If you're searching for your next dark fantasy romance obsession, The Broken Kingdoms series by L.J. Andrews deserves a spot at the top of your to-be-read list. This USA Today bestselling series has captured the hearts of BookTok and romantasy readers alike, blending Nordic mythology with fae magic, slow-burn romance, and fairy tale retellings that feel both familiar and refreshingly original.
Spanning nine primary books plus several novellas, The Broken Kingdoms takes readers on an epic journey through four distinct kingdoms, each with its own couple, magic system, and atmospheric setting. Whether you're a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince, or The Shadows Between Us, this completed series offers everything romantasy readers crave; with the added satisfaction of knowing the entire saga is ready and waiting for you.
What Is The Broken Kingdoms Series About?
The Broken Kingdoms is a dark fantasy romance series set in a world where fae magic collides with Viking-inspired culture. Long ago, the fae ruled these lands until humans seized power, driving magic underground. Now, as ancient curses awaken and old prophecies stir, four couples across four kingdoms must navigate political intrigue, deadly secrets, and the kind of forbidden love that threatens to bring empires to their knees.
What makes this series particularly clever is how Andrews weaves classic fairy tale elements into her dark fantasy world. Each section of books draws inspiration from beloved stories; Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Swan Princess, and The Phantom of the Opera; whilst remaining entirely its own creation. The result is a reading experience that feels comfortingly nostalgic yet packed with twists you won't see coming.
The Broken Kingdoms Reading Order
The series is best enjoyed when read in publication order, as characters and storylines interconnect across all nine books. Here's the complete reading order:
The Northern Kingdom (Books 0.5-3) - Beauty and the Beast Retelling
These Cruel Vows (Book 0.5) - Prequel novella
Curse of Shadows and Thorns (Book 1)
Court of Ice and Ash (Book 2)
These Wicked Lies (Book 2.5) - Novella
Crown of Blood and Ruin (Book 3)
This opening trilogy introduces Elise, a rebellious princess, and Legion Grey, a mysterious cursed rogue. When a violent coup tears her kingdom apart, Elise must flee with the one man she shouldn't trust; and discovers that breaking his curse might cost her everything.
The Eastern Kingdom (Books 4-6) - Cinderella Retelling
Night of Masks and Knives (Book 4)
These Vicious Games (Book 4.5) - Novella
Game of Hate and Lies (Book 5)
Dance of Kings and Thieves (Book 6)
Enter a gritty kingdom where mesmer magic means two choices: serve tyrants or thieve to survive. This section follows a second-chance romance filled with wicked masquerades, heists, found family, and a hero who's become more villain than the men who took him.
The Southern Kingdom (Books 7-8) - The Swan Princess Retelling
Den of Blades and Briars (Book 7)
Reign of Stars and Fire (Book 8)
In the fae homelands, a guard sentenced to serve her enemy for a hundred years finds that hatred starts feeling like something else entirely. This enemies-to-lovers romance takes place in a kingdom of diverse fae courts where nothing is as it seems.
The Western Kingdom (Book 9) - Phantom of the Opera Retelling
Song of Sorrows and Fate (Book 9)
The epic conclusion brings all four kingdoms together as a storyteller with the power to twist fate discovers she may have been the one being twisted all along. Featuring a haunting voice in the dark and soul-deep love, this finale delivers the satisfying ending readers deserve.
Reasons to Read The Broken Kingdoms Series
Unique world-building: Andrews masterfully blends Nordic Viking culture with traditional fae fantasy, creating a world that feels fresh and immersive with each new kingdom you explore
Fairy tale retellings with a dark twist: Each section reimagines a beloved classic; Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Swan Princess, and Phantom of the Opera; in ways that honour the source material whilst delivering unexpected surprises
Morally grey heroes: The male leads in this series will cross any line for the women they love, making them the perfect book boyfriends for readers who enjoy alpha heroes with dark edges
Slow-burn romance: Andrews excels at building romantic tension that simmers across pages until it finally ignites, with each couple's journey feeling earned rather than rushed
Found family themes: Beyond the central romances, the series celebrates the families we choose, with loyal friendships and fierce bonds that readers consistently praise as highlights of the series
Interconnected storylines: Characters from earlier books return and play crucial roles in later instalments, rewarding readers who follow the series from beginning to end with satisfying callbacks and connections
Completed series: No waiting years between releases; you can binge the entire saga at your own pace
Dual POV storytelling: Experience both perspectives of each romance, getting inside the heads of both the hero and heroine as their relationship develops
Accessible fantasy: Whether this is your first romantasy or your hundredth, the approachable writing and clear world-building make this series perfect for both newcomers and veteran fantasy readers
Available on Kindle Unlimited: Perfect for readers who want to devour the entire series without breaking the bank
Who Should Read The Broken Kingdoms?
This series is ideal for readers who enjoy dark fantasy romance, fae fiction, and enemies-to-lovers storylines. If you loved ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, or Kingdom of the Wicked, The Broken Kingdoms delivers similar vibes with its own distinctive flavour. The books are recommended for readers aged 17 and above due to mature romantic content that increases in intensity as the series progresses.
