The Orchid Throne (Forgotten Empires, #1)

by Jeffe Kennedy

A PRISONER OF FATE
As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Lia will do anything to keep her people free - and her secrets safe - from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world - a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…

A PRINCE AMONG MEN
Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Lia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes - nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?

• ISBN13: 9781250194312
• Publish Date: 1 October 2019 (first published 24 September 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 5 April 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: St Martin's Press
• Imprint: St. Martin's Paperbacks
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: http://melia.co.uk/page/detail/?k=9781250194312

Reviews

[llamareads]

content warnings: rape (off-page, but referenced), grief, death of a parent (described on page), slavery

With how much I love fantasy romance, I can’t believe I’ve never read this author before. She’s got quite the backlist, but this is the first book in a new series. There’s fascinating world building, a slow burn marriage of convenience, and lots of sly humor.

Calanthe is a tropical pleasure island, and the betrothal of its Queen Euthalia to Emperor Anure is the only thing keeping it from being razed like the rest of his conquered territories – though they are forced to tithe increasingly large amounts to the emperor. Euthalia is playing a dangerous game, constantly manipulating her court and the emperor’s ambassador so that it appears that she intends to go through with the betrothal even while she’s secretly looking for ways to work against the emperor. One way she doesn’t want to consider, though? Working with Con, the so-called Slave King, who’s leading an armed revolt of escaped mine slaves and supposedly cutting a violent path through the conquered lands. But a prophecy – claim the hand that wears the Abiding Ring, and the empire will fall – sets them on a collision course. Can they find common ground, or will the emperor use their differences to conquer the rebellion and Calanthe in one fell swoop?

The pacing is very slow, and in terms of your traditional fantasy plot, not much happens. Most of the focus is on setting up the relationship between Con and Lia, though it takes a decent portion of the book before they even meet. It’s told from both Con and Lia’s POVs, and it’s interesting to see what misconceptions they both have about the other. I personally enjoyed Lia’s sections more – I thought her subtle manipulations were more enjoyable than Con’s “Imma smash it with my hammer” style.

Con is blunt, with little time for anything that doesn’t get him closer to his goal of revenge against Anure. Lia, on the other hand, is more of a magician, both literally and figuratively. Like the kings and queens of old, she’s connected to the land magically, plus she knows the value of a good distraction. Her fanciful and elaborate outfits (I got serious Queen Amidala vibes) and deliberate shows of emptiheadedness are the only thing keeping Calanthe from becoming another of Anure’s conquests. Con initially can’t look past that Calanthe surrendered to the emperor, and views Euthalia as nothing more than a pretty, thoughtless doll – a view that doesn’t survive his first meeting with her, thankfully. Euthalia, for her part, is concerned with protecting Calanthe above all else, and that’s best done by capturing Con as the emperor ordered. She expects nothing more than a barbaric brute, and, well, he definitely lives up to that!

“Don’t throttle the wizard, Conrí. Please.”

This is a marriage of convenience, and for political reasons it has to be consummated pretty much immediately. I enjoyed that while Lia was technically a virgin, it’s Con who had zero experience in bed, though he’s a quick learner. Their chemistry is excellent and I can see the beginnings of a solid relationship. The side characters, from Con’s right-hand woman Sondra to Lia’s oldest friend Tertulyn, were very interesting, though my favorite is the wizard Ambrose, who’s hilariously reticent about how, exactly, this prophecy will help Con.

Overall, despite the slow pace, I enjoyed the lush storytelling and slow burn romance, and I’m very excited for the next book!

[EBookObsessed]

DNF – So much possibility but I just couldn’t take the pacing of the story.

There was so much possibility in this story. Even now I think, a tyrant who managed a coup and destroyed all the royal houses, a virgin Queen on an island whose father promised her to the tyrant to spare their lands and one who has managed to keep herself apart (so far) and an uprising of slaves brought about by the surviving son of one of those royal houses who wouldn’t submit and was sent to work in the mines…these two band together to destroy the tyrant. Ooooo…gimme, gimme.

I could tell you that I liked Lia and her quiet and careful plotting to save her people and her lands from the tyrant, finding loopholes to keep him out her bed all the while pretending to be the devoted fiance. And I could tell you about Conri who is brave and strong, the slave who used his strength from years in the mine and the tyrant’s own special weapon, which he and his men and women have been mining for him, to bring about a revolt, slowly taking the lands back from the tyrant. What I can’t tell you is that I was enjoying the telling of this tale.

