ABOUT THE BOOK
One year ago, Rowenna Harrack, the crown princess of Tashir, left her homeland in a wedding dress of chains—sent away to the enemy nation of Vanzador as a captive bride.
Now, Rowenna is dead. Brought home in a coffin after an alleged fall from a cliff.
Second-born princess, Indira, knows her sister’s death was no accident. Desperate for truth and vengeance, Indira agrees to wed the prince so she can infiltrate Vanzador, find Rowenna’s murderer, and burn their kingdom to the ground.
Indira’s plan is simple, she will make nice until she can find out how to avenge her sister and free her country from the rival nation’s stranglehold. But when Indira arrives, nothing is as terrible as Rowenna described. As Indira grows closer to her new husband, Prince Alaric, and uncovers more about Vanzador, the source of its powers, and what happened during Rowenna’s final days, she’s no longer sure what—and who—to believe. Because everyone, even her sister, has secrets. Deadly ones.
MY REVIEW
Burn the Kingdom Down is an engaging YA romantasy that blends political intrigue, romance, magic, and a murder mystery into a compelling story.Â
The plot is unique, beginning with Indira’s beloved sister, Rowenna, who was sent as a bride to the enemy nation, and a year later, her body was sent back. Now, Indira, the often-overlooked second-born princess of Tashir, a struggling kingdom, is tasked with marrying the same hated crown prince of Vanzado following the tragic death of her sister.Â
Indira is a hero because of her courage and strength as she seeks justice for her beloved sister’s death, caused by the cruel Vanzadorians. However, the lines between enemies and friends begin to blur, and the story does a great job of showing Indira’s emotional journey and growth as she deals with her grief and the heavy royal duties she must carry.
Alaric is the prince of the enemy kingdom, Vanzado, and he is not just a moody hero waiting to win Indira over. The mystery around him and his kingdom is a fresh plot twist. Their relationship is full of tension, secrets, and complicated feelings, making their path from hate to love engaging and well-timed. The main ideas of trust and healing from past pain are clear, which keeps the story interesting.
The world-building is just as impressive. Indira comes from a kingdom that grows a special magic plant. This plant causes problems if used the wrong way, which makes the magic system feel real and different. Also, the earth-based magic theme is refreshing. We don’t see that much in fantasy books, and it was really enjoyable to read about.
There were a few moments where character choices frustrated me, and some plot points felt a tad predictable. Yet despite these minor hiccups, I was captivated by the story as a whole.
Overall, this is a delightful YA romantasy with memorable characters and a dark blend of romance and intrigue. If you’re looking for a book that makes you think while keeping you invested from start to finish, I can definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to Ms. Thorley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Addie spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, Addie decided “hard news” didn’t contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back. She now lives in San Diego with her family and wolf dogs. When she’s not writing, she can be found crocheting plushies and eating cookies.
Follow Addie on her website and Instagram.
