A desperate alliance. A struggle for survival. And a marriage of convenience with an epic twist of fate come together in Jeffe Kennedy’s The Fiery Crown. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, the lush romantic fantasy world of the Forgotten Empires series will sweep you away. WILL THEIR LOVE STAND THE TEST OF TIME Queen Euthalia has reigned over her island kingdom of Calanthe with determination, … island kingdom of Calanthe with determination, grace, and her magical, undying orchid ring. After she defied an empire to wed ConrÃ, the former Crown Prince of Oriel–a man of disgraced origins with vengeance in his heart–Lia expected the wizard’s prophecy to come true: Claim the hand that wears the ring and the empire falls. But Lia’s dangerous bid to save her realm doesn’t lead to immediate victory. Instead, destiny hurls her and Conrà towards a future neither could predict…
OR TEAR THEIR WHOLE WORLD APART?
Con has never healed after the death of his family and destruction of his kingdom–he’s been carefully plotting his revenge against his greatest enemy, Emperor Anure, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. When Lia’s spies gather intelligence suggesting that Anure is planning an attack against Calanthe, Con faces an agonizing choice: Can he sacrifice Lia and all she holds dear to destroy the empire? Or does his true loyalty exist in the arms of his beguiling, passionate wife–‘til death do they part?
The Forgotten Empire series is:
“Captivating…engrossing.” —Romance Reviews Today
“Sensual fantasy romance you won’t want to miss!”–Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles
“Action-packed…sexy…highly recommend.”–Harlequin Junkie (Top Pick)
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The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kenneedy
Forgotten Empires #2
Fantasy at its best. Jefe Kennedy has created a universe that is flawed but has the potential to survive, evolve and become what it once was or perhaps more than it ever was. The characters presented in book one made me stand up and think and then wonder…what happens next? I was drawn into this series then and felt an affinity to many of the characters throughout the story and that closeness to the characters continued in this book. I wanted to sweep up the ones I liked and keep them safe while knowing I could not and perhaps I also knew that some of them would suffer. I hoped that the evil ones would be meted justice by the fates and the God/desses of the world I found myself within but worried they would not meet the doom they deserved.
The writing was beautifully wrought with slow pacing, excellent description and drawing on emotions aplenty. The two main characters were slow to realize that their marriage, though not a love match, could benefit both. Even at times it seemed there might be the possibility for true love as they moved forward. This book contains a prophecy and some of the phrases of the prophecy are quoted. Some of the prophecies are realized but perhaps there is more to this story?
I hope there IS a future for the Forgotten Empires and that as the two main characters finally realize how much they mean to one another – they will find a HEA. But…what about the OTHER parts of the empire…are there many? What happened to them and how will they impact on the future in this world that is being created? And, will there be progeny from Conri and Lia? Hmmmm…
Will there be more? Perhaps. If not, It was an entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
The Fiery Crown is book 2 of the Forgotten Empires series. At this point, Conri and Euthalia are preparing for the backlash of their marriage. Expecting Emperorer Anure to retaliate soon, and the couple must agree on a way to keep Calanthe safe from his forces while Con attempts to exact his revenge.
There is nothing about this book/ series I do not like. The fantasy elements are unique and exciting. Euthalia’s connection to her land and her magical ties to the orchid ring is clever and interesting. She is a strong leader, intelligent, and dedicated to her people. Conri begins as a reluctant partner, but slowly he and Euthalia work together to combat the impending war. During preparations, you see a strong partnership begin to grow between them, and the people around them fall in line with it.
Prophecies are an exciting plot device. When handled properly, it can inject a good deal of suspense into the story. In The Fiery Crown, the true meaning is not obvious until it is. It does not contradict itself. I just buzzed right through this story, on the edge of my seat, trying to figure it all out. And I did not see everything coming.
Jeffe Kennedy did an excellent job keeping me engaged in the Fiery Crown. I absolutely cannot wait for more of the Forgotten Empires series.
