Books like 'The Shattered King'
Readers who enjoyed The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy paranormal dark romance young adult magic slow burn poor heroine class difference royalty
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Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 4 by SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul
“When I’m with you, there’s truly never a dull moment.”The Hunt is on! Penelope heads off to the small-game area in hopes of finding a present for Eckles…only to run into a hostile bear! Armed with desperation and a crossbow, Penelope holds it off, until Callisto unexpectedly comes to her rescue...Categorized as:
magic mystery new adult m-f slow burn competent heroine independent heroine tortured heroine -
The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
The fiercely-anticipated sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Once Upon a Broken Heart, starring Evangeline Fox and the Prince of Hearts on a new journey of magic, mystery, and heartbreak.Not every love is meant to be.After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again...Categorized as:
royalty forced proximity mystery magic angst forbidden love slow burn competent heroine -
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 3 by SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul
“I don’t want to live like this either, only ever being despised.”Life in hard mode for “villain” Penelope Eckhart means with every step forward, she’s shoved five steps back. Just when things seem to be stabilizing between her and the brothers, she finds herself coming to blows with Reynold, who insists on dredging up the past―an affront Penelope refuses to take lying down... -
Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat
In this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Dark Rise, Will and his allies have survived the Dark’s first assault, but at a terrible cost.A new threat from the past is rising, and only a handful of heroes remain to fight...Categorized as:
magic mystery tortured hero slow burn competent heroine angst class difference forbidden love -
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A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
Witness the fate of beloved heroes - and enemies.THE BALANCE OF POWER HAS FINALLY TIPPED...The precarious equilibrium among four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving a space for another London to rise... -
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 6 by Gyeoeul Gwon, SUOL
Following the conditions of a contract between herself and Winter, Penelope is once again leaving the duchy! She joins the marquis for volunteer work in a war-stricken nation, and while their time there is hectic, the two are able to grab a moment alone at the seaside... -
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken... -
Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures. It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy...Categorized as:
magic forbidden love strong heroine tortured hero caretaking war competent heroine cold hero -
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.And it is bait she fully intends to take...Categorized as:
war strong heroine royalty forbidden love angst new adult competent heroine political-intrigue -
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 1 (악역의 엔딩은 죽음뿐 [Ag-yeog-eui Ending-eun Jug-eumbbun] (Comic) #1) by SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 35 ratings"A villain living life in hard mode… whose every path leads to death." Playing Daughter of the Duke's Super Love Project as the easy mode heroine, Ivonne, makes charming the male characters a breeze... -
Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 91 ratingsA new queen has usurped the throne and is leading Cenaria into disaster. The country has become a broken realm with a threadbare army, little food and no hope. So Kylar Stern plans to reinstate his closest friend Logan as King, but can he really get away with murder?In the north, the Godking's death has thrown Khalidor into civil war... -
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother... -
Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 48 ratingsFollowing hard on the heels of Kushiel's Dart, Jacqueline Carey's spectacular debut novel, comes Kushiel's Chosen, a glittering and riveting historical fantasy.The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed beauty and grace. It is said that the angels found the land and saw it was good, and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt... -
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 74 ratingsWhen the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in . . .For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career... -
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House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever.In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed...Categorized as:
mystery magic new adult angst forced proximity m-f disabilities and marks sweet heroine -
Under the Oak Tree: Season 1 - 1 by Suji Kim
Maximilian (Maxi), the eldest daughter of the Croyso family, grows up being abused by her father. As a consequence of the physical and mental trauma, she develops a crippling inferiority complex about both her stutter and her physical appearance as well as a general lack of self-respect... -
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsBlood sings to blood, Froi . . . Those born last will make the first . . . For Charyn will be barren no more. Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home... Or so he believes... Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper... -
Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
When young Alec of Kerry is taken prisoner for a crime he didn’t commit, he is certain that his life is at an end. But one thing he never expected was his cellmate. Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things–none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them... -
