The Half-Hearted Queen

The Shattered King #2

by Charlie N. Holmberg

In this spellbinding dark fantasy from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg that concludes the Shattered King duology, Nym must escape the clutches of her captors and find her way back to Renn even as forbidden love, magic, and secrets collide with the weight of the crown and the war between kingdoms.

Nym never told Prince Renn she loved him. And now, as a captive and political pawn to the ruthless King Nicosia, Nym finds herself guarding more than her forbidden feelings for Renn as the kingdoms of Cansere and Sesta clash and the bloodshed of war rages. Nym’s connection to Renn is more than just romantic—it’s magical, and King Nicosia will stop at nothing to find Renn’s weakness and claim the kingdoms as his.

Now Nym must find a way to escape the cruel and twisted fate of imprisonment as she faces the unimaginable horrors and dangerous secrets hidden within King Nicosia’s palace walls. With the succession of kings on the line and a dangerous prophecy unfolding, Prince Renn faces his own impossible choice. The future of the throne hinges on a political alliance that means forsaking his love for Nym. If he can’t fulfill his destiny and unite the kingdoms, King Nicosia will destroy them all.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Magic, Fantasy Romance, Audiobook, Adult

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.

Amazon: amzn.to/2BXoQNZ
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter: Twitter.com/cnholmberg

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shattered King really was a romantasy surprise for me earlier this year and now I'm happy that the second book concluded the series in an equally good way. I will try to be vague about the events at the end of the first book, but you better only read this review if you are up to date with the series. You were warned. With the start of this book Nym finds herself in enemy territory, separated from the prince that she loves. She is held captive by King Nicosia without even knowing what he is trying to achieve. At first I thought that he could be a reasonable man with goals worthy of support, but I quickly learned that he was an absolutely terrible person. Nym really starts out in a horrible situation without much hope, but her character shines through these dark times. She is as determined and clever as always, and immovable in her beliefs. Still, everything she has to endure leaves deep scars on her. I liked how this book dealt with trauma and healing, especially since the series is about a magical healer. Nym's healing powers are still awesome and described in such a creative way, but I always thought that she is severely overpowered. This was balanced way better in this second book, because now outwardly directed power is always contrasted by the damage it causes internally. And not only with Nym, but also with Renn. I like him as a character, but I think that he came a little short in this book where he is absent for a good chunk of it. And when he finally returns to the story, there is a whole we-can't-possibly-be-together plot and it was honestly annoying and unnecessary in my opinion. There was obviously a reason for it, but Charlie N. Holmberg could have also just not written it that way. Like, was the character Azra only there to be annoying? And I'm also very capable of reading the title of this book, so please don't give me this will-they/won't-they stuff. The book seriously dragged at the middle part because of it too and I was just dissatisfied with that plotline. Anyway. Overall my feelings for this book are very positive. Book one didn't really answer any questions and now book two reveals everything slowly. The world is explored way more than in the first book and many connections are further explained: between Nym and Renn, between the magic and the countries, between gods and royalty. The magic was as cool as ever and so was Nym. I loved seeing her growing new and rekindling old relationships and eventually starting to heal through them. The series feels mature to me and it does achieve so without any sexual / spicy content and it's great that this book proves that not every adult romantasy novel needs that to be good. Everything wraps up nicely here and I'm glad that I've already finished this series by reading two good books.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Aanz ★.ᐟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ──★ !!

↳ ┆ .✦゛ 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 : october 10 ˎˊ˗
↳ ┆ .✦ ゛𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 : january 6 ˎˊ˗

⟢ ❝ 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞 ❞

┆﹒⌗﹒ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ⸝⸝
After not picking this up for 3 months , I devoured it in two days. I started this book by 11pm and didn’t realise it 2 am until I saw the time 😭This book was a rollercoaster. The beginning was very slow , and that’s why it took me so long to complete this book. The middle part of the book, emotional. I felt so bad for Nym and I was almost certain they weren’t the endgame 💔 The end part was fast paced , which made me even more eager to see what is gonna be ending. Im extremely happy with how this duology ended , even though it felt a bit rushed. I have to say I was expecting more action and fighting scene during the last chapter but I’m satisfied! Nym and Renn went through a lot and the epilogue couldn’t have been more perfect <3 This book was definitely more emotional than book one, I had teary eye while reading the middle portion of the book. I loved the writing style. THE YEARNING OMG🤌🏻 Nym and Renn are PERFECT for each other. The characters were very likeable. The plot leans towards politics a little more in this book.It was very refreshing to see tropes like the FMC being older than the MMC and healer x patient. Dare I say one of the most well written YA duology with extremely unique magic system!

