Title: The King’s Card
Author: Erin Archer
Series: Fairytale Tarot #2
Publication date: September 22, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- M/F
- Romantasy
- 1st person POV
- Book 2/3
- Fated Mates
- Wolf Shifters
- Tarot Card Magic
- Raven Shifters
- Enemies To Lovers
- Found Family
- Political Intigue
First Thoughts
The Queen’s Card was one of the first books I ever ARC read. I didn’t love it, but I really liked it. I also know that sometimes book one is not the best book in a series. There’s a lot of world-building to get through. You’re learning all about new characters. It can be a lot. Book two is typically where things pick up a bit. Where the romance really takes hold. Where the story really takes off. So I had high hopes for The King’s Card and knew I needed to read it. Unfortunately, it was somehow less exciting than the first.
Minor spoilers ahead.
The Story
Something I like about these books is that it’s short enough that it’s pretty easy to get through. But at some point, SOMETHING has to happen. At no time did I feel like not finishing this book, and the writing is great. The story is very unique and interesting. But it just feels like nothing is happening. Just dialogue. Just “what are we going to do”. Or “I’m feeling a certain way”. And what I really wanted was MORE. More happening with the plot, but especially from the romance.
The Romance
The King’s Card is the book I was sure would really give Mira and Bael their story. And I can tell the author tried, but suddenly in this book they just have no chemistry. It felt like they were going through the motions for the most part, but I didn’t BELIEVE it. At one point I even for a moment had an wild thought: is Bael even going to be endgame? Because he’s not super likable in this book. And now he’s obnoxiously overprotective suddenly? THAT is the only real passion we see out of him? Locking her up? Did we learn NOTHING from Tamlin?
“Don’t underestimate the things I would do to protect you.”
Final Thoughts
The King’s Card was enjoyable enough for four stars. And once again, I find myself somehow hopeful for the next book. I don’t know what that says about me, but I WANT this to be good, and I AM invested in the story. We’ll see I suppose. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Night Waltz Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Check out my goodreads review here.
