In the Forgotten Empires magic is forbidden, dreams are destiny, and love is the greatest power of all…Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, the lush romantic fantasy world of the Forgotten Empires series will sweep you away. A PRISONER OF FATE As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Lia will do anything to keep her people free–and her secrets safe–from the mad tyrant who rules the … the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world–a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…
A PRINCE AMONG MEN
ConrÃ, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Lia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes–nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?
“A lush… perilous and passionate world.”–New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep
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A little bit of a slow start but since this is the first book in a new series, I wasn’t surprised by it. Once the story took off, though, it kept me thoroughly entertained. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.
The Orchid Throne is a captivating and sensual fantasy romance you won’t want to miss! High stakes. Remarkable worldbuilding. Unique and compelling characters. A slow-burn romance that’ll make you combust.
The magic is real! Lia, Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe wears the magic Abiding Ring. Lia concentrates on Calanthe and her people, works hard to keep her island kingdom out of the clutches of the evil Emperor Anure. In her youth she was betrothed to him and she uses the sitauation as best she can to protect Calanthe and its people. This plan is working until the Slave King, Conri, King of the long destroyed (by Anure) land of Oriel sails into Calanthe’s harbor. His wizard, Ambrose insists Conri needs to marry the Queen of Calanthe to achieve his goal of destroying Anure.
The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy is the beginning gambit in her new series, Forgotten Realms. This author has achieved all the hallmarks of a great fantasy story. There’s magic even though the evil emperor Anure has declared there is no magic and systematically killed all the wizards he could find. There is lots of adventure in this introduction to this battered world. The Slave King has escaped Anure’s mine and has assembled an army. The descriptions of the skirmishes of this army along the path to annilate Anure are quite engrossing. The struggle to reach Anure and destroy him is spelled out in detail in these beginning acts. The world Jeffe Kennedy imagines here is detailed and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed this first book in the series and can’t wait to continue the adventures of Lia and Conri.
A fantasy romance by a writer at the top of her game.There are two strands to this story and each is beautifully distinctive. The chapters portraying Lia, the virgin queen who protects her people from the ruthless emperor through statecraft and artifice, are lush and hypnotic. Those that follow the damaged Conri and his army of rebel slaves are raw and propulsive. Kennedy plays with these differences building tension so that when the two come together it is like a match to tinder. The world building is immersive and there are secondary characters to root for (especially fond of Ambrose, Conri’s wizard). I only wish I didn’t have to wait so long for the 2nd book.
Absolutely adored the pairing – two exceedingly different people coming together for the common good. And so, so sexy! With compelling world-building. Book two is fantastic as well, and I’ve already preordered book three.
Amazing start to a new romantic fantasy saga with well drawn complex characters and a lush setting. The political intrigue and actions of the characters tell a nuanced story and touch of difficult themes of rebellion and honor. This is speculative fiction at its best.
My only complaint is that the story leaves some threads dangling, and it is many LONG months until the second book comes out.
Thanks to Goodreads and St Martin’s for the ARC
If you’ve been missing Rhysand and Feyre, the Night Court, and the realm of Fae, The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy is for you! To say I loved this book is an understatement. I devoured it! This book has something for everyone and is a must-read for fantasy fans. Following the story of two very different people, The Orchid Throne sets up the world of the Forgotten Empires, hooking the readers with its lush fantasy, political intrigue, and steamy romance.
Euthalia is the Virgin Queen of the island kingdom Calanthe. She will do anything to keep her people safe from the mad emperor, including sacrificing herself in marriage to him. She has a plan, not a good plan, but a plan to bring an end to his tyranny. Guided by the magical orchid ring her father left in her care, Euthalia walks a fine line of keeping the emperor and his emissaries happy while planning treason in her mind. That is her waking world. Her dreams are plagued with a wolf, tearing down everything she’s ever loved, leaving her beloved island blood soaked.
Conrí is the wolf of Euthalia’s dreams. The former Crown Prince of Oriel, Conrí is now a slave in the vurgsten mines. Building an army of slaves, he escapes. Now known as the Slave King, Con wants only one thing: revenge. Revenge for his family, his people, and his home, and he will have it or die trying. A prophecy about the abiding ring leads him to Euthalia’s palace. But will the Virgin Queen help the Slave King defeat the emperor once and for all?
I loved the writing style of this one. Beautiful, vivid descriptions paints the landscape of Calanthe in the reader’s mind that isn’t easily forgotten. I felt as if I could smell the flowers and feel the warmth of Calanthe’s sun as I read. The chapters alternated between Euthalia’s and Conrí’s POV. I enjoyed this aspect more than I thought I would. They are very different, and it allows the reader to get to know the character’s separately before they are together. It also had me shipping them before they’d even met.
Overall I loved The Orchid Throne. Lia and Con are fascinating characters, thrown together by fate, and bond by their hatred of the emperor. I cannot wait to read more about their adventures and scheming. If you are a fan of fantasy and don’t mind a little romance, I highly recommend this as your next read!