I should be all over this but the pacing is so, so slow it is unbearable. I had several hours to devote to starting the audiobook, since I just couldn’t get to my ebook copy, but even after hours of listening, I simply have no desire to keep going. Every time I turned it off, I thought about the idea of the story and turn it back on hoping that the pace would pick up, and it just wasn’t happening.

I had read some reviews of the story which indicated that the pacing was an issue but also declaring that if you can get passed that, the story was really, really good. Unfortunately, I just have too many audiobooks backing up already to keep forcing myself to listen, and I was forcing myself to continue which is never a good sign for reviewing a book.

I am mostly disappointed that this is my second Jeffe Kennedy story that I have walked away from, the first was a short story in an anthology and I had thought it was simply because it was part of a series I hadn’t read and wasn’t familiar enough with the characters that I couldn’t get into it. In reading The Orchid Throne, I had hoped to get a chance to see why everyone is so excited about this author, but again, it was all promise and a bad delivery.

Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie]

4.5 stars

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

The Orchid Throne is the first book in a new fantasy series by Jeffe Kennedy. I’ve read several fantasy stories by Kennedy in the past. I’ve always enjoyed her work, so it was an easy decision to try this new series. I originally grabbed the NetGalley eBook and read it on vacation. Then I saw that it was going to be available on audio, so I had to grab the audiobook version and did a revisit via the audio.

The world is set in a fantasy world where magic exists, but the newly risen emperor claims that it doesn’t and kills any wizards he can find. He’s also taken over every kingdom around and enslaved or killed the former royal family. That is every kingdom but Calanthe. The king of Calanthe betrothed his young daughter to the emperor. But how long can she keep him as fiance before he insists on taking her as his bride in truth.

Euthalia, or Lia, plays herself as a debutant queen, now that her father has passed on. She goes through all the rituals that are expected of her. She stays completely away from the lush, extravagant parties that her island kingdom is known for, to ensure her reputation as the virgin queen. She’s also extremely sly with many spies feeding her information, not only in her kingdom, but throughout the empire. She’s much smarter than she lets on.

Conrí, or Con, is a former crown prince of a now non-existent kingdom. He was forced to work in vurgstun mines, bringing out the explosive rock which helped the empire rise to power. The work in the mines have made him strong, but also did a number on his lungs as he breathed in the dust. He and the other miners stage an uprising, and where he becomes the new Slave King, of no kingdom, set on revenge for his family.

This is a great start to a fantasy series. I’m extremely excited to see what happens in book two. I really love the characters in this series. Not only Con and Lia, but many of the side characters including Sondra, Con’s childhood friend, and Ambrose, the wizard who found him. I also have to mention, Merle, Ambrose’s raven (or I should say that Ambrose is Merle’s wizard). I have always been a fan of pets in stories, even more so when they are more than just pets.

Narration
This is my first time listening to Elizabeth Brook. I have to admit that I really like her voice. I didn’t even mind her different character voices. The issue I had with her, was that I had a hard time telling which POV she was referencing. There was no difference in tone between Lia’s POV and Con’s. Part of me thinks that this would’ve been better with dual narration and had a man read Con’s POV. That being said, I would totally listen to the next book in this series.

**I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[chymerra]

3.5 rating

I was excited to read The Orchid Throne. When I read the blurb, I thought to myself: “I am going to like this book.” I mean, it had the two genres I love the most: Fantasy and Romance. Now that I have read The Orchid Throne, I was a bit disappointed. It fell short of my expectations.

The Orchid Throne starts slowly. It creeps along. There were several times where I wanted to swipe to the end of a chapter because it was that slow. I understand that the author was world-building but still. Once Conri and Euthalia met, the plotline got going. By the end of the book, it was moving along quite nicely. But, the slowness of the first half of the book did put me off.

I wished that I could have connected with Euthalia more. But it was hard to. A big part of me not being able to connect with her was the usage of the royal Us, Me, We (etc.) as part of her dialogue. It drove me nuts reading that. I did like the glimpses of the woman underneath the facade, though. The woman that peeked through was a tough cookie. But that was overshadowed by the games she was forced to play.

I did like Conri. I felt that he was more fleshed out than Euthalia. He was upfront and honest with his end game. He wanted to kill the Emperor. He didn’t play games or deal with court intrigue. He wanted to get there and get it done. And in no way did he want anything to do with the prophecy.

