Reign Breaker

Painted Wind #2

by J.J. Fischer

In a world of shape-shifting monsters, who can be trusted?

Despite the prophecy that changed her life forever, former gravedigger Rigan North has found love with the man of her dreams. But a peaceful future isn’t yet within reach. Hunted by two rival kings and sought by Jardians and Calidorians alike as the symbol of a new rebellion, Rigan struggles to find her place, increasingly drawn to the Shro Khan’s siren song. How will her child save the world if Rigan cannot resist the monsters’ call?

Leagues away, Isel has grown up in a sheltered monastery as the daughter of a monk. All she desires is to live an ordinary life with her books, but her uncanny resemblance to the so-called Reign Breaker and her unusual ability to detect the Shro Khan’s presence tears her from her home and thrusts her into a world of intrigue, power struggles, and deadly secrets. Kept captive by Jardia’s king, her only true ally is melancholy, wheelchair-bound Crown Prince Soren, the Reign Breaker’s brother-in-law and a brilliant, dangerous man. But Soren’s destiny is not his own, either, and with ambiguous prophecies linking his name to hers, the path to save the Twin Kingdoms may forever diverge from the path that sets Isel free.

Genres: Fantasy

312 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2026

About the author

Jasmine’s writing dream began with the anthology of zoo animals she painstakingly wrote and illustrated at age five, to rather limited acclaim. Thankfully, her writing (but not her drawing) has improved since then. She is a clinically-trained psychologist but no, she cannot read your mind. When she isn’t killing defenseless house plants, Jasmine enjoys devouring books, dabbling in floristry, playing the piano, eating peanut butter out of the jar, and wishing it rained more often. Jasmine is married to David, and together they make their home a couple of hours’ north of Sydney, Australia, where they live to satisfy the every whim of their ginger overlord cat, Simba.

Reviews

[Sharon Loves to Read]

Wow. Just wow. I had my nose glued to my Kindle every moment I had, and in moments I didn't have, I was wondering how my new (& old) friends were doing. This story and these characters, especially Soren and Isel, kept me on the edge of my seat.

There is so much going on in this book! There’s political intrigue, lots of action, prophecies (what's real and what's false?), captivities (yes, the plural is intentional), hidden identities, evil beings growing in power, a divine being waiting in the wings to be called upon, lots of humans in need NOT calling on him (yet), a star-crossed-lovers trope (which is kind of on steroids😧), a marriage under pressure, and a cliff-hanger ending. Yoda might say, an emotional roller coaster, this book is.😮‍💨

Reign Breaker is a wild and emotionally engaging ride, and I highly recommend this story! (After first reading The Heart of the King, of course!) However, if you don’t like cliff-hanger endings, you may want to wait until the third book is released because this ending had my eyes popping out of my head.🫨 This is the drawback to being an ARC reader—one must wait so long for the next book!

So—big idea? Read this book. Fine print? See spoiler below if you’ve already read it.

Android app users, beware—spoilers ahead!

CW: abductions of and threats to women; potential for rape lightly implied, but it does not happen; love triangle which looks like it might be more problematic in the next installment; mentions of blood in battle; evil beings taking over people; marital issue that causes a character to be too open with someone, inviting temptation to be unfaithful.

Here's my caveat: I was honestly a bit disturbed by the ending. I read through all the reviews, and no one else seems to have had a problem with the ending, so perhaps I missed something along the way, or I am putting things together incorrectly, but I *think* Rigan's unborn baby just talked to her as if he is the in-world-equivalent of God. And given what the true prophecy says, that "the child of one will pay the blood debt of all and the captives will finally be freed," it definitely gives Jesus the Messiah (earthquake-level) vibes. Given that this isn't a retelling of the virgin birth of Christ, and Corcoran is the father of Rigan's baby, this correlation makes me uncomfortable. However, to the best of my knowledge, I have read everything Fischer has written, and I have never had a problem with her theology before, so I am pretty confident that she will pull this off well, which is one of the reasons I put this behind a spoiler.

