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The Forbidden Heir

(The Four Arts #2)

M.J. Scott (Goodreads Author)

3.92 · Rating details · 595 ratings · 52 reviews

She fled to save her life, but surviving what comes next might destroy everything she believes in…

The royal witches of Anglion have always been bound to serve their country. But Lady Sophia Mackenzie, whose unbound magic and near claim to the crown made her a target, was forced to flee Anglion, leaving behind a dead assassin and shattered loyalties. Now she finds herself ...more

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Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Published November 7th 2017 (first published October 3rd 2017)

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Dec 24, 2015 Alyssa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-releases

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Forbidden Heir by M.J. Scott
Book Two of the Four Arts series
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Review copy provided by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

She fled to save her life, but surviving what comes next might destroy everything she believes in…

The royal witches of Anglion have always been bound to serve their country. But Lady Sophia Mackenzie, whose unbound magic and near claim to the crown made her a target, was ...more

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Jun 09, 2020 Samantha W. rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, borrowed, 150books2020, favorites, romance, paranormal

Will update in the morning.

LIES, I am updating today.

This second book was just as good as the first. The only problem was the format for me. Apparently ebooks are really not my bag.

I enjoyed the character development, I can't wait to see what happens in book three, and I want to know all of the answers (WHICH THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF YET)! If romance, court intrigue, and magic based fantasy are your bag then I highly recommend this series! ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Johanna rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, will-continue

The Forbidden Heir is the second book in the series? Trilogy? I don't know 'The Four Arts'.
Like the first book, I greatly enjoyed the second one. This is one of those strange books that are neither amazing nor horrible. It isn't particularly unique, the writing style isn't brilliantly amazing, and the characters are almost ordinary given the genre and the type of book it is. And still, I have a lot of fun with this series so far. You could almost call it a guilty pleasure … except I don't feel g The Forbidden Heir is the second book in the series? Trilogy? I don't know 'The Four Arts'.
Like the first book, I greatly enjoyed the second one. This is one of those strange books that are neither amazing nor horrible. It isn't particularly unique, the writing style isn't brilliantly amazing, and the characters are almost ordinary given the genre and the type of book it is. And still, I have a lot of fun with this series so far. You could almost call it a guilty pleasure … except I don't feel guilty.
Now that I confused the few of you who actually read my reviews let's begin with the basics.
The plot of The Forbidden Heir picks up right after the ending of Shattered Court. Cameron and Sophie had to flee and are now in the magical school of Illvya. Obviously, their problems don't end there. They might have escaped the people who were trying to kill them back home but now they positioned themselves right in the middle of a huge political game. The Emperor of Illvya takes an interest in them and it's not entirely clear to what end and their Queen is sending a convoy to bring them back home. But can they trust the crown's assurance? To make matters worse, Sophia's importance in the game seems to continuously grow.
So far so good. A fantasy story with lots of magic and political intrigue. There are many of those out there. What did I love most about this book? What did I have the most fun with? The answer is easy. It's not the world building, it's not the political games (though I did enjoy those). What I loved most is the relationship between Cameron and Sophia. It didn't seem like a useless addition of drama. The one conflict they have in the book was well established and hinted at before it actually happened. Their relationship seems incredibly loving and supportive but also … safe? Except for a short interruption neither of them doubts the other's love. They are happy and secure in their relationship. It felt incredibly realistic to me. The small moments they had, hell, I even enjoyed the sex scenes as a part of a happy and whole relationship and that hasn't happened to me in a while. They appear to find safety in each other in the confusing and dangerous situation they have to face. And it just made me really really happy to read it. Seriously, you hardly ever find a depiction of such a healthy relationship. They actually talk to each other!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I feel like I have to compliment Cameron's character some more. In fantasy and especially in YA fantasy there is a trend to have strong female leads, which is awesome, but usually their love interests are just as strong, just as important, just as powerful. Cameron in this series is not. It's made clear repeatedly that Sophia is the more powerful of the two of them, she has a higher position within the nobility, she is more important for the political games being played. He knows that, he acknowledges it … and he's perfectly fine with it. Not once was he trying to control her er hold power over her. He doesn't feel inferior to her. And Sophia doesn't look down on him. There are no power struggles in their relationship and I found that to be incredibly relaxing.
All in all, despite some lengths, this book made me very happy and I'm waiting for the next book.
I'd recommend this to everyone who likes fantasy books with a heavy emphasis on politics and history and doesn't mind a strong love story as the core relationship. ...more