⟢ ❝ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.
𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬❞

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.


┆- ⭑𓂃 ⌗ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs 𖦹 🦢


˖ ࣪ ꒰ . 𝐍𝐲𝐦 . ꒱ ⊹🪞🦢⋆
⟢ ❝𝐓𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫. ❞

I LOVE HER! She’s like Rin from The Poppy war but YA and a little soft. She’s a healer and can also turn into a warrior. I loved to see her character growth in this book. I admire her strength. I loved her relation with her family and reuniting with her family. I loved Ursa, how she was ALWAYS there for her even after she’s dead. Ursa is one of the major character in this book and need appreciation Random but why do I always picture Ursula Buffay from F.R.I.E.N.D.S when I read about Ursa Coming back to Nym, A extra thank you to the author for writing this book in Nym’s POV because this made the book even better. I felt Nym’s pain echo in my own heart whenever she saw Renn with Azara. I was emotionally wrecked, feeling Nym’s pain page after page. I have a huge respect for her in my heart ♥️


˖ ࣪ ꒰ . 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐧 . ꒱ ⊹🪞🦢⋆
⟢ ❝ 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 , 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐍𝐲𝐦 ❞

THE GREENEST OF THE GREENEST GREEN FLAG OUT THERE 🥹 He is such a golden retriever. It’s very fresh to read about an MMC who isn’t a dark haired cocky mafia who is cold to everyone except Y/N. I loved how he wouldn’t give up on Nym , no matter what. He is smart and he is charming WHAT ELSE DOES A GIRL WANT!? Renn protects because he cares, not because he wants ownership. No jealousy and no toxic “mine” nonsense. Just quiet loyalty and “I’ve got you” energy. The way his feelings grew naturally over time from friends to lovers ? LOVE IT . No insta lust and no rushed nonsense, just pure love 💕 LADIES THIS GENTLEMEN IS A HUSBAND MATERIAL! Why cant he just exist 😭


˖ ࣪ ꒰ . 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 . ꒱ ⊹🪞🦢⋆
I have to talk about Adole Nicosia. Nicosia was a very well written villain. Don’t get me wrong , the things he did WERE UNFORGIVABLE. He was a ruthless villain. But he was very crucial to the story. He kept the story engaging. I was not satisfied by how he was defeated , he deserved even worse ending. He reminded me of Ravan in Ramayan, although he was very intelligent , his pride and lust consumed him. Princess Eden was a sweetheart. I felt very bad for her, but the way she dealt with the trauma 🫡 She deserves the best. Her and Brien are already endgame in my mind. Now let’s talk about THE BITCH. Princess Azara. The way she treated Nym was UNACCEPTABLE. Girl thinks the world revolve around her, like no one even likes you can kys.I hope she has a slow and painful death 🤗

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.


┆ ˗ˏˋ » 🦢 ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇs ! ˎˊ˗

⤿ Slow burn
⤿ YA, No spice
⤿ Healer x Patient
⤿ FMC is older than MMC
⤿ Forbidden rom
⤿ Forced proximity
⤿ Unique Magic system
⤿ Major TW : SA (not shown but prominent), graphic captivity and torture, trauma, death, and war.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

┆ ✮`,— ғɪɴᴀʟ ᴠᴇʀᴅɪᴄᴛ .ᐟ.ᐟ

This duology is EVERTHING. The yearning and the characters? chefs kiss 🤌🏻 I cant wait for everyone to discover this underrated masterpiece !! ( btw the first part is already published) Definitely going to read more books by this author! Thanks to 47North, Net galley and Charlie N Holmeberg for this e ARC in exchange for an honest review.

↳ ┆ .✦゛𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎 : march 3 ˎˊ˗

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 ★— Lives were changed, people! Lives. were. changed.

After the first book of this duology sucked me into its orbit and spat me out, leaving me completely disheveled, this one had me on the edge of my seat, trampled on my heart, and somehow still managed to leave me happy to have followed these characters on their journeys.

Nym impressed me throughout this book. The level of tenacity, grit, determination, and cleverness that as a reader I only glimpsed in the prior book truly shone here and left me in awe of her. She learned to use her powers in new, more lethal, and fast-paced ways, and it was just glorious (and also harrowing, of course) to watch her fight to survive after being abducted by King Nicosia at the end of the previous book.

This sequel also deepened relationships that hadn’t fully formed before, and I found myself teary-eyed at many points in the story.

King Nicosia was a solid villain, and seeing more of his motivations was engaging. However, I did feel that some of the story threads related to him were left a little unaddressed by the end. Maybe that’s just me and my naive wish for a more drawn-out resolution between the main characters and their conflicts, but I couldn’t help feeling like I wanted a bit more closure.

