Book Review: Den of Blades and Briars
The seventh book in the Broken Kingdom series
I read a lot of books. Like a lot, a lot. Last year, I read 128 books. Before you get all huffy and say “there’s no way you read that much,” know that not every book is some epic 800-page fantasy. Some were 300-page modern romances that were so easy to read, I finished in an afternoon. Some took much longer.
However, one of my FAVORITE series from last year is The Broken Kingdoms series by LJ Andrews. Yes, I know that is also an N.K. Jemison series but I’m not talking about that one here.
The Broken Kingdoms Series
Andrews has built quite a world in her Broken Kingdoms series. The way she has it set up is that each queen’s story is a trilogy. The first trilogy is about Elise, second about Malin, and this third one is about Saga’s story. The Broken Kingdoms series was the first one after my ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses - very popular series right now) read where I could get lost again in the world.
Summary
Ari is sent to the Southern Kingdom after the wars in the Eastern Kingdom (Mal and Kase’s story) as the northern ambassador to create ties between the different kingdoms. He travels Saga who must serve Ari for 100 years as punishment for fighting on the wrong side in the wars. They are not friendly. In fact, they despise each other.
But after a tragic death/assassination, Ari is accused of murder and must go on the run with Saga who physically feels a tug towards him due to her century-long servitude. Or at least that’s what she thinks. They work together as they sneak around the Southern Kingdom to find the truth about the assassination and who is behind it all.
Careful - the story ends on a major cliffhanger.
My Review
I first met Ari (the main male character in this book) back during the first trilogy of the series (Valen and Elise’s story). He quickly became a favorite of mine with his sassy one-liners, overly inflated ego, and need to always have the last word. I had always hoped he have a bigger part to play and I got my wish when Den of Blades and Briars came out!
I was fortunate enough to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from the author in exchange for an honest review. My only requirement was to leave an honest review on Amazon but I decided to go a step further because I loved this book so much.
How it starts
The book starts out how the sixth book ended - Ari and Saga (the main female character) at each other’s throats. Their constant annoyance and ridicule of one another was a common theme throughout the first half of the book to a point that maybe bordered on frustrating because we get it… they don’t like each other. But it didn’t quite get to that point.
After an assassination (no spoilers here since you don’t know who I’m talking about), Ari is accused of the murder and must go on the run. Saga, unfortunately, has to go with him since her bonded servitude makes it hard for her to be away from him. I loved the forced proximity (it’s a favorite trope of mine) and Andrews wrote it really well without being cringey.
The entire middle
As a fair warning, this is a true slow-burn romance. It takes FOREVER for the initial seggsiness to happen but when it does… BOOM! Fireworks!! It’s worth it, I swear. In between the steamy scenes, readers meet some new characters. One of which is turning out to be my favorite.
Gorm is the leader of the Court of Blood (yes, think vampire-esque). He is fiercely loyal to his subjects and is feared by all other courts outside his. But once you get to know him, he’s kind of hilarious. He takes everything literal. This was an exchange at one point:
Bracken’s eyes flashed with anger. “I would hold your tongue.”
“I cannot hold my tongue. It is inside my mouth,” Gorm said without a change in his tone.
“What I mean is if you know what is good for you, Lord Gorm, you will be silent.”
“Silence does nothing for my wellbeing, ill or good, High King. Silence is merely the absence of sound.”
“I think I might kill him,” Bracken said, a touch of a king’s necessary bloodlust at last revealed.
See? Like I said, hilarious.
There are times where Ari takes offense to some things that Saga says but the air is cleared almost immediately. I tend to stray from the “miscommunication trope” - it’s one of my least favorite tropes and is why I avoid the Young Adult genre generally. But Andrews writes the adults in her book as how adults should react and communicate and I love it.
I also really love how Andrews has strong FMCs in all her books and this one was no different. There is a battle between Saga and Ari whether who is the hero vs the damsel in distress. It goes back and forth a few times but it ends with one who clearly needs to head out on a quest while the other sits on their ass and waits. It’s both heartbreaking and highly enjoyable.
Did not see that ending coming
There is a betrayal (several times actually now that I think of it) at the end and a shocking move as to who is behind everything. It is truly heartbreaking and one that made my eyes well up with tears because I felt the tragic sadness.
And also - this book ends in a cliffhanger as most trilogies do until the third book. Get ready for quite the rollercoaster.
Den of Blades and Briars comes out February 21, 2023 on Kindle Unlimited and other outlets.
Favorite quotes
Ari, being the sassy, one-liner master:
“Don’t fret, many weak-spined men like yourself have trouble—” He lifted one finger. “You know, performing.” – Ari
And another:
“I am never distracted, only lost in profound thought.” – Ari
Saga, realizing her fate.
For there was a part of me that feared he was not just my savior, but also the man destined to destroy me. – Saga
More realizations happening:
“I hate you.” – Saga
“You hate me,” I whispered. “Because you don’t. And you can’t stand it. You want to detest me, yet you’ve found I’m not entirely unbearable.” – Ari
There was always this struggle between hate and love, frustration and need:
His touch was a flame. A burden. A shackle. It was a calm I did not want. – Saga
Another one:
I thought of Ari too much. In angst, in affection, in irritation, and amusement. – Saga
And another one:
He kissed my scars, not caused them. – Saga
Tropes
If you like these tropes, you’ll like Saga and Ari’s story:
Enemies-to-lovers
Slow burn
Found magic
Forced proximity
Bonded mates
One bed
“Who did this to you?”
“Touch her and die”
Complete opposite of miscommunication - seriously, the characters actually resolve misunderstandings almost immediately (it’s wonderful)
Content Warnings
Be prepared for:
Implied sexual abuse/assault
Past trauma, rape, sexual abuse, murder, familial murder
Murder
Violence
Graphic consentual sex scenes
Bondage during sex (minor and consentual)