**I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.**
The King Of Slaves escaped and is seeking revenge against the tyranny of Anure. Conri was once royalty now he lives to avenge his family and his lost homeland. With his childhood friend, Sondra, and the wizard Ambrose he is battling the troops of his Imperial Majesty. He is preparing to finally face his enemy, but things get complicated when he is taken captive by the Orchid Queen. I was impressed by Euthalia. She’s skilled in diplomacy and deception. She’s promised to Anure, the butcher, but she despises him and what he stands for. She admires Conri for his courage. However, she’s willing to sacrifice him for the safety of her people. I felt the attraction between these two characters. They seem to be opposites. Can the work together to defeat their common enemy. I’m glad that they joined forces through marriage. Together they make a powerful opponent, Anure? I was pulled into this exciting and romantic adventure. The setting was beautiful and deadly. I wasn’t sure who could be trusted or what would happen next. There were unexpected twists that kept me off balance. Be aware that this story ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I want victory for the rebellion!
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
It took me a bit to get into this story, but I enjoyed the dynamics between Lia and Conri. Her strength and his determination brought a lot to their relationship. Through Ms. Kennedy’s words, I could see the world around them, the good, the bad, the beautiful. This was a good story overall, and I look forward to the next installment.
I received an ARC of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.
The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
Forgotten Empires #1
At first I was bored…but…after awhile I became interested and by the end I was eager to read book two in this trilogy. Why was I bored? I found the introduction long and windy without seeming to tell me anything. A bit like the opening words to a Star Wars movie perhaps but without knowing the plot or players I was lost. I began reading and did not connect with either Lia, Queen of Calanthe or Conri, former crown prince of Oriel. Conri spent most of his time bashing people a bit like a Berzerker and Lia seemed a painted doll living in a gorgeous garden that was there to please her and those living on the island paradise.
So…I skimmed and read and then finally I hit the part where Con and Lia meet. She was still cold and calculating and he was a bit of a loose cannon. And I waited and read and wondered. I wondered how the two would eventually be bound together and why and what kind of relationship they could possibly have. And…I think we find that out in book two.
Why do I want to read book two if it took so long to actually get to know and care about the characters? I am not sure. I believe it is because the story grew on me and I want to see how the couple will move forward. I want to find out what will happen to Ambrose the wizard and Sondra the warrior. I want to find out if Con and Lia will find common ground other than providing an heir and taking down the tyrant Anure. And I want to find out that there is more to Con than the oafish warrior he seems at first and if there is warmth in the cold painted doll that Lia seems to be.
Did I enjoy this book? Eventually
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
The Orchid Throne is the first book in Jeffe Kennedy’s new 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. When a group of rebels break free from the their prison and slowly retake small kingdoms, the Emperor gives Euthalia both a warning – alerting her of the most recent takeover, and an ultimatum – when the band of rebels enters Calanthe, she either hands them over to him or becomes a traitor herself, to which he will have no problem dispatching his army.
Conrí is a former crown prince – now the king – of a long destroyed kingdom. Taken as a slave, Conrí wants nothing more than cold, hard revenge against his captor. To that end, Conrí and his band of followers overtake the fake emperor’s kingdoms offering protection for loyalty or death to those who refuse. As his army grows, his wizard claims that they must go to Calanthe as part of a magical prophesy. He wasn’t expecting a cold-as-ice Queen with an agenda of her own. He has very little time to convince her to work together before she hands him and his companions over to certain death.
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 complete and utter destruction of the kingdoms surrounding the island of Calanthe. I enjoyed the author’s slow path bringing Euthalia and Conrí together. Having Euthalia and Conrí in different phases of their respective plans then uniting them in an unorthodox manner allowed me to get to know them separately and then together.
With breathtaking imagery, heart-wrenching backstory, and a plethora of twists and turns, The Orchid Throne 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 read this epic fantasy novel in two days in-between working full time and taking care of my family at night. The book was in my hands at every available opportunity.
The story remains open-ended but not with a mind-bending cliffhanger. Oh, I’m chomping at the bit for the next book, of course, but the author gave us a tasteful conclusion.
I was given a copy of this book to read.
What I enjoyed: The Orchid Throne has an intriguing mythos. Their world’s “pleasure island” is the last free territory amidst a realm taken over by a terrible tyrant. Calanthe’s Queen Euthalia is clever. I enjoyed theorizing about Lia’s powers and her intent throughout the novel. Conri is what you would expect based on his place in the story, which is neither good nor bad. He will complement Lia well in future novels. They both have great cunning necessary for the approaching conflict in their land.
Urban fantasy and paranormal romance are fairly synonymous for me. I have a hard time seeing where one story type turns into the other. A romance between Lia and Conri is not what drives the plot in Orchid Throne, but it does complement it. There is an appropriate amount of chemistry between the characters. I experienced no issues accepting their attraction to one another.