Otherwise, this book puts many of its characters through the wringer — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. There’s plenty of pain, tension, and deep-seated fear and trauma on both Nym’s and Renn’s sides, all brought to the surface through the story’s heavy conflicts and monumental events.

By the end, I felt exhausted, drained, happy, but ultimately so grateful to have followed Renn, Nym, and the others through their journey.

If I had one small complaint, it would be that the ending felt a tiny bit rushed. Or maybe that’s just me being greedy and wanting more time with Nym and Renn at peace. I would have loved a longer epilogue or an extra chapter to explore their new reality, but again, that’s probably just me not wanting to let go of these two.

All in all, I’m going to be battling the biggest book hangover from this series. Where am I going to find something that makes me feel the way this duology has over the past week?

🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
The narrator for this was out of this world! The way she managed to do the different inflections for the himbos and Ian, somehow making them sound so distinct and easy to tell apart, was impressive. Loved her!
_________

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Livlyy ⭑.ᐟ]

OMG OMG IM ALREADY SO HYPED UP , CANT WAIT FOR THIS TO RELEASE 🥹❤️❤️❤️

[laughingzebra · Rating 2 out of 5]

When reviewing new books or those with few reviews, I feel the need to add my frequent disclaimers if I’m giving a low score. I’m an emotional reader. I shouldn’t be relied upon for judgment on technical standards. I don’t care about spelling, grammar, or plot holes. I want to be told an engaging story that doesn’t fuck with my emotions. I also read nearly 24/7, which means I’m a bit grumpy and worn out on common tropes. My memory is also nonfunctional, so my reviews are full of unnecessary thoughts, ideas, and opinions. This is why I refuse to be an ARC reader. I would absolutely give in to the pressure to be helpful and supportive. You know who doesn’t find those reviews helpful? Me. I’m writing these reviews for me because I need them. (Side note: there are so few genuinely helpful ARC readers. For those of you who don’t throw gif bombs and use all caps in the first sentence, and do include trigger warnings and real thoughts: thank you.)

So take this with a shit ton of salt and whatever other spices you can think of.

Also, spoilers

I really loved book 1. I’m pretty sure I gave it one of my very rare 5 stars. I actually watched the clock for this download.

It started out mostly ok. There was a lot of repetition in the internal monologue that revolved around some very obvious conclusions. I’m not a clever reader. If the entire reading audience were in a metaphorical race, I’d be happily trotting along in last place. If I’m confused because we’ve arrived at a discovery that I thought we already knew, that’s saying something.

It was engaging though and things moved along in an original-enough way.

Here’s the thing though. The first book was character and relationship driven, with some solid plot support. The FMC and MMC have a unique dynamic that was enjoyable to watch. Then, we have the epiphany of the FMC deciding that she loves the MMC. She leans on their emotional bond heavily during the many traumatic pages leading up to the middle of the book.

She finally escapes, he saves her (at the 5 yard line- she deserves credit for mostly saving herself), flaming wings and all. Exciting stuff.

Then we fell into a combination of my least favorite tropes. The first being the Oh No We Can’t Be Together trope. The second is the very very very worn out arranged marriage trope. That one doesn’t even deserve capital letters.

I’m not having it.

The very second that the FMC is rescued, she runs into the potential wife to be. The sensible MMC is like “no, I’m not marrying her because I love you, will you marry me?” And the fucking dumbass of a FMC is all “no I insist on being a martyr no matter what.” She’s not interested in other solutions. What’s the guy supposed to do? What am I supposed to do? I’m bored. I’m bored because we just cut and pasted the middle of 5 billion other romances. Not only that, but OW drama fucks with my emotions. That’s fine and good if you can work it in with a clever plot. It is not fine and good if I’m also bored

Not fine and good at all.

Every bit of the conflict and drama is completely manufactured by the FMC being an idiotic martyr. I have no tolerance for stupid FMCs in romances and I’m quickly losing patience with martyrs of any kind.

So, I’m not having fun. Since I loved book 1, I gave this book a solid 70 pages to redeem itself or get its shit together. It has not, so I’m out.

If you have not read the aforementioned 5 billion other romances, or if these tropes are some of your favorites, this might not bother you at all. Don’t let me stop you. It was an excellent and unique story for a good long while. No egregious errors or sins were committed.

I do wish I could give the author a five star award on the side for writing a duology in this trying time of 9-book series. Thank you for giving us an entire story in a timely manner. My annoyance does not make this a bad book.

