This book was so good! The story was fast paced and packed full of crazy plot twist and action! This is a must read.

I love, love, loved this book! The plot locked me in from page one, and spit me out a new person on the last page. The characters became real to me and will live in my brain forever. The setting was tangible and perfect. The pacing was riveting, but not rushed. All coming together to be a book I can't wait to recommend to my friends.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this read it wasn’t for me. The writing, pace, length and repetition made it seem not joyable. Perhaps I’m not the right target audience and fantasy may not be for me anymore. Truly wished I could have enjoyed it but it was a miss. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Disillusioned by Briar Somerset is such a good book. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic. 5 stars from me.

At its core, I liked the story. However, be prepared for some heavy info-dumping. Throughout the book, there are large chunks of explanation, especially in the middle, where the text felt extra dense. I even found myself skimming at times. I think this could have been much shorter—at 700+ pages, there’s plenty of room for trimming. Some information is repeated multiple times, such as instead of saying, “I told so-and-so the story,” the narrative often replays the entire scene or explanation. It started to feel like the plot was being watered down by all the excess.

The romance here isn’t a traditional love story; it’s more of a dark, toxic obsession. Both the FMC and MMC are consumed with each other in a way that is destructive, playing into dark romance.

Garin is a morally dark grey character—messy, harsh, and flawed. He has a protective/possessive side when it comes to Lilac, and watching him wrestle between his love for her and the monstrous parts of himself made for an interesting dynamic.

Overall: The story itself is strong and compelling, but the execution feels bogged down by too much explanation and repetition. If it had been trimmed up, it would have been an easier to get through read.

This is hook 2 in the series . Enjoyed book 1, book 2 disnt disappoint either ! Great read , had a great time

I went into Disillusioned thinking I’d get a fun mix of dark romantasy with a little bite and a little banter. And while it definitely delivered on the dark part, it was far heavier and more intense than I expected. This is the second book in the A Lay of Ruinous Reign series, and it wastes no time throwing you into Lilac Trécesson’s tangled, dangerous world.

She’s a newly crowned queen trying to keep her throne, caught in deadly bargains with fae courts, navigating political proposals from an emperor she doesn’t trust, and constantly shadowed by Garin, her cursed protector whose loyalty has started to curdle into something more obsessive.

What really surprised me here was how unflinchingly dark the story goes. There’s blood, betrayal, morally gray choices, and a growing sense that Lilac herself is changing in ways that might not be entirely human anymore.

The romance subplot isn’t light or fluffy; it’s complicated, possessive, and often unsettling, which fits the tone of the book but might not be what every romantasy reader is looking for. I also appreciated how the worldbuilding deepened. Fae politics, monstrous envoys, cursed chests, and all that good, eerie stuff, but it sometimes made the pacing feel uneven.

There were moments of breathless tension followed by long stretches of exposition, and I occasionally found myself wishing it would just get on with it.

That said, the emotional stakes were high, and the last act definitely delivers in terms of drama and payoff. I just didn’t love it as much as I hoped to. I admired it more than I was swept away by it. It’s well-written, immersive, and has some genuinely gripping moments, but it’s also heavier and darker than my personal preference for this kind of fantasy-romance. But then again, it's my personal perspective only.

I’m landing at 3.5 stars out of 5. It’s a good sequel that pushes its characters and world forward in bold ways, and I’d still recommend it to fans of darker romantasy who like their stories messy, intense, and morally complicated. Just don’t go in expecting a lighthearted fairytale vibe, this one’s got teeth.

I really enjoyed book one in this series but boy oh boy did I love book two. a Medieval dark fantasy? yes Please. From the plot to the characters I adored every second of this read.

I went and read the first entry in this series when approved for this ARC which I really enjoyed.
Really enjoyed the pulling and retelling of historical events with a fantasy narrative, the political intrigue was probably the best part of this for me.

I will say this is more 3.5 stars for me, the novel didn't feel as clear cut in terms of storyline as the first entry did, slightly harder to follow.
I did also enjoy Garin in the first book moreso than Disillusoned. While he was protective in the first novel this felt a bit overkill and it would have been great to balance him a wee bit more.

Still a fun read but some portions in the middle were a bit more of a speed read to get through.

Disillusioned is an emotional, slow-burn romance that beautifully captures the ache of second chances and the courage it takes to trust again. Briar Somerset writes with warmth and vulnerability, making both the characters and their struggles feel authentic. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, but what really hooked me was the emotional depth—moments of hurt, healing, and rediscovery woven seamlessly together. While the pacing is gentle, it suits the story’s tone and gives the romance room to breathe.

A heartfelt, tender read perfect for fans of character-driven love stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Okay, full confession: I didn’t read the first book in this series (whoops), but that did not stop Disillusioned from throwing me headfirst into a swirl of emotions, drama, tension, and romantic chaos—and I loved every twisty, heart-squeezing second of it.

Briar Somerset knows how to bring the heat and the heartbreak. From the first few pages, I was completely hooked by the emotional intensity between the characters. Even though I didn’t have all the backstory, I felt it in every glance, every misunderstanding, every soft moment between storms. And let me tell you—there were storms.

The characters are messy in the best way. Flawed, real, and full of unresolved feelings that practically leap off the page. I kept turning pages like I was trying to get answers at a family reunion I wasn’t invited to—but by the end, I was fully invested. It was a rollercoaster, yes, but a beautifully built one, with the kind of emotional highs and lows that leave you breathless.

