Book Review: Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black

About the Book:

Title: Lost Kingdom

Author: Laurel Black

Page Length: 472

Publication Date: Jan. 17, 2023

Publisher: Stormeer

Synopsis: Trusting him is the only way to save the kingdom.
Betraying her is the only way to keep them both alive.

Stripped of her memories and her magic, Raven has been left for dead.

As a prisoner in the enemy’s mineral mines, her only clue to who she is and where she came from is the mysterious map tattooed on her hand—a map containing hidden secrets that some people would kill for.

Jeddak is one of those people.

A warrior from the Kovak tribe, he’s hunting for the powerful Zavien stone to pay the corrupt king’s ransom. If he doesn’t return home with it by the new moon, his betrothed will be executed.

When Jeddak discovers that a prisoner named Raven has the only map that leads to the artifact, he allies with her as they navigate treacherous lands and battle against ancient magical forces to unravel the map’s secrets. But can Raven trust this stranger who’s helping her? If the map gets into the wrong hands, thousands of people will die.

As their feelings for each other grow, their tenuous alliance begins to fray. Until Jeddak is forced to make a decision—betray Raven or forsake his kingdom.

Choose wrong, and he’ll lose everything.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

Wow! What a wild ride! With immersive world-building that includes different tribes, all with their own histories, cultures, and connections to the world around them, dynamic and interesting characters who go on dangerous journeys, and an intriguing and layered plot that sucked me in from the very first page, Lost Kingdom is a gripping YA fantasy!

The story switches between Raven and Jeddak’s perspectives, so you really get to understand the motivations of both characters. Raven has no memory of her life before her enslavement in the mines, and she’s determined to escape and get her memory back. Jeddak, with the help of his amazing bear familiar, must find a powerful stone to rescue his betrothed from the king. I was so invested in both of their stories and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Would Raven regain her abilities before the big bad caught up to her? Her memories? Would she reunite with her brother? Would Jeddak find the stone in time to pay the king’s ransom? Would the tribes end up at war again? Whew! Raven and Jeddak go through so much on this perilous journey, and I loved every nail-biting moment of it.

The secondary characters are fabulous too, and I’m pretty convinced that I need a funny and fierce bear companion that I’m inextricably connected to and can communicate with because the relationship between Jeddak and Kah is the best! I also really liked some of Raven’s allies and am curious to learn more about them. It’ll be interesting to see how each of their stories develops as the series progresses, and I have some hopes for several of them. And I hated the big bads as much as I loved Jeddak, Raven, and their allies. It’s the kind of story where you’re never completely sure who is good and who is bad because everyone seems to have ulterior motives.

And, of course, I have to talk about the love story because it twisted up my romance-loving heart. lol There is a bit of a love triangle, and though I don’t generally enjoy this trope, it totally worked in this story! The angst is real in this story, and the chemistry is off the charts! The characters are so confused and conflicted, and as they journey together, their feelings only become more complicated. I was so eager to see where these characters would end up romantically, and I was not disappointed.

This is a fantastic debut novel and one that I highly recommend to YA or NA fantasy and romantasy lovers. With a well-crafted plot, compelling characters, tons of suspense and intrigue, amazing banter, and more, there’s a lot to love, and that ending! Ahhh! I can’t WAIT to read the next book!

Special thanks to Laurel Black for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.