I wish that more information was given on Ambrose, Sondra, and Tertulyn. I was fascinated with Ambrose, but so little information was provided about him. He was shrewd, and everything he did was part of a grand plan. Plus, he had a crow as a familiar, which I loved. Sondra was Conri’s right hand. She was a strong woman who had been through a lot in her life. It showed both mentally and physically. I liked how she brought Conri down a peg or two during the book. Tertulyn intrigued me. I have a couple of suspicions about her, but nothing was confirmed in this book. I can’t wait to see what the next book will bring with her!!

I will say that I have never had a favorite villain before. But the Emperor Robho might be one. He doesn’t make a physical appearance in the book, but his presence was always there. He was feared and hated by Conri and Euthalia. Euthalia feared his letters. Which makes me wonder, what will he be like in person? If his letters were enough to strike dread in Euthalia, the real deal must be terrifying. And I can’t wait to read it!!!

I wish more time had been spent explaining what the Abiding Ring did and why it was so crucial that Conri gets it. There was a primary blanket reason, but I believe that Ambrose is hiding something. I did find the ring fascinating. The way it responded to Ambrose was telling. As was the way it responded to Conri.

The romance angle of the book was “meh” for me. Conri and Euthalia did have some insane chemistry. But that didn’t translate to hot sex scenes. Unfortunately, the first sex scene was awkward and uncomfortable. That set the tone for me. The rest of the sexual encounters seemed the same way for me.

I liked the fantasy angle of the book. But a lot of what was going on with Euthalia was released too late. But to keep it until the end of the book? I didn’t like that.

The end of The Orchid Throne was exciting. None of the storylines were ended. I am interested in what will go in book 2.

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of The Orchid Throne through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

The Orchid Throne is the first novel in a new series by Jeffe Kennedy. The series itself is called the Forgotten Empires, and is a perfect blend of fantasy and romance. And there's a healthy dose of revenge story thrown into the mix as well.
In a world where a brutal king acts as a tyrant to the lands, few are brave enough to stand up to him. Most kingdoms can only hope to survive on the outskirts. That is, before two people from vastly different backgrounds decide to change their fates.
Euthalia is the Queen of Calanthe, and she is betrothed to the bloody king himself. She's been able to put off the marriage for as long as possible – thus keeping herself and her people safe. And make no mistake, she'll do whatever it takes to keep her kingdom untouched.
Conri is the Crown Prince of Oriel, or more accurately, he's the King of a land that no longer exists. He calls himself the King of Slaves, a title he has grown into. It's a name that focuses his plans for revenge – as he'll stop at nothing to take down the tyrant who destroyed his people and his family.

“No one believes in omens or curses anymore. Or hope, for that matter. In this too, I am alone.”

Warnings: There are several heavier subjects hit upon over the course of this novel. Slavery is the biggest, though there's also a focus on female purity, and mention of rape (though it never occurs on page, or even in the present, thankfully).

The Orchid Throne was a fascinating read, one where I found myself desperate to see more of the world that's been so devastated by the king. The magical system alone had me captivated from start to finish – and eager for the next novel in the series.
I adored the way the novel established it's two characters, Euthalia (aka Lia) and Conri (aka Con). Both come from such different backgrounds, and both deal with their problems (mainly the bloody king) in such different ways. It was fascinating to see, even if I didn't always agree with their decisions.
I will say that I especially loved the front that Lia was able to put on. It proves that characters like her are so easy to underestimate, but that doing so will cost you. Likewise, it was satisfying to watch Con's revolution growing, all thanks to those who felt the same way as him.
There were a lot of undertones and subplots in this novel – which I'm sure will be touched upon in later novels. I'm guessing that this will end up being a trilogy, though I obviously don't know for sure. I will be curious to see how long the series does end up running for.
I think my biggest complaint about The Orchid Throne is that it just felt like it sort of...ended. It wasn't a cliffhanger per se. But it also didn't have a conclusive ending. I know that it was only ever meant to be the first in a series, but it still felt like something could have been added to the end here.
On the whole, The Orchid Throne was a fascinating and thrilling read. The fantasy meets political revolution is exactly my sort of book, so I basically knew that I was going to enjoy this one no matter what. And I was right. I'm looking forward to seeing how this plot unfolds in future books.

For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Romance Schmomance]

It was a bit of a battle to get through, it was really dragging for most of the book until the very end. That's where we learn a bit more about Lia and that's when thing got super interesting especially about who she really is.

It honestly felt like not a whole lot was going on. I did like Kennedy's writing style, but dragged at slow pace for most of the book. The book is littered with so much detail about their world and the different empires, but it didn't necessarily help with the plot development. I would have love to see more of magical and fantasy side of the story. I, personally, didn't mind the romance aspect, but there honestly was much of one either. Just at the tail end of the story.

