A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies) Paperback – July 28, 2023

I’m not even going to beat around the bush, I’m just going to say it, this is my favorite read of the year. I have not loved a book or series like this since I read ACOTAR for the first time, and same goes for Stacia Stark’s Deals with Demons series too. The first book in this series took me by storm and was in the number one spot until this book, book 2 came into my life. Did I finish this audiobook ARC at 1:40 in the morning and IMMEDIATELY start it all over again because it was THAT good? Absolutely, I can’t stop thinking about everything we learned, all the new breadcrumbs and how our story and characters progressed in this book. It was a triumph in my books, so let’s spoiler free dive right into why I loved it!The plot picked up right where we left off and was flawlessly paced. I loved how Stacia gives just the right amount of time for our characters to level up in knowledge, power and in their relationships. There is never stagnancy and equally you never feel like you’re in an information dump, or like there’s constant unyielding peril. Everything has a fantastic flow to it and it makes all of the incredible world building easy to understand and remember, because you aren’t being flooded with too much too fast. This balance was also there for both plot and romantic progressions. Our main characters are oh so root-for-able, especially romantically, as are the side characters who have so much depth as well. I loved the furthering expanse of the world and creatures, and how much more we learned. Each new destination or situation our characters arrived upon felt so real with her stunning descriptions of landscapes and lore so it was all to easy to immerse myself in it. Creatures came alive and felt very unique even for well known mythical creatures. I could go on and on about how unputdownable this was because I quite simply didn’t want it to end, which is why I immediately started a reread once I finished! I won’t be surprised if I reread it all over again after! This book as a whole is a theory lovers dream and this a fantastic reread, especially for clues and annotating. I’m discovering more and more through the reread and know it will be one I go back to all the time. The stakes are so much higher in this book, and I expect will be even higher in book 3!Now let’s talk romance, because as promised this slow burn got spicier in book 2! The spice was flawlessly cranked up in this book and it had everything I was hoping for! There wasn’t a cringe moment in sight, and I loved the characters connecting deeper on so many levels. I really enjoyed seeing the balance of tenderness and wildness in their spicy scenes. I found myself rereading the spicy parts because they had me grinning like a grinch! Our MMC knows exactly what he’s doing, and y’all this is why we read romance written by women! If you love the following tropes, this series will steal your heart and all your sleep and leave you wanting more more more!Tropes:Enemies to lovers, found family, he falls first, intricate magic system, one bed, one horse, dual POV, touch her and perish, slow burn to spicy spice, forced proximity, morally grey MMC, and so much more!Audiobook:It’s pretty clear from above that I loved this audiobook seeing as I restarted it immediately. I loved that we got the same two narrators for our dual POV because I hate when narrators change mid series. The female narrator is still by far my favorite of the two, she has fantastic voices for all genders and very distinctive voices. The male narrator was also good but I am not a fan of his female voices sometimes. I’ve found this to be an issue with all the books I’ve heard him read because for me personally his female voices feel over exaggerated at times, which takes me out of the story or comes across as much younger than the character is. This might be a personal preference and I do love all of his other voices especially for our MMC. I will listen to this series on audiobook again and again and can’t recommend it enough!Thank you Dreamscape and Stacia Stark for books 1 & 2, my thoughts are my own.

Stacia Stark's *A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty* offers a gripping dive into a world brimming with political intrigue and high fantasy. This novel stands out for its focus on action and complex character dynamics, making it a thrilling read for fans of epic tales and strategic maneuvering.The story is woven through multiple perspectives, each adding depth to the narrative and allowing readers to fully grasp the intricate layers of deceit and ambition at play. Stark introduces a strong, clever female main character who navigates this treacherous world with wit and resilience. The grumpy and ruthless male counterpart adds tension, creating a dynamic relationship that smolders slowly, offering moments of connection amidst the chaos.What sets this book apart is its focus on action and plot development over romance, making it a refreshing read for those who prefer story-driven narratives. The incorporation of magic lessons and morally grey characters adds complexity, keeping readers on their toes as alliances shift and true intentions are revealed.Stark's ability to create a found family within this tumultuous environment adds warmth and relatability to the story. The sense of camaraderie and loyalty among characters provides a counterbalance to the political machinations and betrayals.The novel builds to a gasp-inducing conclusion, leaving readers eager for more. *A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty* is a masterclass in high fantasy storytelling, combining action, intrigue, and memorable characters in a narrative that refuses to let go. Stark has crafted a world that is as captivating as it is dangerous, and it's a journey worth embarking on for any fantasy enthusiast.

“You can raise all the walls between us that you like. I’ll knock them down one by one. In the end, it will be us, wildcat.”Wow wow wow!! I’m so glad I have the next book in the series to dive right into. This is such a fantastic story, and I’m obsessed with all of the characters. This book was an emotional rollercoaster of self-depreciation, finding oneself, pain & loss, fierce loyalty, and found family. What a fantastic read!!! I can’t wait for Prisca’s ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ era.𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼✨Dual POVMagical SuppressionRevenge PlotFMC Willing to Do Anything to SurviveFated MatesOn The RunTouch Her and Literally DPossessive MMCCourtly IntrigueLightening DaddyElemental MagicHidden Royals“Mine” “Beg Me” “Eyes on me”Found Family