everything felt so fresh and authentic. It’s one of the most original fantasies I’ve read in a very long time. Tragic yet beautiful, cozy yet full of tension. It is pure perfection.

I can’t believe I not only have to wait for this to be published, but also have to wait for book two. I might actually combust before then.

As it is an ARC, I suspect another round of edits may still be in the works. There were a few repeated thoughts, minor typos, and (small spoiler) a mention of a wedding dress around the 66% mark that felt a bit sudden, with little foreshadowing. But even if none of that changes before release, it wouldn’t take away from how fantastic this book is.

This is a solid 5-star read for me. I couldn’t put it down. When I had to, I was still thinking about it. And when I was reading, I was completely immersed and invested. Now that I’m done, I feel like there’s a void in my soul. But I’m so grateful to CNH for creating this masterpiece.

Some of the tropes I loved:
🪄Forbidden magic
⚠️Forced proximity
💕Forbidden love
🔥Slow burn


Thank you, thank you, thank you, 47North, NetGalley, and Charlie N. Holmberg.

This was my first book by Charlie N. Holmberg and it definitely won't be my last. It hooked me from the first page and I just couldn't put it down. The magic system, the characters, the relationships, everything was just "chef's kiss". The ending though... not fair, I need the next book like yesterday.

A young healer named Nym is called to the palace in the hopes she can help a young prince who is gravely ill. Many magic healers have come and gone and no one seems able to make a difference...until Nym. The prince seems rather miserable but hopeful about Nym's healing powers. But as war mounts, both of them will have to work together to fight against a brutal king who is determined to conquer.

I loved everything about this book. I've been looking to get into a new fantasy series and this one is the perfect beginning. Hopefully the second book won't take too long!

I am shattered. This book is amazing. It's a very slow burn, not really enemies to lovers more disgruntled to intense feelings. I never found myself frustrated with the pacing. I usually like a bit more spice in my books but the tension was good.

I was engaged the whole time. Like put it down to do something and couldn't stop thinking about it engaged. I liked the unique magic system and the characters all had solid story arcs. The plot was good. The twists were good. I am a little upset it ended on a cliff hanger but I suppose that is the point. Definitely pick this up.

I really loved the magic system in this book! It’s always very refreshing to see new and unique ways of describing magic, and the whole concept of a lumis and the way the author describes them each time was detailed and truly immersive! I’d have to say that’s my favorite aspect of the whole book!

I appreciated the slow burn romance we got between Nym and Renn. At first, I thought it was going to be too much of a slow burn, but I do think it was very worth it on the end. However, I do wish we saw some more interactions between them in the beginning. The time was sped through quite quickly in Nym’s first weeks and months at Renn’s side, and I almost feel like there was a missed opportunity to have some more of them. Their relationship and getting closer started out really slow, but it did pick up and end up in a really good spot, and I think it’s a good place for them to lead into the second book as well. It gave us enough closure until the next book comes out, which is always refreshing.

I also wish we got a little more of Nym’s feelings for Renn growing. I appreciate that we got an explanation as to why she’d be reluctant to just fall for him right away, which does add to some good tension and yearning on Renn’s part, however I wish we got a little more conflict on Nym’s part as she tried to fight her feelings.

My only big note is that I wanted a little more development in terms of the world and the war. I feel like we got some basic exposition on the world and the gods, but there wasn’t much detail on the way the world works. I’m not sure if this was intentional because Nym was also in the dark, and we were meant to feel as she does, but I feel like I didn’t have a full understanding of the politics of the world and the different kingdoms as I was reading. However, since this is (I’m assuming) a series, that is something that can be explained more in depth in future books, especially given how the book ended. If we’re to be in Nym’s shoes, we will be seeing more of the world in the next one, which I am already eager to read!

Overall, the pacing started out pretty slow, but I I never found myself being uninterested in where the story would go. I’m hoping that we get some more answers on some of the world, the magic system, and Nym’s character in the books to come. I am eager to read more about Nym and Renn’s story and to see where it goes!

I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a slow burn romantasy with new and unique magical elements! If you’re a fan of more subtle and sweeter MMCs and not always the really intense male love interest that a lot of romantasy tends to have, then Renn is the man for you. If you like a badass FMC who doesn’t take crap from anyone but still has her complexities and emotional flaws, then Nym is your girl. And if you like the idea of those two characters together… then you need to read this book.