It's a HFN for Lia and Con since everything is very new between them. I wanted to love this book so much, but it wasn't for me.

[tweetybugshouse]

First off this is an adult fantasy so make sure you keep that in mind going into this novel. We have a land that has been forbidden the use of magic. One ruler who has a strangle hold on the empire and one piece of it that is steeped in magic and mystery. The ruler of Calanthe Euthalia and holder of the orchid ring staves off the power hungry Anura who she is promised to marry.

Euthalia wears make up everyday, wigs, and upholds many traditions that keep her people grounded in the belief that they will be safe from the evils of Anure. I would of like to have found out the reasoning behind the elaborate makeup sooner then we did but i see why the author did not share it tell the very end.

Their are lots of secrets to be found in the pages of this story, the land of Calanthe has been forgotten in what it holds in power and it may just very well be the downfall of the power hungry Anure.

I think the author did a wonderful job of sharing the relationship between Euthalia and Conri in the end it was a sweet passionate and a pleasure to read. Their are adult themes in the book but they were tastefully done. I not much one for having a lot of romance in a story but sometimes if it done right it works. I am enticed to see what comes next in the Forgotten Empire series.

[stacey_is_sassy]

Revenge…by rock or by flower

I really enjoyed reading The Orchid Throne but I’m struggling to get my thoughts down to explain the highs and lows. I was angry that a lot of innocent people died at the hands of a tyrant. I was sad that children were left orphans and slaves because of that tyrant. I was confused that a Queen could appear so cold but feel so much. I was desperate to see good win over evil.

Here are a few Of my thoughts while reading this very interesting story...

One thing that always surprises me in my reads is when the heroine is comfortable getting naked around other women. I don’t know about you, but the only person I get naked willingly around is hubby. Sure, it’s a lot worse since I’ve had kids, but even in my heyday…back in the olden days, I wasn’t one to strut my stuff. So, when I come across characters who have maids that bathe and dress them, I’m shocked at their comfort and acceptance. I’m not sure how I would feel having someone touch me all over. Again, that privilege is for my hubby alone.

OMG!!! Conri, King of the Slaves, looks like Jason Momoa!! Well, in my head he looks like Mr Momoa. Oh boy, thank you, Jeffe Kennedy! Not sure if that’s who you wanted me to picture, but that is who I was fantasising…I mean picturing in my head. Again, THANK YOU!!

Conri and his fellow slaves were so interesting. I feel a little guilty BUT I would have loved to know more of what hell they suffered through in the mines. These guys and gals are tortured and scarred but I wanted a little more of their grittiness.

Con’s rock hammer and rock bag thingamajiggy are pretty cool weapons. I loved that his sword was just worn for show and he felt more comfortable and was more effective using his rocks.

I’m starting to realise that I don’t HAVE to have sexy times throughout the whole story. I know, I’m shocked myself that I even thought that let alone feel that way. It’s just that a few of my books lately have had such a great slow-burn and I’ve been thoroughly entertained and hardly missed the wham bam thank you, ma'am. I’m not saying I don’t want some action, it’s just that I don’t need it throughout the whole story.

I can’t imagine having to wear makeup EVERY DAY!! I don’t want to ever have to wear a corset either. Euthalia, Queen of Calanthe and holder of the orchid ring is the bride-to-be of the evil tyrant Anure. Lia is playing a political game to keep her people safe. She will don her mask and play the innocent to hide her intelligence, wit and craftiness. I loved that what you see is definitely not what you get.

Wow, this is the first story I’ve EVER (could be a slight exaggeration) enjoyed where the hero has little or no experience in the bedroom.

I can’t call that a cliffhanger because I don’t want to kill anyone. It was definitely more a *happy for now* kind of ending. I’m desperate for more but I have not been left frustrated. I’m actually pretty happy where things are at.

**********

The Orchid Throne captured my attention from the start. Yes, it did get a little bogged down with details but I kind of expect that in the first instalment of a fantasy series. By the end, I was completely enthralled. Euthalia and Conri were very interesting and I loved that I got to see below the surface with both characters by having dual POV’s. The additional characters enhanced the story and I hope to get to know them better as the series progresses. I think Ambrose was my favourite additional character and I really hope he’s there until the end.

If you’re looking for an interesting fantasy romance that admittedly takes a wee while to warm up to, then I highly recommend giving The Orchid Throne a try. I’m very interested in seeing what will happen next in the Forgotten Empires series.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.