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Feb 14, 2018 Katie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018, 2020, fantasy, trashy-romance, high-fantasy

i expected more ley line sex :/

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Sep 13, 2018 The Reading Raccoon rated it liked it

I want to like this series more but there is something about the characters and plot that makes it difficult to get lost in. The writing is fine. There’s nothing blatantly wrong with the plot. I just find myself really disconnected from Sophie and Cameron’s problems and wish there was a hook or a catch that would make them unforgettable.

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Jan 12, 2018 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2018, format-ebook, books-read-in-2018-new

If you liked the first one, you will most likely like this one. It is just very nice and a pleasure to read.

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Jan 01, 2021 Hirondelle rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, romance

My feelings about this are definetely mixed: do I think this is amazing, writing or plotwise? No. But I still read book #2 adnd I am currently reading book #3 and that is really unusual for me. I could, I can, find plenty of plot or style holes in this series but it still kept turning the pages. Somehow the plot reveal pace or pace in general, the universe is just working for me, nitpicking apart.

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Jan 20, 2018 Cait rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in2018

This was a very quick read - it was so compelling, and really held it's own as the middle book in the trilogy (I assume).

It does the thing that I love for middle books to do, which is after book one has scattered the pieces, book two lines them up, ready for them to fall back in place (or into new places) in book three. ...more

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Nov 06, 2017 Lissa Hawley rated it it was amazing

This is a marvelous book. The world building is unique and complex. The characters are well developed and likable and there is intrigue for days. If you've read the first book in the series it only gets better in this one.

Highly recommended and already eagerly awaiting the next. ...more

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Dec 25, 2017 Dragana rated it really liked it

Shelves: married-couple, fantasy, boarding-schools, demons, cute-pets, romance-fantasy

Nice fantasy romance.
Court intrigue.
Boarding school/magical academy setting.
Married couple as MC.
Cute pets. I liked shenanigans with Tok.

Looking forward to the next book.

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Nov 15, 2017 Elizabeth "Liza" rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, adult, series, fantasy, magic, earc, 2017-nov

Quite the Novel Idea http://quitethenovelidea.com http://quitethenovelidea.com/liza-rev...

I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Well, it was about time! I read The Shattered Court in 2015 and I loved it and then I waited a while for the sequel. I'm happy to report that it did not dissapoint at all.

The Forbidden Heir started where the previous book ended, with Sophia and Cameron entering the Academe in Illvya. Not only did they had to flee from Anglion, but they did so in the middle of the night and they were not prepared for what's to come. The transition is hard. The magic is practiced different here, there is a school were students are free to study whatever they want, Sophia doesn't understand the language well and there are scary demons too.

Our royal couple gains asylum in the Academe were they enroll as students until they figure out who to trust and what is going on. Sophia learns quite a bit about magic, some in class, some by accident. In the meantime, Anglion sends an envoy to request that Sophie returns to her country as soon as possible.

Just like its predecessor, The Forbidden Heir has a lot of political machinations and plot twists. Also, since it takes place in a new setting which involves new world building. I really liked all of this, although I still don't understand how the magic works and exactly what's going on back in Anglion.

Sophie and Cameron haven't been married for long, but they grow a lot as a couple, they truly love each other, and they got each other's back. Sophie knows a lot about how court politics work and she's very smart and a fast learner, but she took some impulsive decisions too. Cameron is fiercely protective of his wife, but has the hope that they can somehow return to Anglion and the life they had before. They make a really great couple.

