THE HALF-HEARTED QUEEN - Charlie N. Holmberg

Nym is a healer who has used her craftlock (specialized magic) ability to heal the young, very sick prince of her region (see the first book in the duology). The healing process, which is not quick, especially for someone as damaged as Prince Renn was, is quite personal - requiring physical touch to work. Through the course of her work with Prince Renn, Nym and Renn developed romantic feelings for one another.

Just as they began to recognize and accept these feelings the kingdom was attacked and Nym's older brother, who was meant to be king, was killed. Renn and Nym escaped, though not together, and Nym was captured by King Nicosia - who also had strong craftlock abilities to rival Nym's.

This book picks up right where the previous left off, with Nym held prisoner by King Nicosia and, by default, she learns new methods of using her craftlock ability to heal herself but also to cause damage to others who come in skin-to-skin contact with her.

A new bond between Nym and Renn was just developing when she was captured and now there's something ... magical between them. Literally. It may help them unite if they can stay safe - no easy feat when an entire kingdom is looking for you. The answer may lie in a political alliance which will require Prince Renn marry a princess from another country.

I absolutely loved the first book, knocking off half a star rating because it was an incomplete story, and I was eager to read this second book in the duology.

This book could be broken down into three parts - 1) Nym expands her horizons and fights to reunited with Renn; 2) romance, romance, romance; 3) big, climactic battle.

In the hands of a skilled storyteller like Charlie Holmberg, each of these parts is well written and the climax may be some of the most exciting action Holmberg has ever penned. It was breath-taking.

One of the things that really impresses me about Holmberg's work is her creativity and ability to create something very unique. I didn't think she'd be able to add much new to the craftlock ability that she described so well in the first book, but she does explore it and gives is something new.

I enjoyed this very, very much.

However...

While I'm specifically reviewing this book, I feel like this did not need to be two books. We could have had a really perfect, magical, 600+ page book telling the complete story.  This book really felt like each section was padded to stretch the page count out to match the first book. The romance, in particular, felt unnecessarily long. (I don't mind romance, and I think Holmberg writes it well - her Star Mother duology is fantastic.)

I understand the business side of this - the publisher can probably count on a specific number of sales for a Charlie Holmberg book.  Divide that book into two parts and there are twice as many sales. But if the story doesn't legitimately require two books, then it shouldn't be broken into two.

Even so, based mostly on the strength of the first book, I would say this is one of the top three 'series' in the Charlie Holmberg oeuvre (the others being the aforementioned Star Mother duology and her Paper Magician series). 

Looking for a good book? The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg finishes the fantastic Shattered King duology. You will need to read the first book to understand what's happening, but it's well worth it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

The Half-Hearted Queen

author: Charlie N. Holmberg

series: The Shattered King #2

publisher: 47North

ISBN: 9781662531194

hardcover, 383 pages
 

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