Absolutely fantastic second installment in Kennedy’s phenomenal new series. This is a series that should be read in order so if you haven’t read the Orchid Throne, snag that equally wonderful book first. That said, I think I liked this book even better than the first as Con and Lia explore their relationship and what it means to be allies–and lovers–when they are so used to taking on the world alone. Romantic and sexy with lush world-building and a complex cast of beautifully drawn characters, this series is quickly becoming my favorite by Jeffe Kennedy (which is saying something!) I cannot wait until the next book comes out.
The Fiery Crown is the second book in Jeffe Kennedy’s Forgotten Empires fantasy series. A fake emperor has overthrown all kingdoms claiming the lands, resources, and citizens for himself. All that is but Calanthe, the flower island, because he was promised Euthalia’s hand in marriage – a marriage Euthalia has managed to delay time and time again. In book 1, she made the delay permanent by marrying Conrí, a former crown prince, now king, of a long-destroyed kingdom.
Their union is one of convenience and has slowly turned into one of uneasy alliance. Euthalia and Conrí continue to battle for control over what to do about Emperor Anure and how to protect Calanthe. Concessions are made that both allow for Conrí’s revenge and for Euthalia to protect Calanthe but the Emperor has tricks up his sleeve that may destroy Calanthe and Euthalia before the battle is over.
I love both Euthalia and Conrí. They have endured so much in their short lives. So much death, destruction, and injustice and they both seek revenge on the tyrant that brought it all about. I was equally intrigued and horrified by the events that unfolded during the battle between Calanthe and the Emperor. What transpires in the last half of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying not to cry as the inhumanities of war were delivered front and center. The author’s descriptions and vivid imagery brought forth disturbing scenes and emotion-evoking events, but they were necessary parts of the story being told.
I enjoy the author’s continued slow path bringing Euthalia and Conrí together. As their affection for each other grows in The Fiery Crown, we get to see the different, tender sides to them, providing views into their humanity outside of the revenge and protection armor they typically wear.
With breathtaking imagery, heart-wrenching scenes and events, and a plethora of twists and turns, The Fiery Crown drew me in, captivated me, and kept me engaged. The book weaves together many other genres besides the fantasy element. The book also features paranormal and magical elements, romantic undertones, mystery, and suspense. I devoured this epic fantasy novel and look forward to The Promised Queen’s release.
I was given a copy of this book to read.
Excellent second book in the Forgotten Empires series. The characters, storyline, and continued world-building kept me fascinated and entertained. On to the next book.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
The Fiery Crown is the second book in Jeffe Kennedy’s Forgotten Empire series and is to read after The Orchid Throne since these books can’t really be read on their own. Here we follow the ending of The Orchid Throne, Con and Lia are married and now they have to find a way to defeat Anure by really learning to trust and work with each other. This is actually quite difficult because the only time they ever agree on something is the conjugal bed. As I said the series reveals things slowly and evenly paced. You know as a reader there is an urgency for these two to agree on how to defeat the common enemy but they both have deep trust issues and in secrets about Lia and Calanthe itself and you know trouble will abound. Plus there is a third book so you’re kind of sure not eveything is going to be resolved here. So what’s the thrill about this book? Well there is fantastic storytelling where readers become invested with Lia and Con’s future, great plot building, and fantastic side characters that contribute a lot to how the main story evolves. But its also how Lia and Con’s characters are revealed, how they learn to trust one another and build something obviously there is no insta love here which makes the whole series just fantastic to read if you like realistic build up to romance. Really can’t wait for the next one!
Wow! It took me longer than I thought to read this but it is a fantastic continuation of The Forgotten Empires series! An insanely fast rollercoaster that takes you to the very top and then drops you to the bottom. I loved every minute of it. And there’s more to come! There might just be hope for the future of Calanthe and the other forgotten empires.
5 stars!!
Revenge isn’t always sweet. In fact, it usually leads you down some dark roads and blows up in your face. The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy picks up just a week after Con and Lia’s hasty wedding. Exploring their new relationship, the threat of the Emperor, and to what lengths either will go to protect Calanthe, Kennedy delivers a fast-paced, thrilling fantasy with a romance to last the ages.
