The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg

 The Half-Hearted Queen

by Charlie N. Holmberg

My Rating: ★★★★★

Spice Rating: 🫑

Blurb: 

In this spellbinding dark fantasy from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg that concludes the Shattered King duology, Nym must escape the clutches of her captors and find her way back to Renn even as forbidden love, magic, and secrets collide with the weight of the crown and the war between kingdoms.

Nym never told Prince Renn she loved him. And now, as a captive and political pawn to the ruthless King Nicosia, Nym finds herself guarding more than her forbidden feelings for Renn as the kingdoms of Cansere and Sesta clash and the bloodshed of war rages. Nym’s connection to Renn is more than just romantic—it’s magical, and King Nicosia will stop at nothing to find Renn’s weakness and claim the kingdoms as his.

Now Nym must find a way to escape the cruel and twisted fate of imprisonment as she faces the unimaginable horrors and dangerous secrets hidden within King Nicosia’s palace walls. With the succession of kings on the line and a dangerous prophecy unfolding, Prince Renn faces his own impossible choice. The future of the throne hinges on a political alliance that means forsaking his love for Nym. If he can’t fulfill his destiny and unite the kingdoms, King Nicosia will destroy them all.

My Review: 

The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg completely swept me away, and I am begging for more stories set in this world.

From the very first page, this book delivers a classic, all-consuming love story that feels both epic and intimate. The romance is timeless, the kind that aches, builds, and burns slowly until you’re utterly invested. You don’t just watch it unfold… you live it alongside the characters. Every obstacle, every sacrifice, every hard won moment of tenderness feels earned. By the end, I wasn’t just rooting for them I was emotionally wrecked in the best possible way.

Nym, our fierce yet quiet heroine, is unforgettable. She isn’t strong in the loud, battlefield-commanding way. Her strength is deeper. Steadier. She endures. She rises. No matter where she comes from or how underestimated she is, she refuses to let her circumstances define her future. There’s something incredibly powerful about that kind of resilience, and watching her grow had me completely captivated.

And the magic? Absolutely mesmerizing. It feels less like spellcasting and more like soul-mending, like reaching into the deepest most broken parts of someone and stitching them whole again. It’s intimate, emotional, and unlike anything I’ve encountered before.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive ancient countries locked in conflict, danger pressing in from every side, and love blooming against impossible odds. The stakes are high, the villain is easy to hate, and the emotional payoff hits hard. I swooned more time than I care to admit… and yes, I cried at the end.

The narrator was amazing she added a lot of depth and I didn't hate her male voice, it actually worked really well. There are times when you will be listening and reading a book at the same time and always give it the extra depth needed for me to be completely immersed. 

If you’re craving a sweeping romance, breathtaking magic, high stakes adventure, and a story that will grip your heart and not let go, The Half-Hearted Queen is absolutely the book for you.