Book Review of Desolation Series by Kortney Keisel: A dystopian fantasy romance set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with elected kings, clean romance, and hilarious references to our modern world.
Book Review of The Desolate World - Prequel Novella
Desolation Series Prequel
Synopsis:
Desolation took everything from them.
But can it take their hope for love?
Novah Harper has lived through the worst nineteen years in the history of humankind. She wouldn't actually call it living. Her guilt from her parents' death and her fear of loss smother any real chance at happiness. But everything changes when the man she cares for returns to camp, offering her a second chance at love. Now she must choose between dwelling on her past mistakes or fighting for her future. Both choices are dangerous.
Rebuilding a new world and government system should be the first thing on Beck Haslett's mind. Instead, he can't stop thinking about tearing down the walls around Novah's heart. Things would go smoother if his worst enemy wasn't also her overbearing brother, who would stop at nothing to keep them apart. But time's running out. Beck must win Novah's love before he leaves to establish a new kingdom. If he doesn't, he'll be forced to live without her.
Building a new world from the ground up just might be easier than building a love that can withstand Desolation.
The Desolate World is a companion novel that goes along with The Desolation Series. This companion novel is best read AFTER you've read the other four books in the series. It's not recommended to start with this book.
Review:
The Desolate World is an enjoyable prequel to the Desolation series. The story starts with the survivors of series of apocalyptic events on earth. We start with Novah a nineteen year old who lives with extreme guilt and a crippled leg. Because of these traumatic events, the young woman is not open to being friends with anyone let alone a certain charming young man.
Noah and Beck are likable. I especially loved that Beck made it his goal in life to make Noah smile even though she kept him at arms length. There romance isn't as strong as it is in later stories, but I suspect it's because Noah and Beck had already known each other for awhile.
There were dream sequences in the beginning that pulled me out of the story and left me a little disoriented. Once I got past that, I enjoyed the story more. I especially liked to see how the government system was created which will help you understand the power dynamics in later stories.
Overall I liked this story, but I didn't love it. It's really the later stories that shine. While you don't have to read this book in order to enjoy later stories, I highly recommend it. Knowing the backstory will enhance your understanding of the world.
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Book Review of The Rejected King
Desolation Series Book 1
Synopsis:
Be swept into a world of political intrigue, forbidden love, and royal romance.
The king hired her to find him a wife. She fell for him instead.
Marriage is the only thing that can save King Davin's most-hated reputation. And to make things worse, Davin hired the one girl he's most attracted to, but her social class makes her an impossible choice for his future.
Emree Dutson has one goal: raise the king's approval ratings so she can get a permanent job at the castle. Falling in love with the king wasn't part of the job description. Now her feelings for him are ruining everything.
Will Davin risk his crown for love?
Perfect for fans of the Selection series by Kiera Cass.
Review:
This story reminds me of the Selection, but it doesn't have the petty fights between the girls. I appreciate that. It's through the eyes of a educated lower class woman looking for work in the palace that the reader is introduced to this new world post desolation.
Emree is very talented and educated. She becomes a PR agent for the king to improve his reputation. Her love story starts off with a laugh that carries through to the end. I don't want to spoil it, but just know it was innocent fun that creates hilarious awkward moments later.
It really was a fun read. I highly recommend starting this series today!
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Book Review of The Promised Prince
Desolation Series Book 2
Synopsis:
He’s promised to another. She’s promised to forget him.
Eighteen-year-old Renna Degray is hopeful about love and her future after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger. Until she discovers who the mysterious man is—the Prince of Albion, betrothed to Renna’s stepsister. Now Renna must try to keep her feelings for the prince in check. But he’s not making it easy. The prince is charming, funny, and impossible not to fall for.
Trev has no room for mistakes. He must marry the princess of New Hope and secure the marriage alliance along with his future as king. The safety of his kingdom depends on it. Duty and honor never bothered Trev before, but love has a way of changing everything.
In this post-Desolation world, the Council of Essentials controls everything, including the prince. Is love more than a negotiation?
Is love essential?
Perfect for fans of the Selection series by Kiera Cass. Be swept into a world of political intrigue, forbidden love, and royal romance.
Review:
The silliness of the couple in this story was really sweet and adorable. It forced me like this book better than the first two books. I think the intrigue behind the demise of this kingdom is what kept me glued to the page. Where you can read Emree's story in any order, you shouldn't read the next three books out of order. If you do, you'll miss the clues.