Fans of forbidden romance, political intrigue, and heroines who refuse to be silent princesses will find much to love here. The Viking-inspired setting also makes this an excellent choice for readers seeking something different from typical medieval fantasy courts.
The Final Verdict
The Broken Kingdoms series offers everything romantasy readers crave: swoon-worthy romance, immersive world-building, and plots that keep you turning pages late into the night. With its clever fairy tale inspirations, morally complex characters, and an overarching story that ties four couples' journeys together in an epic finale, this completed series is well worth your time.
Ready to fall into a world where fae magic meets Viking grit? Start with Curse of Shadows and Thorns and prepare to lose yourself in The Broken Kingdoms.
Books Featured in This Article
Curse of Shadows and Thorns
by L J Andrews
A bargain between enemies. A curse without an end. A love that will bring a kingdom to its knees.Long ago, Elise's ancestors stole the crown from the fae king. As the niece of the brutal, current king, her purpose is to do whatever is asked to ensure her family keeps the throne for centuries to come. The trouble is, Elise would rather sneak into gambling halls with the servants than be a silent princess at a ball.Soon reckless games are ended when her uncle forces her into negotiations for a marriage. If she refuses, her deathly-ill father will pay the price.Trapped by her sense of duty, Elise is given to the charge of Legion Grey, the handsome and mysterious dowry negotiator. But Legion holds more than her future in his hands. He incites her anger and a forbidden passion.When a coup upends the kingdom, Elise flees with Legion, only to discover he holds more secrets than anyone. Unknowingly, Elise sets in motion a beastly curse Legion has endured as long as he can remember.As secrets unravel about Legion's vicious past, questions rise over who has the true right to the throne. When answers come, more lives are put at stake, and Elise is forced to make an impossible choice: avoid a bloody game by leaving Legion to the beast within, or end his curse and restore magic to the land by sacrificing a life--hers.For fans of Court of Thorns and Roses and The Shadows Between Us, this tale of a rebellious princess and cursed rogue is seductively romantic. Part Viking, part Beauty and the Beast, one-click to preorder a dark, swoon-worthy slow burn romance with the perfect amount of sweet and steam.
Court of Ice and Ash
by Lj Andrews
She chose him. He chose revenge. But some choices have deadly consequences.When Elise agreed to break a vicious curse over the man she loved, she never imagined he was a lost fae prince. But Valen left her to carry out vengeance for his slaughtered family. So when she joins the outlaw fae in their uprising against her own sister, all Elise wants is to forget the prince who holds her heart.But fate has a different plan.Reunited in the rescue of a mutual friend, Elise and Valen are forced to decide where they stand in the battle of crowns. As their passion reignites, so too do the dangers threatening to pull them apart for good: a strange magical blight infecting the land, betrayal by one of their own, and a devastating secret not even a fae prince saw coming.The wicked game for the right to rule has begun. But who will save Elise and Valen from a dark magic with the power to destroy their love forever?For fans of The Cruel Prince and The Shadows Between Us, this tale of a rebellious princess and a seductive prince is wickedly romantic. Part Viking, part fairy tale, one-click to order a dark, swoon-worthy romance with the perfect amount of sweet and steam.
Crown of Blood and Ruin
by Lj Andrews
War begins. But secrets have the power to end...everything.Fallen princess. Traitor. Queen.Forsaking her people and her birthright, Elise Lysander takes her place at the side of the new fae king of a broken land. Revered by some, hated by many, Elise's fight for her love and freedom is only beginning.As secrets of Castle Ravenspire come to light, Elise and Valen discover their enemies hold more power than they ever imagined.It will take more than blades to defeat them.Fulfilling a dangerous request from Valen's imprisoned brother. Destroying a prophecy of fate kept in the hands of Elise's brutal sister. And an unwilling alliance with a shadowed thief from a neighboring kingdom that might end in victory or more death.Blood is calling. War will answer.But for Elise and Valen this fight could be their hard-fought salvation...or a vicious end to everything they love.Filled with luscious world building, banter-filled romance, and epic battles, this final book in the Northern Kingdom is part Viking, part fairy tale. One-click to start reading today.
Night of Masks and Knives
by Lj Andrews
Wicked men stole the boy she loved. But when she found him again, he'd become more wicked than them all.Malin Strom has been searching for Kase, her childhood sweetheart, since he was lost at the annual masquerade years ago.With her gift for stealing memories, Malin crosses more than one dangerous line to take secrets from those who know what goes on behind the curtain of the wicked festival.But when her brother is traded into the masquerade as punishment for using magic to hide Malin's gift, her only chance to save him is to enlist the services of a brutal crook-the Nightrender-and he bears a striking resemblance to a face from the past.No longer the boy she knew, her lost love, Kase, now rules as the amoral leader of brutal thieves. Pulled into his world of tricks and schemes, tantalizing attraction returns, but so do the secrets behind Kase's disappearance, and the masquerade.When their plan to save Malin's brother takes them back to the dangers of the festival, painful betrayal forces Malin to face a cruel choice: save her brother's life? Or give up the thief who has always held her heart.Filled with luscious world building, banter-filled romance, and epic battles, this first book in the Eastern Kingdom is part Viking, part fairy tale retelling. One-click to start reading today.