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons... -
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 55 ratingsFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling new YA fantasy about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.The dead of Loraille do not rest... -
Of Beasts and Vengeance by Elle Madison, Robin D. Mahle
Zaina thought she could run from her secrets, but they have finally caught up to her.She’s willing to risk her life for those she loves, but even that might not be enough to stop what’s coming.Einar has finally let down his guard, but when the woman he trusts takes off in the middle of the night with his people's only hope for a cure, he realizes what a mistake that was... -
The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that prey upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind half-forgotten symbols of power. Legends tell of a a general who once bound all mankind into a single force that defeated the demons. But is the return of the Deliverer just another myth? Perhaps not...Categorized as:
magic war mystery m-f caretaking slow burn disabilities and marks political-intrigue -
The King’s Beast, Vol. 8 by Rei Tōma
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAs Rangetsu and her unlikely allies follow whispered rumors through the palace in search of any hint of her brother, she finds it increasingly difficult to keep from spilling her own secret to Prince Tenyou. But revealing her true nature will upset the uneasy accord she has built between them... -
Die With Your Lord by Sarah K.L. Wilson
A DEATH TOO TERRIBLE TO CONTEMPLATE. A LIFE GAMBLED FOR EVERYTHING.DIE WITH YOUR LORD is the last book in the Bluebeard's Secret series following the eerie and romantic story of GIVE YOUR HEART TO THE BARROW.Description coming soon.Warning: This is the last book in the series, but that doesn't mean you're safe. These books are intense. Read at your own risk... -
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The King’s Beast, Vol. 5 by Rei Tōma
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFemale Ajin are prohibited from serving in the palace, and so Rangetsu’s revenge depends on her ability to maintain her ruse... -
Of Thorns and Beauty by Elle Madison, Robin D. Mahle
You think you know the tale as old as time, but you’ve already got it wrong. There never was a beauty and a beast, only a girl who was both. And that girl was me. Zaina will never be free. She's forced into an arranged marriage to a Viking King in a castle full of secrets. But she carries secrets of her own, and the scars of her haunted past...Categorized as:
new adult magic forced proximity slow burn royalty tortured hero super rich hero tortured heroine -
Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
The Dark Kingdom is preparing itself for the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy--the arrival of a new Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But this new ruler is young, and very susceptible to influence and corruption; whoever controls her controls the Darkness... -
The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett
The first three novels in New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett’s groundbreaking Demon Cycle series—The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, and The Daylight War—set a new standard for heroic fantasy. The powerful saga of humans winnowed to the brink of extinction by night-stalking demons, and the survivors who fight back, has kept readers breathless as they eagerly turned the pages... -
Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier
Magic is fading... and the ways of Man are driving the Old Ones to the West, beyond the ken of humankind. The ancient groves are being destroyed, and if nothing is done, Ireland will lose its essential mystic core.The prophecies of long ago have foretold a way to prevent this horror, and it is the Sevenwaters clan that the spirits of Eire look to for salvation... -
Tarnished Empire by Danielle L. Jensen
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA siege is laid against the last resistance to the Senate’s rule. As the battle rages, a commander, a soldier, and a rebel will decide how far they are willing to go for victory.THE COMMANDERMarcus is forced to choose between destroying the rebel forces and liberating his legion. He must face the true cost of being a leader. And an oppressor... -
The King’s Beast, Vol. 7 by Rei Tōma
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsRangetsu isn’t the only person in the imperial palace with dark secrets... -
Fae's Defiance by M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBrea Robinson is a princess. Ridiculous, right? She’s left her small Ohio town behind for an exotic palace beyond her imagination, trading old jeans for ballgowns and a drunken father for two Fae mothers. Safe behind the power of Eldur, it’s easy to forget everything that brought her here. Like the two men who saved her that are now missing... -
Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams
New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams’ landmark epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle!“One of my favorite fantasy series.” —George R. R. Martin • “Groundbreaking.” —Patrick Rothfuss • “One of the great fantasy epics of all time... -
Eon by Alison Goodman
Read Alison Goodman's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community. Eon--the award-winning crossover fantasy that soars! Sixteen-year-old Eon has a dream, and a mission. For years, he's been studying sword-work and magic, toward one end. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye-an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune... -