The ending was a bit abrupt and unexpected and I'm not sure where the story is going next. Now, to wait for the next book and I hope it won't be such a long wait :)This review was originally posted on Quite the Novel Idea

...more

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Nov 13, 2017 Rachel rated it really liked it

Shelves: flights-of-fantasy-2020, own-kindle, flights-of-fantasy-2017, read-in-2017

First read 11/3/17
Real rating: 4.25 stars! I want the next book 😂

Second read 5/25/20
Had to reread so I could start the third book. My rating is now a flat 4 stars but still enjoyed this a lot.

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Jun 18, 2020 Rachel rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019reads, fantasy

With this book the series really shifted into more like a regency novel. There were more descriptions of gowns and court wear than I was anticipating, that's for sure! I still definitely enjoyed it, though. ...more

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May 14, 2018 Tina rated it liked it

Shelves: sff-romance, z2018-reads

This read went fast. I actually had to re-read the first book to remember what happened.

This one starts right where the last one left off with Cameron and Sophia on the run from the Kingdom of Anglion. They've landed in the empire of Illvya, Anglion's supposed enemy. Only not really. While the people of Anglion seem to be obsessed with Illvya, the Illvyians are minding their business being more enlightened and technically more advanced than the Anglions and not really giving Anglion a second th This read went fast. I actually had to re-read the first book to remember what happened.

This one starts right where the last one left off with Cameron and Sophia on the run from the Kingdom of Anglion. They've landed in the empire of Illvya, Anglion's supposed enemy. Only not really. While the people of Anglion seem to be obsessed with Illvya, the Illvyians are minding their business being more enlightened and technically more advanced than the Anglions and not really giving Anglion a second thought.

Until Cameron and Sophie land on their doorstep. Sine the newlyweds have no idea who attempted to assassinate them, suspecting it might go as high as the queen herself, they are a little adrift. But they are (luckily) welcomed into the Academy, a place where students study the magical arts and are givn an opportunity to learn all the things they should know but that Anglion is determined to repress.

But their reprieve is very small. A delegation of Anglions is on their heels demanding they return, they've gotten the attention of the Illvyaian emperor, and Sophie is finding that she has an affinity with a type of magic that is verboten in Anglion and if she were able to return home, it just may get her killed.

Like I said, this was a fast read. Events over-ran Sophie and Cameron at quite a pace and the book also felt like it going at the same pace. They are never anonymous in this big new city, much to their dismay. They hardly get a chance to strategize and it feels like a lot of things are happening to them. So they are in reactive mode a lot, which feels on the one hand somewhat frustrating but on the other somewhat realistic.

One of the other by-products of the book moving fast was that some developments happened really fast as well. Some that have a a very shortcut or vaguely Deus Ex Machina feel to it. I am used to fantasy novels where fantasy leads develop and discover new powers. And that is true of this book as well, but in Sophia's case some of it felt unearned, like the author needed to get it over with so we could get on with the plot points.

The book ends on an anticipatory note. I am really curious to see what is happening back in Anglion in the wake of Sophia and Cameron leaving. Hopefully the next book will give us some of that. ...more

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Nov 08, 2017 jammaster_mom rated it it was amazing

This is book #2 in a series and yes you do need to start with the first book. I promise it will be well worth your time!

This series is set in a different Earth/planet in what would have been about our Victorian times. There are kings and queens who rule and there is also magic. There are four different types, or arts, that can be practiced. Sophie and her husband Cameron are from Anglion but they have fled to Illvyan after an assassination attempt. Sophie was a royal witch in line to the royal t ...more

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Jul 07, 2019 Gail rated it really liked it

The story picks up where the first book left off. Cameron and Sophie fear for their lives and escape Algonia. They travel to a near-by rival city run by an emperor. The city they run to allows all four magics to be used. They seem much advanced in many ways. Sophie starts to learn more magic and finds herself in trouble on a few occasions. She and Cameron are getting in deeper with the Ilyvan politics and become a pawn between the two rival countries. In this second book, Sophie was showing exac ...more

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Mar 26, 2019 Abigail rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, romance

Read book 1 in this series forever ago and really liked it, finally got a hold of book 2! This book's destination is pretty much where I assumed the story was going, but I liked the journey. I enjoy spending time in this world, I really want a deep-dive into the different magics. Illvya is WAY better than Anglion and Sophie and Cam should definitely stay there forever. Sophie and Cam's relationship develops well for me. The genuinely liked each other in book 1 when they were more or less forced ...more

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Mar 24, 2019 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Incredible series.