I take reading way too seriously, so I can honestly say that there are very few things that annoy me more than review sections with no poor reviews. No book is 100% compatible 100% of the audience. A painting needs dark colors along with light colors to be accurate.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, 47 North, for sending me this ARC. The expected publication date is March 03, 2026. Charlie's stories are some of the books that got me back into reading as an adult.

The Shattered King Duology is such a full circle, adventurous 'romantasy', but the way Charlie does romance is top-notch. Not too much or too spicy, just enough of a pull to keep you hooked and invested in the characters. Honestly, I loved all the characters in this book. They all had a part in making this story good and really heightened the plot. Charlie builds the best worlds, and her magic system is always so unique and interesting. Loved this. 4 stars for now.

I'd love to revisit this series via audiobook one day.

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫

[Cheyenne Kuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was perfection. It had everything I love. A mature, intelligent, strong FMC, amazing character development, the romance feels natural and earned, forced proximity, forbidden love, interesting magic, high stakes, emotional trauma. This series may be my top read of 2025.

[Lili’s little library · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5⭐️

Wow. I got this book yesterday and devoured it within the day.

The Half-Hearted Queen is a rich and evocative fantasy following feisty and endearing protagonist Nym as she battles her captivity under King Nicosia and dreams of returning home to Renn.

I loved The Shattered Prince. But after finishing the sequel, it’s clear that The Shattered Prince walked so The Half-Hearted Queen could run. The stakes are infinitely higher, the relationships are more nuanced and the characters - good, evil and everything in between - are deeper and more intricate than ever before. I adored Nym’s continued exploration of her powers and her discovery of some unintended consequences of her magic.

An absolutely captivating whirlwind of fantasy, The Half-Hearted Queen is the masterpiece sequel in an unforgettable duology.

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so beautifully done. There were a multitude of small moments and choices that were written so well. I loved all the raw feelings and the open struggle of overcoming past hurts. I loved the integrity and loyalty of the main characters. This has been my favorite series so far. Well done 👏🏻

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for this arc.

[Lana C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than the first book, but it’s also a lot heavier. Things get way more traumatic in this book, so the trigger warnings are definitely worth checking before going in. The story digs a lot deeper into the darker parts of the magic and what the characters are going through.

The magic system is still the highlight for me. I love how each person’s lumis is different and how it can be repaired or destroyed. Even though Nym is technically a healer, the way she interacts with magic ends up being a lot more intense than that. In the first book we only really saw small glimpses of other types of magic, but this time we get much closer to them. Soul binding especially is honestly terrifying, and the way Nym has to endure it makes some parts of the book really heartbreaking.

One relationship I actually liked a lot in this book was between Nym and Princess Eden. Their bond feels very much like trauma bonding, but it works. They come from completely different lives, but there’s this quiet understanding between them that felt really believable.

I still feel a little iffy about the romance between Nym and Renn, though. It just feels kind of forced to me. After everything that happened in the first book with the castle siege, the whole “giving half her heart to him” thing makes the relationship feel a little rushed. Honestly, I think it would have been more interesting if they had just become really close friends who supported each other instead.

Overall though, I did enjoy this one more than the first, which is why I ended up giving it four stars. It’s a quick duology with a really fun magic system, but it also brings a lot more emotional depth this time around. Even with a few things that didn’t fully work for me, it was still a pretty engaging read.

[Brittnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW ✔️
Intense ✔️
A love that is hard fought for ✔️
Couldn't put it down ✔️
Ruthless villain ✔️
Unique fantasy world ✔️

Received an ARC, opinions are my own.

I read book 1, The Shattered King, earlier this year and after that cliffhanger I'm so glad I got an early copy of this book!! I'm not going to put a book description here because I don't give any spoilers. This book is an intense fantasy that does include the darker parts of captivity and war. This is definitely now one of my top favorite fantasy duologies! 

[Tera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A duology romantasy that isn't 600+ pages that still packed a punch? Sign me up. I read The Shattered King on a whim earlier this year and was immediately impressed. I could not wait for The Half-Hearted Queen!

This story picks up right where book one left off and we see just how Nym and Eden are to escape the imprisonment from Adoel Nicosia. The magic of this story continued to draw me in. A healer who has so much to heal from and has to use her gift in a way no healer should have to... I couldn't get enough! I feel like despite this book not being as long as a typical fantasy, it was perfect the way it was, but I also feel I could read a whole lot more pages and be just as happy. I still couldn't get enough of Nym's power and the author's creative way she worked with a person's lumis. I'm so sad this story is over, but can't wait to recommend to all my reader friends.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I hoped for so good.

