A Heart So Fierce and Broken is the highly anticipated sequel to A Curse So Dark and Lonely, which shifts from the perspective of Harper and Rhen to fan favourite Grey and a new female protagonist, Lia Mara. This book deals with the fallout from Grey’s discovery of his status as the true heir to the throne and possessing latent magical abilities as well as Lia Mara’s efforts to broker peace between Emberfall and her kingdom of Syhl Shallow, despite her mother’s intent to dominate and conquer.
Grey endeared himself to many in the first book and incorporating his perspective in this book as a main character was a fantastic choice. His confident competence and loyal devotion to the crown (and Rhen in particular) plus his chivalrous manner and steadfast integrity is swoonworthy. If he wasn’t already your book boyfriend, his central role in A Heart So Fierce and Broken will cement his status as such!
In an attempt to protect Rhen from being confronted with his claim to the throne, Grey goes into hiding at the end of A Curse So Dark and Lonely and here we pick up with him working as a stable hand in a rural town. It’s slightly amusing as it’s a common trope for the secret royal heir to be found as a peasant working in a menial position, but here it’s slyly subverted as Grey already knew he was the heir and chose to leave his position as Guard Commander in order to hide amongst the common folk. Despite his best intentions, he is eventually captured and forced to face Rhen once more.
Lia Mara is in the unusual position of being the eldest royal daughter, but not the heir to Syhl Shallow; the bloodthirsty Karis Luran, who has once already attempted to invade Emberfall, bypassed her in favour of her younger sister, Nolla Verin, who lacks Lia Mara’s quiet compassion and desire for peace. I liked how this book avoided the usual tropes of the bold brash princess who is trying to prove herself worthy of being heir or of murderous sisters trying to assassinate each other to win the throne. Instead Lia Mara is genuinely proud of her younger sister, supporting her as successor to the throne, and the sisters have a strong bond and love for each other which is a highlight of the story.
Of course she still struggles with self-doubt and insecurity due to being viewed as the weaker sibling since she prefers compromise instead of conquest and values mercy over violence. Being publicly passed over for the crown would make anyone question their worth! However Lia Mara chooses to follow her kind heart and attempts to forge an alliance with Emberfall, but this ultimately fails as Rhen is in no mood to hear her pleas for peace.
It was a very bold choice to steer away from Rhen’s POV because witnessing his harsh treatment of Grey and others without the benefit of his internal voice means that an established main character who is loved by readers now appears in a very unflattering light, to put it mildly. Rhen being cast in the position of antagonist is a surprise and makes the story very unpredictable as there’s no telling how far he’ll go while trapped in the depths of paranoia with his PTSD further compounding the issue.
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is a darker story than its predecessor in many ways, starting from the audience’s realisation that Rhen may not be the hero to the moral conflicts each of our protagonists face. Grey doesn’t want to challenge Rhen for the crown, but he may not have a choice except to defy the king he once served if he wishes to survive and protect his people. Lia Mara wants for everyone to live and be happy, but that is a naïve wish that doesn’t take into account the history of bloodshed and violence between Emberfall and Syhl Shallow which will not so easily be smoothed over. At what point does she end up as a traitor to her people if she continues pushing for reconciliation despite the deaths that have occurred on both sides?
However, these dilemmas don’t dominate the entire book, as it would be quite a gloomy affair if that were the case! The conflicts simmer in the background and inform our characters’ actions, but there is plenty of delightful banter, fun adventures and team bonding to enjoy. Grey and Lia Mara have a wonderful relationship that starts off with them as reluctant allies only for their mutual benefit to gradually growing fond of each other and then delicious romantic tension ensues! As always, this author doesn’t deal in insta-love, we get to witness what each character sees in the other that causes them to hold them in high regard before eventually ensnaring their heart.
Even better, there are a range of relationship dynamics outside the romantic one! The author is always great at developing secondary characters and giving them compelling arcs so they feel like real people, and A Heart So Fierce and Broken is no exception. We’re introduced to new characters like Tycho and Iisak the scraver (who is my new favourite) plus existing characters like Jake and Noah return for more page-time and development in this book which is fantastic. ‘Found family’ is a trope that I adore, and that theme is portrayed beautifully here with all these disparate characters who have competing goals and loyalties coming together over the course of the novel and forging a strong bond with each other.
This book can’t be read in isolation, so if you haven’t read A Curse So Dark and Lonely yet, you must start that because it is AMAZING before starting this follow-up which is just as enchanting. Featuring a dashing idealistic hero, a quietly determined and principled heroine, and a supporting cast of endearing characters, A Heart So Fierce and Broken is magical, compelling, and will leave you desperate for more!
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places.
Find the heir, win the crown.
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.
Win the crown, save the kingdom.
Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen–until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.
