A Heart So Fierce and Broken – Brigid Kemmerer – Cursebreakers #2 – Bloomsbury – Published 7 January 2020

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Synopsis

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?

My thoughts

A Heart So Fierce and Broken is the stunning, beautifully written sequel to A Curse So Dark and Lonely. Just when I thought I couldn’t fall any more in love with the complex, layered characters, Brigid Kemmerer changes everything you thought you knew, and then adds more backstory, more details, new characters, and basically rips your heart to shreds while also tenderly caring for it by giving us new characters to love. The setting is the same lush, detailed fantasy world, but now with more countries to explore and learn about. And there is a mix of action, politics, suspense, friendship, romance, alliances, war brokering and heartbreak to keep you gasping cheering, crying and basically salivating the whole way through the book.

A Heart So Fierce and Broken picks up where A Curse So Dark and Lonely finished. Grey is in hiding after learning that he not only has magic but is the secret heir to Emberfall. Rhen hunts the heir as rumours of his existence divide the already fractured kingdom and entice the neighbouring country of Syhl Shallow. Lia Mara is the eldest daughter of Queen Karis Luran. When Karis Luran tries to negotiate with Rhen and fails, Lia Mara sees the flaws in her plan and sets out to try to broker her own deal. With old friendships torn apart and nw alliances forged, the fight for peace may mean moving ever closer to war.

A Heart So Fierce and Broken is the second book in the series and you must read book one before starting this second book. The ending will also have you desperate to get your hands on a copy of the third book.

Just when I thought I couldn’t love this world and story any more, this second book delivers so much more to love. And yes, my heart has also been broken. How could he??!?!? Harper and Rhen’s chapters bookend the story, giving us readers insight into their choices and Rhen’s desperation. The remainder of the story is divided into chapters narrated by Grey and Lia Mara. Grey. Dear, sweet, brave, caring Grey. He is on the run, desperate to avoid the coming confrontation and the revealing of the truth about his heritage, but Rhen is relentless. Grey must face both his past and future. In A Heart So Fierce and Broken we are also introduced to Lia Mara. Eldest daughter of Karis Luran but not named heir, she is intelligent, shy, strategic, and caring. When she and Grey team up, it just works, not to mention the simmering attraction between them. But they are caught between two bad choices and all the scheming and planning may not be able to prevent the looming war.

Alongside Grey and Lia Mara are Jake (Harper’s brother) and Jake’s boyfriend Noah, and it’s so nice to have more of them in this story. There are also new friends, dangerous allies, new countries, new cultures and languages and so much looming tension!!

I loved this book. Possibly even more than the first book (gasp). And I cannot wait until book three. Brigid Kemmerer continually proves herself as an author who can do no wrong.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Young adult fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Themes: Royalty, romance, family, sisters, war, kingdoms, heirs.

Reading age guide: Ages 13 and up.

Advisory: Violence, fighting, lashings, injuries.

Published: 7 January 2020 by Bloomsbury YA.

Format: Hardcover, paperback, ebook. 464 pages.

ISBN: 9781681195117

Find it on Goodreads