Ok so It was only two books but wow did it get a lot of great stuff in it Good plot twists great characters I really loved this one. I'm really hoping that she decides to make a book on the brother who is a mind reader that would be amazing.


Happy Reading 📖 📚📘📙📓📗📕📘📚📔📙📓📗📕📘📚📗📙📚📘

[Naomi P K ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the Shattered King and I’m glad I finished this duology. The beginning was strong and intense, the middle lagged a bit, then the ending tied it all together and gave the FMC and MMC a satisfying end to their tale. My main gripe (and maybe more of a personal preference) is that I would have loved alternate perspectives. The FMC’s internal monologues were repetitive especially in the middle.
I’m definitely glad I read this series as it felt unique and fresh for the genre.

[Madeline (bookswithmadi_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stellar conclusion to an awesome duology!

Nym is SUCH a great example of a strong, bad-ass FMC. She goes through some major trauma in this book (like seriously) but even at her worst she continues to approach life with a grace we could all learn from. Not that she's always perfect but she's so relatable that it's impossible not to love her and root for her despite her shortcomings.

And the romance?! So freaking swoony. If I had to complain about anything it would be that I wished Renn and Nym had more time on the page together. Despite that, their romance is amazing and it's the kind that will make you believe in soul mates.

I kind of hope we get to see more from this world in the future. A Brien and Eden book perhaps? (PLEASE CHARLIE!) This book has amazing main characters, but also amazing side characters.

In case you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of this series. I highly recommend it to fans of the fantasy genre!

TW: physical, emotional and sexual abuse; PTSD; war and violence
Spice: fade to black

[Taylor Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked The Prince's Captive / Mage by Celeste Baxendell or The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon, you will probably like this duology. Similar vibes, hits many of the same tropes / emotional plot points, peeks into political intrigue without being overwhelming for a more casual reader.

I have read everything published by Charlie Holmberg. This definitely ranks high up in the list of her books, though it is unfortunately not the highest. (Personally, I think her Whimbrel House series is by far her best work. Vivid worldbuilding, dimensional characters, and the right balance of cozy and tension... for better or worse, it serves as a standard-to me at least-of what she is capable of as an author.) I would have suggested different titles as you realize they're spoilers immediately after starting to read.

Comparing this book to her other works:

Description: there was a little something... missing. Perhaps visualization? It wasn't until the second book of this duology that I really had an idea of what things were meant to look like. You get plenty of descriptions of cinctures, Nym's hair, and Renn's eyes, but otherwise it felt like descriptions were really limited to what was immediately being interacted with no extra detail.

Characterization: Nym was reeeeally matter of fact about everything, even her anger, so it left me feeling kind of detached from her feelings. There would be moments of breakthrough where I felt connected to her emotions, then it would go back to her usual bland interpretation of everything. Dialogue that should have evoked more in the reader frequently fell flat because dialogue tags and descriptions were sparse. I found myself inserting phrases and words to bring these parts to life. I think if the descriptions had been ramped up, more in line with her previous works, Nym would have been more engaging.
I'm going to go off on a limb and say this was a result of writing in 1st POV? The majority of Homberg's work is in 3rd POV (if I counted correctly, there are 9 1st POV and 15 3rd POV) and the 3rd POV books are consistently rated higher by me than their 1st POV counterparts, though a few have stood out (such as The Hanging City).
That being said, I REALLY liked Renn. His petulance at the beginning, then steady evolution towards confidence as he begins seeing progress in his healing, was so endearing. He's really what kept me locked in.

Plot: Enjoyable, as I am a sucker for nursing-back-health storylines, haha. Definitely a lot more character focused than anything, so some may find it pretty slow. I found this duology very similar to another duology I really liked, the first book being The Prince's Captive by Celeste Baxendell. In sort of a funny twist, this duology definitely had more plot momentum than Baxendell's, but Baxendell's did a better job at illustrating the world and surroundings. Combining them would probably result in a top tier book for me, haha.
Additionally, this duology is more "adult" than Homberg's other works and probably the only one that had a content warning at the beginning. It was very interesting to see something like this released by Holmberg, but I enjoyed it. Though maybe a bit on the nose at times, I appreciated her tact at discussing the difficult/traumatic experiences that the characters go through.

Conclusion: I read both books in the duology (the second as an eARC from NetGalley) in basically one go. I started reading in bed, hit 80% in book one, fell asleep, and finished both books the next day. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Holmberg could be considered a comfort read of mine, as I am never left disappointed. (Except for Followed by Frost... we don't talk about that one...)

