The Promised Queen by Jeffe Kennedy
Forgotten Empires #3

All good things must come to an end…unless this author decides to carry on with the other worlds mentioned in this trilogy and perhaps builds a spinoff to a delightful fantasy romance that ended just as it should by the end of book three of this series.

What I liked:
* Lia: a species I have never seen before with all the positive attributes necessary to make this story special. She and Con were perfect for one another.
* Con: someone deprived of his birthright who managed to survive and perhaps thrive as a result of the horrific life he was forced to live. He was perfect with and for Lia.
* The love that grew between Con and Lia
* The magical elements of the story
* Calanthe: home to Lia, an island, magical, and so much more
* The mythology and prophecy of this series
* The supporting characters – many could have stories of their own
* The way that Con and Lia were there for one another
* That good overcame evil
* The way all the threads were tied up by the end of the series
* Thinking about the future and the possibilities for Con, Lia and the others

What I didn’t like:
* Anure, the evil wizards, and the suffering they meted out on so many

Could this series have been many books? Yes.
Did it tell the story and do it well in three books? Yes.
Will I miss spending more time with Con and Lia? Definitely
Would I read more by this author? I am sure I would!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )

This is a wonderful wrap-up to an exciting and original romance-fantasy series.

Con might have managed to rescue Lia from the grip of the evil wizards, but by bringing her back to life, none of them came out scar-free. Lia's more than confused...and those around Con keep reminding him it is the brain which rots first. But there's more to it; he's sure there is. But as she's lost in a muddled-mental-nightmare, the island is dying and sending the entire kingdom into chaos. But even if he finds a way to help her heal, there's still the question of what to do now that he knows the plans of the one who took her captive.

I'll admit, I can't remember if I read the second book in this series or not, but the first one definitely still sticks in my memories. So, while it took a bit to sink into this third installment and figure out what was going on, it wasn't too difficult either. Still, I recommend reading this as a series, since none of these are stand-alones.

There are so many original elements about this fantasy and surprises that it's hard to put this one down. Con has developed so much from the first book and is finally filling the shoes of the king he's meant to be. Lia has always been a force to be reckoned with, but now, the secret behind her entire existence is being exposed (one she doesn't know herself). It sheds an entire new light on her and the island, and she embraces all of this only the way a true heroine can. Of course, they have all of their allies on their side, which round off the richness and depth. I've learned to like every single one and am sad to see them go.

The pacing in this one is quick but by no means ignores the psychological and character development. There's just so much tension and darkness still to be unraveled that this bunch has more than enough to deal with. Of course, the writing is grabbing and the world building still draws in. So, the fantasy side of this sits solid and promises an exciting ride.

Then, there's romance. These two have long bonded, and despite several lingering doubts, are a couple through and through. Their relationship goes beyond superficial, which was really nice to see. There are a couple of steamier moments, but these are kept in check and don't overtake the main story in any way. The development in this one does leave the reader wondering how it will all turn out in the end, but the author does know how to close this one up in a wonderful way, too.

I received an ARC through Netgalley and really enjoyed the dive into this fantasy world. ( )