Queen Euthalia, Lia for short, is at a crossroads. She always knew that her kingdom depends on her living, but at the same time, she’s always planned for the inevitable…her death at the emperor’s hands. Lia has never shied away from this. In fact, while being the Virgin Queen, she’s played up the role as she secretly planned a way to kill her betrothed. Then Con shows up and ruins her plans. Yet her prophetic dreams haven’t changed. The wolf will tear her limb from limb before delivering her to the emperor. So she still plans and waits out the inevitable.
Con is a mystery to Lia, and without his POV chapters, would be to the reader as well. But my goodness do I love him! His new marriage to Lia is changing things about him, things he didn’t expect. He is allowing himself to remember his time before the mines, the goodtimes, and despite the fact that their marriage was unconventional, Con wants to emulate his parents. He wants whatever they share to develop into a loving marriage. For him, this is a one-time deal, something he will remain faithful too. The only obstacle is his need for revenge and Lia’s unwillingness to put Calanthe in harm’s way.
I love the character development in this book. The first book focused more on world-building, and while we still get the lush fantasy and expanding of the empire, this one focuses more on Con and Lia. Con struggles with reconciling his past with his present. He’s done everything in his power to forget who he is and what he stands for in his need for revenge. Lia puts herself behind her people. She will do what is necessary to protect them, no matter the cost. And the cost is high.
Overall I loved The Fiery Crown. The development of the characters and the new information we receive about the empire left my mind reeling. I love Lia and Con and how their relationship evolves from one of necessity to one of want. The lust was there last book, but in this one love develops and it is oh-so-sweet. If you enjoy high fantasy, adventure, and romance, you are in for a treat!
When I read this I wasn’t aware it was a part 2, so I need to go back and read part 1. But it was intriguing and fascinating, and filled with passion and revenge (who doesn’t like that?) My attention has been fully grasped that I will jump feet first into this series and patiently await the next one!
The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy, published by St. Martins Press, is book two in the Forgotten Empires Series and is not a stand alone.
I recommend to read the books in order. The previous book is The Orchid Throne.
The story picks up, where the previous book was left off.
Conri and Lia are married, a marriage of convenience, but now they havr their everyday life before them.
It took me a minute to get into the tory, but then, o girl what a ride. The suspense kept me glued to the pages, I loved the storyline and the writing.
4 beautiful stars.
I love the world created by Jeffe Kennedy. Although the story is completely different, the mood reminds me of the first time I watched The Island of Doctor Moreau. There is something definitely going on with this island and I can’t quite tell how sinister it will be. I like the guessing game as it keeps me on my toes.
In the first book, The Orchid Throne, Lia and Conri marry to create an alliance against the despot, Anure, but it turns out to be more than a marriage of convenience. Anure is coming and it is up to Lia and Conri to outsmart him. This is a fantastic representation of the enemies to lovers trope. What makes it really work is that the characters are multi-layered. Lia and Conri are not superheroes and have real vulnerabilities that make them likeable to each other and to us as readers. It would be easy to dismiss Lia as frivolous, walking through life like the citizen’s of District One from the The Hunger Games. You might even say the same about the island, beautiful but without much meat. You could say that if you only look at the surface. There is great depth and like an iceberg, the substance is under the water line. As the story unfolds, the narrative gets darker and darker with a sense of desperation. There is a HEA for now, but it is EARNED.
Book two advances several storylines and introduces us to new characters that brings additional intrigue. There is a major ship battle, kidnapping, use of elemental magic, sacrifice, and a heroic rescue. So far, it is a wild ride and I’m anxiously waiting for more!
Having read the one before this of course had to continue so not to miss a thing. This author has the ability to transport you into the world between the pages with the characters coming to life. Conri and Lia have us right there with them with the ups and downs and sideway romps. It also still has you interest in the chemistry of the two and which way it is going. We encounter magic and drama with also trust issues going down. There is a good reason for that too. It has elements that combine to be a fabulous read.