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****Audiobook Update*****

I LOVED being immersed in this story again. This time listening to the story. I loved how Natalie Naudus brought these characters to life. I was completely pulled in and liked being able to watch for some clues that I didn't catch when I read it the first time through. This is quite the story and adventure for these characters. I definitely recommend the audiobook if you love listening to your books. But however you enjoy it, listening or reading, just pick it up!

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, via NetGalley, for the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I kept seeing the first book, The Shattered King, being talked about by friends and readers. One of my book besties kept telling me I needed to read it, that it was amazing! Then I happened to be on NetGalley and saw that this book was available to request. I made a split-second decision (seriously it probably was even shorter of a decision time than that), and hit request! I was soooo excited when I got the book. Which of course led me to buying the first book and reading it. Y'all I DEVOURED the first book! And then jumped right into this one! I set aside my carefully planned out reading order so I could read this one. Because #readingpriorities! And sometimes when you're in the mood for a certain book, you just have to set the others aside! Oh! My! Word!!!!! I seriously loved this one! I couldn't get enough of it. I kept having to pause a lot in my reading of it due to real life happenings. Which was good. But I was definitely thinking about this one a LOT and wanting to know what was going to happen! These two books are MUST READS for fantasy lovers! Holy Moly!!!

Nym and Prince Renn's story is soooo good! The world building and magic system was so intriguing. And the ending of book one had me kind of crying out, "WHAAAAATTTT???? NO WAY!!!! OH MY WORD!!!! I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!!!!" Not even kidding about that. My family was looking at me with some concern in their eyes. Hahaha! But then I was telling my teenage, fantasy-book-loving daughter that she HAS to read this series!!! *Insert eye roll* Okay, she didn't really roll her eyes at me but definitely gave me a look like she was saying "Really, Mom?" She's funny. She doesn't jump at reading the books I recommend and then when her friends recommend them then she's like oh yeah, I need to read that! Hahaha! But I honestly can't wait for her and her friends to read this series! They're going to love it!

This is definitely going on my favorites shelf!!!

Content: The author has an author's note at the beginning of the book with content warning. I would let my older teenagers read this but as the author says it may not be suitable for all readers. There are moments of peril and suspense in the book, themes of war and references all types of abuse, although they are not portrayed in detail, it does reference it. So if any of those things are triggers for you, then I recommend skipping this book.

I received a copy from the publisher, 47North, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ - There are some books that I intentionally take longer to finish because I want to savor every moment. The Half-Hearted Queen was one of them. This was a perfect conclusion to the duology. Where the first book focused on building relationships between the characters, this one dove straight into the action, picking up right where the last one left off.

This book, and the entire duology, frankly, was a masterclass in efficient storytelling and perfect pacing. Just like the first book, I don't think we lingered on any scenes for too long and we didn't get lost in flowery descriptions, but I still feel like I could picture everything going on. Both books combined are around 700 pages and I don't think a single page was wasted. If you thought The Shattered King was too slow, still give this one a chance because the plot also really picks up the pace here.

The shorter page count doesn't mean a lack of action or character development though. The plot put the characters through the wringer emotionally. Admittedly, it got darker than I was anticipating, so definitely check trigger warnings. There's plenty of trauma, fear, and loss, but there's also hope, compassion, and survival woven throughout the entire story, even during the toughest moments.

Nym's growth shines through during these times especially. She's been through so much, and somehow that's only made her stronger, more empathetic, and kinder. Her overcoming her trauma to let herself love and be loved was perhaps the most moving part of this story. And I said this in my review of the first book and stand by it: Renn is still one of my favorite MMCs in a long, long time. His arc complements Nym's really well as he learns to navigate being a king. He's loyal, thoughtful, and not driven by ego or the need for power.

My favorite part of the book was Nym and Renn's literal emotional bond caused by Nym's cure at the end of The Shattered King. It just worked on so many levels for me. For one, it upped the emotional stakes significantly because if Renn had to forsake Nym and their love, they'd both feel that loss indefinitely. I found myself getting so anxious about whether they were going to figure things out or not. Renn and Nym are also separated for a good portion of this book and I found that authors often default to turning the story into dual-POV in these cases, so readers know how the other character is faring. My issue is that the second POV rarely adds anything that's actually important to the story. With the bond, we still got a clear sense of how Renn is surviving and processing everything without needing his POV directly. And as an added bonus, their bond also eliminates the possibility of the miscommunication trope popping up throughout the book, which I really appreciated as a person who strongly dislikes that trope.

Overall, if you're looking for a series with well-rounded, mature characters, a beautiful love story, and a creative magic system, definitely check out this duology!

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for the early copy!

