Book Review for The Half-hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg
This fictional story is filled with action, adventure, romance, and magic. It also contains three monsters: a mastiff, a Sestan dragon, and King Adoel Nicosia—a man with multiple craftlock skills! It is the second book in a duology. It has a strong female protagonist with the magical craftlock skill of healing. It is a love story between Prince/King Renn and someone who considers herself to be a common woman. This story begins on a Sestan ship traveling between the fictional kingdoms of Cansere and Sesta.
The protagonist, Nym Tallowax, a healer and beekeeper from Fount had been forced to flee from the Cansere castle when soulbinders and Sestan dragons attack during the night. She is captured and held prisoner by King Adoel Nicosia who is both a mind reader and a soulbinder. As she sits on his ship she feels regret for never having told Prince Renn that she loved him. She has built a wall in her lumis to prevent King Nicosia from reading her mind any further. When she arrives in Sesta she is held captive in the palace of Rodsfell. First she is soulbound to Nicosia, then to a tree called Egroran.
King Adoel Nicosia rules Sesta. He is both a mindreader and a soulbinder and uses both crafts on Nym. He captures Nym and tries to break her by drawing strength from Ursa’s presence. He offers her freedom for the secret of her healing magic. He forces Princes Eden to marry him hoping it will give him claim to Cansere. He knows Winvrin by her Sestan name. He is prideful and believes himself to be a god. He uses all craftlock skills in his armies.
Prince Renn Reshua Noblewight is the only surviving son of King Grejor. He has been healed by Nym. She gave him half of her heart. He is considered to be gods-touched because of his miraculous healing and powers. He has the ability to glow and fly and fulfills ancient prophecy. He is the rightful heir to the Sestan throne. He loves Nym and recites poetry to her. However, he is receiving pressure to marry Princess Azra Vitsioph so that his people can receive military support from Anstan.
I loved this story. The author does an excellent job at combining fantasy with romance and adventure. I appreciated the challenging love triangle and hoped Renn would choose Nym over Princess Vitsioph. The story kept me engaged. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first book in this duology. I give this book my 4-star rating!