Den of Blades and Briars (TBK #7)

Review: Den of Blades and Briars

Author: LJ Andrews

Series: The Broken Kingdoms #7

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

LJ Andrews

LJ Andrews is my favorite romantasy author, so I will read anything of hers. The Broken Kingdoms series is one of the best out there, so reading book 7 was a no brainer. The problem is that I fall in love with the main characters of each story so it’s very hard to move on once the main character’s MAIN story ends. In this series, the first three books revolve around one couple, Valen and Elise, and introduce the second couple. Books 4-6 are Kase and Malin’s story and also include our third main couple. This book begins Ari and Saga’s story. I adored Kase and Malin’s story, so it was hard to move on, even though I’d also fallen for Ari in reading the first six books. So I read other books in between, including Broken Souls and Bones by this author. I soon realized it was silly to put it off because LJ Andrews can do no wrong and I was sure I’d love it.

I Was Right

This book gave me everything all of her other books had given me and more. The very beginning was a bit slow, but it didn’t take long for me to be completely hooked. I already knew I loved Ari, but to get to know him better and hear more of his tragic backstory made me love him even more. And, though I had my doubts in the beginning, Saga became a favorite of mine the first chapter we get in her POV. The way they slowly learn each other’s secrets and fall for each other is EVERYTHING.

Minor Spoilers

We finally get to really know Ari Sekundär and all of his secrets (slowly) throughout this book. And he doesn’t disappoint. As he is living his Ambassador life and preparing for Prince Gunnar’s wedding, tragedy strikes – and Ari is blamed. So he is forced to go on the run, and is forced to take Saga with him due to their bond. He is technically her master because of events that took place in the last book. But how can he trust her? Easy answer: he doesn’t.

Saga is considered a traitor and a serf after the events of the last book. But is everything as it seems? Eryka, Gunner’s fiance and the princess of the court of stars, would say NO.

“Not all is as it seems. Not all is as it seems. Not all is as it seems.”

Den of Blades and Briars (The Broken Kingdoms Book 7)
LJ Andrews

Saga’s secrets are slowly unraveled, and every single one of them had my eyes going wide, or my teeth clinching, or at times, audibly gasping. Of course, what I didn’t expect was that Ari’s secrets would have the same effect on me. I thought I knew Ari!

Trigger Warning

As secrets are revealed toward the end of the book, things get dark. Darker than I expected, but nothing too shocking. But be warned, if violence and sexual abuse are triggers for you, you might want to be prepared for that going into this book. It’s a very small portion of the story, all in flashbacks, and not detailed too much, but please be aware. Our FMC and MMC are survivors.

The Love Story

It is easy to tell from the beginning that there is something deeper going on between our main characters. They are in MAJOR denial, but it’s there. They just have enough reasons to hate each other – or so they think-, they can’t imagine giving in to their hidden feelings for each other. But as they get to know each other better, and learn each other’s secrets one by one, this thing brewing between them becomes impossible to deny.

“Curse me, praise me, it matters little, for either way my name passes over your lips, and I am satisfied.”

Den of Blades and Briars: (The Broken Kingdoms Book 7)
LJ Andrews

We get perfect banter, but what else could be expected from Ari and his “constant running mouth”? Saga doesn’t let him get away with it, and does her best to match his wit. The result is hilarious and, at times, heartbreaking. But they have truly met their match with each other and it makes such a beautiful story. Even while they are in denial, their true feelings slip out every once in a while, and it’s so sweet. The way they secretly root for and protect each other is exactly what I look for in a romantasy.

“Ari’s fingers tangled in my wet hair and yanked my head back, breaking the kiss. “You are a menace. Like a thorn in my ribs.”
My voice was low, breathless. “And you are an irritant I do not wish to shake.”

Den of Blades and Briars (The Broken Kingdoms Book 7)
LJ Andrews

Spice?

It’s a slow burn, so don’t expect spice right away, but the tension… The yearning… It’s definitely there. And when we finally get spice, it’s well worth the wait…

Recommend? YES

I highly recommend this book, and every book in The Broken Kingdoms series, as well as anything LJ Andrews writes because, let’s face it, she just knows what we book girlies like!