The Fiery Crown is book 2 in the Forgotten Empires series and a steamy, action packed, romantic- fantasy with Queen Euthalia and her hubby Conri. A marriage of convenience, Lia and Con butt heads everywhere but between the sheets. The final showdown against their mutual enemy is in the works and Con thinks he can work both ends toward the middle. He knows sacrifices will be made to win but never counted on his feelings for his wife muddying the waters. Ancient forces come into play and in the midst of danger, Lia finds out just what she means to her Kingdom and her husband in an epic and totally addicting story. This story is better than the first book and now I wait impatiently for the next installment. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
Love the unique ideas in this series, and the writing flows better in this book than the first book. Definitely read the first book before this one because the story continues right where the first one left off. Conrí and Lia are married, but they keep having trouble communicating. Both misunderstand each other a lot and both are being too sensitive about it. They are still learning how to be together, which is hard since both are supposed to put their kingdoms before each other. Plus, the bad guy is still on the loose and wants Lia to suffer for marrying Conrí. Conrí and Lia’s ruling style differ greatly, so that causes strife in their union; add in both being stubborn and not saying how they really feel, and they have a hard go of it. They do have a passionate connection though! Definitely don’t have problems in the sex department. I appreciate that both want to make it work between them, and they both make sacrifices to achieve cohesion. I’m still not a fan of Calanthe’s ideals, but I do like that Lia tries to think beyond what is the status quo. I’m glad Conrí and Lia don’t fall into Calanthe’s ideals on relationships. She’s a tough lady and stands up for herself, but she’s also learning to depend on others. It’s sad how everyone just wants to use Lia as bait and such, but she remains strong throughout all the danger. Lia being an elemental is an interesting and unique idea. The whole premise of this series feels like something I haven’t read before. Enjoyed the whole thing! Really looking forward to the next book!
The Fiery Crown is a good fantasy read. I will openly admit that when I requested the ARC of this book, I did not realize that it was the second in the series. That being said, I gave the first book The Orchid Throne a heavy skim read, and caught myself up well enough before diving in. With that in mind, and not in flushing my review at all this was an enjoyable read for me.
It’s essentially two unlike characters in a marriage of convenience attempting to put their differences aside (mostly) to defeat a common enemy. Conri is a warrior through and through and wants to act to defeat their enemy. Lia is trying to keep her kingdom safe. What these two don’t have in strategic compatibility, they make up for in sexual tension. These two are trying to get along while getting it on, and it’s just a great read. Seeing two people with such chemistry slowly fall in love. I can only imagine it through the eyes of the other characters in this story. It’s peak marriage of convenience yumminess, with a bit of an intense throne game plot.
I can’t wait for the next book in their story!
There’s a piece of advice that every writer hears: Chase your main characters up a tree and throw rocks at them. The problem is that rocks thrown with regularity into trees is not tension. It’s annoying.
Jeffe Kennedy knows where tension lives and it’s not in the predictable lobbing of rocks at people in trees. It’s in creating a world that the reader can inhabit. It is writing fully realized characters who know the worst is coming, plan as best they can to fight it and somehow are strong enough to soldier through when it all goes sideways.
In the second volume of Forgotten Empires, following her superlative The Orchid Crown, the elegant, politically savvy Lia is in a marriage of convenience to the rough, soldier king, Conri. On the face of it they have nothing in common but a shared hatred for the cruel Emperor Anure. Conri spent his young life as a slave in Anure’s mines, brooding about revenge; Lia, has spent hers in the stiffly opulent court of Calanthe, using the promise of her virginity to protect her kingdom from the Emperor.
Welp, that’s not going to work anymore because the in this volume Con and Lia come together in ways that perfectly combine Lia’s courtly sensuality and Con’s martial roughness but leave her virginity moot.
Second volumes sometimes end up feeling like a bridge between the world building of the first volume and the heart-pounding finale of the third, but this has everything. The magic that was just hinted at in the first volume begins to unfurl like an orchid revealing both its strength and its fragility. A cast of secondary characters come into their own, especially Ambrose and Sondra.