Burner Kindle Book Blog

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

A Kingdom Ruled by the Heart

Some stories whisper instead of roar. ‘The Half-Hearted Queen’ is one of them.

This sequel does not rely on grand battles or explosive twists. Instead, it draws the reader inward, into the fragile space between duty and desire. The emotional tension is constant, almost delicate, like a thread pulled just tight enough to hum beneath every chapter.

What makes this story compelling is its psychological layering. The queen at the heart of the novel is not simply navigating a kingdom, she is navigating herself. Doubt, longing, fear of loss, and the weight of expectation shape her choices. Her growth feels gradual and believable, built scene by scene rather than forced through dramatic events. The structure reflects this internal journey, with quieter chapters allowing the emotional stakes to deepen before the narrative moves forward again.

Charlie N. Holmberg’s writing style remains soft yet purposeful. Her prose flows effortlessly, accessible without feeling simplistic. She creates a fairy-tale atmosphere without drowning the reader in dense worldbuilding. The magic is subtle, almost intimate, and the romance is built through restraint rather than spectacle. Glances linger. Conversations carry more than what is spoken. The emotional undercurrent is stronger than any political maneuver.

That said, the slower pacing may not work for everyone. The introspective focus sometimes softens the momentum, and readers expecting intricate court politics or unpredictable plot twists might find the storyline somewhat foreseeable. The political conflicts remain present but lightly sketched, never fully dominating the narrative.

Still, when read as a character-driven romantic fantasy, this book truly shines. Its strength lies in vulnerability, emotional depth, and the quiet unraveling of a guarded heart.

A tender, atmospheric continuation that trades spectacle for sincerity.

royal court intrigue | reluctant queen | political tension | magic and monarchy | inner strength | slow burn tension | secrets and betrayal

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duology absolutely captivated me. With a captivating magic system and an intriguing political landscape, these books had me on the edge of my seat and cheering in equal measure. The love story of Nym and Renn was full of drama in the BEST way (they're sooo OUaT Snow x David coded I'm obsessed 😙👌) and the surrounding characters made the world feel so alive. I'm so glad to check off another great read from Holmberg! 4.5 stars for both from me!

*content warnings for mild profanity, abuse and assault, and depictions of war, these books I'd definitely recommend for 17+

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Jeni—Bookish.Bestie.909 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ This book picks up right where the Shattered King left off. I was so anxious to see how the story would continue and I was not disappointed. Nym’s strength and growth really shine in this sequel. The twists and turns kept me engaged from start to finish.
I can’t say too much in case yall haven’t read the first book, but truly, this duology has earned a top spot in my romantasy heart.

Thank you 47North and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[K McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this after finishing the first book in the duology, and it did not disappoint in the least. The author is excellent at weaving the magic of the world she describes seamlessly into what is still a plot driven by character and chain of events, so you never find yourself pulled out of the book by the more fantastic elements. You will want to read the first book before starting this one to fully appreciate the world building and characters, with the bonus that’s it’s also just a great read. This book picks up directly from where the first ended, and sees Nym, Renn, and company through some very hard times. The author makes clear just got hard these times are without ever making the book too hard emotionally to read, and the character development really shone through. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are offered voluntarily and are entirely my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wholesome book! the forbidden love hit hard and I love the emotional healing.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how she does it every single time.

I don’t know how she does it every single time.
Yet another amazingly unique story that makes my brain so happy.

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

i’m trying to be a supportive of all my pookies but it’s really hard when the main character is annoying af and doesn’t think

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Charlie N. Holmberg, 47North, and the Holmberg Hive for the ARC of The Half-Hearted Queen. I can honestly say this duology has become my favorite Holmberg series. I’m sitting here wishing it wasn’t only two books, because this world and these characters easily could’ve kept going.

This book is emotional in a way that feels very real. Holmberg doesn’t shy away from the darker parts of survival—trauma, loss, fear—but she balances it with so much heart. There’s this steady thread of hope and compassion running through the whole story, even in the hardest moments. I found myself needing to pause and breathe more than once.

Nym really stands out in this installment. She’s gone through so much, yet she still chooses empathy and strength every single time. Watching her figure out her own power, her place in the world, and what love means in the middle of everything was incredibly moving. Renn’s arc is the perfect complement to hers. He’s steady, loyal, and driven by genuine feeling rather than politics or ego. Their bond is one of my favorite parts of this series—quiet, deep, and full of tension.

The political side of the story gets more intense here, and the world expands naturally around it. Holmberg handles belief, legacy, and the way people twist stories to their advantage in a way that feels believable without ever getting confusing. The magic system also hits harder emotionally this time around. It’s tied directly to grief, love, and identity, and it adds so much depth.