There were definitely moments where I wished I had the context from the first book (note to self: go back and read it!), but honestly, that didn’t take away from the experience—it just made me want more. More answers, more backstory, and definitely more of these characters.

If you’re into stories with raw emotion, romantic tension, and characters who make you want to simultaneously hug them and yell at them—Disillusioned is your kind of book. Just… maybe buckle up before you dive in.

Absolute chef's kiss. This has it all, the comp titles are extreamly accurate. I was hooked after the first chapter and I couldn't put it down!

Disillusioned is a fantasy lover’s dream. dark, romantic, and absolutely impossible to put down. This sequel sweeps us into a medieval world of faerie kings, deadly bargains, cursed protectors, and an impossible choice between love and duty. Lilac’s journey is brimming with danger and a slow-burning tension with Garin, her sworn protector whose devotion borders on obsession. The stakes are high, the emotions higher, and the writing is pure magic. I’m officially putting this author on auto buy status anything she writes, I’m there for it.

The description of this book had me at Buffy. I was really excited to read this book, but sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I found the pacing odd, and that made it really hard to get into the book. Maybe with another pass of editing, I would like it more. 2.5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. It pulled me straight back into Lilac’s world and the mix of magic, politics and dangerous romance kept me hooked the whole way. Lilac is juggling so much at once. She has to protect her throne, make deals with people she should probably not trust and still figure out who she can rely on when the stakes are sky high.

The relationship between Lilac and Garin was easily my favorite part. He is protective in a way that is intense but also a little bit dangerous. You never fully know what he is going to do and that made their scenes even more exciting to read. The tension between them felt real and it made me want to keep turning the pages just to see where it would go.

I liked how the story balanced action and emotional moments. The world building feels rich without slowing the pace and I could picture the settings so clearly. There are twists and decisions that made me stop and think about what I would do in Lilac’s place.

It is the kind of book that has you telling yourself you will just read one more chapter and then suddenly it is midnight. If you like your fantasy with court drama, messy relationships and a heroine who will do whatever it takes to survive, this one is worth picking up.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh man. This one was interesting. I liked the premise of the story but I felt like the middle meandered around too much. There was just too much back and forth about the same things constantly throughout. I constantly had this push and pull between really liking it and being really bored by it. At over 700 pages it just kind of felt like a slog to get through at the end of the day.

I think the saying that didn't work for me in this one was (apart from pacing) the relationship dynamic between our FMC and MMC. After while it was just like what the hell does he actually want? And why does she keep letting him treat her like this? And why are we arguing about the same thing for the fifth time?

Around 75% through, the plot gained its traction again but we still had a lot of that weird arguing for what felt like no reason. Especially with the way that the book ended. The very last sentence is something we knew as soon as the novel started, but it took us over 800 pages of arguing to land back on the same point we'd all been waiting for. I don't know, it just didn't work for me.

The spice was good though. Unfortunately not good enough to make up for the rest of it, but the spicy seems were some of the better ones that I've read.

Overall I think it's a 3.5 and I am rounding down. There is more dead weight with this one then I cared for but I wanted to push through all the same.

I am a huge fan of the series. The first book set a pretty high bar! This installment of the series was just as great. I like the fantasy aspect of being in a monster's world and trying to stay by your love's side.

4.5⭐️
2-3 🌶️

Release Date: Aug 12, 2025
Book 2 in A Lay of Ruinous Reign

Holy chaos, batman—this sequel came in swinging and did. not. let. up. 😮‍💨

We dive right back into Lilac and Garin’s world—think medieval Brittany & France but with vampires, fae, and all sorts of supernatural chaos. War is looming, court politics are a mess, and the “solution” to avoiding disaster? An arranged marriage Lilac definitely doesn’t want. Add in meddling faeries, a dangerous thrall bond, and enough tension to slice with a blade, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously intense read.

Lilac and Garin’s relationship is… whew. Rough edges, aching vulnerability, obsession, beauty—it’s all there. Garin is the ultimate morally grey vampire MMC: possessive, messy, and absolutely devoted in the most unhinged ways. Their push-pull dynamic kept me hooked, and the yearning? Painfully good. 🫠

The world-building stayed rich, the stakes stayed high, and that cliffhanger? Rude. I need the next book yesterday.


Tropes:
🩸 Morally grey MMC
💍 Arranged marriage
🧛‍♂️ Vampires & supernatural creatures
🔥 “I’d burn the world for her”
☠️ Touch her and you die
🫶 Found family
💬 Banter + tension
❤️‍🔥 Possessive love


Thank you NetGalley & Briar Somerset for the ARC 🩸🖤

Morally grey MMC, dark fantasy with Vampire vibes. What’s not to love. This was a great sequel to Disenchanted, I actually enjoyed this book more and rated it higher and the plot was high stakes, fast paced and exiting. I loved the character development and the tension between Lilac & Garin - Beautiful, just what I love! Check your trigger warnings as it is dark in some areas but also delicious and I couldn’t put this down!

I think I may be the odd one out here with my opinion, but Disillusioned didn't quite hit the mark or live up to my expectations after how much I enjoyed Disenchanted.

Thank you though, to the author for the arc! It was greatly appreciated.