Court intrigue. Well defined magical world that is filled with conflict. Demons and bonds. Heroine with a brain who is not sought after by every single male around her. Hero who also has a brain and holds a true partnership ethic with his chosen partner. Not a single patronizing hint of 'indulging the feisty little lady' exists so far in the series.
These are well written books with an extremely cohesive story line and the solid world building MJ Scott is so talented at creatin ...more

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Nov 09, 2017 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance

Politics are not my forte, or interest, and there is a lot of politics here. Who cares though, because tons of other stuff happens.

Cameron and Sophie find tenuous sanctuary at the Illvyan Academe, which gives them a safe place to explore their bond and learn more than Anglian mages are ever taught.

Please, please, though, let future books explain a little more about the Familiaris sanctii, this book gave tantalizing hints, but no details.

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Nov 26, 2017 YGReader rated it really liked it

I liked the first book in this series very much. I enjoyed this book as well. I liked that it picked up where the first book ended. I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and of the magic. The main characters continued to mature and grow in their affection for each other. I will continue to read the rest of the books in this series. I do not like the fact that it's currently only available in e-book edition. ...more

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Mar 04, 2018 K.A. Fox rated it liked it

Started off slow but the romance definitely heats up. Sophie and Cameron find themselves on foreign soil, hoping for asylum in an academy of magic that teaches arts deemed heretical in their home country. But, as Sophie steps into her power and their bond grows stronger, she draws unwanted attention - from home, from the Imperial Ruler of Illyria and even from the world of demons. I'm interested to see where the rest of the story goes. ...more

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Aug 03, 2017 eilasoles rated it liked it

I'm still into the story, but I thought this was unnecessarily wordy. Found myself skipping paragraphs of cliched and irrelevant descriptions. Reading the first and last lines got me to the end pretty fast, without missing any part of the plot. ...more

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Dec 31, 2017 Tracy rated it it was ok

I feel very torn about this one. I really enjoyed the world building, but the plot felt rushed and holy smokes did the main character start to feel like a Mary Sue. I'll certainly read the third book when it comes out, but this one didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the first book. ...more

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Jan 31, 2019 Denise Hallauer rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed this book. I kept forgetting some details from the first book since it had been so long since I had read it. This one was a little slow, there was a lot of daily stuff at the beginning but it picked up towards the middle and ended way before I wanted to and with a shocking end.

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Mar 27, 2019 Cait rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This book is definitely mostly a slower paced one than the first and I could see how that could turn some people off of it - but I found everything fascinating. And the pace definitely picks up as the story continues - especially at the end. I’m so excited to read the next one!

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Jun 01, 2019 Kimberly Gordon-Bercich rated it really liked it

Off With Her Head

XXX! Adult content. This book was so much better than the first book. It was so close to a five star rating as well. I loved Cam and Sophie in this series. I loved their challenges and all the ways the characters grew individually and as a couple.

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Aug 17, 2019 Kelsey rated it it was ok

Shelves: series-trilogy, easy-reads, witches-sorcery

I really feel like the characters' personalities changed in this novel, and not in a good way. Sophie had previously been a relatively strong, rational female lead, and now she's a blubbering sop who constantly needs her husband around to feel secure. ...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: random-fiction, fantasy-and-magic

4.5 stars. I enjoyed learning about Illvya and the differences with Anglion. The politics were fun and the magic was interesting. I can’t wait to see what happens with Sophie and Cameron next.

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Dec 21, 2017 Heidi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017-books-read

I’ve enjoyed this author’s books. Light romantic fantasy but plot heavy and character driven enough her romances aren’t cloying.

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Dec 25, 2017 Misty rated it really liked it

looking forward to book 3, but book 1 was better.

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About M.J. Scott

M.J. Scott

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M.J Scott is a RITA® Award nominated author. She is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, d ...more