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A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 66 ratingsThis was never the story of one woman, or two. It was the story of all of them…In the middle of the night, Creusa wakes to find her beloved Troy engulfed in flames. Ten seemingly endless years of brutal conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans are over, and the Greeks are victorious. Over the next few hours, the only life she has ever known will turn to ash . . -
ENNEAD Vol. 3 [Paperback] by Mojito
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe full-color Boys’ Love webtoon hit inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology! (Paperback Edition)Nine powerful gods of ancient Egypt form the Ennead. When the god of war, Seth, kills his brother Osiris and takes over Egypt, he ushers in an era of chaos and cruelty. Centuries later, a new challenger Horus, the child of Isis... -
Dance With The Sword by Sarah K.L. Wilson
A GRIM BETRAYAL. A DYING KING. A HUSBAND WHO WON'T LET HER GO. With the heart of the Wittenhame still ringing from Izolda's actions and her new husband shocked at her betrayal, the future seems very grim indeed... -
Shadows Return by Lynn Flewelling
With their most treacherous mission yet behind them, heroes Seregil and Alec resume their double life as dissolute nobles and master spies. But in a world of rivals and charmers, fate has a different plan.… After their victory in Aurënen, Alec and Seregil have returned home to Rhíminee. But with most of their allies dead or exiled, it is difficult for them to settle in... -
Hive Magic by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWill the bees be her salvation or her doom?Wounded and barely escaping with her life, Aella flees downriver with her friends. Each trapped in an impossible situation, each with their lives hanging in the balance, their only hope is to find a way free from the clawing grasp of the Empire of War and Wings - a way that they are certain lies through Aella's special magic... -
Give Your Heart to the Barrow by Sarah K.L. Wilson
A LOSS UNBEARABLE. A DESPERATE PLAN. A WOMAN DETERMINED NOT TO LOSE. Alone and with her hopes dragged to the bottom of the sea, along with the husband she just realized she loves, Izolda finds herself in the mortal world as princess and counselor to her brother Svetgin, now king of Pensmoore. But Izolda is not the practical girl she once was who would have been happy for a home and a place... -
Symphony for a Deadly Throne by E.J. Mellow
From award-winning author E. J. Mellow comes the third and final installment in the Mousai series, following a young woman torn between the man she loves and the kingdom she calls home.Within the world of Aadilor sits the hidden Thief Kingdom, a land overflowing with magic and mayhem... -
The King’s Beast, Vol. 4 by Rei Tōma
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSomeone in the imperial palace is trying to kill Prince Tenyou, and Rangetsu has reason to believe it might be the icy third prince, Kougai... -
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, Ian Schoenherr
Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country, were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on... -
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
After selling her soul to become Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles with the enigmatic Prince of Wrath, where she’s introduced to a seductive world of vice.She vows to do whatever it takes to avenge her beloved sister, Vittoria... even if that means accepting the hand of the Prince of Pride, the king of demons.The first rule in the court of the Wicked? Trust no one...Categorized as:
new adult magic mystery royalty forced proximity cold hero slow burn independent heroine -
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The King’s Beast, Vol. 6 by Rei Tōma
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsPrince Kougai’s interest in his brother’s new beast-servant hasn’t waned, and Rangetsu is forced to forge an uneasy truce with him when his prying uncovers the dangerous truth about her identity... -
A Blossom at Midnight by A.L. Knorr
One earns a coveted place among royalty. Another is imprisoned by her betrothed, while the third is exiled until he can prove his worth. Can these three fae prevent a war?Dreaming of escaping her simple country life and tired of keeping her winged familiars a secret, half-fae Jessica finds herself swept into a breathtaking world of an elite retinue of fae performers known as the Calyx... -
Fly with the Arrow by Sarah K.L. Wilson
A STOLEN BRIDE. A TERRIFYING BRIDEGROOM. THE GAME THAT WILL DETERMINE THEIR FATES.No one told her the most important law of the court - the Law of Greeting.If they had, maybe she wouldn't have greeted Bluebeard when he arrived to claim a mortal wife. And if she hadn't greeted him, she wouldn't have become his sixteenth wife or been swept away to the lands of the Wittenhame... -
The Assassin Bride by Anastasis Blythe
It is said that the Neverseen King comes for a bride every hundred years. I thought it was only legend . . . until he came for me. I am one of twelve assassins forced to compete for the hand of our unseen king, who I’m beginning to doubt is even human at all. Why he needs a bride, much less one who wields a blade, isn’t any of my business... -
Wing Magic by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCAN SHE OUTRUN HER MOST POWERFUL ALLY? Aella has used every scrap of magic at her disposal to fight against the Winged Empire and save her family but now she’s on the run from the person she thought she could trust the most. All Aella wanted to do was fight injustice and use her powerful bee swarm magic to do that. She thought she’d be spared the wrath of the crown prince when she saved his city... -
Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Mellow
From the award-winning author of the Dreamland series comes a new dark romantic fantasy about a young woman finding hope in her powers of destruction.The Thief Kingdom is a place hidden within the world of Aadlior. Many whisper of its existence, but few have found this place, where magic and pleasure abound...
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