And, hey, since I am writing behind a spoiler, why not ask--Does anyone else think Yuli has been taken over by the Shro Kan??👀🤔 Because otherwise, it's gonna be hard for Fischer to find a way for Soren to set her aside so he ends up with Isel that sits well with us readers, right? (I am thinking that's why she never wrote back and why she was acting differently.)

I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and I was not required or asked to write a positive review.

[Chloë Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

RAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHH THAT ENDING WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MYSELFFFFFF
I’ve never read a J.J. Fischer book I didn’t absolutely devour and adore and of course Reign Breaker is no exception. Will be here twiddling my thumbs and agonizing until the next book comes out. Please send help.

[Camille Mosemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting that cliffhanger ending! Oh. My. Worddddddddddd!

I think it’s safe to say that Reign Breaker might have surpassed The Heart of the King in favorites! While I enjoyed revisiting Rigan and Corcoran, Soren really intrigued me in book 1 and I was so excited to learn more about it him! Isel was also so fun to get to know! I really loved her gentle spirit and kind heart and the way she contrasted Rigan was so masterfully portrayed by J.J. Fischer! Also on a side note, I love how Cor and Ri are still growing and that they are still such a vital part of this book!

I spent this entire book trying to figure out who to trust and what on earth was going on between the Shro Khan and the Twin Kingdoms (the last five chapters really threw me for a loop 😂). The political intrigue in this series is top tier and I’m so glad these books are releasing close together so we don’t have to wait too long! The pacing was spot on and I really enjoyed seeing side characters from the first book blended so seamlessly together with the new POVs and characters!

The subtle faith threads that manifested themselves in this story were so well done! I really resonated with both Isel and Soren feeling like they aren’t enough and I can’t wait for them to continue to draw closer to the Divine Will!

I dying to see what happens next to Rigan, Corcoran, Soren, and Isel! Looking forward to purchasing a physical copy of this stunning book for my shelves!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Reign Breaker, the second book in the Painted Wind series by J.J. Fischer. It was awesome to get to travel back to this fantasy world she created and revisit Rigan and Corcoran, plus get to know Prince Soren better and be introduced to the newest main character, Isel. Plus we got to see old friends, yay! And old enemies, boo! Not really "boo," but I definitely could have done without seeing a couple of the villains from the first book, especially with the parts they played in this story.

Reign Breaker was told from four points of view. We again got to follow Rigan and Corcoran, and we also get to follow Prince Soren and Isel, the young lady who looks so very much like Rigan. The story takes place on both parts of the Twin Kingdoms, Jardia and Calidore.

There is adventure and danger and political intrigue and war. We get to learn more about the Shro Khan, the evil, shape-shifting monsters who play a much bigger part this time around. In fact, they seem to be a lot more powerful now and I'm really concerned about how they are going to affect our characters in the upcoming books. There is a lot in this book about how the Khan are affecting characters in different ways already.

But we have also learned more about the Divine Will and see more characters who trust in Him and urge others to as well. I loved the introduction of the new "race" that seems to be followers of this Divine Will, and I hope we get to see more of them. I'm also wondering if we will ever get to learn more about this world besides the Twin Kingdoms.

I have to say, the relationship between Rigan and Corcoran could use a bit of help. They need to work on their trust and their communication. Hopefully they get a chance to do so. I loved the way the relationship between Prince Soren and Isel has been progressing, except for the fact that there is a bit of a love triangle that was going on, and then maybe not going on, but then might be an issue again.

And in all this, who can we really trust what with the Shro Khan being able to control people. And then there are prophecies that may or may not be real. And unexpected twists that kept me glued to the book.

Yes, this is a book and a series that I can definitely recommend. Be aware though, this book ends on a cliffhanger, so you may want to wait to read it closer to when book three comes out. And definitely make sure to read book one, The Heart of the King first, as this story picks up right where that one left off.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

[Kelsie Carlson (Alaskan.BookDragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously have never been so completely upset with a author before! How can a person end a book like that! What am I even supposed to do with my life until the next book comes out now! This is going to low key be liveing in the back of my head continuously until September.....