But they never distract from Lia and Con and their burgeoning relationship, started out of necessity but continued out of desire and respect and finally love.
I adored it.
The Slave King and The Queen of Flowers are now married. However, Conri and Euthalia must learn how to navigate their new alliance. Conri intends to use everything at his disposal to kill the false emperor. Euthalia strives to keep Calanthe and its people safe from both Emperor Anure and Conri’s thirst for vengeance. With their loyalties torn, they agree on a trap to lure Anure out of hiding. What sacrifices are Conri and Euthalia willing to make? Is there a greater threat than just Anure?
Conri shows such remarkable growth, especially emotionally. As a slave, he had to learn how to bury his emotions enough to survive to live another day. I adore Conri’s natural protectiveness towards Euthalia. They may still be strangers, yet he stubbornly keeps to his word about keeping her safe, even from herself. What I like most about Conri is his view of marriage. He has vague memories of his parents’ marriage, but Conri remembers enough to know he wants a monogamous relationship with Euthalia.
Euthalia is also showing amazing character growth. She is used to making important decisions alone, so it takes her a while to trust Conri enough in the areas she is not knowledgeable on. I like how Euthalia refuses to allow her subjects to refer to Conri by his moniker. She knows how much he hates it and insists they refer to him by either his name or as consort. What I like most about Euthalia is how she can explore her personality around Conri. Whenever in his company, she discovers something new about her personality.
THE FIERY CROWN is book two in Jeffe Kennedy’s fantasy-romance series, FORGOTTEN EMPIRES. The story’s pacing is quicker and smoother than the previous one. It is important to read the prior book, THE ORCHID THRONE, to understand the characters’ development and the events happening in the story. I love how this book picks up immediately where the first one leaft off.
THE FIERY CROWN is a thrilling tale of two strong-willed souls discovering what is truly important to them. I cannot wait to read more about Conri and Euthalia’s crusade against Emperor Anure.
Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies
Lia and Conri are in a marriage of convenience, both looking for something to gain. As they plan for war they start to have feelings for each other. Will these feelings be their demise when war does reach the shores of Calanthe.
I absolutely loved the world building in this book. It made you actually feel the beauty of Calanthe. At times I felt like I was there. Lia and Conri were great characters. I loved how they fought and loved. I will say that I did not know this was the second book in the series. I did read it without reading book ! and was not lost. I will defiantly look up book 1 because I would like to see the history of both of these characters. It was a slow read for me at the beginning but quickly started to move fast paced. There were plenty of twists to keep you reading.
Now this is how you write a five star book and I absolutely loved everything about it. I admit as much as I enjoyed meeting the characters in the preceding book The Orchid Throne it didn’t leave such an impression as this book did. Conri is still very much hell bent on revenge against the false Emperor but all Lia wants is to protect her land and her people. Yes they share the same ultimate objective but sadly their methods and ideas really don’t quite gel so well. Everything is set for a showdown with the Emperor and his forces but who will emerge the victor ?
Fascinating characters, magic, action, betrayal and truly vile deeds not to mention snark and passion all go to make this a fabulous second instalment to what I’m guessing might be a trilogy. I’m so happy that the author managed to turn this marriage of convenience into something that had depths and can only say I look forward so much to continuing this journey with Con and Lia but it’s also very interesting getting to know supporting characters who in this book added so much.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Lia and Conri’s marriage of convenience isn’t so convenient outside the bedroom. (When is it ever?) With war looming on the horizon, Lia and Conri are getting a crash course on opening up to one another and exposing their deepest vulnerabilities for a sliver of trust that everything will go according to their personal plans…
Kennedy definitely kept the momentum flowing from the end of The Orchid Throne! The Fiery Crown had vengeance, battles, action, and betrayal, but the emotion between Lia and Conri! Best parts of the story. I loved seeing these two really begin to open up. What I didn’t like is where the story left off, but I was semi prepared for this cliffhanger so I can deal.
I definitely recommend reading The Orchid Throne before diving into The Fiery Crown.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley/St. Martins and this is my honest review.