Game of Hate and Lies
by Lj Andrews
When wicked men first took the boy she loved, she was a child.Now they've taken him again, but this time...she's a queen.For weeks, Malin plotted and schemed with the kingdom's cruelest crooks, the Nightrender and the Guild of Kryv, to infiltrate a wicked masquerade.They survived. They escaped. Most of them.To the underbelly of the kingdom, the Nightrender never made it out of his own scheme. To Malin, he's only Kase, the man who owns her heart, and who is once again a prisoner of their enemies. Malin and the Kryv will stop at nothing until he's free. Even if it means claiming her birthright to a throne that brings death and war.But when they discover Kase has been locked in a cruel spell, Malin must find a way to steal his new twisted memories before he is lost to them for good.The only trouble is when Kase looks at Malin, all he sees is an enemy with a death sentence.Return to the vicious world of the Eastern Kingdom. Part Viking, part Cinderella, the battle continues with more schemes, spicy romance, and epic adventure. Author Note As promised, this book contains the spiciest scenes yet. As a member of the mom-of-a-teenager club, I would recommend those who cannot legally vote to read responsibly.
Dance of Kings and Thieves
by Lj Andrews
Dreams will become nightmares...To take her place as rightful queen, Malin Strom stands by the side of the Nightrender and his guild of thieves in the fight to take a throne she never wanted. Now, as warriors from distant kingdoms answer their call, a new battle begins.But when dark fae side with the Black Palace, Malin and Kase are forced to take drastic measures if they are to have a hope for victory: forge an unwilling alliance with a cruel sea fae, draw out a cursed beast they thought long dead, even risk the lives of everyone they love by twisting the memories of fate itself.For Kase and Malin, this fight could be their hard-fought salvation...or a vicious end to everything they love.Welcome to the final stand in the Eastern Kingdom. Where the stakes are higher, the battles are darker, and the romance is spicier. A wicked spin on Cinderella comes to a head in the final battle of thieves and kings.
Den of Blades and Briars
by Lj Andrews
She's bound to serve her enemy for a hundred years. Now, she's at risk of killing the man ... or falling for him.After she lands on the losing side of a war, Saga is sentenced to serve Ari Sekundär, the man she despises.But when a botched assassination attempt puts Saga on the run with her reluctant master, they're forced to work together to survive. Soon hate feels more like passion and disgust more like desire.What Ari doesn't know is that falling in love with the enemy will have deadly consequences. But how can Saga tell him, if he ever gives his heart to her, it will unlock a hidden secret that can destroy the kingdom...and end her life.The tale of the Swan Princess reimagined. This compelling New Adult Fantasy continues the bestselling world of the Broken Kingdoms as the first book in the Southern Kingdom. Welcome to a world filled with fae, Vikings, and spicy romance.If you're not old enough to vote, content in this book might not be for you
Reign of Stars and Fire
by Lj Andrews
Nothing is as it seems. It never was.With darkness spreading across the fae isles, the reluctant raven queen seeks the aid of Calista, the storyteller, and unwittingly falls into a dark tale of twisted fates. To save Ari from being lost in a fae sleep, Saga will reach into the past and uncover deadly secrets left behind by her brother, the last fate king.Both Saga and Ari must unravel the lies of their world if they are to stand a chance at defeating the fiercest enemy yet.But when their actions will end in the destruction of every kingdom, Saga and Ari must make a choice: risk the lives of those they love, or burn the world to save each other.Return to the epic, passionate love story of Ari and Saga in the spicy new adult fantasy romance where fae Vikings come to life with heart-stopping battles, dangerous magic, and tantalizing romance.
Song of Sorrows and Fate
by L J Andrews
"Sing with me, Little Rose."A storyteller with the power of twisting the tales of Fate never lives long. From the beginning, Calista has always told her royals this truth, but she's determined to break the chain of violence by avoiding the attention from the tricky Norns.But when the moon returns to blood and her royals from the neighboring kingdoms fall under attack from their shared enemy, she no longer has a choice and must join the fight to protect those she loves.By digging into the truth of her mysterious past, Calista comes face to face with the whispers in the dark and the voice, the bond, with a man some know as the Mad King.Soon it's clear, the king no one has truly seen might have more answers to Calista's past and true purpose than anyone. He might be the only way she survives this fight. Or he could be the one who delivers her destruction.Welcome to the final stand in the bestselling Broken Kingdoms Saga. A twist of Phantom of the Opera and Vikings in one epic finale, possessive romance, and a destiny no one could ever escape.