The first book in this series felt like a lot of ground laying and world building, I could tell it was leading up to bigger things. Reign Breaker has gone far beyond my expectations of bigger things! I can not wait for the next book and I am so thrilled I am on J. J. Fischers team so I already know I do not have to wait as long as everyone else, no I am not at all sorry about that I NEED this next book! This book has gone in such a different direction, it even changed direction a few times, I would never have guessed the story was going to unfold like it did! I tried to go to sleep after finishing it but I could not stop thinking about what I had just read, so here I am writing this review at a late night hour.

J. J. Fischers characters are the shining stars of her books and they once agian shine brightly. All the characters have such depth and feeling. You really get way to invested in these book people. My new favorite character might just be Isel, I really admired her quite strength and resilience. Hidding at a ball is not what the usual MC does and I loved that contrast of the reality of being overwhealmed and fearful. We all think we would be thrilled to be at a real ball, but I bet reality would be more feelings like Isels.

I am once agian wishing there was bookmarks of the animals in this series! A Meehir bookmark would be fantastic!

It is hard to say to much about Reign Breaker without giving away spoilers. There is so much I want to gush about but that would ruin the book for others! The plot in this book is superb I can not wait to see what happens next!

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. My opinions, as always, are my own.

[MJSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Our future may be a mere memory to the Divine Will, and it is true that he oversees and arranges all according to his plans, but the memories are ours to make."

This is book 2 in a four book series so I went in knowing to expect more character growth and not so much plot movement, but I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to see so much world and plot building. The first book set the world up so beautifully and introduced the main players of the series. This book threw in a new main character at the very beginning and led the reader in a parallel subplot to Rigan and Corcoran's. Isel was a breath of fresh air, so different from Rigan in her heart, thoughts and action. Soren had much more depth to his character than shown in book 1 and I was ecstatic to get to know him better. Isel's gentle kindness and intelligence matched Soren's intuition, humility, and cleverness. I am not a fan of love triangles so was not thrilled to see it (again) in the series. How the romance will play out was still unclear at the end, but we have two more books to come so here is hoping to a happy ending, especially for Soren.

Rigan and Corcoran had smaller roles in this book. Corcoran had his battle scenes and a few other appearances near the end, which disappointed me because he is my favorite character. Rigan dwelled in self-pity for most of the book, fueled by selfishness, self-righteousness, fear, and doubt. I did not love how whiny and nasty she became towards everyone trying to help her, but she did go through a lot in the first book and in this one too. And there are plot twists! So many of them that my head is spinning at this point. I cannot wait for the next book to give me some answers; I have more questions now than I did when I started the book.

Anyone who loves fantasy would absolutely love this book and series. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of WhiteCrown Publishing. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Painted Wind Series by J. J. Fischer, "Reign Breaker" is a really compelling fantasy story filled with some crazy twists and turns. This is a continuation of the first book, so please read Book 1 before picking this one up...you won't be sorry! This book builds upon the first and leaves the reader on a cliffhanger that will have you gasping for the next book to come out.

"Reign Breaker" alternates between the points of view from Rigan and Corcoran, then to Crown Prince Soren and Isel. It's easy to follow this multiple point of view book and this one definitely kept me at the edge of my seat while reading it! All of the characters are complex and trying to figure out what is best for the people in their care.

I really like the worldbuilding and detail that Fischer puts into her books. She's created quite a few villains with the evil Shro Khan and how they manipulate people into doing evil things. Plus some that are just bad entirely on their own.

I loved the little animal friend Isel made...I really hope to see more of it and wish I could have one of my own. It's fierce and cute and just adds a bit of lightness to the story.

I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series! I think there will be 4 total and they need to be out already!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Megan Schaulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than Heart of a King!

J.J. Fischer is an auto-read author for me and she continues to prove why with her newest series, Painted Wind. Mystery, intrigue, a touch of monsters, and internal battles made this a book I did not want to stop reading.

