The Orchid Throne
Forgotten Empires Book 1
by Jeffe Kennedy
In the Forgotten Empires magic is forbidden, dreams are destiny, and love is the greatest power of all…
A PRISONER OF FATE
As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Lia will do anything to keep her people free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…
As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Lia will do anything to keep her people free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…
A PRINCE AMONG MEN
Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Lia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?
Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Lia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?
Momma Says: 3 stars⭐⭐⭐
To be fair, The Orchid Throne is a little out of my wheelhouse. It's closer to high fantasy, and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not the norm for me. That could be a big part of the reason I struggled to get into this one. Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for the fantastical setting and people. Nevertheless, I plunged ahead, and everything finally started to click. The world-building was good, but I found the story a bit wordy, as in a lot of unnecessary descriptions and lengthy dialogue. I would've preferred more character building over detailed descriptions of everything the characters were wearing. Again, maybe that's just me. It does seem to take quite some time for things to really get moving, but they eventually do, and I was able to settle in and enjoy the story. The author is clearly talented, and I envy her ability to create such a fantastical world. I think, in this case, it was one of those it's not you, it's me things, and I would say if you like fantasy, you should give this one a shot.
To be fair, The Orchid Throne is a little out of my wheelhouse. It's closer to high fantasy, and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not the norm for me. That could be a big part of the reason I struggled to get into this one. Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for the fantastical setting and people. Nevertheless, I plunged ahead, and everything finally started to click. The world-building was good, but I found the story a bit wordy, as in a lot of unnecessary descriptions and lengthy dialogue. I would've preferred more character building over detailed descriptions of everything the characters were wearing. Again, maybe that's just me. It does seem to take quite some time for things to really get moving, but they eventually do, and I was able to settle in and enjoy the story. The author is clearly talented, and I envy her ability to create such a fantastical world. I think, in this case, it was one of those it's not you, it's me things, and I would say if you like fantasy, you should give this one a shot.
❃❃ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
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