The ending completely knocked the air out of me. It’s powerful and heartbreaking, but also full of meaning. It fits the story perfectly. I’m still thinking about certain moments hours later.

I loved this book. I loved this entire duology. And yes, I’m sad we’re not getting a third book, because I would happily follow these characters through so much more. Holmberg created something really special here, and I’m grateful I got to read it early.

The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg
Pub Date: March 3, 2026

[Bailey J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this book a 4 because it’s like a 4.5 stars for the story but like 3.5 for the editing. As a heads up, I read the ARC copy, which means that it isn’t the final printed book. I’ll get into the editing part at the end because I do think it’s worth reading for the story’s sake and I don’t want to run people off who might be on the fence about reading a book due to grammatical or editing funkiness.

That said, I really liked the story despite the editing. I love the FMC’s growth, and it’s hard not to love our greenest flag to ever green MMC. It wraps up really nicely and I absolutely enjoyed it. Quite a few of the side characters are complex and well developed, especially given it is a duology.

On to the major qualm I had with the book… About a quarter of the way through the ARC, it was almost like they realized they were going to go over the word count, so they just started omitting articles or pronouns at the beginning of a sentence. For example, “I inhaled sharply through my nose as a sudden pain rang out from my upper arm like something struck me. Set my saw. Another phantom pain?” This kind of stuff every once in a while? Fine, I can deal with that. But variations of this happened so often and it drove me nuts. I ended up getting used to it enough that my brain would quickly reread and add in whatever article or pronoun was necessary, but it was grating. Again, it’s possible once the book comes out that this will be remedied, or at least the frequency of this will be decreased. The audiobooks may also avoid this since audiobook narrators often do so much heavy lifting with editing or grammatical issues.

If the book comes out on KU, I’ll check it and they’ve fixed at least some of the instances of this, I’ll update accordingly, but for now, I’m hard pressed to think this will be addressed before publication.

All that said, it was still 100% worth the read and was a great wrap up to the story. I lOVED the first book so much, and I preferred the first book, but since I listened to that one on audiobook, there were no writing/grammar related issues to potentially negatively affect my opinion.

Major TWs: SA (not explicitly depicted but heavily featured and barely off page), sexual harassment (depicted on page), captivity/torture (explicitly depicted), trauma, death and war.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ rounded to 5

The Half-Hearted Queen was such a great conclusion to the The Shattered King duology! While I did receive an ARC of this, after doing an immersive read of the The Shattered King, it was kinda hard not to continue so I did wait till the release to read/listen since the audiobook is available with the ebook through my KU sub. This is once again narrators in a single POV by Natalie Naudus who does a great job on the narration.

Sooooo much happens in this book and I felt that it was a lot darker than the first. Despite everything Nym and Eden go thru, they show so much strength. I loved how they leaned on each other throughout the book. Because Renn and Nym are separated a lot of this book, the romance wasn't really in the forefront but it allowed Nym's other relationships to shine. I really enjoyed how Cansere evolved under Renn's rule and the influence of Nym in his life.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this duology. If you are someone that needs heavy romance and/or spice, this might not be for you but do think it's worth giving this a chance.

[Debra Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I would like to thank NetGalley, 47thNorth, and Charlie N. Holmberg for allowing me to read this ARC version of this story. In return, I give my honest feedback.

Charlie Holmberg still remains Queen of the magical systems. Every world, every system she creates I love. She is fueled by pure imagination. With every book I read of hers, her title becomes truer and truer.

The Half-Hearted Queen is a little longer than The Shattered King. Both books are very enjoyable. I love Charlie's writing style. Her books are the perfect size for those that love to devour a book in one sitting. Though I somewhat wish that The Half-Hearted Queen could have been broken into two stories. The first half is a story on its own, which would have left Charlie to build more of a story at the end. The ending is perfect and true to all of Charlie's books that I've ever read. I also hope that we see these characters again someday. I love this world and its people. Maybe a story about one of Nym's siblings? I would definitely read it!

[chey berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How sad, that so many complained of aging when so many more were denied its gift.”

“And oft my soul settles o’er her grave, for I vowed to be a lovesick servant.”

“She means more to me than the gods themselves,” he hissed. “That makes your words blasphemy.”

“I am not afraid. I am to be feared. I’d died once already. Death was my companion, not theirs.”

Oh, Nym. You are definitely a favorite FMC for me. The yearning in this book is phenomenal. I was worried that the MMC would let me down but he NEVER did. I wish this series was longer. My first introduction to this author and I loved it.