Reign Breaker follows directly on the heels of Heart of a King, so you really need to read book one first. It was so fun to not only explore new main characters, Isel and Soren, but to continue to follow Rigan and Corcoran in their story. Let's just say, Fischer isn't afraid to shake things up after "happily ever after."

Fischer's characters always have deep, internal development. Soren and Isel both have reasons they disqualify themselves, reasons to doubt who their called to be and their purpose in the world. They wrestle with lies, both those pushed on them and created in their own minds. I may have wanted to shout at both of them (and Rigan and Cor) at various times in the story, but only because they feel that real.

The ending was a bit of cliff-hanger and book three can't get here fast enough!

I received an ARC of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in Fischer’s Painted Wind series. I highly recommend that if you have not read the first book yet, The Heart of the King, you should read it before this one so you’re acquainted with the world Fischer has created, and know who the main characters are. And if you don’t like books ending with all sorts of cliffhangers, you may want to put of reading Reign Breaker until Fischer has finished the series.

The first book was not a relaxing read, and I think this one is even worse. There are moments of calm when relationships are moving in the right direction, there are new characters to get to know, and there is a really fun new animal introduced (I want one!) However, calm breaks are few and far between, the evil Shro Khan are making too much headway, and most of the characters spend more time in conflict with their friends than working together to combat the enemy.

The book is very well written, but I sure hope books 3 and 4 come out real soon!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Karley Conklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danger lurks in every corner of the Twin Kingdoms, and the only hope of stopping it is the Reign Breaker. But there are cracks growing in the prophecy that leave doubts in the minds of those closest to it.

With Rigan and Corcoran in hiding, Prince Soren is doing his best to aid their cause. But when another women with an uncanny resemblance to Rigan appears in his dreams, everything is turned on its head. Could the prophecy have been right about the mark, but wrong about the name? Are Rigan and Corcoran truly destined to save the Twin Kingdoms, or does that destiny belong to others?

Filled with intrigues and shocking mysteries revealed, with looming wars and budding friendships, J.J. Fischer’s newest release is a page turner sure to keep readers up for hours until they have their answers. In usual Fischer style, the characters are relatable, flawed but lovable. Themes of forgiveness, belonging, and of course darkness vs light fill the pages, adding depth to an already engaging tale. It’s an impossible to put down sequel that will leave you anxious for the next book.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torture of the mind and soul, that’s what the ending of this book is. And I knew it - knew - this book would end by ripping out my heart and leaving it dangling from a cliff, but I still read it. And it was so worth it.

Although I was already anticipating Reign Breaker after Heart of the King, from the very first page Fischer blew my expectations out of the water. The added POVs widened the worlds of Calidore and Jardia in incredible ways, deepening the lore and history and making me want to know even more.

The unfolding plot kept me glued to the page, both with things I predicted and plot twists that dropped my jaw. With the continued presence of beloved side characters from Heart of the King and new ones, woven together with themes of forgiveness, trust, and what doing life together truly means, this book - despite the cliffhanger - is not one you want to wait to read.

I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Britney Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bad king, a good Prince, a girl held captive against her will. Shapeshifting evil vs. a small ragtag rebellion filled with loyal companions. A masked ball! A big kitty companion, a library to die for. Prophecies, visions, and all the hope and trouble that come with them! Have I piqued your interest yet? Fischer does it again (checkout her Nightingale Trilogy)! Her ability to story-tell in a way that captures your imagination is gift! Surprise warriors, betrayal, forgiveness, the mysterious painted wind, a Divine Will! I am so glad book 3 releases this year because I am a pent up bottle of anticipation! Read this series if you love clean fantasy with waring kingdoms, good vs evil, no spice romance, witty banter, and strong male and female characters.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Seriously though, I’ll gush about JJ Fischer’s writing all day long if you give me your ear!

[Talita Adendorff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!!! After finishing The Heart of the King, I was more than ready for the next one and Reign Breaker did not disappoint.

I was captivated from the start and did not expect all the twists this story took, and definitely did not expect the ending. I am once again ready for the next one, and the incredibly talented JJ Fischer won't be able to write fast enough.