What I didn’t like: I had some disconnect at the beginning of the novel and couldn’t completely engage with the characters. I suspect part of it was the royal court at Calanthe. I am not fond of historical romance, and this had a similar feel, but that is personal preference. I found my groove at about 30% and was able to breeze right through it. Warning though, this story ends on a cliffhanger, and it sneaks up on you.
Overall this early copy of The Orchid Throne was an enjoyable read, recommended for lovers of urban fantasy/ paranormal romance. I will be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.
Rated 4.5 Stars
The Orchid Throne is the first in a fantasy trilogy steeped in political intrigue, magic, adventure, action and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it, the interesting and intriguing world, the characters and plot. I am eagerly anticipating the release of the next book in the series. I highly recommend it.
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
The Orchid Throne is a whole lotta fantasy and a little bit romance. The story is told in altering viewpoints of the Queen of Calanthe and the King of Slaves. Lia became Queen after her father’s death when the Orchid ring was passed to her. She hides behind the mask of Queen for the world as she plays political chess with the evil Emperor to keep her kingdom intact. Conri, former Crown Prince of Oriel, is now the King of Slaves and his only goal is revenge. After his Kingdom was destroyed and his people enslaved, Con broke out of the Emperor’s mines and leads his warriors from city to city taking what is the Emperor’s. A prophecy tells Con and Lia that their marriage is foretold but both resist fate even as their goals align. Entertaining with great world building, The Orchid Throne grew on me until I found myself grinning from the mind games Lia is able to pull off and delighted with Con’s fumbling attempts at flirting. The story was not what I was expected but it turned into a delightful fantasy read after a little bit of a rough start that rambled on and almost had me stopping. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review coy from Netgalley.
It had been a while since having read this author so it was refreshing to me to get into one of her novels. This one took me away right away into a world where the discovery of these Empires was just one of the things that pull you in. This was a fantasy of high caliber that wove its magic in front of you. Lia and Con will sizzle leaking over into you as you read their tale. The emotions that are buried in this come alive as your eyes light onto them. OH the passion that vibrates the pages giving the fuel to keep on turning. Oh and the darkness and evil will make you shudder. Fortunately for me I began this at the beginning so I won’t miss a one.
This was perhaps a little slower initially than some other books I’ve read by this author but nevertheless it does set itself up to be a satisfying tale when she’s finally finished with it. I’m guessing it’s going to be a trilogy as we need to find out not only much more about this seemingly sentient land but also get to see our lead couple take a stand against the mysterious Emperor.
Lia is Queen but in order to protect her people she was betrothed to the Emperor whose ambitions and cruelty know no bounds. I won’t ruin it but it’s very obvious that Lia is both smart and wily as she avoids matrimony. Lia might appear sweet and naive but this Queen is anything but !
Conri has been told in order to defeat the tyrant who has caused so much destruction that he must have the fabled ring that sits proudly upon Lia’s hand. Well good luck with that one because brute force will only get him so far. The couple do not trust each other but they both realise that as events become precarious they do in fact need each other.
The world building lacked a little something for this reader but it certainly made up for it with the court etiquette that was as much baffling as it was amusing. The way Lia is forced to behave and act is only second to her wardrobe and style ! Poor Conri is so confident in himself and he has to suck up several revelations as the couple cement their ahem alignment ( relationship dear reader ) and although it wasn’t my perfect read I’m very excited to discover how they start to handle the situation they are left in .
This voluntary take is of a copy that I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I’m not a frequent reader of fantasy novels, but this story unexpectedly drew me in even if the storyline is fairly predictable. The characters do have hidden depths and there are enough intrigue and reveals of unexpected to keep you entertained. The romance aspect also comes in at latter part of the story so those who are hoping for steam will be satisfied as well. There are hints of future adventures, but the story is not a cliffhanger and ends happily. Voluntary and honest review after receiving ARC (advanced reader copy).
After the death of her father, Queen Euthalia continued to do her duties for the throne. She didn’t agree with the way things were and when a dream leads her to believe that change is coming she readies herself.
Conri is fighting for a new world, to right the wrongs. He needs Lia’s ring to overtake the man who is set on ruling for himself not everyone. Will he be able to do right by the people or is he doomed from the start?
This was intriguing. A bit slow int he beginning but i thought written in a way that you could visualize. I wasn’t sure how Conri and Lia would get on together as they are polar opposites. I would be curious to see what happens in the next book. Good start to the series.
Title: The Orchid Throne
Author: Jeffe Kennedy
Genre: Fantasy Romance Drama
**RECEIVED ARC FOR HONEST REVIEW**
I have a horrible confession: I have had this book for some time and started reading it numerous times only to toss it aside with lack of interest after less than a page read. BUT…after I finally sat down and struggled through the horrible character and place names the story got really good.
I mean you have action, old world court politics in a fantasy realm, magic, and societal wrongs we face in our own world even today. And it is interesting to see how the characters navigate their world and their own feelings. In the end this book is written with feeling, passion, magic, and even humor. You will love the bird Merle. I am looking forward to book number 2. I am sorry it took so long to read.
A beautiful and lush Fantasy with wonderful characters.
A must read!