Name: Throne of Secrets
Rating: 3.75 (12 reviews)
ISBN: 9780316557542

Kerri Maniscalco

The next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco.

Throne of Secrets

Steph

I’m not going to sugarcoat this—I’m disappointed. I had high hopes for this series because Throne of the Fallen completely captivated me. It was one of the most entertaining romantasy books I read in 2023, with its intriguing plot, immersive worldbuilding, and compelling characters. So, what happened here? This book had the potential to be a standout sequel. The Cinderella trope? Classic. A bachelor-style bride selection? Juicy. Add in the Bridgerton Season 2 vibes, with the heroine literally calling him “the bane of my existence”? The blueprint for success was all there. And yet... it fell flat. My biggest issue is the plot—or rather, the lack of an engaging one. The whole ice dragon subplot? I couldn’t bring myself to care. I found myself skimming those sections because they added so little to the story. Initially, I was invested in the main characters. Their playful jabs and pranks were entertaining, and I thought we were headed toward a slow-burn romance. But as the story progressed, their relationship lacked meaningful development. I was hoping for a forbidden love angle, with all the tension and yearning of Bridgerton Season 2, especially since he’s falling for her while her sister is in the running to be his wife. But the emotional stakes just weren’t there—it was all surface-level, with none of the payoff. And don’t even get me started on the ending. It felt rushed, as if the author was racing to wrap things up neatly. The resolution was too convenient, capped with a generic “happily ever after” that left me unsatisfied. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. This book had all the ingredients for a stellar sequel but somehow managed to miss the mark.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale—in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco. A wicked prince determined to save his kingdom. Gabriel Axton—infamous as the Prince of Gluttony, the self-proclaimed rake of rakes—has always lived for indulgence: in delicious food, in tantalizing women, and most of all, in the thrill of the hunt, where his love of danger can take over. But when his favorite adventure takes a deadly turn, he realizes something is very wrong in his demon court. With the clock ticking, he must turn to the only one who might uncover the truth: a journalist he has spent a decade avoiding… A reporter hell-bent on finding the truth. Adriana Saint Lucent has been on the hunt for years—if she could just report something damning enough about that no-good scoundrel Gabriel Axton, she knows others would finally see the demon as she does. But she never expected to turn up a rumor too terrifying to be believed: could the ice dragons to the north be growing restless? Drawn into the secrets of the Underworld, Adriana’s investigation leads her into the place she dreads most…Axton’s infamous court. A dangerous rivalry—and deliciously twisted fairy tale. To stop darkness from falling over their kingdom, Axton and Adriana will have to unite against an escalating danger. But with each holding tight to their own secrets, can they find the truth before it’s too late? And what will they do with an equally troubling rumor: that they might not actually hate one another, after all?

It was exciting but it wasn’t my fav book by her. I know Kerri has a lot more in her but I like how she tried something new. I feel like she was exploring the action aspect more and it was very exciting. 

soph 

This book was even MORE Bridgerton ✨vibes✨, which we LOVE but somehow just slightly lacking compared to Envy’s book. 

Samantha Waterson

it was fine, def not as good as the first one | dragons and demons | spicy but never really giving what i wanted | predictable but still enjoyable | sometimes the writing was really cringey 

callie

Annabella

A wicked prince determined to save his kingdom. Gabriel Axton
-infamous as the Prince of Gluttony, the self-proclaimed rake of rakes-has always lived for indulgence: in delicious food, in tantalizing women, and most of all, in the thrill of the hunt, where his love of danger can take over. But when his favorite adventure takes a deadly turn, he realizes something is very wrong in his demon court. With the clock ticking, he must turn to the only one who might uncover the truth: a journalist he has spent a decade avoiding... A reporter hell-bent on finding the truth. Adriana Saint Lucent has been on the hunt for years-if she could just report something damning enough about that no-good scoundrel Gabriel Axton, she knows others would finally see the demon as she does. But she never expected to turn up a rumor too terrifying to be believed: could the ice dragons to the north be growing restless? Drawn into the secrets of the Underworld, Adriana's investigation leads her into the place she dreads most... Axton's infamous court. A dangerous rivalry-and deliciously twisted fairy tale. To stop darkness from falling over their kingdom, Axton and Adriana will have to unite against an escalating danger. But with each holding tight to their own secrets, can they find the truth before it's too late? And what will they do with an equally troubling rumor: that they might not actually hate one another, after all?
Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt-and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale-in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.

Throne of Secrets

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