One of the things I love about this book is that it is a continuation of book 1. Yes, the main focus is now on Isel and Soren and the Kingdom of Jardia, but we still follow Rigan and Corcoran's story as well as several other beloved characters from Heart of the King.

I highly recommend this well-written fantasy that is filled with action, romance, intrigue, and spiritual depth, and I seriously can't wait for book three.

Be warned...this is a "I don't want to stop reading book".

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but the views and opinions are completely my own.

[Debs Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sleepy. I have been up late every night since Reign Breaker arrived. Seriously, I could not put it down. I loved the first book and there are definitely quite a few new introductions into Book 2 that leave me excited for Book 3. I especially loved getting to know Soren and Isel who are so very different from Rigan and Corcoran. I am excited at the possibility of those four fighting together and about an entirely new race that enters the story. I'm also looking forward to seeing Shro Khan defeated. We get a better glimpse of the bad guys. I don't like 'em. Like every other JJ Fischer book I've read you can expect complex characters, deep themes, chracters you can't help but root for and lots of impossible situations.

[Hannah Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting more and more intriguing, and utterly captivating. I love how book two continues with the main characters' stories from book one, but also adds in some new characters, who had me totally invested from the moment they were introduced. Incredible writing, moments that made me laugh, soooo many scenes I couldn't stop reading. Cannot WAIT to see where this story goes from here! If you enjoy epic fantasy reads, sweet romances, well-formed characters you totally want to befriend (or steer well clear of!) and prophesies that keep you guessing but utterly captivated, definitely check out this series.

I received an early copy of the book from the publisher and my thoughts are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Although I wanted to throttle my favorite ex-gravedigger a few times, I loved learning more about Isel, and I’m definitely a Soren fan now. Loved seeing him come into his own and discover his own potential. Lots of great twists and intrigue. I’m ready for them to get a bit of a breather though 😅

I received an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Reign Breaker by JJ Fischer

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel which begins where The Heart of the King left off.

Danger is everywhere. Characters face difficulties. Yet, there’s also a thread of hope woven throughout.

I love the multiple POVS, the characters all feel real, and the plot gets even more wonderfully complex with unexpected twists! It’s such a good book! Highly recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Julia N White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic book by an amazing author!

More detailed review coming soon!!!!

[Lizzy Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ Fischer knocked it out of the park with the second installment in the Painted Wind series. Absolutely loved this story and highly recommend it!

~~I received an early copy of this book from the author and was not required to leave a positive review.~~

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew Reign Breaker would be a dynamic continuation of the Painted Wind series, and it did not disappoint! J.J. Fischer has created a fantasy world that both captivates with the imagery and inspires with the faith and pursuit of peace. The romances are sweet and layered with some unexpected twists. The introduction of Isel as a major character in the plot development was an excellent call. I loved Isel and all that she brought to the story. I was already excited to learn more about Soren from the first book and I really enjoyed getting to know more of his story. The dual storyline with Rigan and Corcoran (fan favs from the first book) and the introduction of Isel and Soren (quite possibly new favs) is creating quite the buildup of what is to come. There is a significant cliff hanger, and the tension is quite thick with all the characters involved, but I know it will all weave together beautifully as the story unfolds (although I would love the next book in my hands, like yesterday).
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book continues the epic adventure of the Painted Wind series! You have to read the first book (in my opinion) to have any idea what is fully happening. This story gives us more perspectives from the lead characters. I LOVE that the author is continuing to dive into the lives of Rigan and Corcoran and setting up the plot to continue with Soren. Isel is my favorite out of every single person in this series so far. She is like a breath of fresh air and light to a pretty dark kingdom. There is swoony romance and humor, battles and new relationship issues, and of course the darkness of the Khan that is seeping further into the kingdom. I simply couldn't put this story down and even with the extra plot lines and perspectives it flowed wonderfully. The ending leaves you on one heck of a cliffhanger and now we have to wait for book three! I love this series and I highly recommend if you enjoy fantasy fiction!

Five Stars.

"I received a complimentary copy from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own."