However, Seran deserved better. This is why I hate love triangles. At least with this love triangle it wasn't their fault. With an arranged marriage and a plot to take out the Council of Essentials the couple had a lot to face before they could be together.
The one thing that annoyed me was Trev's decision to stay away from Renna. I know he felt guilty and there was a need for time, but ... really? I guess when you're talking to a fictional character, trying to reason with them, you know the story has pulled you in.
Overall, this was an excellent story.
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Book Review of The Stolen Princess
Desolation Book 3
Synopsis:
She's falling for a man she hates. He's betting on her trust.
Princess Mykaleen Adler would do anything to save her dying father. But, when she's kidnapped by a rival kingdom's commander, her devotion wavers.
Developing feelings for her enemy could destroy her future and her kingdom. Unless her charming captor is the one person telling her the truth.
Drake Vestry's focus is on finding King Adler's deadly weapons. Unfortunately, the only way to the weapons is through the king's daughter, who happens to be the most distracting and entertaining assignment he's ever had. Gaining the princess's trust might mean losing his heart forever.
She's fighting for her kingdom. He's committed to his mission. Can they find their way together, or will broken trust be the most destructive weapon of all?
Perfect for fans of The Selection Series. This is the third book in the Desolation Series and should be read AFTER The Promised Prince.
Review:
Myka and Drake are in a pickle because Myka's dad is ...lets just say not an upstanding guy. And Drake is supposed to stop this not so great guy by kidnapping her. It goes without saying there love story is very complicated.
I found myself laughing constantly in several places. Myka is such an entertaining character. She's fierce, independent, and also very ignorant to her not so great father's plans.
One of my favorite parts is when they find an underground bunker. Then she makes comments about how our current world was filled with none essential things. I let you read that part to laugh yourself, but I was highly amused.
This book comes in at almost a tie with the fourth book in the series. I really enjoyed it.
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Book Review of The Forgotten Queen
Desolation Book 4
Synopsis:
She's trying to remember. He's trying to pretend.
Sydria Hasler is a blank slate. After a tragic accident, her images of the past have vanished. All she wants is to get her memory back and return home—wherever home is. But the more she rebuilds her past, the more she wants to fight for a future with King Marx. Too bad it's all a sham.
King Marx McKane has never cared about anyone or anything, especially being king. When his father forces him to marry a mysterious woman, he starts taking things seriously. The only way out of his arranged marriage is to pretend that he's falling in love with his wife. This charade might end up being the most reckless thing Marx has ever done. Is he willing to sacrifice his life and his kingdom to set Sydria free?
Can their fake relationship lead Sydria and Marx to their genuine selves, or will deception cost them their freedom?
Perfect for fans of the Selection by Kiera Cass. This is the fourth book in the Desolation series and should be read AFTER The Stolen Princess.
Review:
You know who Sydria really is from the start. Since she's woken up from her comma she's been surrounded by a family that's not so great. They make an arranged marriage for her to a prince. Thankfully Marx is a goofy good guy and is honorable despite liking her.
I don't want to spoil the story, but the bad guys are particularly awful in this story. It lead to a heart pounding ending that kept me guessing. So really, I loved this book the most.
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Book Review of Desolation Series:
Overall, I really enjoyed the Desolation series. It has the clean fantasy romance I loved with a royal element, set in a post-apocalyptic world. While some stories were stronger than others, the over all story arc was fun and entertaining.
If you haven't read this series, check it out today!
If you love space opera with mythological dystopian vibes check out
The Progenitor Chronicles.
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The Progenitor Chronicles
Synopsis:
A forbidden crystal. A dying planet. Can a man with earth powers save a civilization?
Oren overflows with worry. After becoming the keeper of an ancient prophecy, the young king fears he may never understand its meaning in time. But when a mysterious girl falls through a portal with a forbidden crystal, the tree loving royal becomes desperate to save millions from annihilation.
Rushing to the opposite end of the galaxy, Oren hopes he can stop the star from exploding in time. When his bickering team disobeys him, the leader of the planetary coalition resolves to keep everyone alive.
Can Oren save an entire sector of space from ruin?
Time Crystal is an enthralling short story prequel in The Progenitor Chronicles young adult space fantasy series. If you love elemental powers, portals through time, and deep bonds of friendship, then you’ll love Sara Wright’s captivating adventure.
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